Even the great Brunel had some failures! One of his

inventions that was ultimately flawed was the atmospheric railway that he developed between Exeter and Newton Abbot with plans to extend it to Torquay, Totnes and beyond. Of the eight engine houses built to power the atmospheric railway two remain intact. The Starcross engine house is located next to the station sandwiched between the railway and the A379 road through the village. Back in 1980 it was derelict and looking a bit sorry for itself but it has since been renovated and is now in use by the Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club. The chimney of this engine house was shortened at some time in the past and is about one half the height of what it was.