OpenTube

Half National Rail, half heritage: how history divided the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway

Pedestrian Diversions

1,656 views

The Dartmouth and Torbay Railway is only a few miles long but packs in some amazing scenery. In this video I look at the history of this Victorian branch line which became of one GWR's premier resort destinations.

Transcript and sources: https://pedestriandiversions.github.i...

0:00 Intro
1:22 Background (South Devon Railway)
4:45 Dartmouth and Torbay Railway - why bother?
10:30 The D+T opens its stations
18:11 Accidents and anecdotes
24:47 Infrastructure upgrades and alterations
27:35 Peak years of success
31:13 Decline, partial closure and heritage-isation
36:33 Outro

20 Comments

@legerarts 3 months ago

I've been a fervent fan of your channel since your Bristol Byzantine video, and your analyses are greatly enjoyed here in Denmark.

@patchso 3 months ago

Yay! PD is back and what a great video.

@JBTEvans 3 months ago

Very good informative video with engaging commentary!

@article12 4 months ago (edited)

Welcome back! You are literally a South west version of jago hazzard! And i mean that as a very high compliment.

Originally came for the bristol content, but southwest history is a win too! Cus i tour the southwest on bike, and always wonder "what the history of that abandoned (insert)"

@StaxRail 4 months ago (edited)

Started my career as a steam locomotive machinist and fitter at the DSR a few years ago, met some of my best mates there and we all aimed to turn out locos to the best of our ability (and what the powers that be let us do!). Now work at the South Devon Railway funnily enough, but this line will always hold some good memories for me! Great video

@lesasser634 4 months ago

Brilliant video - the screen comments alone make it worth listening to erm.. reading from... you get what I mean. :)

@azuma892 4 months ago

This is the first time I've seen a video from this channel, well researched with beautiful b-roll. Would love to see more on the history of the railways in the Western Region. :)

@j1jem 3 months ago

Another excellent video! As a Bristolian with a fondness for South Devon, Dartmouth in particular, I feel extremely well served by your channel!

A family holiday for us isn't complete without either a trip on the train and open bus to Totnes or a kayak paddle up the Dart to Dittisham for a pizza at the FBI.

@Griffiths415 1 month ago

Thank you so much for making this. It’s fantastic.

@PhilipShellard 4 months ago

Superb content, a diviation from your outstanding Bristol videos. Keep up the good work and stay lucky.

@silverstar1964 3 months ago

First time here, excellent and informative video reminding me to move South Devon up the retirement travel plan list. Thanks for creating and sharing.

@zipiravira 4 months ago

Another great video, can't wait to see more on the weird and wonderful places of Devon and Cornwall.

@originalmossman 3 months ago

Thanks again for posting new content. In this case, I was inspired to seek out this railway next time we have guests who want to do something touristy in the South West. Despite living in the Bristol and Somerset area for a decade now, I was surprised to realise we'd somehow managed to omit all the towns in this video whenever we headed that way! My wife not so enamoured with the whole steam train thing, but I can probably convince my old dad or someone one day...

@trainandtravelvideos 4 months ago

Really nice. Lovely shots. I went there last year and it's a great day out.

@ronniecorbett 2 months ago

Thank you! We always enjoy your videos.

@CJStepanek 3 months ago

Brilliant video, thanks very much!

@webrarian 3 months ago

My late ex-mother-in-law (born 1921) always told me to avoid Goodrington Sands. Not only did it face east, so the sun was behind you in the afternoon, but you were prone to be covered with smuts from the Kingswear trains. I think she was remembering holidays in the 1930s 🙂

@relicthominin9864 4 months ago

Keep up the good work! A fellow historian.

@VeridianVine 3 months ago

Welcome Back! If you are still in the market for Bristol videos, Cotswolds Archaeology just published the findings of their work at Blackberry Hill Hospital / workhouse / Napoleonic War prison.