Description

DVD – Colour/B&W – 58 minutes

It has taken over 18 months to find archive movie footage of one of the West Country’s most beautiful railway lines. Known for many years as the Primrose Line, the branch from Brent to Kingsbridge in Devon followed the river Avon through countryside that can only be described as luscious in greenery and even in winter, still a beautiful sight. The journey takes us from the mainline GWR station at Brent, through the Avon Valley to Avonwick, then onto Gara Bridge, Loddiswell & finally into Kingsbridge itself as the terminus of the line. The history of the line is rich with stories and experiences.

For instance during World War 2, there was the experience of a train leaving Kingsbridge only to be targeted by a German Bomber. The engine driver hurriedly took the train to cover in Sorely tunnel; only to emerge slowly the other end, but only after bombs has hit the land around the tunnel. Lives were saved.

Produced & Directed by Roger Lilley
Camera & Editing by Phil Lilley
Production Facilities by Roger Underwood

With thanks to Reg Sampson, Angie Cook, Maureen & Rob Williamson, Shelia Bolam, Harry Moss, Bob Gale, Mark Gazey, Sorley Tunnel Centre, W D Seccombe, Paul Johnson, Graham Bulley, Peter Grey, The Kingsbridge Gazette Dermot Reynolds, Ken Williams and Bryan Gibson.