At 9.25 this is the Dart Valley railway shortly after leaving Buckfastleigh and travelling beside the river Dart towards Totnes. 9.35 is the train going under the old bridge carrying the main road from Buckfastleight to Totnes over both the railway and the river. I think the same train then carries on towards Staverton and Totnes, finishing at 11.15 with the Buckfastleigh terminus. I also think that the footage of the railway starts at 8.27 in the yard at Buckfastleigh, the dead giveaway being one of the 3 locos having "dart valley" on it's side. How do I know?- I live in Dartmouth.

Used to live 3 houses up from Blue Anchor station as a youngster. 4:22 showing the lever operated level crossing gates. I think this is from the early days after WSR started. late 70's early 80's. Used to wander the station & tracks during the off season.

Makes me feel oldi started playing trains there 1988. Only stopping when I had to be near to Oxford for health issues 2021

And the clear winner is IKB.

I have a line diagram from Exeter to Plymouth via tavistock railway showing curve radius gradients Bridge numbers from Waterloo track layout etc

❤ louve. Old lines

“Shewn”, is that a posh word for shown?? Such a beautiful video. What a peaceful way to travel.

Such an odd train of brake vans!

Still use the same trains 😝😝

It's about time they got round to restoring the Bere Alston-Tavistock section of the route

As always a tale of being too short sighted to see the big picture and the future. Lovely video.

When was this filmed please? 1972? and also what is the wonderful music? Fantastic film, thank you.

Another great video of times gone by and no apology required as something is better than nothing

Is 1:41 today's "drippy tunnel" at Grenofen?

subbed

Lovely film. The driver of the last train was Den Burridge who was tragically killed in an accident in the early 90s. I still haven’t identified the guard seen hanging the wreath on the coupling at Exeter. The porter seeing the train away at Exeter with his hat pushed back I think was a chap called Derrick who wore his hat like that to the day he retired.

Wonderful! Thanks for that!

Beautiful. ❤

Sadly I am of an age now that I can remember railways which were closed, beautiful old building's which have been demolished to make way for ugly concrete 60's and 70's ideas of beauty and the list goes on. Yes its easy to have hindsight but we keep on doing this vandalism in the name of "progress" and never seem to learn. Go to France, Germany, Belgium etc and you will find that although their cities, towns and villages were damaged, often completely in the war they have in many cases not only preserved what was left but reinstated what was lost, such as railways and buildings. All those lovely station buildings demolished to be replaced by bus shelters I could go on but I wont! Thanks for uploading this lovely video and don't worry about the quality it was great.

@39:34 my great uncle Bern driving!

A wonderfully nostalgic film with music to match. I have been searching for some time for film of the line from Plymouth to Okehampton but with virtually no success - until now. On the other hand, there is lots of film of the GW line from Exeter to Plymouth. So many thanks for this.

Some unusual liveries and engines that have I'm not sure have survived the past 50 years.

Having written the history of the Plymouth, Devonport and South-Western Junction Railway back in 1997, it has been my dream to come across footage of trains moving along the line. Today, that wish came true! Thank you for all your hard work. Can easily recognise most of the locations.

Ah...a feast for any railway buff, But how strange to see those upward signals in the heart of GWR territory - as well as that Bulleid pacific going by. Great to know that the Okehampton connection is back though. Just thinking of all the work that originally went into linking the places you see here.

There are so few films of the former LSWR railway. When BR put everything West of Salisbury in the hands of the Western Region (and former GWR managers) that was the beginning of the end.

Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing , this branch and others in Devon ie Sidmouth Junction to Sidmouth/Exmouth, Axminster to Lyme Regis would be thriving if still here today , good ol' Marples and Beeching eh ,true men of vision

Love the DMU crossing the bridge at Tavistock North. Shame they have allowed houses on the track bed. However its great that you can now travel from Okehampton which is a fine station, romantically planted at the top of the town. Better to cherish what you have than lament what you haven't.

Sadly not Okehampton to Tavistock😢 but at least Exeter to Okehampton. Thanks for the video, in my wildest dreams Dunsland Cross will reopen and I'll be able to walk to my local station👍🏻

Thank you so much for this. I have fond memories of taking this line with a friend 🙂

The police when they were police. A bunch of vile brown shirted tyrants now.

So many memories for me. Evening Star 1989. Crowcombe Heathfield pre the signal box,with Walter the station master on Saturdays. Graham Page the signalman who lived at Puff Cottage. Pity no film of The Land Girls being made 1997. I always remember the non stop Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back hauled by Evening Star, and the train being too long for Bishops Lydeard on the return The passengers frantically jumping so as not to miss last orders at the local pub.

It's a shame only enthusiasts think about these lines today. At the time no one cared and hardly used them, many were happy to see them go. People haven't changed.

3rd October 1965 Southern Counties Touring Society The Exeter Flyer Rail Tour No steam on BR 1970s . . .

Its great to be able to look back in time like this!

Talking of memories, I went to boarding school near Plymouth and end of term travels were interesting - some boys got on a green train going west from PLY whilst most got on a brown and cream train going east! Sometime later a mystery unfolded, the green train came into Exeter St Davids going south whilst the GWR I was on rested, heading north! For an 11 year old, a mystery but sorely missed!! Thank you for an excellent production.

Interesting to see the before and after of the Point at Crowcombe. A lot of old faces, many (too many) are no longer with us.

Absolutely Superb. Life was so much simpler then.

I’m sure ‘elfin saftee’ would have something to say about changing drivers that way these days!

that was where I stood, I remember someone with a cine camera, cheers

Lovely video. I grew up in montacute and my parents live just off station road.

Great film of a bygone time when Britain was a gentler place

What a great video, it is sad to see that only the bridge supports remain, does anything else of the line still exist ?

The fella at 29.53 hits the nail on the head, hardly used til they say theyre going to close it, then everybody kicks up and wants it left open. People are still like that now.

Glorious film the little tank engine and stations are a delight, unfortunately the like never to be seen again

25:22 ladder is upside down.

Great photos, it's nice seeing more of the lswr 02s and with gated push-pull sets as I have EFE Rail models of these.

A sad loss. Would make a great commuter line 😢

Very interesting video. Thank you