This winter's work programme is in full swing following the end of the daily running period on October 31st.

One of the first jobs has been for the Signal & Telegraph Department to implement a programme of minor improvements to the arrangements at Buckfastleigh. The result will be that movements into the loop at Buckfastleigh and to the North end of the station layout will be more safely controlled by the signalman from Buckfastleigh South Box. The loop itself will now be track circuited and a new signal post  provided to control movements out of the loop going North. The photograph shows the new post being erected. In the background the original Buckfastleigh Box, closed in 1972, can be seen.

At the Totnes end of the line 161 concrete sleepers have been laid out in readiness for the relaying of a short section through Hampstead Bridge cutting. Around 500 reusable sleepers from last winters relaying programme have been placed at strategic points up and down the line for spot re-sleepering of the remaining wooden sections.
The SDR now only has wooden sleepers in station areas and track circuited areas. An additional short section of siding is being provided at the North end of Buckfastleigh site to expand the storage capacity at this end of the line as additional rolling stock arrivals have put pressure on available space.

TSO 4496 was outshopped today from the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at Buckfastleigh. It has been turned out in Carmine and Cream livery which will become the standard livery for the SDR's Mark 1 set. The coach is pictured beside BG 276 which has already received the carmine and cream livery. Just in the picture behind 4496 is another SK in carmine and cream, 25693, which has been sold to the Weardale Railway and was awaiting collection. Further Mark 1's to receive carmine and cream in due course will be TSO 4962, and CK 15644. It is also possible that Collett Brake BTK 1645 will be turned out in carmine and cream but a final decision has yet to be made.