The South Devon Railway continues its popular series of evening meetings on Thursday 28 June, when Mark Chambers will give an illustrated talk about the Teign Valley Railway. This little line had a particularly difficult gestation, and in the end connected Exeter with Heathfield, passing through some stunning scenery on the way. It was also very useful to the Great Western Railway as a by-pass for the main line through Dawlish and Teignmouth, and it was not unknown for the mighty Cornish Riviera Express to have to meander along this rural byway to avoid the floods along the sea wall.

The branch left the main line at City Basin Junction, near Exeter, and headed westwards through Ide and Longdown – noted for its treacle mines – before turning south into the river valley for Christow, Trusham and Chudleigh. The Teign Valley proper terminated at Heathfield, on the Moretonhampstead branch, where passengers for Newton Abbot had to change trains. Today traffic on the busy A38 uses part of the trackbed around Chudleigh Knighton.

Mark Chambers lives in the Teign Valley, and the line is one of his passions. His talk is guaranteed to be both informative and enjoyable, and illustrated by some rare photographs. As usual, doors open in the Refreshment Rooms at Buckfastleigh station at 7.00pm, with the talk starting at 7.30pm. Drinks and light refreshments are available, and there will be an interval for more tea. Admission is free.

This is the last meeting before the peak summer season. They will resume in the autumn, on Thursday 27 September, when we hope to present a show about the last days of British Railways on the Ashburton branch.