South Molton railway station
Encyclopedia
South Molton railway station served the town of South Molton
in Devon
, England
. The station was on the Devon and Somerset Railway
that ran between Taunton
and Barnstaple
. The Devon and Somerset was operated by the Bristol and Exeter Railway
and was taken over with the B&E by the Great Western Railway
. The station was about a mile to the north of the town.
The section of the line between Wiveliscombe
and Barnstaple opened on 1 November 1873. South Molton station was one of three passing places on the original line (the others were Wiveliscombe and Dulverton
). The station had a large building on the down platform (towards Barnstaple) comprising a station master's house and waiting rooms, a booking hall and offices. The up platform had only a small wooden shelter and there was no footbridge. There was also a goods yard to the west of the station, with a goods shed and large cranes.
Goods traffic was withdrawn from South Molton in 1964 and the station closed to passenger traffic with the closure of the Devon and Somerset line on 3 October 1966. The station building survived until 2003 but was then demolished. The railway route forms part of the North Devon Link Road. The former goods shed is in industrial use.
South Molton was also served by a station eight miles from the town on the North Devon Railway
from Exeter
to Barnstaple
, now called the Tarka Line
. This station was opened in 1854 as South Molton Road, but has been called King's Nympton
since 1951 and remains open for limited passenger services.
South Molton
"Molton" redirects here. Or see Molten or Moulton.South Molton is a small town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of South Molton had a population of 4,093.The town was one of...
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...
. The station was on the Devon and Somerset Railway
Devon and Somerset Railway
The Devon and Somerset Railway was a branch line from near in Somerset to in North Devon. It was operated from the outset by the Bristol and Exeter Railway which became part of the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1876.-History:...
that ran between Taunton
Taunton railway station
Taunton railway station is a junction station on the route from London to Penzance, from London Paddington station. It is situated in Taunton, Somerset, England and is operated by First Great Western...
and Barnstaple
Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station
Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station was the terminus of the Devon and Somerset Railway line from Taunton railway station. It served the town of Barnstaple in Devon, England and was opened when the Devon and Somerset line was extended from Wiveliscombe to Barnstaple on 1 November...
. The Devon and Somerset was operated by the Bristol and Exeter Railway
Bristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
and was taken over with the B&E by 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...
. The station was about a mile to the north of the town.
The section of the line between Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe railway station
Wiveliscombe railway station served the town of Wiveliscombe in Somerset. It was on the Devon and Somerset Railway that ran between Taunton and Barnstaple...
and Barnstaple opened on 1 November 1873. South Molton station was one of three passing places on the original line (the others were Wiveliscombe and Dulverton
Dulverton railway station
Dulverton railway station was the largest intermediate station on the Devon and Somerset Railway, which ran from Taunton to Barnstaple. The station served the town of Dulverton and from 1884 acted also as the junction station for the Exe Valley Railway, which ran through Bampton, Devon and Tiverton...
). The station had a large building on the down platform (towards Barnstaple) comprising a station master's house and waiting rooms, a booking hall and offices. The up platform had only a small wooden shelter and there was no footbridge. There was also a goods yard to the west of the station, with a goods shed and large cranes.
Goods traffic was withdrawn from South Molton in 1964 and the station closed to passenger traffic with the closure of the Devon and Somerset line on 3 October 1966. The station building survived until 2003 but was then demolished. The railway route forms part of the North Devon Link Road. The former goods shed is in industrial use.
South Molton was also served by a station eight miles from the town on the North Devon Railway
North 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...
from 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:...
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:...
, now called 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...
. This station was opened in 1854 as South Molton Road, but has been called King's Nympton
King's Nympton railway station
King's Nympton railway station is a small station on the Tarka Line north west of Exeter St David's station on the way to Barnstaple. It serves a number of rural villages, including King's Nympton, but is located in the civil parish of Chulmleigh.-History:...
since 1951 and remains open for limited passenger services.