The coming of the railway to Thornbury, in 1872, had opened up a much wider world to the people of the district and railway excursions rapidly became very popular, as the following report from the Thornbury Magazine of 1892 shows
A TRIP TO TORQUAY
THE annual outing of the St Mary's Thornbury Parish Church Choir took place on Thursday, June 30. Special arrangements were made with the Midland Railway Company, by which a cheap excursion train was run to Torquay, when the Oldbury Choir, and also many others in the neighbourhood took advantage of the trip, and the weather being beautifully fine, the day was a most enjoyable one.
The train left Thornbury at 6.25am, and Torquay was reached shortly before eleven o'clock: the journey was greatly enjoyed by everyone; the scenery of South Devon being exceedingly pretty, particularly the long run by the seaside, passing through Dawlish and Teignmouth. Yachting and sight-seeing were indulged in previous to dinner which was served up at one o'clock, in a capital style, and was very much enjoyed by all.
After dinner the party separated, and many different parts of the town were visited; some took a trip across the water to the pretty seaside place of Paignton, where bathing and other pleasures of the beach were indulged in; whilst others took a drive and visited other places of interest in the neighbourhood, including, Anstey's Cove, Babbicombe Bay, and the interior of the churches, one of which was St. Mary's Roman Catholic.
The time, however, soon passed away, and at seven o'clock, all were seated for the homeward journey, which was accomplished shortly before midnight; and everyone appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed the day's excursion.
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