At Buckfastleigh work is proceeding rapidly on the new sidings, and Thursday’s photo shows the three-way point in position. In contrast is a shot from July 2015 showing how it was until last week. Full marks to the contractors for working in torrential rain throughout Thursday: one of the wettest days for some time.

Hood Bridge is the site of extensive work by the highway authority, Devon County Council. In recent years there have been a number of accidents where road vehicles have crashed onto railway lines, and as a result new mandatory standards have been introduced where roads go over railways, or are at a higher level. The crash barriers are being replaced and reinforced, which means that the main road from Shinners Bridge, Dartington, to Buckfastleigh will be closed from Monday 16 January for four weeks while the work is carried out; Hood Bridge is completely closed to road traffic. Cars can divert over Staverton Bridge (not recommended – traffic lights, delays very likely) or go via Marley Head. This is what is happening to the 88 bus, which will not serve any stops between Dart Bridge (Buckfastleigh) and Shinners Bridge for the four weeks. Timings are unchanged.

On to Staverton, where a small team was working on the box van being refurbished for the Military Vehicle Trust, and on the SDRA TOAD brake van. More on the latter in due course. Steve Bates is painting the underframe of the covered van.

Best wishes

John Brodribb
SDRT Museum Curator