Ashburton steam revival plans crushed - but the fight goes on

摘要

A wreath was carried on the smokebox door of Collett 14XX No. 1420 as it was paraded along the streets of Ashburton, just hours after Dartmoor National Park Authority forced through controversial plans to redevelop the town's historic station. The South Devon Railway, led by the Friends of Ashburton Station (FoAS) group, was "sad" to learn of the July 3 decision to allow housing and a supermarket to be built on the original Brunei-era trackbed - but it is determined to fight the controversial decision. Less than 24 hours later, No. 1420 was conveyed through the streets with a farewell wreath and Bulliver nameplates in honour of the passenger service that formerly ran between Totnes and Ashburton.The engine was cheered through the town as it made its second farewell, its first being after the Ashburton end of the branch was lost to the construction of the A38 bypass in October 1971. The unique 'float' won first prize in its category; further justifying the public relations exercise. It created visions of the mock 14XX 0-4-2T that ran through the streets of Mallingford in the famous film The Titfield Thunderbolt. The SDR Trust met two weeks later and resolved to support FoAS to obtain urgent legal advice about seeking a judicial review of the decision by the Dartmoor authority (DNPA).