Monday will be a real ‘Red Letter’ day for the steam operated South Devon Railway (SDR) at Buckfastleigh.

It will finally re-open for business again as a result of the lifting of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions after 14 months, which has shut the scenic, seven-mile line for 417 days.

It’s the longest period the line has been closed in its 52-year history as a steam-operated heritage railway since first opening as a heritage tourist attraction in 1969 after British Railways closed the line in 1962. Having celebrated its 50th Golden anniversary year in style in 2019, the South Devon Railway is the oldest heritage railway in the West Country.