The Devon County Show 2025 will shine a spotlight on 200 years of the modern railway when it returns to Westpoint in Exeter from 15 to 17 May. In a special collaboration with the South Devon Railway, the event will feature the beautifully restored steam locomotive number 6430, a GWR 64xx pannier tank engine, alongside a vintage London Routemaster bus. This celebration of heritage railways promises to bring the age of industrial innovation vividly back to life.
Stepping onto the showground, visitors will immediately sense the echoes of railway history. The star attraction, steam locomotive 6430, was built in the 1930s to carry passengers and freight across the West Country. After retirement and a narrow escape from the scrap heap in the 1960s, it was lovingly restored by the Dart Valley Railway—now the South Devon Railway—and steamed back to life in 2003. Today, this regal engine lives at Buckfastleigh, where it continues to delight steam enthusiasts and families alike with its rhythmic chuff and coal-fired warmth.
Alongside this proud survivor of the steam age, a gleaming London Routemaster bus will offer a contrasting slice of transport heritage. Once a familiar sight on busy city streets, the Routemaster now provides a charming link to a time when hop-on, hop-off bus travel had its own special character. Together, these icons of steel and iron remind us how rail and road shaped modern Britain.
Beyond these headline displays, the Devon County Show’s packed programme will celebrate the ongoing passion that keeps heritage railways alive across the UK. Demonstrations, guided talks and hands-on exhibits will invite families to discover the engineering behind steam power, from the pistons hidden beneath the boiler to the skilful work of a footplate crew. Children will have the chance to peer into the cab, watch the driver and fireman in action, and even help ring the engine bell.
For those keen to explore further, the South Devon Railway team will be on hand to share stories of their preservation work. Founded in the early 1970s to save the Buckfastleigh to Totnes branch from closure, the railway has grown into a volunteer-led heritage line that now carries steam trains through some of Devon’s most picturesque countryside. Their tale of rescue and revival mirrors the journey of locomotive 6430 itself, offering a real-life lesson in how community effort can safeguard living history.
Children and adults alike will find plenty to enjoy beyond the rails. The showground will buzz with a variety of family attractions, from craft stalls and traditional fairground rides to country pursuits demonstrations that echo the spirit of rural Devon. As you stroll past stalls offering local produce and artisanal goods, take a moment to imagine how these industries once relied on the rails to bring goods to market, forging connections between community and countryside.
While many rail festivals lean heavily on high-speed or modern traction, the Devon County Show’s focus on the GWR pannier tank and Routemaster bus offers a nostalgic, human-scale experience. It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t always need to roar at 125 mph; sometimes, it simply chugs along with a comforting regularity and a friendly whistle. The show’s organisers have ensured that every visitor, whether a lifelong steam fan or a curious newcomer, will find something to spark the imagination.
Families planning their day can choose to arrive early and watch the first steaming of 6430, then follow the line of exhibits down to the bus display, where friendly guides will share anecdotes of London’s red-roofed icons. Later, a talk on the evolution of railway signalling will open eyes to the complex choreography that once kept hundreds of trains moving safely across the network. And for those who love a sociable lunch, food stalls will serve fresh, locally sourced fare that harks back to station buffet delights, from crunchy Cornish pasties to clotted cream teas.
The Devon County Show has long been celebrated for showcasing the best of rural life, and this year’s rail celebration builds on that reputation with a heartfelt nod to our nation’s transport heritage. No matter your age, the sight of the pannier tank emerging from a plume of steam is bound to stir memories—of family outings, of days spent by the tracks, of the thrill of hearing that whistle from afar.
As the weekend draws to a close, the final steaming of locomotive 6430 will offer one last chance to salute a machine that embodies two centuries of progress. It’s a fitting finale to a show that honours the past while also pointing toward the future of heritage railways, where volunteers and enthusiasts ensure that these giants of iron and steam continue to inspire generations to come.
Image credit www.themoorlander.co.uk
Original source https://www.themoorlander.co.uk/news/home/1791245/devon-county-show-to-celebrate-200-years-of-the-modern-railway.html
