Transport Fayre celebrates 150 years of railline

THE Strand Gardens will host a party on Sunday to celebrate the coming of the railway to Exmouth 150 years ago.

THE Strand Gardens will host a party on Sunday to celebrate the coming of the railway to Exmouth 150 years ago.

A Transport Fayre including information stalls, a guided walk, acoustic entertainment and a ‘fresh air miles’ event is being held from 11.45am until 3pm.

Trains first ran to Exmouth from Exeter on Sunday, May 1, 1861 – and the Avocet Line Rail Users’ Group (ALRUG) has produced a glossy souvenir booklet to mark the occasion.

Also on sale will be special souvenir tickets of the day as well as a limited number of very collectable platform tickets for a station on the line, Digby and Sowton, for which no such ticket has ever before been printed.

Also invited to exhibit or provide information at the fayre are First Great Western, Stagecoach buses, Exmouth Model Railway, Exe Estuary Management Partnership, Devon Wildlife Trust, Stuart Line Cruises, Exmouth Cycles, the World of Country Life, Transition Town Exmouth, and Co-car (a car club).

Sustrans has arranged a ‘fresh air miles’ event when walkers and cyclists – or even train passengers – can get a card stamped at Exmouth, Lympstone and Exton – and will be entered into a national prize draw.

Exmouth Museum is opening a special exhibition, while on the seafront Exmouth Model Railway will be giving free admission for the day as part of the celebrations.