TIVERTON Museum is planning a special day on Saturday (May 2) to celebrate the commissioning of GWR locomotive 1442, known affectionately as the ‘Tivvy Bumper’ 80 years ago.

The Museum will be open 10am-4pm and there will be lots to see and do, including the Culm Valley Model Railway Club’s layout of Uffculme Station.

There will be family activities galore with badge making, making a key ring, decorating Bumper biscuits and a special trail - normal admission charges apply.

The Museum is also running an illustrated talk on the evening tonight (Friday) in which local railway historian Amyas Crump will be looking at the life and times of loco 1442.

This will be focusing upon where it has worked locally including the Exe Valley and Culm Valley lines.

We expect this event to sell out so recommend advance purchase.

Tickets are £4.50 including light refreshments - doors open at 7pm, the talk starts at 7:30pm.

The Museum’s shop will also be stocking even more railway related goodies than ever, including a new booklet by Amyas Crump on the Exe Valley Line - and a new children’s T-Shirt featuring the Tivvy Bumper.

The name the ‘Tivvy Bumper’ originally applied to all trains working on the branch connecting Tiverton Station and Tiverton Junction at Willand.

Between 1884 and 1964 trains ran daily, connecting the main line trains at the junction with the Exe Valley trains at Tiverton.