The first of two programmes in which Mike Arlett explores in some detail the former Southern Railway network of lines west of Exeter mostly in the last years of working steam.

Exeter to Barnstaple

Exeter Central and St Davids Stations are visited before a trip along the picturesque line to Barnstaple.

Including some superb colour material professionally filmed from the observation car of the Devon Belle shortly after the introduction of this famous but short-lived Pullman train.

Barnstaple and Ilfracombe

Featuring mainly the climb over the very steep gradients on either side of Morthoe and Woolacombe station, but including Ilfracombe and more evocative colour film from the observation car of the Devon Belle.

Barnstaple to Torrington 

The final passenger train; a special run by BR on a day when the weather more than matched this sad event.

Yeoford to Okehampton

A brief journey on board an enthusiast's special.

Plymouth to Okehampton

From Plymouth Friary, along the Tamar Valley and skirting the western side of Dartmoor, via Beer Alston and Tavistock, to arrive back at Okehampton.

Bere Alston to Callington

Whilst travelling from Plymouth to Okehampton, a stop is made at Bere Alston for a look at the fascinating branch line to Gunnislake and Callington.

The programme concludes with a fascinating 'Then and Now' feature in which some of the locations featured earlier are revisited briefly early in 2009 to view what is left of the old stations and other infrastructure of this network of railway lines.

Produced by - Transport Video Publishing
Running time - 62 Minutes
DVD only