South Devon Railway Webcam – Steam Trains at Buckfastleigh

The South Devon Railway Webcam looks along the tracks into Buckfastleigh station, the northern end of the heritage line that runs beside the River Dart to Totnes. From a raised spot beside the line, the camera covers the station throat, where the tracks fan out toward the platform on the left and the yard on the right. Semaphore signals stand on tall posts, a round water tower rises above the station buildings, and coaches wait at the platform while locomotives come and go in the yard. Behind it all, the edge of Dartmoor shows on the skyline. On a running day the camera can catch steam and diesel trains arriving and setting off for Totnes, and out of season it can show the quieter side of the railway, with stock parked in the yard.

About the South Devon Railway

The South Devon Railway is a heritage line 10.69 kilometers (6.64 miles) long, running from Buckfastleigh through Staverton to Totnes Riverside, mostly alongside the River Dart. It began life as the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway, which opened as a broad gauge line through to Ashburton on May 1, 1872. The last passenger train ran on November 3, 1958, and freight followed on September 7, 1962.

The line came back as the Dart Valley Railway. The first passenger train ran on April 5, 1969, and the official opening on May 21, 1969 was performed by Dr Richard Beeching. The South Devon Railway Trust took over on January 1, 1991. Today the railway’s headquarters, museum and locomotive workshops are all at Buckfastleigh, and at Totnes Riverside a footbridge links the line to the main line station.

The camera is part of Railcam UK, a volunteer-run streaming service for railway enthusiasts with more than 60 cameras across British railways, which runs it with the South Devon Railway.

Weather and Climate in Buckfastleigh

Buckfastleigh sits on the southeastern edge of Dartmoor, and it is a wet place: the town records around 1,144 millimeters (45 inches) of rain a year. Temperatures follow the mild pattern of the South Devon coast. At Plymouth’s Mount Batten station, 29 kilometers (18 miles) away, January averages a high of 9 C (48 F) and a low of 4 C (40 F), April reaches 13 C (56 F), July averages 20 C (68 F) with nights near 13 C (56 F), and October still makes 15 C (59 F).

On the camera, summer brings full leaf on the big trees around the station, and steam can drift across the yard on still mornings. Autumn colours the trees by October, the last month of daily running. In winter the bare branches open up the view toward the moor, and the yard can hold more parked locomotives and carriages than moving ones.

Things to Do Near Buckfastleigh

A trip on the line itself is the main event: trains run daily from late March to the end of October, through Staverton to Totnes Riverside, with the museum and workshops to explore at Buckfastleigh. The town is also home to the Buckfastleigh Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary.

Buckfast Abbey stands about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) north of the town. A monastery was first founded here in 1018, became Cistercian in 1147 and was dissolved in 1539, and six Benedictine monks arrived in 1882 to rebuild it. Pennywell Farm, an organic farm open to visitors, is just outside the town, and the open moorland of Dartmoor National Park begins right on Buckfastleigh’s doorstep. Exeter is 32 kilometers (20 miles) to the northeast along the A38.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More heritage railway and Devon cameras:

• Corfe Castle Station Webcam
• Damems Loop Webcam
• Dartmouth Harbour Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the South Devon Railway Webcam?

The camera looks along the tracks into Buckfastleigh station, with the platform on the left, the yard on the right, semaphore signals, the water tower and the station buildings, and the edge of Dartmoor on the skyline.

Is the South Devon Railway webcam on YouTube?

No. The stream comes from Railcam UK, which runs it with the South Devon Railway on its own player, and it plays directly on this page.

Is the South Devon Railway open?

Trains run daily from late March to the end of October. For any dates outside that season, check the railway’s own timetable before you travel.

How long is the South Devon Railway?

The line is 10.69 kilometers (6.64 miles) long, from Buckfastleigh through Staverton to Totnes Riverside, following the River Dart for most of the way.

How far is Buckfast Abbey from Buckfastleigh?

Buckfast Abbey is about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) north of Buckfastleigh, a short trip from the station.

Does the South Devon Railway webcam have sound?

No. The stream carries pictures only, so the whistles and engine noise are not heard on this page.

Where is Buckfastleigh?

Buckfastleigh is a town of 3,571 people in Devon, England, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park beside the A38, 29 kilometers (18 miles) from Plymouth and 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Exeter.

What is the weather like in Buckfastleigh?

Mild and wet. Average highs run from about 9 C (48 F) in January to 20 C (68 F) in July, and the town gets around 1,144 millimeters (45 inches) of rain a year. The weather bar under the player shows the current conditions.

Source: South Devon Railway Association and Railcam UK