Devon Group trip to Tavistock Wednesday 22nd May

From Barnstaple on a Class143 Pacer to Exeter, then to Plymouth on a new IET Class 802.

1. After a short break at Mutley Plain, Plymouth we sampled Stagecoach route 1 bus across south western Dartmoor to Tavistock.

2. Lunch was on the roof terrace at Wetherspoons, Queens Hotel, Tavistock.

3. Next we enjoyed a stroll around and up to the viaduct by Tavistock North former station.

4. This trackbed forms part of the old LSWR route from Exeter to Plymouth, short-sightedly closed in 1969. Frequent calls for reopening as an alternative to the Dawlish sea wall route and to allow rail access from North Cornwall and West Devon continue to be ignored by the authorities.

5. The substantial viaduct at Tavistock North. Will we see trains run across this any day soon?

6. Our now customary coffee/tea and cake stop at a Tavistock market cafe.

7. Walking back to the bus station by the River....

8. .....and the canal. Dave Pratt, who spent some of his childhood here, reminiscing to the group.

Then the bus back along the A386 to Plymouth....

9. At Plymouth station whilst we boarded our Cross Country Voyager for Exeter, we observed this Castle class ( short 2+ 4 coach HST ) now working the local trains along the Cornish Main Line. Alas this was our first trip since the ceasing of the long distance HSTs for Great Western Railway but we hope future trips will include a ride behind these still iconic trains.

Next trips: Wednesday 26 June to St Ives,
Then Wednesday 31st July to Newquay
Sunday 18th August to Okehampton

All welcome contact Nigel Thompson for further details.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson.