Steam trains have started running on South Devon Railway (SDR) as part of a month-long period of ‘shakedown refreshers’ for footplate crews, guards and signalmen.
The empty stock steam trains will not be carrying passengers and will run to an unpublished timetable.
SDR site open days started today (Monday, April 12), with the re-opening to public trains expected to be from May 17.
SDR Commercial Director Alan Taylor said: “Throughout the day on Wednesday, we were met with enthusiastic waves and smiles all the way along the line.
“Walkers, motorists, residents at Staverton, and passengers on main-line trains were all pointing, smiling and waving at us. I gather the Buckfastleigh Town Council FaceBook page has received many ‘welcome back’ comments too, such as: ‘it’s great to hear the whistle again’, and ‘normality returns’.
“The feel-good factor is definitely still alive and well for the SDR in Devon.”
Visit https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/ for more details.
Photo credit: Colin Wallace
