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Britannia class Oliver Cromwell at approx 60mph

Britannia class locomotive Oliver Cromwell passing Totnes on a special Bristol to Par service 19/05/12

Manx Loaghtan Ewe

Manx Loaghtan Ewe

The Castle class locomotive Earl of Mount Edgecumbe tackling Hemerdon bank just east of Plymouth (UK)

With Hemerdon behind them and tackled in grand style the crew are to be congratulated

At this point the incline eases from 1 in 42 to 1 in 51

Earl of Mount Edgecumbe nears the top of Hemerdon Bank east of Plymouth (Devon), a 1 in 42 2.5 mile incline, the 4th steepest on the British mainline

A castle class locomotive swings round the bend into the former Brent station

The castle class engine Earl of Mount Edgecumbe approaching the site of the former station at Brent (South Brent)

A double headed steam train near the top of Rattery Bank, south Devon

This is near the top of Rattery Bank, a nine mile incline between Totnes and Plymouth (Devon) which in places is 1 in 51, making it the 7th steepest incline on the mainline in the UK

The Dartmouth Lower Ferry slipway from the pontoon side as it approaches the slipway

The engines are kept full ahead to hold the pontoon against the slipway

The Dartmouth slipway for the Lower Ferry

The skipper of one of the two Dartmouth Lower Ferries

Getting on and off the Dartmouth Lower Ferry at high tide in rough weather is all about timing

Approaching the slipway on the Dartmouth side having crossed the river from Kingswear

Setting out across the river to Kingswear

Turning the tug after going astern from the slipway

The Lower ferry approaching the slip in rough conditions

The early afternoon goods train approaching Staverton from Totnes on the South Devon Railway

This double headed train was checked (stopped) by the home signal approaching Staverton station and makes a steamy restart

An early morning milk train between Staverton and Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway

The guard signals all clear to the driver at Staverton station on the South Devon Railway

The signalman at Buckfastleigh waiting to collect the single line working token from an inbound engine

Exchanging the single line working token designed to prevent head on collisions on single track railways with more than one engine in steam

The early morning milk train on the South Devon Railway, Easter gala approaching Hood Bridge alongside the River Dart

Driver of Collett 3205 awaiting the signal from the guard to tell him all is clear to start the train

The train crew, driver, fireman and guard in conversation at Staverton station on the South Devon Railway

Footplate crew member hosing down the coal dust on Collett 3205 at Staverton on the South Devon Railway

The guard giving the driver the all clear to start the train at Staverton station on the South Devon Railway

Engine crew on Collett 3205 on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh

Driver of Collett 3205 on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh

Driver of pannier tank No 1369 on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh about to move the reversing lever from full forward gear to full reverse gear

Coupling the engine to the leading carriage on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh

An African Spotted Eagle Owl from the rare breeds farm at Totnes, seen on the platform at Totnes Riverside on the South Devon Railway