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When we lived at Shaugh Bridge the closest bus stop was at Shaugh Prior, where I went to school.  The only other public transport was the train that travelled from Plymouth to Launceston and back. This stopped at Shaugh Bridge station which was about 5 - 10 minute walk from where we lived. The railway line was opened on the 22nd June 1859. Shaugh Halt opened in 1907. The line was nationalised as part of British Railways in 1948. Passenger services were withdrawn on 31st December 1962. Freight services ceased and the line closed completely, in 1964 three years after we had left the area. Our leaving had nothing to do with it. For a more detailed history have a look at Graham Eagle's very interesting article. The trains themselves were steam trains, pulling a variety of carriages. Most of them were the type that had compartments that seated about 8 people, with a corridor running the length of the carriage, giving access to the compartments. At either end of the corridor there was usually a toilet.  The other common types were the ones with individual compartments but no corridor, which meant that, between stations; you couldn’t change compartments or go to the toilet. The last carriage on the train was usually the guards van, which was used for large pieces of luggage and parcels.  

There is a tunnel almost immediately as you pull out of Shaugh going towards Tavistock.  I walked through it a few times when the trains were still using the track, but not at the same time as a train was going through I hasten to add. I wasn’t that brave! Or stupid. Even though the line is now closed you can still walk through the tunnel because the track has been turned into a cycle and walking route from Marsh Mills to Clearbrook. The tunnel itself is curved so when you get to the middle you can’t see either end. When I last walked through the tunnel you needed a torch, because if you didn’t have one you were in pitch darkness when you got to the middle. You couldn’t even see a hand in front of your face. However since that time there have been safety lights installed through the tunnel. Some time later the bus route was extended to Shaugh Bridge as it is today. Whether they were coincidental I don't know.

There is a video available which shows the very last passenger journey made on the line on 29^th December 1962. If you are interested it is available from Aarchive Films who have kindly allowed me to use a snippet of the video showing a steam train passing through Shaugh station and the tunnel. They also have a variety of other videos of old train journeys.