The Tarka Valley Railway Group was set up in July 2008 by a small group of likeminded individuals with the aim of restoring a steam railway along the valley of the River Torridge based on the former London & South Western Railway station at Torrington in North Devon.  

The line from Barnstaple to Bideford was opened in 1855 but was not extended to Torrington until 1872, and it was as late as 1925 that the route was extended to Halwill Junction, running over much of the trackbed of the former 3 foot gauge Torrington & Marland Light Railway for the first few miles out of Torrington.  The route eventually closed to passengers in 1965 with freight finally disappearing in 1982.  Attempts were make to rescue the line at the time but these sadly failed.   Torrington station itself however is still remarkably well preserved with most of the main buildings still intact and serving as the Puffing Billy pub and restaurant.  Both ‘up’ and ‘down’ platforms are also still in place, as is the original coal loading bay, albeit heavily overgrown.  

Progress since 2008 has been significant with a strong membership base already established and visible signs of progress evident on site.  Two panels of track have been added to the original track in the platform and a new temporary buffer stop is about to be installed.   The railway has been fenced off from the Tarka Trail ensuring the safety of all involved.   Members have restored the ‘clay hood’ wagon and remedial work is now starting on the brake van. The B.R. Mk 1 coach is undergoing heavy restoration work and this will eventually be available for passenger carrying duties and will be air and vacuum braked.    

The diesel locomotive ‘Progress’ which spent most of its working life at the Peters Marland clay works has been kindly donated to the group and is in the final stages of refurbishment.  It is hoped that fellow clay works locomotive ‘Peter’ may also soon move to Torrington.  Eventually it is planned that steam power will return to Torrington and several possible locomotives have been identified as suitable for use on the line.  

We are now working with an independent consultant to prepare plans for the expansion of the railway up the valley.  The first phase of this will be to extend the line just over 200 yards to the first overbridge with two sidings of approximately 100 yards and 20 yards length.   This will provide sufficient length of track to start running short train rides.  The sidings will provide storage space for rolling stock and transshipment facilities for the movement of stock onto or off the site.  

Further phased extensions would see the line extend some half mile up the valley with restoration of Torrington’s unique signal box, stores shed, permanent way trolley shed and platelayers’ hut part of the project.   The still extant signal post and lighting post will also be refurbished for future use.  

The line from Barnstaple to Torrington was engineered to a high standard and the track bed of the railway has been preserved generally intact, largely thanks to the presence of the Tarka Trail cycle and walking path.  The Group is working closely with Devon County Council’s Coast and Countryside Service in this exciting project to ensure the integrity of the Tarka Trail, and although there are some relatively minor engineering problems to be overcome further along the line, the establishment of an operating steam railway is perfectly feasible.

Much work remains to be done before the sound of steam is once again heard echoing along the valley, but with the support already garnered and interest in the project growing both locally and nationally, the Group is optimistic of the future.