Sidmouth Junction to Tipton St Johns and thence to Sidmouth or Budleigh Salterton/Exmouth
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.
A note from Colin Burges
Stephen Derek, one of the old boys who worked in the Trains Office at Central in the early 'sixties wired around on the 26th that the well known and highly respected Leo Dolling had died in a residential home in Budleigh. His name came up quite often in my early days on B.R. because he ran the Old Southeronians and arranged reunions. Several on the mailing list responded with their memories of a man of good character with a wide knowledge of railways.
In connection with my recent rides, I had watched again the YouTube video, "Memories of the Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton Branches." It's strange that I had heard Leo's voice and passed close to the home in Budleigh where he was living only days before his death.
https://youtu.be/ak9WgSYzQ50?t=2280
At the beginning of the 1960s, the Southern system in the West Country was still complete. By the end of the decade, the "Withered Arm" had been amputated at Okehampton and Barnstaple, the East Devon branches, except Exmouth, had gone, and the main line had been singled. Stephen Derek, Leo Dolling and many others were there and witnessed the destruction of their empire.
This is just an aside for you.
Best wishes, Colin Burges
Stephen Derek, one of the old boys who worked in the Trains Office at Central in the early 'sixties wired around on the 26th that the well known and highly respected Leo Dolling had died in a residential home in Budleigh. His name came up quite often in my early days on B.R. because he ran the Old Southeronians and arranged reunions. Several on the mailing list responded with their memories of a man of good character with a wide knowledge of railways.
In connection with my recent rides, I had watched again the YouTube video, "Memories of the Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton Branches." It's strange that I had heard Leo's voice and passed close to the home in Budleigh where he was living only days before his death.
https://youtu.be/ak9WgSYzQ50?t=2280
At the beginning of the 1960s, the Southern system in the West Country was still complete. By the end of the decade, the "Withered Arm" had been amputated at Okehampton and Barnstaple, the East Devon branches, except Exmouth, had gone, and the main line had been singled. Stephen Derek, Leo Dolling and many others were there and witnessed the destruction of their empire.
This is just an aside for you.
Best wishes, Colin Burges
82018 having left Sidmouth Junction 82018 passes the distant for Gosford Gates en route for Tipton St Johns and either Sidmouth or Exmouth. It's about to pass under the old A30 road bridge. (See note below) C 1962 Copyright Doug Nicholls
A further note from Chris Osment clarifies matters. The head-code shown on the engine is listed as ‘Exeter Central and Sidmouth’, with a different code (one disc centre of buffer-beam) as ‘Tipton St John – Exmouth’. As far as I can tell from a brief look at some published BR timetables, the service appeared to be generally Sidmouth Jcn – Sidmouth, with a separate service T St John – Exmouth (apparently sometimes with an exchange of through portions at T St J). So it would appear to be a train for Sidmouth in the picture.
I’m not aware of there being many published pictures taken at that location, despite the relative ease of access from the road, so it was good to see this one on the web. Had it not been for the inclusion of the signal in the foreground in the ‘off’ position, I might not have had cause to query its attribution :-) A closer inspection will reveal the (fixed) Up Branch Distant for Sidmouth Jcn in the background.
Many thanks to you Chris
I’m not aware of there being many published pictures taken at that location, despite the relative ease of access from the road, so it was good to see this one on the web. Had it not been for the inclusion of the signal in the foreground in the ‘off’ position, I might not have had cause to query its attribution :-) A closer inspection will reveal the (fixed) Up Branch Distant for Sidmouth Jcn in the background.
Many thanks to you Chris
Ottery St Mary
Courtesy of the Mike Morant collection
770414d Ottery St Mary Station Copyright Roger Winnen
770414f The Crossing gates at Ottery St Mary. Copyright Roger Winnen
Ottery St Mary station sign
This sign lay inverted and forgotten alongside the trackway at Yeovil Junction until being discovered and subsequently restored by John Cornelius. It is remarkable that this fragile concrete sign hadn't been damaged other than a small corner broken off.
Many thanks to John for sending in the following pictures of a remarkable restoration.
This sign lay inverted and forgotten alongside the trackway at Yeovil Junction until being discovered and subsequently restored by John Cornelius. It is remarkable that this fragile concrete sign hadn't been damaged other than a small corner broken off.
Many thanks to John for sending in the following pictures of a remarkable restoration.
Copyright John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius
Master craftsman at work - this is John Cornelius.
Copyright John Cornelius.
'Proper job' as they would say in Cornwall. Copyright John Cornelius
Tipton St Johns
Courtesy Mike Morant collection
Tipton St Johns a service for Sidmouth Junction crosses another for Exmouth. 18th May 1963 Copyright Mike Roach
The gates ahead are closed but there's time for a chat as the driver of 80039 waits for the 'right away' on the 18th May 1963 Copyright Mike Roach
BR 41206 & 4666 Tipton 7-3-65
L:CGB: East Devon Rail Tour 7/3/65
Ivatt 'Mickey Mouse' 2MT 2-6-2T nos. 41206 was combined with Collett 5700 class pannier tank no. 4666 for the leg from Tipton St John's to Exeter Central via Exmouth and that unlikely pairing of motive power is depicted here at Tipton. Equally unlikely is that both locos were allocated to Exmouth Junction mpd at the time.
[Mike Morant collection]
[Mike Morant collection]
Tipton St Johns 21st May 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen
Tipton St Johns 21st May 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen
Tipton St Johns 21st May 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen
770522g The Junction of the Sidmouth Branch at Tipton St Johns. Sidmouth up the slope ahead, Exmouth bear right along the level Copyright Roger Winnen
Tipton St Johns is in the distance as 4666 heads up the bank for Simouth on the 28th February 1965 Copyright Mike Roach N.B. The line seen below in the valley is that leading to Exmouth.
Sidmouth
Label courtesy the Mike Morant Collection
One of the Tipton St Johns to Sidmouth Tokens spotted in Sidmouth Museum on 3rd September 2014. Photographed on display in a glass case hence the need for some editing. Picture taken with permission of the stewards present, many thanks to them.
On 1st November 2014 Roger Winnen found Sidmouth station to be in a remarkably good state of preservation, the owners are to be congratulated. Sidmouth station was over a mile from the beach and 202' above it.
141101a The station masters house - about a mile from the sea front and over 200' above it. Copyright Roger Winnen
141101b The station buildings seen from the road. Copyright Roger Winnen
141101c Close up of the station. Copyright Roger Winnen
141101d Part of an old canopy still in existence. Copyright Roger Winnen
141101e This area was part of the station complex, the large building to the right was the Goods Shed. Copyright Roger Winnen
141101f The Sea Front at Sidmouth the Jurassic Coast. Copyright Roger Winnen
And now the line towards Exmouth
Newton Poppleford
Newton Poppleford
Newton Poppleford 21st May 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen
Newton Poppleford 29Dec77 Copyright Roger Winnen
East Budleigh
East Devon Railtour 28th February 1965 leaving East Budleigh. Copyright Mike Roach
East Budleigh on the 27th March 2019. Note extensions on either end. Copyright Clive Smith
East Budleigh station on the 27th March 2019. As the signs say please note that this is a private station. Open days will be held on the 9th June and 10th August 2019. Copyright Clive Smith
East Budleigh station served the villages of East Budleigh and Otterton in Devon. It was opened in 1897 as Budleigh on the Budleigh Salterton Railway (BSR), which branched from the Sidmouth Railway at Tipton St Johns. The station was then renamed East Budleigh in 1898. The London and South Western Railway, which worked the BSR, did not name the station after the nearby village of Otterton to avoid confusion with its Otterham station on the North Cornwall line. Passenger and freight services were finally withdrawn in 1967.
On March 27th 2019 I visited the nearby Otterton Mill across the river bridge and took a few photos of the track bed and the station which is a private residence. I was rather surprised to find a 7&1/4 inch light railway straddling the grounds ! All photos were taken from the adjacent road. Please check out the four links for a fascinating look at the history of the station and the line as well as the Otterton and East Budleigh Light Railway. For anyone wishing to visit the railway for a ride there will be two open days in 2019 on the 9th June and 10th August.
Regards Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive for your article, pictures and links.
On March 27th 2019 I visited the nearby Otterton Mill across the river bridge and took a few photos of the track bed and the station which is a private residence. I was rather surprised to find a 7&1/4 inch light railway straddling the grounds ! All photos were taken from the adjacent road. Please check out the four links for a fascinating look at the history of the station and the line as well as the Otterton and East Budleigh Light Railway. For anyone wishing to visit the railway for a ride there will be two open days in 2019 on the 9th June and 10th August.
Regards Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive for your article, pictures and links.
Budleigh Salterton
Littleham
An overbridge at Littleham 26th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen
The line ran downhill from Littleham to Exmouth.