The Princetown Branch
Let's take an excursion on the Princetown branch - the 1954 leaflet.
USEFUL MAPS
Members and general visitors to the CRS site will be interested in visiting http://www.railmaponline.com From the opening page a full map of the UK can be accessed which can then be enlarged to show every railway line in the UK. Not just today's network but lines from the past have been overlaid. As you zoom in sidings and even tramways become visible.
A valuable tip from Guy Vincent.
Members and general visitors to the CRS site will be interested in visiting http://www.railmaponline.com From the opening page a full map of the UK can be accessed which can then be enlarged to show every railway line in the UK. Not just today's network but lines from the past have been overlaid. As you zoom in sidings and even tramways become visible.
A valuable tip from Guy Vincent.
Also try this link for fascinating footage of a journey from Plymouth North Road to Yelverton and then on the Princetown branch to King Tor Halt. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8473000/8473201.stm
Yelverton Branch station
At the end of the platform, the tapered wooden extension that was put up when the connection with the "main line" was altered can still be seen; it is evident in the photograph above. Colin Burges
Mike Roach writes :- On Wednesday 25 January 1939 the driver and the fireman of the 4.51pm from Yelverton to Princetown train failed to check the starting signal was at clear before setting off in a snowstorm, drove into the engine release siding and crashed the locomotive through the buffers. The loco was small wheeled prairie tank number 4402 of Laira Shed and it came to a stop at a crazy angle part way down the embankment. The GWR pulled out all the stops and the next train to Princetown ran as normal at 7.00pm that same evening. The signalman contributed to the accident by not resetting the points to the main route as soon as the shunting manoeuvre was completed to allow 4402 to change ends. The appalling weather also contributed to the accident because visibility was poor.
Regards, Mike Many thanks indeed Mike.
PS Delighted to see that Maurice Dart has started to contribute photos to the website. Maurice has a picture of 4402 on its side after the accident on page 24 of his booklet "Great Werstern Small Prairie Tanks" published in 1996
Regards, Mike Many thanks indeed Mike.
PS Delighted to see that Maurice Dart has started to contribute photos to the website. Maurice has a picture of 4402 on its side after the accident on page 24 of his booklet "Great Werstern Small Prairie Tanks" published in 1996

A close up of the station layout at Yelverton. Normal working was for trains from Princetown to push the empty stock back up the branch far enough for the train engine to go into the refuge siding and turn. The empty stock was then gravitated back to the platform and the loce re-attached. After which the points would be switched and the starter signal pulled off.
LAST DAY One of the last trains climbs towards Dousland on that sad day.
Dousland
Burrator Halt

A look across Burrator reservoir towards Dousland which is behind the hill. The Princetown branch was where one can see a virtually level line of an embankment above the distant shore. Burrator Halt was almost exactly in the middle of the picture. To the right the lIne continued into the trees and then turned left for Lowry Crossing, Peek Hill bridge and Princetown. 1962 Copyright Mike Roach
Lowery Level Crossing
The line passed a summit shortly after the crossing and then, after Peek hill bridge, the relentless climbing continued almost to Princetown station. Here, after Lowery Crossing the line continus in a forested area to Peek Hill bridge, where, on crossing the main road from Yelverton to Princetown it entered onto Dartmoor proper.
Peek Hill bridge
Ingra Tor Halt. This halt was famous for it's 'Mind the adders' sign, a warning that in summer months a snake bite was quite a possibility.
Before we move on up the line towards Princetown a true story about a fire at Ingra Tor Halt
A review of a book by Shirley Gray - 'Living with Harold and Hitler’
This not a railway book, it is a 125 page volume well written by Shirley Gray and relates to her childhood days which were spent mainly in wartime Plymouth. It will be of great interest to Plymouthians as it contains many stories of life in that badly bombed and war torn city. True stories of the poverty and ration book living associated with those terrible years. However, as well as her personal memories Shirley tells of the exploits of her brother Harold, a real rascal. Harold on one of his boyhood adventures set out for a days adventure by train getting off at Ingra Tor Halt. Here, after trampling around on the moorland, perhaps, with little concern about the ‘Snakes warning notice’ for which this remote location is famed, Harold and his friends returned to the shelter of the station buildings. Feeling cold they lit a fire using scraps of paper and twigs. The fire quickly got out of control and set alight to the building itself. Very luckily very heavy rain put out the fire and Harold and remains of the roof survived. Harolds subsequent involvement with the police and a rail journey under guard in the brake compartment of the train are detailed.
This book is available from Amazon. Other reviews are available see Google.
I found it a fascinating read. Keith Jenkin.
This not a railway book, it is a 125 page volume well written by Shirley Gray and relates to her childhood days which were spent mainly in wartime Plymouth. It will be of great interest to Plymouthians as it contains many stories of life in that badly bombed and war torn city. True stories of the poverty and ration book living associated with those terrible years. However, as well as her personal memories Shirley tells of the exploits of her brother Harold, a real rascal. Harold on one of his boyhood adventures set out for a days adventure by train getting off at Ingra Tor Halt. Here, after trampling around on the moorland, perhaps, with little concern about the ‘Snakes warning notice’ for which this remote location is famed, Harold and his friends returned to the shelter of the station buildings. Feeling cold they lit a fire using scraps of paper and twigs. The fire quickly got out of control and set alight to the building itself. Very luckily very heavy rain put out the fire and Harold and remains of the roof survived. Harolds subsequent involvement with the police and a rail journey under guard in the brake compartment of the train are detailed.
This book is available from Amazon. Other reviews are available see Google.
I found it a fascinating read. Keith Jenkin.

Swelltor Sidings and quarry.
King Tor Halt
Princetown