Bideford Railway Heritage Centre GALA DAY! + Exploring Instow & Fremington Quay on the TARKA TRAIL!

On a hot August Sunday, we set off to rediscover the old North Devon Southern line, beginning at the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre. The centre looks after the former Bideford station site and the historic Instow signal box, and today they were holding their annual gala day.

The old railway line now forms part of the Tarka Trail, a popular route for cyclists and walkers, making the station an appealing stop along the way. For the event, the Sentinel Steam Lorry 8850 ‘The Lion’ paid a special visit from Kent, drawing plenty of attention as it stood proudly outside the station. Visitors also had the chance to take £4 cab rides in the resident diesel shunter DS1170/No.3832 ‘Planet.’ The restored 1950s Mk1 railway carriage served refreshments, while museum displays, model railways, stalls, and the restored signal box gave plenty to explore.

After enjoying a cab ride and a look around the site, we continued up the old line to Instow. This signal box, over 130 years old, holds the distinction of being the UK’s first Grade II listed example. Once responsible for controlling both the station signals and the level crossing, it was nationally recognised in 2003 with the Carillion Rail Award for its outstanding restoration and educational value. Today, it also rewards visitors with sweeping views across the estuary towards Appledore shipyard.

Our final stop was Fremington Quay, once a bustling station just beyond Instow and Bideford. The old signal box has been relocated and transformed into a popular café and heritage visitor centre. From here, visitors can climb up to the box, which now doubles as a lookout point offering spectacular views across the River Taw towards the air base at Chivenor, which sat by the now demolished Yelland Power Station. The surrounding area offers walking and cycling routes along the Tarka Trail, where remnants of old bridges and platforms still mark the line’s history amid a picturesque landscape.

Unlike many of the established railways we usually feature on the channel, this railway may still be in the infancy of its development with just a short stretch of laid track, but the goal is clear. There is great potential and ambition here and with the success of the Okehampton reinstatement showing what can be achieved, reconnecting Bideford to the Barnstaple–Exeter line could be a real prospect in years to come — and one well worth keeping an eye on!

Please check out the second video which shows the exciting things which the Tarka Valley Railway are doing down the line at Torrington! youtube.com/watch?v=rSebJLksy5M&feature=youtu.be

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