This coming May Bank Holiday weekend, the scenic South Devon Railway will be carrying on its landmark 40th anniversary year with a further celebratory event recreating the bygone busy railway scenes of yesteryear once common on other long gone West Country branch lines.

Thursday 21st May is the actual 40st anniversary date of the South Devon line being officially re-opened by the infamous Dr Richard Beeching in 1969 - a man who was responsible for the closure of many lines across the South West as the Chairman of British Railways Board in the early 1960's.

And to mark that fact, the South Devon Railway's West Country Branch Line weekend not only aims to celebrate the line's re-opening, but also to stir memories of the way the region's railways once looked by running a mixture of unusual trains ranging from one and two coach passenger trains to four and five vehicle sets in authentic liveries, plus milk wagons and goods traffic.

The two-day weekend event on Sunday May 24th and Monday 25th is mainly steam operated, but with some diesel haulage and an intensive timetable plus a variety of different types of trains which are now but a memory, including the mysteriously named "auto train"

It will feature former Great Western Railway (GWR) built locos Nos. 1369, 5786 and visiting engine 5542, with 3803 as reserve engine, plus a Class 122 Bubblecar Diesel Multiple Unit which will make one round trip each day and another diesel loco from the 1960's too in D6737.

One type of train most often associated with Great Western branch services in the West Country is the auto train. Auto trains would usually consist of just one or two coaches worked in push-pull mode by a small engine.

The "Auto" name comes from the way in which the driver operates the loco's controls automatically from the end cab of the leading coach via a clever system of rods and cables rather than by him being on the engine.

A few of the 55xx Class of 2-6-2 "small prairies" also worked auto services and visiting "small prairie" No.5542 has auto gear fitted so the SDR can provide the sights and sounds of a genuine auto train at work.

"During the course of our West Country Branch Line Weekend, we will run single and two coach trains, plus replica goods and milk trains, along with an auto train service at the beginning of each day to show what the railways were like in the region from the 1940's to 1960's," said SDR General Manager Dick Wood.

"And, with the engines, coaches and wagons painted in the authentic liveries of the era, we expect this will bring back fond memories for many people of the West Country railway scene from 1947 to 1963."

Another regular feature of branch lines of yesteryear was the operation of the daily pick up goods and milk trains. These trains would often amble their along many a branch railway, stopping off at stations and sidings to set down or pick up wagons containing a variety of produce.

Such scenes and sounds will once again come alive during the gala with pannier tank locos Nos. 1369 and 5786 working a recreation of such trains. And diesels will also feature at the event to show how steam power was slowly replaced across the national railway system.

At Buckfastleigh, visitors will be able to view the largest steam loco at present based on the line, 4-6-0 No. 4920 Dumbleton Hall.

After several seasons stored out of sight, 4920 will be on display outside, whilst from the workshop viewing gallery visitors will also be able to see the recent progress being made on the heavy general overhaul of the sole surviving 2251 Class 0-6-0 No.3205.

The comprehensive collection of heritage diesel locomotives will also be viewable, including the Devon Diesel Society's Class 50, the former 50 002 "Superb" which is being restored back into its original condition as built in 1967 as No. D402.

The miniature railway will be running and providing a frequent service throughout the event with trains departing at regular intervals from the new station adjacent to the main car park.

The main museum will be open throughout the event and features a variety of interesting objects, together with the last remaining locomotive that ran on Brunel's famous Broad Gauge system, the 0-4-0 vertical boilered "Tiny" that is part of the National Railway Museum Collection and on loan to the S.D.R.

Another fascinating survivor that is expected to be on display for part of the event will be Lee Moor No.2 along with other interesting memorabilia from the former 4' 6" gauge Devon tramway line.

Refreshments will be available at both Buckfastleigh, from the main refreshment rooms, and at Totnes, from the Rare Breeds Centre, whilst the main train services will also feature an on train buffet serving a range of lighter refreshments, snacks and other souvenirs.

Further souvenirs, together with an extensive range of model railway items and equipment, can also be purchased from Expressway Models at Buckfastleigh.

There will also be a providing a gentle tour around the locale with stops at Buckfast Abbey and Buckfastleigh Town. On a clear day there is a good view over the local countryside to Dartmoor from the upper deck.

Trains services start at 09.20 (Buckfastleigh) and 10.02 (Totnes) each day. The South Devon Railway will be running trains EVERY day until the end of October. The Expressway model railway shop has gifts for children of all ages and is open for business on most days.