Plym Valley Railway
The Plym Valley Railway is a heritage railway based on part of the now-closed Tavistock Railway, a branch line of the Great Western Railway in Devon, England.
The line originally opened in 1859 and closed in 1962. Heritage trains first ran in 2001.
History
The line was originally part of the South Devon and Tavistock Railway, a broad gauge railway linking Plymouth with Tavistock in Devon, England. This opened in 1859, was converted to in 1892 and closed in 1962.Some local enthusiasts formed the Plym Valley Railway Association in 1980 to restore part of the line. Work started near Coypool in 1982 and they bought Bickleigh Siding in 1988 which became the site for a new Marsh Mills railway station. Trains could run the northwards to 'World's End' from October 2001 and another to the site of the Lee Moor Tramway crossing from May 2008. At this time the only station was at Marsh Mills but the line was extended to a new platform at on 30 December 2012, exactly 50 years after the original line closed. This brought the heritage railway to a total length of.
Location
The Plym Valley Railway is based at on the eastern side of Plymouth.Marsh Mills
Located at.The original Marsh Mills railway station opened on 1 February 1860 to enable people in the area around Plympton to reach Tavistock without a lengthy detour to change trains at Plymouth. It was located from Tavistock Junction where the Tavistock line joined the South Devon Railway's line. Extensive goods facilities grew up around the station including a china clay works on the east side of the line and a military depot at Coypool on the west side of the line. Most of the station site has now been replaced by a road.
The Plym Valley Railway opened a new station further north in 1988. Its single platform is on the west side of the line. The engine shed and sidings are on the same side of the line to the north of the station.
Plym Bridge
Located at.The platform at opened on 1 May 1906 to bring tourists to the picturesque area of the Plym valley. It was on the east side of the line. Originally built from timber, it was replaced by a shorter concrete platform in 1949.
After the line closed, the concrete platform was moved to St Ives railway station so the Plym Valley Railway built a new one on the same foundations which opened on 30 December 2012.
Rolling stock
Diesel multiple units
| Image | Number | Class | Built | To PVR | Notes |
| 50222 & 50338 | 1958 | 2023 | After it was taken out of passenger service, this unit were converted for departmental service. The cars were renumbered RDB977963 and RDB977964, the whole unit being known as Iris II. It was preserved on the West Somerset Railway in 2008 but moved to the Barry Tourist Railway the following year. | ||
| 51365 & 51407 | 1960 | 1995 | Originally a Western Region three-car unit number B427, it moved to Tyseley in 1989 and became London Midland unit T304. It was withdrawn in 1992 but the two power cars were then reinstated and sent to Laira depot when there was a shortage of more modern units for services in Devon and Cornwall. | ||
| 142023 | 1985 | 2021 | This 'Pacer' unit entered service at Laira depot when it was painted in a GWR-inspired chocolate and cream livery. It was last in service with Northern Rail and entered service on the Plym Valley railway in their livery. Its individual cars are numbered are 55564+55614. | ||
| 143618 | 1986 | 2022 | This 'Pacer' unit finished its service with Great Western Railway at Exeter depot in 2022. Its car numbers are 55659 and 55684. |