Peter Kerslake says "Mary Tavy was the first station north of Tavistock on the line from Plymouth to Launceston. Laira's 5569 was a regular on the branch. The former GWR single line ran parallel but below the former Southern line which can be seen in front of the white gangers' hut on the left of the picture. Whilst Western Region services called at Mary Tavy and Blackdown, as it was officiallly known, the Southern services callled at nearby Brentor, half a mile away."