South Devon and Tavistock Railway
Encyclopedia
The South Devon and Tavistock Railway was a broad gauge
railway linking Plymouth
with Tavistock in Devon
, England
. It opened in 1859, was extended by the Launceston and South Devon Railway to Launceston, Cornwall
, in 1865, and was closed in 1962.
, a horse-worked line, had brought rail transport to Plymouth
on 26 September 1823. When the South Devon Railway
(SDR) brought a main line from Exeter St Davids
in 1848, where it linked with a route from London Paddington, schemes to expand into the hinterland were put forward. However rival schemes from London Waterloo were also put forward.
The South Devon and Tavistock Railway eventually gained an Act of Parliament
on 24 July 1854 which enabled them to construct a broad gauge
railway from Tavistock Junction on the SDR main line to Tavistock. This was opened on 21 June 1859, with trains sharing the South Devon's terminus at Millbay
.
On 30 June 1862 the independent Launceston and South Devon Railway gained its own Act of Parliament to extend the broad gauge line from Tavistock on to Launceston. Construction was completed in time for opening on 1 June 1865. One month later, on 1 July 1865, the Tavistock company amalgamated
with the SDR, and the Launceston company was bought out under an Act of Parliament on 24 June 1869. Both lines had been worked from the outset by the SDR so passengers would have noticed little change. The South Devon, in turn, amalgamated with the Great Western Railway
(GWR) on 1 February 1876.
Meanwhile the London and South Western Railway
(LSWR) route from Waterloo had reached Lydford station on the Launceston section on 12 October 1874. The South Devon was compelled to carry the standard gauge trains over its line to Plymouth and so the line from Lydford to Plymouth was laid with a third rail to allow trains of either gauge to run over it. The first LSWR train reached Plymouth on 17 May 1876.
The upper portion of the old Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway was replaced by a new GWR branch on 11 August 1883. This was standard gauge and connected with the Tavistock line just south of Yelverton Tunnel, but no station was able to be provided here until 1 May 1885 so trains continued the short distance to Horrabridge station. The LSWR ceased using the line on 31 May 1890, after which its trains ran over the new Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway
instead, which line closely followed the GWR's route from Lydford most of the way to Tavistock. The standard gauge north of Yelverton was little used for the next two years, but on 20 May 1892 the line, along with all the other remaining broad gauge lines, was converted to standard gauge. A different LSWR line reached Launceston on 21 July 1886 which offered the town a more direct route to London.
Following nationalisation on 1 January 1948, steps were taken to consolidate the railways in the area. The GWR station at Launceston was closed on 30 June 1952 and trains used the old LSWR station. The Princetown branch closed entirely on 3 March 1956. The last passenger trains were scheduled to run from Launceston to Plymouth via Tavistock on 29 December 1962, the "closure" taking effect from the following Monday, 31 December. In the event heavy snow falls put an end to any celebrations: the 6:20 train from Plymouth terminated at Tavistock at 12:20 the following morning; the 7:10 Tavistock to Plymouth was stranded at Bickleigh overnight.
Freight traffic continued from to Lifton until 1964, after which the train ran to Lifton from Launceston for two years until finally withdrawn on 28 February 1966. A new connection to the branch has been laid at Tavistock Junction to allow trains of china clay to shunt from the yard there to the china clay works at Marsh Mills. A short section of the branch north of there is being restored as a heritage railway
by the volunteers of the Plym Valley Railway
.
as a heritage railway
.
Much of the old line is also now used as the Plym Valley Cycle Path (part of the National Cycle Network
route 27), almost as far as Clearbrook.
was opened to passengers on 15 March 1861. Local people had requested a station on the South Devon Railway's
main line, but instead this station was opened just 396 yards (362 m) along the Tavistock line.
Goods traffic has always been important with a flour mill, china clay, and stone traffic. A china clay works is close to the station but closed in 2008/09. Public goods traffic was handled from 1 February 1860, long before passenger facilities were provided, and ceased on 1 June 1964.
The station is now the home to the Plym Valley Railway
, a small heritage operation.
from the opening of the line and a passing loop was provided so that trains could pass. Goods traffic was handled from 1 February 1860.
Between Plym Bridge and Bickleigh there were three viaducts, all originally built from timber but later rebuilt in masonry. There were Cann Viaduct (6 arches; 127 yards long), Riverford Viaduct (5 arches, 127 yards), and Bickleigh Viaduct (7 arches, 167 yards). A short distance to the north of the station was Ham Green Viaduct (6 arches, 190 yards).
and was convenient for visitors to the picturesque Dewerstone
Rock. The platform still stands today.
The Platform was situated a short distance south of Shaugh Tunnel.
that opened on 11 August 1883, however no station could be built as the railway could not secure an access route to the site, and so trains initially continued to Horrabridge. Agreement with the land owner was reached and a station provided at Yelverton
from 1 May 1885.
The Tavistock line was provided with two platforms. The Princetown line had a connection facing Tavistock and the platform on this line was sharply curved and a five-sided waiting room was provided between the platforms. A 23 feet 6 inch (7m) turntable
was provided at the Princetown end of the platform. As there was no loop on the branch trains were reversed out of the platform after passengers had alighted, the locomotive then ran into the turntable siding and the carriages left to run back into the platform by gravity, after which the locomotive could be attached to the Princetown end for the next journey.
The Princetown line closed on 5 March 1956 but the station was retained until the Tavistock line itself was closed on 31 December 1962.
The 641 yards (586 m) Yelverton Tunnel was just north of the platforms and was the summit of the Tavistock line.
. From 11 August 1883 until the opening of Yelverton station on 1 May 1885 it was the junction station for the Princetown Railway
.
The main platform and goods yard was on the side used by trains towards Plymouth, but a loop and second platform was provided for trains towards Tavistock.
Between Horrabridge and Whitchurch Down the line passed over Magpie Viaduct (4 arches, 216 yards) and Walkham Viaduct (15 arches, 367 yards), the longest on the line and rebuilt in 1910 using metal girders. The line then passed through Grenofen Tunnel (374 yards).
. The platform was on the right for trains going northwards to Tavistock.
that spanned the two platforms and three tracks. The station was situated on the hillside close to the town centre. The original buildings were of wood but these burnt down in 1887 and were replaced by a stone structure.
The main buildings were on the side used by trains going towards Plymouth. A footbridge was eventually provided at the north end of the station beyond the train shed. A small engine shed
was provided at the other end of the station but this was no longer needed once the Launceston and South Devon Railway opened on 1 July 1865.
On 26 September 1949 the station was renamed "Tavistock South" to distinguish it from the Southern Region
station on the Plymouth to London Waterloo route
, which was then named "Tavistock North
". Passenger services were withdrawn on 31 December 1962 but goods traffic continued until 7 September 1964. Passengers could still travel by train from Tavistock North until it closed in 1968.
and Blackdown, and was originally known as just "Mary Tavy". It was renamed "Mary Tavy and Blackdown" in 1907. A loop was provided to allow two trains to pass each other but this was removed in 1892, leaving in use just the platform on the right of trains going towards Launceston. Goods traffic was only handled until 11 August 1941.
The station at Lydford
was the junction with the London and South Western Railway
's London Waterloo to Plymouth route
, indeed from 17 May 1876 it was a junction that allowed the LSWR trains to reach Plymouth over the Great Western Railway's route. This arrangement lasted until 31 May 1890, after which the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway
's line allowed LSWR trains an independent route to Devonport and Plymouth.
The station was known as "Lidford" until 3 June 1897.
, Wales
, see Coryton railway station (Cardiff)
.
The opening of the line on 1 June 1865 saw the opening of a station to serve Coryton
. The platform was on the right of trains going towards Launceston. It was unstaffed from 14 September 1959 but was retained until the closure of the line on 31 December 1962. The station master's house survives, as does the main office although this has been extended since closure.
at the west end of the station.
The goods yard was on the same side as the buildings but a private siding was opened in 1894 to serve a corn mill, and a factory was opened in the goods yard in 1917 that handled milk and made rice pudding
. Passenger trains and public goods traffic ceased on 31 December 1962 but the line to Lydford was retained to carry the trains from the milk factory. When the LSWR line to Lydford was itself closed on 7 September 1964 it was necessary to reopen the line from Lifton to Launceston instead, but this also closed on 28 February 1966.
The terminus became a junction station with the LSWR with the opening of its North Cornwall Railway
. The two companies kept separate stations for many years but on 22 September 1943 a connection was established between the two lines to give flexibility, and from 30 June 1952 all trains used the former LSWR platforms. The station remained open to serve trains on the North Cornwall route until 3 October 1966.
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway linking 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...
with Tavistock 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
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It opened in 1859, was extended by the Launceston and South Devon Railway to Launceston, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, in 1865, and was closed in 1962.
Chronology
- 1854 South Devon and Tavistock authorised by Act of ParliamentAct of ParliamentAn Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
- 1859 SD&T Railway opened from Plymouth to Tavistock
- 1862 Launceston and South Devon Railway authorised by Act of Parliament
- 1865 SD&T amalgamatedConsolidation (business)Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
with the South Devon RailwaySouth Devon Railway CompanyThe South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament... - 1865 L&SD Railway opened from Tavistock to Launceston
- 1873 L&SD amalgamated with the South Devon Railway
- 1876 SDR amalgamated with the Great Western RailwayGreat Western RailwayThe Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
- 1876 London and South Western RailwayLondon and South Western RailwayThe London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
opens from Okehampton to Lydford, from where they reached Plymouth over the South Devon and Tavistock line, mixed gaugeDual gaugeA dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
being laid for the purpose - 1883 Princetown RailwayPrincetown RailwayThe Princetown Railway was a 10.5 mile long Great Western Railway built single track branch railway line in Devon, England, that ran from and later from , both on the South Devon and Tavistock line, to via four intermediate stations, , , and .-History:...
opens from a junction at Yelverton - 1892 The broad gauge lines converted to standard gauge
- 1948 Great Western Railway nationalised into British Railways
- 1956 Princetown branch closed
- 1962 Railway closed beyond Marsh Mills
History
The Plymouth and Dartmoor RailwayPlymouth and Dartmoor Railway
The Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway was a gauge horse-worked railway line in Devon, England. Most of the network had been replaced by conventional railways by 1888. The last surviving section, which continued to operate until 1960, is generally referred to as the Lee Moor Tramway...
, a horse-worked line, had brought rail transport to 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...
on 26 September 1823. When the South Devon Railway
South Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
(SDR) brought a main line from 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:...
in 1848, where it linked with a route from London Paddington, schemes to expand into the hinterland were put forward. However rival schemes from London Waterloo were also put forward.
The South Devon and Tavistock Railway eventually gained an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
on 24 July 1854 which enabled them to construct a broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway from Tavistock Junction on the SDR main line to Tavistock. This was opened on 21 June 1859, with trains sharing the South Devon's terminus at Millbay
Plymouth Millbay railway station
Plymouth Millbay railway station was the original railway terminus in Plymouth, Devon, England. It was used for passenger trains from 1849 to 1941.- History :...
.
On 30 June 1862 the independent Launceston and South Devon Railway gained its own Act of Parliament to extend the broad gauge line from Tavistock on to Launceston. Construction was completed in time for opening on 1 June 1865. One month later, on 1 July 1865, the Tavistock company amalgamated
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
with the SDR, and the Launceston company was bought out under an Act of Parliament on 24 June 1869. Both lines had been worked from the outset by the SDR so passengers would have noticed little change. The South Devon, in turn, amalgamated with the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) on 1 February 1876.
Meanwhile the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(LSWR) route from Waterloo had reached Lydford station on the Launceston section on 12 October 1874. The South Devon was compelled to carry the standard gauge trains over its line to Plymouth and so the line from Lydford to Plymouth was laid with a third rail to allow trains of either gauge to run over it. The first LSWR train reached Plymouth on 17 May 1876.
The upper portion of the old Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway was replaced by a new GWR branch on 11 August 1883. This was standard gauge and connected with the Tavistock line just south of Yelverton Tunnel, but no station was able to be provided here until 1 May 1885 so trains continued the short distance to Horrabridge station. The LSWR ceased using the line on 31 May 1890, after which its trains ran over the new Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway
Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway
The Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway in England was built by an independent company but operated by the London and South Western Railway as part of its main line to give it independent access to Plymouth. It ran from to Devonport Junction, just west of Plymouth North Road...
instead, which line closely followed the GWR's route from Lydford most of the way to Tavistock. The standard gauge north of Yelverton was little used for the next two years, but on 20 May 1892 the line, along with all the other remaining broad gauge lines, was converted to standard gauge. A different LSWR line reached Launceston on 21 July 1886 which offered the town a more direct route to London.
Following nationalisation on 1 January 1948, steps were taken to consolidate the railways in the area. The GWR station at Launceston was closed on 30 June 1952 and trains used the old LSWR station. The Princetown branch closed entirely on 3 March 1956. The last passenger trains were scheduled to run from Launceston to Plymouth via Tavistock on 29 December 1962, the "closure" taking effect from the following Monday, 31 December. In the event heavy snow falls put an end to any celebrations: the 6:20 train from Plymouth terminated at Tavistock at 12:20 the following morning; the 7:10 Tavistock to Plymouth was stranded at Bickleigh overnight.
Freight traffic continued from to Lifton until 1964, after which the train ran to Lifton from Launceston for two years until finally withdrawn on 28 February 1966. A new connection to the branch has been laid at Tavistock Junction to allow trains of china clay to shunt from the yard there to the china clay works at Marsh Mills. A short section of the branch north of there is being restored as a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
by the volunteers of the Plym Valley Railway
Plym Valley Railway
The Plym Valley Railway is part of the closed South Devon and Tavistock Railway near Plymouth, a branch line of the Great Western Railway in Devon.The Plym Valley Railway is currently rebuilding the Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge section of the line...
.
Remains
A short section of the railway beyond Marsh Mills is operated by the Plym Valley RailwayPlym Valley Railway
The Plym Valley Railway is part of the closed South Devon and Tavistock Railway near Plymouth, a branch line of the Great Western Railway in Devon.The Plym Valley Railway is currently rebuilding the Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge section of the line...
as a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
.
Much of the old line is also now used as the Plym Valley Cycle Path (part of the National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
route 27), almost as far as Clearbrook.
Stations
The Tavistock line opened with just three stations and a further five were constructed by the Launceston company, but by 1938 the line boasted a total of fifteen stations and halts.Marsh Mills
The station at Marsh Mills near PlymptonPlympton
Plympton, or Plympton Maurice or Plympton St Maurice or Plympton St Mary or Plympton Erle, in south-western Devon, England is an ancient stannary town: an important trading centre in the past for locally mined tin, and a former seaport...
was opened to passengers on 15 March 1861. Local people had requested a station on the South Devon Railway's
South Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
main line, but instead this station was opened just 396 yards (362 m) along the Tavistock line.
Goods traffic has always been important with a flour mill, china clay, and stone traffic. A china clay works is close to the station but closed in 2008/09. Public goods traffic was handled from 1 February 1860, long before passenger facilities were provided, and ceased on 1 June 1964.
The station is now the home to the Plym Valley Railway
Plym Valley Railway
The Plym Valley Railway is part of the closed South Devon and Tavistock Railway near Plymouth, a branch line of the Great Western Railway in Devon.The Plym Valley Railway is currently rebuilding the Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge section of the line...
, a small heritage operation.
Plym Bridge
Plym Bridge Platform was opened by the Great Western Railway on 1 May 1906 and was mainly used by people visiting the nearby countryside. The Plym Valley Railway aim to reopen the line from Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge.Bickleigh
A station was provided at BickleighBickleigh, South Hams
Bickleigh is a small village on the southern edge of Dartmoor in Devon, England. It has a population of about 50 people. It is in the South Hams district, and is about seven miles north of Plymouth city centre...
from the opening of the line and a passing loop was provided so that trains could pass. Goods traffic was handled from 1 February 1860.
Between Plym Bridge and Bickleigh there were three viaducts, all originally built from timber but later rebuilt in masonry. There were Cann Viaduct (6 arches; 127 yards long), Riverford Viaduct (5 arches, 127 yards), and Bickleigh Viaduct (7 arches, 167 yards). A short distance to the north of the station was Ham Green Viaduct (6 arches, 190 yards).
Shaugh Bridge
Another of the Great Western Railway's countryside halts, Shaugh Bridge Platform opened on 21 August 1907 near the village of Shaugh PriorShaugh Prior
Shaugh Prior is a village and civil parish on the south-western side of Dartmoor in the county of Devon, England. In 2001 its population was 751. The parish stretches from the edge of Plymouth to the high moorland of Dartmoor. The River Plym forms its western and northern boundaries up to the...
and was convenient for visitors to the picturesque Dewerstone
Dewerstone
Dewerstone is the site of an Iron Age Hill fort on a rocky promontory overlooking the River Plym on the South West edge of Dartmoor to the North of Plympton in Devon...
Rock. The platform still stands today.
The Platform was situated a short distance south of Shaugh Tunnel.
Clearbrook
This Great Western Railway halt opened on 29 October 1928, much later than others in the area. As well as day visitors to the surrounding countryside, it was convenient for the village of Clearbrook.Yelverton
Yelverton was the junction for the Princetown RailwayPrincetown Railway
The Princetown Railway was a 10.5 mile long Great Western Railway built single track branch railway line in Devon, England, that ran from and later from , both on the South Devon and Tavistock line, to via four intermediate stations, , , and .-History:...
that opened on 11 August 1883, however no station could be built as the railway could not secure an access route to the site, and so trains initially continued to Horrabridge. Agreement with the land owner was reached and a station provided at 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...
from 1 May 1885.
The Tavistock line was provided with two platforms. The Princetown line had a connection facing Tavistock and the platform on this line was sharply curved and a five-sided waiting room was provided between the platforms. A 23 feet 6 inch (7m) turntable
Turntable (railroad)
A railway turntable is a device for turning railroad rolling stock. When steam locomotives were still in wide use, many railroads needed a way to turn the locomotives around for return trips as their controls were often not configured for extended periods of running in reverse and in many...
was provided at the Princetown end of the platform. As there was no loop on the branch trains were reversed out of the platform after passengers had alighted, the locomotive then ran into the turntable siding and the carriages left to run back into the platform by gravity, after which the locomotive could be attached to the Princetown end for the next journey.
The Princetown line closed on 5 March 1956 but the station was retained until the Tavistock line itself was closed on 31 December 1962.
The 641 yards (586 m) Yelverton Tunnel was just north of the platforms and was the summit of the Tavistock line.
Horrabridge
One of the stations provided for the opening of the line, this served the village of HorrabridgeHorrabridge
Horrabridge is a village in West Devon, England with a population of 2,115 people in 2006, down from 2,204 in 1991. It is located approximately 12 miles north of the city of Plymouth and 4 miles south of Tavistock and is within the Dartmoor National Park....
. From 11 August 1883 until the opening of Yelverton station on 1 May 1885 it was the junction station for the Princetown Railway
Princetown Railway
The Princetown Railway was a 10.5 mile long Great Western Railway built single track branch railway line in Devon, England, that ran from and later from , both on the South Devon and Tavistock line, to via four intermediate stations, , , and .-History:...
.
The main platform and goods yard was on the side used by trains towards Plymouth, but a loop and second platform was provided for trains towards Tavistock.
Between Horrabridge and Whitchurch Down the line passed over Magpie Viaduct (4 arches, 216 yards) and Walkham Viaduct (15 arches, 367 yards), the longest on the line and rebuilt in 1910 using metal girders. The line then passed through Grenofen Tunnel (374 yards).
Whitchurch Down
The Great Western Railway opened Whitchurch Down Platform on 1 September 1906 to serve the village of WhitchurchWhitchurch, Devon
Whitchurch is a village just to the south-east of the town of Tavistock, Devon, England. It lies in the West Devon local authority area, and within Tavistock Deanery for ecclesiastical purposes...
. The platform was on the right for trains going northwards to Tavistock.
Tavistock South
As befitting the terminus of the South Devon and Tavistock Railway, the station (50.5471°N 4.1442°W) at Tavistock was provided with a large train shedTrain shed
A train shed is an adjacent building to a railway station where the tracks and platforms are covered by a roof. It is also known as an overall roof...
that spanned the two platforms and three tracks. The station was situated on the hillside close to the town centre. The original buildings were of wood but these burnt down in 1887 and were replaced by a stone structure.
The main buildings were on the side used by trains going towards Plymouth. A footbridge was eventually provided at the north end of the station beyond the train shed. A small engine shed
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
was provided at the other end of the station but this was no longer needed once the Launceston and South Devon Railway opened on 1 July 1865.
On 26 September 1949 the station was renamed "Tavistock South" to distinguish it from the Southern Region
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
station on the Plymouth to London Waterloo route
West of England Main Line
The West of England Main Line is a British railway line that runs from , Hampshire to Exeter St Davids in Devon, England. Passenger services run between London Waterloo station and Exeter...
, which was then named "Tavistock North
Tavistock North railway station
Tavistock North was a railway station operated by the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway, serving the town of Tavistock. The station opened on 2 June 1890 and closed on 6 May 1968. The main station building has been completely restored by its current owners and converted in to 3...
". Passenger services were withdrawn on 31 December 1962 but goods traffic continued until 7 September 1964. Passengers could still travel by train from Tavistock North until it closed in 1968.
Mary Tavy and Blackdown
This station was situated about half a mile from both Mary TavyMary Tavy
Mary Tavy is a village with a population of around 600, located four miles north of Tavistock in Devon in south-west England; it is named after the River Tavy. It used to be home to the world's largest copper mine Wheal Friendship, as well as a number of lead and tin mines. It borders Dartmoor...
and Blackdown, and was originally known as just "Mary Tavy". It was renamed "Mary Tavy and Blackdown" in 1907. A loop was provided to allow two trains to pass each other but this was removed in 1892, leaving in use just the platform on the right of trains going towards Launceston. Goods traffic was only handled until 11 August 1941.
Lydford
Main article Lydford railway stationLydford railway station
Lydford railway station was a junction at Lydford between the Great Western Railway and London and South Western Railway situated in a remote part of north-west Dartmoor in Devon, England.-History:...
The station at Lydford
Lydford
Lydford, sometimes spelled Lidford, is a village, once an important town, in Devon situated north of Tavistock on the western fringe of Dartmoor in the West Devon district.-Description:The village has a population of 458....
was the junction with the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
's London Waterloo to Plymouth route
West of England Main Line
The West of England Main Line is a British railway line that runs from , Hampshire to Exeter St Davids in Devon, England. Passenger services run between London Waterloo station and Exeter...
, indeed from 17 May 1876 it was a junction that allowed the LSWR trains to reach Plymouth over the Great Western Railway's route. This arrangement lasted until 31 May 1890, after which the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway
Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway
The Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway in England was built by an independent company but operated by the London and South Western Railway as part of its main line to give it independent access to Plymouth. It ran from to Devonport Junction, just west of Plymouth North Road...
's line allowed LSWR trains an independent route to Devonport and Plymouth.
The station was known as "Lidford" until 3 June 1897.
Liddaton
The halt at Liddaton was opened much later than the other stations on the line, on 4 April 1938. It was a simple wooden platform with a small waiting hut, also constructed from wood.Coryton
For the station in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, see Coryton railway station (Cardiff)
Coryton railway station (Cardiff)
Coryton railway station is a railway station serving the Coryton and Pantmawr area of Cardiff. It is the terminus of the Coryton Line north of Cardiff Central in which the line originates from Cardiff Queen Street....
.
The opening of the line on 1 June 1865 saw the opening of a station to serve Coryton
Coryton, Devon
Coryton is a village and civil parish in the West Devon district of Devon, England, to the north west of Tavistock.Coryton is in the valley of the River Lyd. It has a church and a former mill. There was formerly a railway station on the Launceston and South Devon Railway , closed in 1962....
. The platform was on the right of trains going towards Launceston. It was unstaffed from 14 September 1959 but was retained until the closure of the line on 31 December 1962. The station master's house survives, as does the main office although this has been extended since closure.
Lifton
The station at Lifton was opened with the railway on 1 June 1865. The main building was on the platform used by trains towards Plymouth but there was a loop and second platform to allow trains to pass. There was a level crossingLevel crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
at the west end of the station.
The goods yard was on the same side as the buildings but a private siding was opened in 1894 to serve a corn mill, and a factory was opened in the goods yard in 1917 that handled milk and made rice pudding
Rice pudding
Rice pudding is a dish made from rice mixed with water or milk and sometimes other ingredients such as cinnamon and raisins. Different variants are used for either desserts or dinners. When used as a dessert, it is commonly combined with a sweetener such as sugar.-Rice pudding around the world:Rice...
. Passenger trains and public goods traffic ceased on 31 December 1962 but the line to Lydford was retained to carry the trains from the milk factory. When the LSWR line to Lydford was itself closed on 7 September 1964 it was necessary to reopen the line from Lifton to Launceston instead, but this also closed on 28 February 1966.
Launceston
Main article Launceston railway stationLaunceston railway station
Launceston railway station was situated in Launceston, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was served by both the Great Western Railway and London and South Western Railway ....
The terminus became a junction station with the LSWR with the opening of its North Cornwall Railway
North Cornwall Railway
The North Cornwall Railway was a railway line running from Halwill in Devon to Padstow in Cornwall via Launceston, Camelford and Wadebridge, a distance of 49 miles 67 chains. Opened in the last decade of the nineteenth century, it was part of a drive by the London and South Western Railway to...
. The two companies kept separate stations for many years but on 22 September 1943 a connection was established between the two lines to give flexibility, and from 30 June 1952 all trains used the former LSWR platforms. The station remained open to serve trains on the North Cornwall route until 3 October 1966.