One kilometre of track and sleepers, plus five sets of points and four stop blocks, have been donated by Network Rail to the Plym Valley Railway in Devon.

The equipment had become redundant and was removed from the yard at Lostwithiel in Cornwall. Network Rail offered it to the Plym Valley, a heritage railway that operates on part of the former Launceston branch line, which opened in 1859 between Plymouth and Tavistock.

Although the branch line was closed in the 1960s, a group of local rail enthusiasts came together in 1982 with the aim of restoring the line. The first section from Marsh Mills to Lee Moor Crossing opened as a heritage railway and local attraction in 2008.

The donation of the track and rail equipment will be valuable in restoring the line, and means that the railway will be able to replace parts of their existing infrastructure which was constructed in the 1980s. That will provide more space at Marsh Mills yard and sidings, and enabling the railway to obtain and preserve further historical railway items in the future.

Alexander Maltby, Network Rail Devon and Cornwall sponsor, said: “With support from our colleagues working in maintenance, I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to donate disused track and other components to such a worthy cause.

“It has been an absolute pleasure supporting the Plym Valley Railway’s longevity and I cannot wait to see what they have done with our donation.”

Daniel Phillips, Chairman of Plym Valley Railway Company Ltd, said: “The Plym Valley Railway would like to thank Network Rail for their co-operation and generosity in donating these redundant assets for our use.

“As a wholly voluntary organisation, the railway relies on donations to be able to invest in the railway and the assets received from Network Rail will ensure the longevity of Marsh Mills yard and our future operations.
“We hope we can work with Network Rail in future.”