New Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall came on a short, fact-finding trip to the South Devon Railway’s Totnes Riverside station and the Totnes Rare Breeds Farm on Saturday 14 March and greatly enjoyed his hour-long visit to both attractions.
Accompanied by Station Master Chris Mackenzie-Thorpe and Sam Adams, he had a tour of the whole station and a short footplate trip on loco No. 1369, before visiting the signalbox and learn of the secrets within our ‘Monster’ display van, and then on to see some of the wonderful animals and owls at the Rare Breeds Farm. He described his visit on-line as being a “hoot” which could apply equally to both the steam engines and owls!
He was also brought up-to-date about the controversial cycle-path issue and the railway’s objections to the use of our footbridge on safety and security grounds by SDR PR man Dick Wood, all of which he fully understood and accepted our concerns.
Images courtesy of Chris Maczenzie-Thorpe.
