Eggesford railway station
Encyclopedia
Eggesford railway station is a rural station on the serving the village of Eggesford
and surrounding villages in Devon
, England. Despite its name, the station is actually in the neighbouring civil parish
of Chawleigh
. It is a passing place on the single track Tarka Line
21.25 miles (34 km) north west of Exeter
on the way to Barnstaple
.
on 1 August 1854. The North Devon Railway was required to obtain permission from the landowner, the Earl of Portsmouth, whose country seat was situated within an estate near to the site of the station. It is said that the Earl agreed to the railway being built on his land on the understanding that all trains would stop at the station thus affording easy access to Eggesford House for visiting guests.
To this day, all trains continue to stop although the Earl's family have long become extinct. This is possibly more as a result of the station being an exchange point for tokens on the Crediton
to Eggesford and Eggesford to Barnstaple
Token Block sections, but it has been suggested that the passing loop is here and not elsewhere because of this agreement with the Earl. Whether it had any bearing on the Earldom or not, it is a fact that in BR steam days the summer Saturday 'Atlantic Coast Express, the thirteen coach 11.00 Waterloo to Ilfracombe, made its only stop between Exeter and Barnstaple at Eggesford.
A signalbox was in existence at Eggesford until 1987, however the line has since been rationalised and the passing loop automated with the use of spring points. Token exchange is now carried out by the driver in an unmanned hut located on each platform. The conductor/guard is also required to operate the level crossing at the station as well as this is not automatic. Token release and train signalling is carried out by Crediton
signalbox.
In the late 1960s, the down platform and buildings were washed away by the flooded River Taw
, following torrential rain. However, a replacement structure was built.
to Exmouth
service stop at Eggesford. Trains connect with main line services at Exeter St Davids
.
. The line is promoted under the "Tarka Line
" name.
The Eggesford Country House Hotel is included in the Tarka Line rail ale trail
.
Eggesford
Eggesford is a village in mid-Devon. It is served by Eggesford railway station on the Exeter to Barnstaple railway line, also known as the Tarka Line.It is home to the Chichester family, Earl of Portsmouth ....
and surrounding villages in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. Despite its name, the station is actually in the neighbouring civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Chawleigh
Chawleigh
Chawleigh is a village and civil parish in Mid Devon in the English county of Devon, situated just off the A377 between Crediton and Barnstaple. It has a population of 621....
. It is a passing place on the single track Tarka Line
Tarka Line
The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter to Barnstaple in Devon, England. The line follows the River Creedy, River Yeo and River Taw for some of its route...
21.25 miles (34 km) north west of Exeter
Exeter St Davids railway station
Exeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail stations in the city of Exeter in southwest England. Today the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Great Western.-History:...
on the way to Barnstaple
Barnstaple railway station
Barnstaple railway station is the terminus of a long branch line, known as the Tarka Line, north west of Exeter St Davids, in Devon.It was known as Barnstaple Junction from 1874 to 1970 as it was the junction between lines to , , and Exeter-History:...
.
History
The station was opened by the North Devon RailwayNorth Devon Railway
The North Devon Railway was a British railway company which operated a line from Cowley Bridge Junction, near Exeter, to Bideford in Devon, later becoming part of the London and South Western Railway's system...
on 1 August 1854. The North Devon Railway was required to obtain permission from the landowner, the Earl of Portsmouth, whose country seat was situated within an estate near to the site of the station. It is said that the Earl agreed to the railway being built on his land on the understanding that all trains would stop at the station thus affording easy access to Eggesford House for visiting guests.
To this day, all trains continue to stop although the Earl's family have long become extinct. This is possibly more as a result of the station being an exchange point for tokens on the Crediton
Crediton railway station
Crediton railway station is a railway station serving the town of Crediton in Devon, England.It is the current junction of the Tarka and Dartmoor lines, though the two lines run parallel until Coleford Junction at Penstone near Coleford .-History:The station, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel,...
to Eggesford and Eggesford to Barnstaple
Barnstaple railway station
Barnstaple railway station is the terminus of a long branch line, known as the Tarka Line, north west of Exeter St Davids, in Devon.It was known as Barnstaple Junction from 1874 to 1970 as it was the junction between lines to , , and Exeter-History:...
Token Block sections, but it has been suggested that the passing loop is here and not elsewhere because of this agreement with the Earl. Whether it had any bearing on the Earldom or not, it is a fact that in BR steam days the summer Saturday 'Atlantic Coast Express, the thirteen coach 11.00 Waterloo to Ilfracombe, made its only stop between Exeter and Barnstaple at Eggesford.
A signalbox was in existence at Eggesford until 1987, however the line has since been rationalised and the passing loop automated with the use of spring points. Token exchange is now carried out by the driver in an unmanned hut located on each platform. The conductor/guard is also required to operate the level crossing at the station as well as this is not automatic. Token release and train signalling is carried out by Crediton
Crediton railway station
Crediton railway station is a railway station serving the town of Crediton in Devon, England.It is the current junction of the Tarka and Dartmoor lines, though the two lines run parallel until Coleford Junction at Penstone near Coleford .-History:The station, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel,...
signalbox.
In the late 1960s, the down platform and buildings were washed away by the flooded River Taw
River Taw
The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge.-Watercourse:...
, following torrential rain. However, a replacement structure was built.
Services
All trains on the BarnstapleBarnstaple railway station
Barnstaple railway station is the terminus of a long branch line, known as the Tarka Line, north west of Exeter St Davids, in Devon.It was known as Barnstaple Junction from 1874 to 1970 as it was the junction between lines to , , and Exeter-History:...
to Exmouth
Exmouth railway station
Exmouth station serves the town of Exmouth in Devon, England and is south east of -History:The railway to Exmouth was opened on 1 May 1861. New docks designed by Eugenius Birch were opened in 1868 and a short branch was laid to connect them to the goods yard.A branch line with a junction...
service stop at Eggesford. Trains connect with main line services at Exeter St Davids
Exeter St Davids railway station
Exeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail stations in the city of Exeter in southwest England. Today the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Great Western.-History:...
.
Community railway
The railway between Exeter and Barnstaple is designated as a community railway and is supported by marketing provided by the Devon and Cornwall Rail PartnershipDevon and Cornwall Rail Partnership
The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership is the largest Community Rail Partnership in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1991 to promote the use of, and improvements to, rural railways in Devon and Cornwall, and also to promote the places served in order to improve the local economy.The...
. The line is promoted under the "Tarka Line
Tarka Line
The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter to Barnstaple in Devon, England. The line follows the River Creedy, River Yeo and River Taw for some of its route...
" name.
The Eggesford Country House Hotel is included in the Tarka Line rail ale trail
Rail ale trail
A rail ale trail is a marketing exercise in the United Kingdom that is designed to promote tourism to a rural area, by encouraging people to visit a series of pubs that are close to railway stations along a railway line. Participants are rewarded for visiting the pubs by train. In doing this they...
.