Celebrations continued today to mark the 150th anniversary of the first public passenger train arriving at Okehampton station.

Following on from yesterday’s Victorian Tea Party in the Charter Hall today is the actual anniversary and there will be a broad recreation of the events of 1871.

At 1 45pm, the Okehampton Excelsior Band will kick off proceedings outside the town hall in Fore St by playing a medley of music leading up to a proclamation about the coming of the railway and the benefits it will bring to the town and district.

Things will then move to the station where, on the Youth Hostel side, the band will play again while dignitaries inspect the station before moving to the Youth Hostel (the former railway Goods’ Shed) for a ceremony where the mayor will present the “Victorian Stationmaster” with the special token/key, symbolising the opening of the railway to Exeter.