Roaming the LSWR
Southern Branch Lines
Roger Winnen
Southern Branch Lines
Roger Winnen
A trip last Saturday to ride the Barnstaple Branch now using 90 mph 158 Rolling Stock, followed by visiting the Southern Bideford Railway Station and riding the Exmouth Branch with the 166 Turbos which gives some luxury now of both 158s and 166s replacing the nodding donkeys.
210626a 158951 Works the 12.15 from Exeter Cenral seen arrivinf at Barnstaple. Copyright Roger Winnen
210626b After gaining access to the Tarka Trail we pass by The Royal Hotel which had an entrance from the station platform at Bideford . Copyright Roger Winnen
210626aa Bideford Station at noon on Saturday 26th June 2021. After closure to passengers the building on the lefy became a branch of The Midland Bank. Copyright Roger Winnen
210626d A Southern PMV van is located in the platform. Copyright Roger Winnen
210626e A Planet 0-4-0 Diesel locomotive located alongside the Guards Van. Copyright Roger Winnen
210626f The station nameboard. Copyright Roger Winnen
The crossing between the two platforms at Bideford. Copyright Roger Winnen
The Exmouth Branch
210626g 166202 on the 14.55 service from Exeter St David's to Exmouth departs Lympstone Village. Copyright Roger Winnen
210626h The returning service from Exmouth crosses the road by The Swan Inn at Lympstone.. Note the 1st Class near the driver. CopyrightRoger Winnen
210626hh The 15.20 Paignton to Exmouth approaches Topsham behind 166211. Copyright Roger Winnen
210626i 166211 awaits the arrival at Topsham to pass the Exmouth to Paignton service. Copyright Roger Winnen
** Electrification of the **
Moretonhampstead Branch
Andrew Jones
Moretonhampstead Branch
Andrew Jones
Andrew gets on his bike to explore what he can of the Mortonhampstead branch.
“Moretonhampstead Branch Electrification”, Well you might need to read a few more paragraphs to find out about this sensational news!
Devon County Council have invested large amounts of revenue converting redundant railway formations to cycle trails and the Moretonhampstead to Bovey Tracey Branch is a credit to the their forward thinking and obviously deep pockets.
Although the upper branch was lifted in 1965, almost 60 years ago, they have managed to purchase enough infrastructure to resemble the railways original broadgauge course with unfortunately a notable exception through Lustleigh.
Starting from Moretonhampstead central carpark, the trail is well marked to its starting point approx ¼ mile west of the original station. Having survived over half a century, progress has finally caught up and the last remaining buildings are being converted to blend in with another, in my opinion bland housing estate. (please see photograph 1)
Devon Council have invested in two new bow string bridges crossing the busy A382 allowing for approx 60% of the original railway trackbed to be converted for pedestrian and cycle use.
I was a bit confused on reaching the first road overbridge, which has been built to accommodate either a platform or double track formation. My investigations have unearthed a possible station called “Ticket platform”, but this might refer to the original terminus as it is in close proximity, perhaps a member can verify. (please see photograph 2)
A deviation is now required for the next section which broadly parallels the original formation.(please see photograph 3)
Approaching Lustleigh, now back on the original course, perhaps one of the most major feats of the line encountered is a deep cutting, which under normal conditions would probably have been tunnelled.
(please see photograph 4)
Once through the cutting you have to make a considerable deviation to the east of Lustleigh due to private ownership and some very expensive looking houses.
Lustleigh station is invisible with only part of the roof glimpsed through heavy woodland. (please see photograph 5)
The downside of all closed railways in this country is the lack of importance given to railway land disposal which generally restricts conversion to trails, the French safeguard closed rail routes for possible re use.(so there is something they can teach us!)
Now it was at this point, whilst climbing some very steep narrow lanes that a lady who could have been my granny, (not possible even with modern medical science!) flew past me at a considerable rate of knots commenting “Lad, you need to get an electric bike!” I have to say I was a bit taken a back, possibly because she had assumed I was a “Lad” but also at the power of these electric bikes.
I had to smile to myself that the Moretonhampstead Branch had actually been electrified as I began to notice that everyone was riding them.
A mile on and almost a hospital case, you regain the original formation (please see photograph 6) and continue on a low embankment, thankfully downhill through a beautiful wooded tunnel (please see photograph 7),passing the National Trust Parke Estate and into Bovey Tracey.
I really have to stop doing this according to Diane or perhaps I will take the advice and buy an electric bike. ( I already own a fully electric car!)
Now the technical bits! In my opinion, on no account try to cycle on Devons A roads. I have never seen so many grain lorries and milk tankers. (Which asks the question, how did the railways manage to lose this traffic in the first place. I suspect another article in the making!) Compared to Cornwall the traffic is fast and very busy.
Always wear High Viz and a cycle helmet and if possible a flashing LED light and most important fit a warning bell.
In hindsight I should have started my journey at Bovey Tracey as the trackbed is mostly uphill to Moretonhampstead and your energy levels are best at the start. The return trip is approx 14 miles and as mentioned the Lustleigh deviation is challenging.
I nearly forgot Devon County Council call this railway conversion “The Wray Valley Trail”
Safe cycling!
Devon County Council have invested large amounts of revenue converting redundant railway formations to cycle trails and the Moretonhampstead to Bovey Tracey Branch is a credit to the their forward thinking and obviously deep pockets.
Although the upper branch was lifted in 1965, almost 60 years ago, they have managed to purchase enough infrastructure to resemble the railways original broadgauge course with unfortunately a notable exception through Lustleigh.
Starting from Moretonhampstead central carpark, the trail is well marked to its starting point approx ¼ mile west of the original station. Having survived over half a century, progress has finally caught up and the last remaining buildings are being converted to blend in with another, in my opinion bland housing estate. (please see photograph 1)
Devon Council have invested in two new bow string bridges crossing the busy A382 allowing for approx 60% of the original railway trackbed to be converted for pedestrian and cycle use.
I was a bit confused on reaching the first road overbridge, which has been built to accommodate either a platform or double track formation. My investigations have unearthed a possible station called “Ticket platform”, but this might refer to the original terminus as it is in close proximity, perhaps a member can verify. (please see photograph 2)
A deviation is now required for the next section which broadly parallels the original formation.(please see photograph 3)
Approaching Lustleigh, now back on the original course, perhaps one of the most major feats of the line encountered is a deep cutting, which under normal conditions would probably have been tunnelled.
(please see photograph 4)
Once through the cutting you have to make a considerable deviation to the east of Lustleigh due to private ownership and some very expensive looking houses.
Lustleigh station is invisible with only part of the roof glimpsed through heavy woodland. (please see photograph 5)
The downside of all closed railways in this country is the lack of importance given to railway land disposal which generally restricts conversion to trails, the French safeguard closed rail routes for possible re use.(so there is something they can teach us!)
Now it was at this point, whilst climbing some very steep narrow lanes that a lady who could have been my granny, (not possible even with modern medical science!) flew past me at a considerable rate of knots commenting “Lad, you need to get an electric bike!” I have to say I was a bit taken a back, possibly because she had assumed I was a “Lad” but also at the power of these electric bikes.
I had to smile to myself that the Moretonhampstead Branch had actually been electrified as I began to notice that everyone was riding them.
A mile on and almost a hospital case, you regain the original formation (please see photograph 6) and continue on a low embankment, thankfully downhill through a beautiful wooded tunnel (please see photograph 7),passing the National Trust Parke Estate and into Bovey Tracey.
I really have to stop doing this according to Diane or perhaps I will take the advice and buy an electric bike. ( I already own a fully electric car!)
Now the technical bits! In my opinion, on no account try to cycle on Devons A roads. I have never seen so many grain lorries and milk tankers. (Which asks the question, how did the railways manage to lose this traffic in the first place. I suspect another article in the making!) Compared to Cornwall the traffic is fast and very busy.
Always wear High Viz and a cycle helmet and if possible a flashing LED light and most important fit a warning bell.
In hindsight I should have started my journey at Bovey Tracey as the trackbed is mostly uphill to Moretonhampstead and your energy levels are best at the start. The return trip is approx 14 miles and as mentioned the Lustleigh deviation is challenging.
I nearly forgot Devon County Council call this railway conversion “The Wray Valley Trail”
Safe cycling!
Photo (1) Moretonhampstead station site - now in the process of development of high class properties. June 2021. Copyright Andrew Jones,
Photo (2) My investigations have unearthed a possible station called “Ticket platform”, but this might refer to the original terminus as it is in close proximity, perhaps a member can verify. June 2021. Copyright Andrew Jones.
Photo (3) A deviation is now required which broadly follows the original track. June 2021 Copyright Andrew Jones.
Photo (4) Approaching Lustleigh, now back on the original course, perhaps one of the most major feats of the line encountered is a deep cutting, which under normal conditions would probably have been tunnelled.. June 2021 Copyright Andrew Jones.
(Photo (5) Lustleigh station is invisible with only part of the roof glimpsed through heavy woodland. June 2021 Copyright Andrew Jones.
Photo (6) Regaining the original formation. June 2021 Copyright Andrew Jones.
Photo (7) June 2021 Copyright Andrew Jones.
Many thanks for your record of a 'grueling time' Andrew - I did wonder why you started at the high level. Still full marks for succeeding on your round trip.
Looking back
Lustleigh
The late Sid Sponheimer
Lustleigh
The late Sid Sponheimer
This is believed this to be Sid's brother taken while on a motorcycle exploration of the route.
A railtour hauled by 5153 pauses at Lustleigh 11th June 1962 - Copyright The late Sid Sponheimer
In memory of Sid.
Last passengers at Chard Junction?
Chard Junction
Paul Barlow
Chard Junction
Paul Barlow
Chard Junction 10 May 1980. This was the last weekend of booked class 33 haulage on the Exeter to Waterloo services. I was travelling on the 1755 Exeter to Waterloo which was booked to pass the ECS off the 1706 Exeter to Yeovil Junction, a booked DMU turn. This DMU failed so was substituted for 25048 on a spare two coach set of MK1s, a very rare working indeed.
No one worried about us group of bashers getting off the Waterloo train at a station closed in 1966!
Note the milk tanks in the dairy sidings and telegraph poles! Today the dairy has closed and been razed to the ground, the station building disappeared sometime ago.
Kind regards
Paul
N.B.
33029 is owned by West Coast railway is passed for mainline running
25048 was withdrawn on 24 February 1986 and presumably scrapped.
No one worried about us group of bashers getting off the Waterloo train at a station closed in 1966!
Note the milk tanks in the dairy sidings and telegraph poles! Today the dairy has closed and been razed to the ground, the station building disappeared sometime ago.
Kind regards
Paul
N.B.
33029 is owned by West Coast railway is passed for mainline running
25048 was withdrawn on 24 February 1986 and presumably scrapped.
25048 runs past Chard Junction on a Yeovil to Exeter ECS 10 May 1980. This was stock from the 1706 Exeter Yeovil replacing a failed DMU a very rare occurrence.. Copyright Paul Barlow
33029 on 1755 Exeter to Waterloo waits for the down ecs train at Chard Junction 10 May 1980. No problems getting off at a closed station in those days. Note Milk tanks in the dairy sidings. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul
Current edition of the
Aeronian X
Ken Mumford
Aeronian X
Ken Mumford
It is hoped that you will enjoy the current - (June) edition of the Aeronian X it contains masses of bus and train subjects. We apologise for the late delivery and page order of this version - this has been due to technical problems. Please click below - it takes a minute or so to down load.
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