Clearbrook Halt railway station
Encyclopedia
Clearbrook Halt was a railway station serving the villages of Clearbrook and Meavy
in South Devon
, nine miles to the North of Plymouth
, and a mile and a half from Yelverton
.
It was staffed by a part-time attendant, and closed in 1962.
, along the edges of Dartmoor
, until it reached Tavistock, an ancient Stannary
town.
In the 1950s, the line was fairly busy with both passenger and freight trains. Freight included cattle, milk, and general goods. One pick-up freight train per day, usually with a 52xx Class 2-6-2
Prairie tank locomotive in charge.
Passenger trains usually consisted of one or two coaches, often using older "Hawksworth" stock, and pulled by either a 0-6-0
ex GWR Pannier tank, or another 2-6-2 Prairie.
The Branch passenger service was withdrawn from 31 December 1962, the last train running in a heavy blizzard
, the day before Dr. Richard Beeching took over as Chairman of the British Railways Board
. Marsh Mills to Tavistock was closed completely and demolished in the summer/autumn of 1964, and within two years the northern freight only sections were abandoned.
Meavy
Meavy is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Devon. Meavy forms part of the district of West Devon. It lies a mile or so east of Yelverton. The River Meavy runs near the village...
in South Devon
South Devon
South Devon is the southern part of the county of Devon, England.South Devon may also refer to*South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty*South Devon *South Devon College*South Devon cattle, a breed of cattle...
, nine miles to the North of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, and a mile and a half from Yelverton
Yelverton, Devon
Yelverton is a large village on the south-western edge of Dartmoor, Devon, in England.When the village's railway station opened in the 19th century, the village became a popular residence for Plymouth commuters...
.
Station
The station consisted of a short platform and sported a GWR Pagoda type waiting room and ticket office.It was staffed by a part-time attendant, and closed in 1962.
History
The Plym Valley railway ran from Plymouth North Road station to Marsh Mills. From there it followed the course of the River PlymRiver Plym
The River Plym is a river in Devon, England. Its source is some 450m above sea level on Dartmoor, in an upland marshy area called Plym Head. From the upper reaches which contain antiquities and mining remains the river flows roughly southwest and enters the sea near to the city of Plymouth, where...
, along the edges of Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
, until it reached Tavistock, an ancient Stannary
Stannary
The word stannary is historically applied to:*A tin mine, especially in Cornwall or Devon, South West England*A region containing tin works *A chartered entity comprising such a region, its works, and its workers...
town.
In the 1950s, the line was fairly busy with both passenger and freight trains. Freight included cattle, milk, and general goods. One pick-up freight train per day, usually with a 52xx Class 2-6-2
2-6-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels.Other equivalent classifications are:...
Prairie tank locomotive in charge.
Passenger trains usually consisted of one or two coaches, often using older "Hawksworth" stock, and pulled by either a 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
ex GWR Pannier tank, or another 2-6-2 Prairie.
The Branch passenger service was withdrawn from 31 December 1962, the last train running in a heavy blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
, the day before Dr. Richard Beeching took over as Chairman of the British Railways Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
. Marsh Mills to Tavistock was closed completely and demolished in the summer/autumn of 1964, and within two years the northern freight only sections were abandoned.