Fifty years ago today the last passenger trains ran on the North Devon & Cornwall Junction Railway. The line ran from Halwill Junction northwards to Torrington 20.5 miles away, and only opened in 1925, lasting just 40 years for passengers. The last scheduled passenger trains ran on Saturday 27 February 1965. Freight, in the form of clay, continued at the northern end until 1982. Clay is still extracted in the area, and now goes by road, with some going to Spain by ship from the quay at Bideford.
The line ran through sparsely populated countryside, and the passenger service was equally sparse. Just two trains each way ran the full length of the line on weekdays only. On 27 March 1965 The Exmoor Ranger Railtour passed along the line during an extensive tour of North Devon and West Somerset. This was exactly 4 weeks after part of the line had closed completely.
There are pictures of the Exmoor Ranger Railtour - see Railtours Section and also other pictures featuring this attractive route in other sections.
The line ran through sparsely populated countryside, and the passenger service was equally sparse. Just two trains each way ran the full length of the line on weekdays only. On 27 March 1965 The Exmoor Ranger Railtour passed along the line during an extensive tour of North Devon and West Somerset. This was exactly 4 weeks after part of the line had closed completely.
There are pictures of the Exmoor Ranger Railtour - see Railtours Section and also other pictures featuring this attractive route in other sections.