OUR TRAIN
Our train on our opening day on 15th August 2004. The train was seen off by the Mayor of Bideford, accompanied by a pipe band. Many passengers enjoyed the day, as they did over subsequent operating seasons.
Our train consists of two items, an 0-4-0 Planet diesel shunter and a BR brake van. After restoration to operational condition, and the acquisition of appropriate permissions to run a train service, we commenced running our train in 2004 over our short line southwards from the station.
The service ran on occasional weekends until it had to be withdrawn following a serious act of vandalism. The opportunity has been taken to subject the diesel shunter and brake van to extended maintenance so that they can be returned to the standard achieved on our opening day. We hope that the locomotive will be able to give footplate rides during 2020.
See historical details of the Planet and where we are currently with its restoration here.
LATEST NEWS
Train rides at Bideford station on 31st October!
Regular rides will start next year.
Photo of the newly repainted Planet on the day the crew passed their exams is on the Home Page.
Nameplate Exhibition
The nameplate and numberplate from 34019 "Bideford", purchased by BRHC in March, are now on display at the Burton Museum & Art Gallery until the end of February., in conjunction with an exhibition about how the railways brought holidaymakers to Bideford in the 1950s.
Photo on the Home Page of the Mayor of BIdeford, Councillor David Ratcliff, having opened the exhibition on 29th August,
oPENING tIMES
The Bideford site will be open from 1030 to 1600 on each day of October half-term.. Note our cab ride day on October 31st above. Unfortunately we are unable to open the cafe at the moment. We are then closed until Easter 2022.
(Our normal opening times at Bideford are from 10.30 to 4pm every weekend from Easter to the end of October half-term, and daily during school holidays. We will announce when we can return to these opening times as soon as possible.)
WANT TO VOLUNTEER WITH US? Working Parties are held on Wednesdays.
Email enquiries@bidefordrailway.co.uk if you'd like to join us, or just come along at 10.00 a.m..
When we are not open our sites are still accessible from the Tarka Trail.
PAYMENTS AND DONATIONS
This is where you can pay for sales items and for your membership fee.
You can also make a donation to support our work at Bideford and Instow.
There are three options:
1. a cheque made payable to the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre and sent to BRHC c/o Tree Tops, Northdown Road, Bideford, Devon EX39 3NA or
2. by bank transfer (BACS) to A/C Number 20370096 Sort Code 20-04-59, using your surname and DONATION, MEMBER or SALES as the Reference or
3. by PayPal, debit or credit card using your surname and DONATION, MEMBER or SALES as a message.
Many thanks for your support.
BRHC on Facebook
Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, Instow Signal Box and Bideford's Cafe in the Coach all have pages on Facebook - join us there!
Visit Us!
Interpretation Centre
Our historic railway parcels van at Bideford contains a fabulous interpretation display, with beautiful information panels, a model railway and a high-tech touchscreen interactive.
It's an in-depth historical experience of life on the north Devon railways - come and see us!
Cafe in the Coach
The coach is awaiting refurbishment and a new caterer. These changes will be in place when we open for the 2022 season at Easter 2022.
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