Devon Group trip to Teign Valley Railway - 11th May

The May rail trip was to Christow, base of the Teign Valley Railway, when as many as 15 L&B regulars enjoyed their visit .

1. Train to Exeter then assembling at the bus station to await the 3 times a day bus to Christow.

2. 3. 4. & 5. Around the former goods yard area, E & TVR owner/collecter Colin Burges has relaid sidings and has several working items of rolling stock. This Matisa track recording machine is able to move up and down the siding and even has the pencil graph fitted which in the pre GPS era recorded irregularities along the line. Any chance of regauging it for the L&B?

6. We also enjoyed a ride on the narrow gauge line which is hand-powered around the site.

7. Colin's restored Wickham Trolley was working on another siding.

8. 9. & 10. Colin served up an excellent buffet lunch with beer/cider/wine for everyone in the converted GWR toad brake van.

11. Finally there was time for Colin to demonstrate a unique flangeless wheelset running along the narrow gauge line. The inwardly tapered tyres keep the wheels on the track.

12. We had to return earlier than we would have liked, as the last bus was at 14:20! The group flag down the bus on the quiet lane near Christow.

13. We alighted by Exeter St Thomas station with time for a local trip to Newton Abbot for a beer. Later, some of us also sampled beer at Newton St Cyres at The Beer Engine.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson.

Our next trip will be to Falmouth on Wednesday 20th June. For further details contact Nigel Thompson