Plym Valley Railway - The Restoration

The Restoration

The Plym Valley Railway have constructed a new platform north of the site of the original Marsh Mills station. The trackbed through the original Marsh Mills station is still occupied by the line that serves the Marsh Mills china clay plant. The new Marsh Mills platform includes a shop, buffet and small museum.

Train rides are operated on numerous Sundays throughout the year. The railway successfully opened an extension of its line to passengers in May 2008. Trains now operate over 3⁄4 miles (1.2 km) of track to Lee Moor crossing, the site where the 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) gauge Lee Moor Tramway (now occupied by a cycle path) crossed the standard gauge branch on the level. The extended line incorporates three stone bridges which have been rebuilt by the line's volunteers, two of which cross the Cann Quarry canal. Construction of a new level crossing with traditional wooden gates has been completed where the West Devon Way, a long distance footpath and cycle way which follows the Lee Moor Tramway at this point, crosses the railway. Beyond the level crossing further track has been laid and work continues in rebuilding the line to Plymbridge Halt.

The 0-4-0ST steam locomotive "Albert" returned to service in December 2007 after receiving major repairs to its boiler. Albert has operated on all passenger trains and diesel No. 13002 has been used regularly on engineering trains. In 2009 preparation work commenced on returning 0-6-0ST "Byfield" to steam, seeing the locomotive stripped down to its main components for assessment.

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