4. Around Exeter & the L & SW route-23.06.17

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 39. Trip to Cornwall & Devon-20-23.06.17 > 4. Around Exeter & the L & SW route-23.06.17

Our final day that found Andy and me making for home. We decided to to do a bit of the Tarka Line towards Barnstable, go down to Exmouth and then head back following the L & SW line as far as we could until time ran out. Another disappointing day weather wise but we did get some glimpses of the sun.

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Images 1-24 of 24 displayed.

143319 & 143612, GW 07.00 Barnstaple-Exeter Central (2R89, RT), Yeoford
143319 and 143612 slow for their stop at Yeoford station working the 07.00 Barnstable to Exeter Central. Many of the passengers appeared to be lively school children! Whilst in this view it appears to a conventional double track arrangement it is in fact two different routes that run side by side. The unit is on the signal track Tarka Line that connects Barnstable with Exeter. The track to the left is in fact a long spur that separated from the other line at Crediton. It continues all the way to Meldon Quarries operated as a private line by the Dartmoor Railway that commences operations from Colebrooke. There are summer Sunday through workings operated from Exeter to Meldon.
Keywords: 143319143612 2R89 Yeoford

143612 & 143319, GW 07.00 Barnstaple-Exeter Central (2R89, RT), Yeoford
143612 and 143319 pauses at Yeoford station in deepest Devon with the 07.00 Barnstable to Exeter Central. For such a tiny village Yeoford once boasted a substantial three platform station complete with a large are of sidings. Standing on this bridge you could observe a procession of express trains heading westwards from London. This line was the 'other' L & SW route to the west avoiding the GW's line along the seawall of south Devon. Given the constant problems with the seawall there is serious consideration to this route being reinstated as a mainline. This would have avoided Cornwall and much of west Devon being completely cut off from the network for two months during early 2014.
Keywords: 143612 143319 2R89 Yeoford

Crediton signal box (LSW, 1875)
Crediton is a grade II listed structure and is largely original. It has had some recent tasteful and in-keeping renovation. It sits at the level crossing immediately west of the station it contains a panel installed in 1984 when the Exeter PSB was opened. It controls the length of the Tarka line and contains a lovely token instrument that operates under the No Signalman Token Remote (NSTR) system.
Keywords: Crediton signal box

Crediton station
The delightful Crediton station building. The station contains a 'highly commended' station cafe as awarded by The Guardian in 2009 and model railway of the area. Unfortunately, it was not yet open so Andy and I could not sample its delights so we had to make do with a nearby Tesco that did us an excellent value breakfast!
Keywords: Crediton station

221133, XC 06.28 Penzance-Glasgow Central (1S43, 34L), Cowley Bridge Junction
This classic view at Cowley Bridge is becoming somewhat overgrown now but is still instantly recognisable. The New Inn is still trading even though it's blue and white rather than black and white as it appears in most pictures. 221133 heads away north with the 06.28 Penzance to Glasgow Central. It was already late here and this situation did not improve as final arrival time was 34 minute late.
Keywords: 221133 1S43 Cowley Bridge Junction

Exmouth Junction signal box (BR, 1959)
Built by BR in 1959, Exmouth Junction signal box remains in use with a panel controlling the branch from here to Exmouth. This box replaced a lovely structure just beyond it that was demolished in 1960. Across the running lines in front of the box can be seen the site of the extensive Exmouth Junction shed and sidings. At its height, this was one of the biggest on the Southern Railway. It was also home to the concrete works that manufactured all of the Southern's pre-fabricated structures and fittings
Keywords: Exmouth Junction signal box

Topsham signal box (closed) (LSW, 1870s)
Topsham signal box closed some years ago with control of the level crossing moving to Exmouth Junction four miles north. The L & SWR box remains very much 'as-built' and even still contains its frame even through the levers have been removed. It is a grade II listed structure so I hope somebody comes forward soon to take it on before it deteriorates.
Keywords: Topsham signal box

Andy, the hire car, Exton station car park
Andy makes his way back to the car we hired for the four-day trip at Exton station.
Keywords: Exton station car park

143603, GW 10.21 Paignton-Exmouth (2F21, 8L), Exmouth station
143603 arrives at its destination working the 10.21 Paignton to Exmouth. The train was eight minutes late and with a platform full of passengers behind me it demanded a very rapid turnaround.
Keywords: 143603 2F21 Exmouth station

150128, GW 12.23 Exmouth-Paignton (2T15, RT), Exmouth station
I had bought a ticket, under guidance from a member of railway staff, from Exmouth to Lympstone Commando for Andy. In the picture, ticket in hand, Andy walks confidently to the train expecting to be able to alight at his chosen destination. However, when the train stopped at Commando station the guard would not allow him to alight even though he was going to get the next train straight back. After some discussion with the sentry on duty, during which Andy walked the length of the platform, he was ordered back on the train. Now, I was not happy about this, why sell a ticket to a station, with no warnings, that cannot be alighted at? I took this up with Great Western and then eventually the railway journalist Barry Doe took the case up. It is clear that clarification is needed, I hope that this is dealt with soon. Great Western issued pretty generic letter of apology along with a travel voucher.
Keywords: 150128 2T15 Exmouth station

Class 43, GW 10.06 London Paddington-Penzance (1C77, 14L), between Stracross & Cockwood from Exmouth
Sitting on the prom. at Exmouth waiting for Andy offered a superb panorama across the Exe Estuary. As I sat there, I managed to capture an HST forming the 10.06 Paddington to Penzance passing on the far side. Looking at the OS map it will have been between Stracross and Cockwood Harbour.
Keywords: Class 43 1C77 between Stracross & Cockwood from Exmouth

159014, SW 13.25 Exeter St. Davids-London Waterloo (1L52, 21L), Newtown SY068990
159014 passes through the green and pleasant Devon countryside with the 13.25 Exeter St. David's to Waterloo. This lovely spot was at Newton between Whimple and Feniton. Hard to believe that this was once a primary double track line carrying famous titled trains such as the 'Atlantic Coast Express'. However, could the good times return with discussions under way to re-double the line in its entirety?
Keywords: 159014 1L52 Newtown SY068990

159013, SW 11.20 London Waterloo-Exeter St. Davids (1L29, RT), Queen Street bridge, Honiton
Looks can be deceiving, this is not a rural location but in the middle of Honiton just east of the station. From Queen Street bridge in the town 159013 is seen forming the 11.20 Waterloo to Exeter St. David's. Honiton has a passing loop and a completely re-built station that opened in 2011.
Keywords: 159013 1L29 Queen Street bridge, Honiton

159016, SW 14.25 Exeter St. Davids-London Waterloo (1L56, 8L), Crewkerne station
The driver of 159016 gives his winscreen a good wash at Crewkerne station. The unit was forming the 14.25 Exeter St. David's to Waterloo service. Crewkerne station is simple but functional being situated some distance from the small town. Unfortunately, it has been downgraded to single-track status and the signal box has been closed, but there is constant discussion regarding upgrading this route so the good times could return?
Keywords: 159016 1L56 Crewkerne station

Crewkerne signal box (Closed) (BR, 1960)
Crewkerne signal box, bulit by British Railways in 1960, still stands boarded up and a little forlorn. In what seems a ridiculous waste of the railway's resources it was only open for seven years closing in 1967!
Keywords: Crewkerne signal box

Crewkerne signal box (Closed) (BR, 1960)
Despite being closed for an astonishing fifty years, Crewkerne signal box looks in remarkable condition. It is well secured and I have been unable to find out if there are any plans for future use, can anybody help with information on this?
Keywords: Crewkerne signal box

Andy, Chetnole station
Andy stands on the delightfully remote station at Chetnole in Dorset. This is on the line that runs south from Castle Cary to Dorchester. It appears that the entire station was manufactured in pre-fabricated concrete units and then assembled on site, this replaced the original timber structure opened in 1933 by the GWR. It is likely that the Southern's concrete plant at Exmouth Junction was responsible for its manufacture.
Keywords: Chetnole station

159013, SW 15.25 Exeter St. Davids-London Waterloo (1L60, 2L), Yeovil Junction station
Yeovil Junction station is a strangely remote spot some distance south of the town of Yeovil. All that remains of a once quite large station one central structure with a platform on either side. Here, 159013 waits at platform one with the 15.25 Exeter St. David's to London Waterloo. The huge car park that had recently been extended was packed with commuter's cars. There are various paces that they could be working in none of which have a particularly fast journey, be they Salisbury, Bristol, Exeter or even London.
Keywords: 159013 1L60 Yeovil Junction station

159104, SW 16.46 Yeovil Junction-London Waterloo (1O64, 2E), Yeovil Pen Mill Station
With mechanical signalling being wiped away in large swathes now, it is remarkable to find that Yeovil Pen Mill is still home to a mixture of lower and upper quadrant signals, a GWR box and absolute block. At the southern end of the station, 159104 arrives with an odd working, the 16.45 Yeovil Junction to Waterloo via Castle Cary. This working ran via this unorthodox route in order to serve passengers at the Glastonbury Festival who were bussed from the venue to and from Castle Cary station. Notice the cobbled together bracket signals here composed of new posts, ladders and railings with the old signal poles, complete with their finials, bolted on. This resignalling took place in April 2008.
Keywords: 159104 1O64 Yeovil Pen Mill Station

159104, SW 16.46 Yeovil Junction-London Waterloo (1O64, 2E), Yeovil Pen Mill station
159104 leaves Yeovil Pen Mill with the 16.46 Yeovil Junction to Waterloo (Via Castle Cary for Glastonbury Festival customers) is about to pass the only remaining lower quadrant signal, the up starter. In the foreground is the lovely GW Type 11 box, a late construction of this type dating from 1937. It is obvious that the staff maintain the traditions that signallers take care of their workplace with things like window box displays; I warrant that the inside was spick and span too!
Keywords: 159104, SW 16.46 Yeovil Junction-London Waterloo (1O64, 2E), Yeovil Pen Mill station

Templecombe signal box (SR, 1938)
Taken from the new platform at Templecombe is the fantastic art deco style former signal box that closed when resignalling took place in 2012. It is a classic 'glasshouse' SR Type 13 box that was opened in 1938 and the most westerly of this type and the only one of its type on this line. Currently, it is used by the 'friends' of the station who can access it via the gated and locked footbridge. Templecombe station used to be a very busy station at the interchange of the Somerset and Dorset and the Southern's routes with extensive yards and a large shed.
Keywords: Templecombe signal box

Tisbury signal box (BR, 1958)
The closed Tisbury signal box. It was built by British Railways in 1958 and is located just a very short distance from the spot of lovely L & SW structure it replaced dating from 1875. This British Railways' box was only in use for nine years beford being closed in 1967 when much of the line was rationalised. It is still in railway use and must contain some equipment; witness the two air conditioners.
Keywords: Tisbury signal box

159011, SW 16.50 London Waterloo-Castle Cary (1L51, 4L), Tisbury station
159011 arrives at Tisbury station working the 16.50 Waterloo to Castle Cary. No, I did misread the timetable, this working was to reverse at Yeovil Junction and head to Castle Cary in connection with revellers at the Glastonbury Festival that was mid-way through.
Keywords: 159011 1L51 Tisbury station

159011, SW 16.50 London Waterloo-Castle Cary (1L51, 4L), Tisbury station
159011 leaves Tisbury station between Gillingham (Dorset) and Salisbury. It is working the 16.50 London Waterloo to Castle Cary in connection with the Glastonbury Festival. This was our final train, station and picture of our epic trip, just a drive home to Northamptonshire in the hired Fiat 500!
Keywords: 159011 1L51 Tisbury station

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