Unlike most other Heritage Railway schemes the Plym Valley Railway started with almost nothing. The area that has now become our storage sidings and loco shed was scrubland, and our running line is on the alignment of the old branch line but it had to be re-graded. To see more of our start in life, please Click here.
It took quite a few years to progress the Railway into an operating line. Track had to be obtained and laid, and a platform built. To see more of our building, please Click here.
During 2002 one of the major projects on the Railway was the waterproofing of the first bridge some 150 foot north of World's End. For pictures of the project, please Click here.
2003 has seen the start of the push north. Track laying has commenced on the section between World's End and Lee Moor Crossing, and the two bridges over the Cann Canal have been dug out for inspection and repairs. For details and pictures of the work, please Click here.
During the year the track was re-laid back up to Bridge No. 2, but until the bridge is completed the final lifting and ballasting of the track can not take place, and is progressing on the repairs to Bridge No. 2. A new waiting room has been provided on the platform, which will also display some of the Railway's museum exhibits. For details and pictures of the work, please Click here.
The arch on Bridge No. 2, Shearwood Plantation Bridge, has been rebuilt with a layer of reinforced concrete poured over the arch. Work has also progressed on rebuilding the parapets. For details and pictures of the work, please Click here.
The repairs to Bridge No. 1 have now been completed, with both parapets rebuilt and the bridge re-pointed where necessary. Shearwood Plantation Bridge has also been completed and the sides of the Cann Canal have also been lined with stone. The track was laid up over the bridge and through the cutting in one week in March. Much work needs to be done on the track from World's End up to the final Bridge, Langford Bridge, to bring it up to passenger standards. Work has started on repairs to this bridge and materials are also being delivered ready to lay the next section of line up to Lee Moor Crossing once the bridge has been repaired. For details and pictures of the work, please Click here.
Repairs to all three bridges are now complete with track laid across them. The fencing has been completed up to Lee Moor Crossing and track laying towards the crossing is progressing. For details and pictures of the work, please Click here.
The track has been laid over where Lee Moor Crossing is to be built using flat bottom rail and concrete sleepers. It was approved for passenger operation and the first passenger train operated to Lee Moor Crossing on Saturday 24th May 2008. For details and pictures of the work, please Click here.
Lee Moor Crossing where the cycle path built on the old Lee Moor Tramway crosses the line is being built. The original crossing allowed the horse drawn traffic on the 4 ft 6 in Lee Moor Tramway to cross the line. Originally built to broad gauge, and when the L.S.W.R. used it as a mixed gauge line, it meant that for a short period of history there were three gauges of railway line at this point. Once the crossing was opened to for use then work started on building the line north to Plym Bridge. For details and pictures of the work, please Click here.