200 years of railway history coming to Devon in March

The family-friendly 'Inspiration' exhibition, which is housed inside a train, will be open to the public at Totnes Riverside station from Tuesday, March 17, to Sunday, March 22.

The exhibition is part of the Railway 200 campaign, a nationwide celebration of two centuries of railway innovation and heritage.

Alasdair Page, commercial manager at South Devon Railway, said: "As one of the longest established heritage railways in the South West, we’re proud that we have been chosen for the inaugural visit of Inspiration to this area.

"Our steam trains, historic stations and museum will form the backdrop to the interactive experience, providing options to create a full day out."

Co-curated with the National Railway Museum, the exhibition explores the impact of railways on society through rare artefacts, interactive displays, and hands-on engineering challenges.

It also highlights a range of career opportunities within the industry.

The exhibition train is currently making its first visit to Devon as part of a 60-stop tour.

So far, it has attracted more than 60,000 visitors.

Entry is free, but tickets must be booked in advance.

Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, said: "Railways are one of history’s most important inventions and inside this train you can explore the story of rail in a fun and family-friendly environment.

"Inspiration has already travelled thousands of miles across Britain – from Scotland to Southampton – and we are hugely excited to welcome locals aboard at South Devon Railway."

Visitors are also invited to enjoy a nostalgic ride on the South Devon Railway’s steam trains, with fares starting from £12.

The exhibition has received positive feedback from previous attendees, who described it as "brilliant," "hands-on," and "extremely interesting."

Tara Jones Ulla, who visited the exhibition at West Somerset Railway last year, described it as "brilliant" and said she left "so happy."

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: "With this train, we’re not just looking to the past, we are inspiring the diverse next generation of engineers, drivers, conductors, and technicians, and shining a light on what the railway is delivering today."

Inspiration is supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.