Kingsbridge Branch
For more information please contact Aidan Hall on his web site Click here www.kingsbridge-branch.co.uk.
Credits, Many thanks to all contributors - please see a list on the home page.
Amazing Video of the Kingsbridge Branch
Ross Griffiths writes in :-
I just stumbled across a wonderful video on YouTube which has colour footage of Brent, Gara Bridge, Loddiswell and Kingsbridge stations - I couldn't find it listed on the CRS site so thought I'd share:
https://youtu.be/7cyq0RRyENM
All the best, Ross. Many thanks Ross - excellent material
Ross Griffiths writes in :-
I just stumbled across a wonderful video on YouTube which has colour footage of Brent, Gara Bridge, Loddiswell and Kingsbridge stations - I couldn't find it listed on the CRS site so thought I'd share:
https://youtu.be/7cyq0RRyENM
All the best, Ross. Many thanks Ross - excellent material

The timetable for the last week of operation of the Kingsbridge branch. For some strange reason * it appears that although the summer timetable ceased operation for the rest of the Western Region that the branch closure was delayed by one week into the winter period and a summer service was operated for that last week! Timetable from the Mike Roach collection. * Charles Fennamore tells us that Kingsbridge failed to close at the end of the summer timetable because of problems with the bus licences.
Brent

Two for the price of one, a bubble car leads a two car set off the Kingsbridge branch and into Brent station and at the same time a parcels train headed by 5954 gets the board to pull out of the down loop, a fascinating study of activity caught by Mike Roach. In view of the fact that the last trains ran on the Kingsbridge branch on Saturday 14th September 1963 and that the branch train has been strengthened to three coaches would appear to fix the date. Copyright.
Avonwick
As can be seen, when we arrived on a minibus trip in 1975 we found Avonwick being turned into a very acceptable dwelling.
Broadley Farm The picture below is thought to be a former pedestrian crossing at Broadley Farm just outside (south) of Diptford. Many thanks for this information from Bob and Beryl Gale.
Gara Bridge

Putting things in perspective. A lovely, almost aerial view, of Gara Bridge station. Not a road vehicle in sight, nice isn't it! The railway followed the course of the River Avon from Avonwick to Loddiswell. The river flows from right to left between the flat field behind the station and the road in the middle distance. Gara Bridge also had a telephone exchange which can be seen in the middle of the picture at the bottom. The exchange had less than 1000 subscribers at this time because Gara Bridge telephone numbers only had three digits. August 1963. Charles Fennamore points out that the fencing bordering the goods yard had been replaced only a short time before this date. Copyright Mike Roach
We were not made all that welcome when we crept in through the level crossing gates at the closed Gara Bridge, we explored, took a few pictures (below) then a voice in no uncertain manner told us to 'buzz off'. We did, quickly.
Topsham Bridge Level Crossing
Loddiswell
After closure Loddiswell station was bought for conversion to a private dwelling - click here to discover a most interesting article prepared by the Hall family on the restoration. Also check out Aidan Hall's web site Click here www.kingsbridge-branch.co.uk.
A visit to Loddiswell station on the 20th September 2014. The property is now owned by Richard and Nikki Curzon and a very many thanks is offered to them for allowing our visit and permission to take photographs of their remarkable station.
Also, don't forget to take a look at the early days of restoration of this station - a feature prepared by Aidan and Sally Hall make very interesting viewing.
Click here to view this section.
Click here to view this section.
Sorley Tunnel 638 yards
Kingsbridge 12 1/2 miles
Below, more views taken along this delightful line.
Kingsbridge in 2013
Acting on a 'tip off' our roaming photographer, Roger Winnen, took a trip to Kingsbridge on 1st June 2013 to make a record of a very attractive display set up by the 'Primrose Line Volunteers in memory of the Kingsbridge branch. As can be seen the track is not heavy rail, and the signals are not old B.R. items so one hopes that there is less chance of trophy hunters or vandals visiting the site. The display is alongside and under the first bridge over the former line out of Kingsbridge towards Brent. The bridge formerly carried Plymouth Road, the A379. but this has been diverted to pass alongside the narrow road bridge. A good effort, congratulations to those involved.
As can be seen by the bottom right of the smaller pictures very little remains of the original station, just a few cut stones.
Acting on a 'tip off' our roaming photographer, Roger Winnen, took a trip to Kingsbridge on 1st June 2013 to make a record of a very attractive display set up by the 'Primrose Line Volunteers in memory of the Kingsbridge branch. As can be seen the track is not heavy rail, and the signals are not old B.R. items so one hopes that there is less chance of trophy hunters or vandals visiting the site. The display is alongside and under the first bridge over the former line out of Kingsbridge towards Brent. The bridge formerly carried Plymouth Road, the A379. but this has been diverted to pass alongside the narrow road bridge. A good effort, congratulations to those involved.
As can be seen by the bottom right of the smaller pictures very little remains of the original station, just a few cut stones.