South Devon starts ‘shakedown refreshers’

AS PART of the South Devon Railway’s re-opening plans, it started trial running empty coaching stock steam trains from April 7 for month-long ‘shakedown refreshers’ for footplate crews, guards and signalmen. The 20 days of ‘shakedown’ trains ran every Wednesday to Sunday inclusive until May to a non-published timetable, typically with five round trips a day. None of the trains carried passengers. SDR Site Open Days started on April 12, and it was due to re-open for public trains on May 17.

(SDR/Colin Wallace) With its smokebox hinges still covered in a protective layer of grease, GWR Prairie 5542 rounds Caddaford Curve with the 1030 Buckfastleigh-Totnes Riverside ‘shakedown refresher’ on April 8.