The Hemyock Branch
Credits, Many thanks to all contributors - please see a list on the home page.
For more pictures of this branch on a PRC railtour see Diesel railtours section 26th Oct 1974
Tiverton Junction
Your train awaits! Tiverton Junction July 1961 Copyright Mike Roach
Tiverton Junction - the VERY LAST DAY OF PASSENGER SERVICES 7th September 1963 Copyright Mike Roach The locomotive is 1421.
Here is 1421 on that sad day. Copyright Mike Roach
It almost makes you shiver! Here's 1442 on the 14.51 to Hemyock in January 62 Copyright Mike Roach
Although largely lost to the changing world the Hemyock branch has been ploughed in and built over traces such as this discovered by Colin Burges in 2017 are worth a look. Willand is the name of the township in which Tiverton Junction was situated. Copyright Colin Burges
Colin remembers polished metals on the trackbed below. The bridge still deserves a Network Rail bridge number. Copyright Colin Burges
Coldharbour Halt 2Mls 18 Ch
The train approaches Coldharbour Halt on the 14th February 1962 Note the wooden faced platform, the simple shelter, the crossing gates and gate keepers hut. Copyright Sid Sponheimer
Uffculme 2 Mls 62 Ch
Uffculme station and Mill on the 14th February 1962 Copyright Sid Sponheimer
There were several railtours to Hemyock during the dying year of the branch. All were usually in a couple of brakevans attached to the milk train. However John tells us on this occasion there were no brakevans available on this occasion and the party were conveyed in the van seen here, the view was very much restricted. There was, however, some compensation for the party as on the branch as the driver allowed them in the front and back cabs of the class 25 powering the train. Many thanks for this info and the picture John.
Culmstock 4 Mls 72 Ch
Culmstock - a view from a Hemyock bound train on Valentines Day. 14th February 1962. Copyright Sid Sponheimer.
Culmstock, from a train leaving for Hemyock. Note the level crossing gates. There was a loop here and two sidings either side of the loading dock. 14th February 1962 Copyright Sid Sponheimer
The pub is still there - Copyright John Cornelius
This was the occasion of a GWS Railtour over the branch - the party being conveyed in a van. Thanks to the driver, tour members were allowed to ride in both cabs of the locomotive while it was on the branch. Copyright John Cornelius
There are connections - the power unit from this locomotive was transferred to D7612 currently on the South Devon Railway. Copyright John Cornelius
A visit to the site of Culmstock station on 14th December 2016 revealed little of the railway remains. However here is the wall of the loading bank to one side of the car park now build on the site of the station building and platform. The pub sign depicts a loco and is called 'The Culm Valley'.
Copyright Sid sponheimer 14th February 1962.
This charming scene was taken by John Thron at Easter 1963, having taken a walk to Hemyock, he and his good lady were returning by train towards Tiverton Junction. The train is crossing over Culmstock level crossing, which can be seen in the picture immediately above. Copyright John Thorn
Whitehall Halt 6 Mls 40 Ch
Whitehall Halt - looking towards Culmstock and Tiverton Junction.
There was one siding here, to the left of the train - this was t.ou in 1963. This picture 14th February 1962 Copyright Sid Sponheimer
Hemyock 7 Mls 29 Chs
It looks like the 'station staff' is watching the approaching train. Hemyock Easter 1963 Copyright John Thorn
A classic view at Hemyock Easter 1963 Copyright John Thorn
1442 at Hemyock at Easter 1963 Copyright John Thorn
The D63XX is pushing its train steadily back into the milk factory at Hemyock. Copyright the late John Stanford (ex BR WR) collection. March 1963
D63xx shunting milk tanks March 1969 for the trip to Exeter St D for attaching to the afternoon St Erth to Kensington Olympia milk train These pictures, above and below, copyright of the late John Stanford (ex BR WR) collection were kindly provided by his son Paul.
The D63XX is now well back on the siding and is almost behind the station building. Copyright the late John Stanford (ex BR WR) collection March 1963
Engine and coach enter the goods yard to shunt the milk tankers. There were two run round loops at Hemyock. One prior to the platform and one in the goods yard. 14th February 1963 Copyright Sid Sponheimer.
A much loved location for GWR branch line enthusiasts is Hemyock station depicted here on the 22nd May 1963. with the customary Collet 1400 class -4-2 T in charge of one of the LNER coaches which replaced the more familiar Barry Railway coach of earlier years. Number 1450 is the depicted loco and allocated to 83C Tiverton Junction as one would expect. The station and branch closed to passenger traffic on the 9th September 1963. This picture courtesy of the Mike Morant Collection
Awaiting passengers 14th February 1962 (Valentines Day). Copyright Sid Sponheimer
Plenty of milk tankers in evidence probably empties on the run round line to the milk factory which can be seen in the background.There do seem to be some passengers on the platform waiting to board the single coach. It is July 1961. Copyright Mike Roach
Hemyock. It is January 1962 as 1442 brings in its train prior to shunting the yard. Copyright Mike Roach
The very last day of passenger trains to Hemyock 7th September 1963 Mike Roach reports :- The last train comprised 1421 with 2 milk tanks and two coaches. It left Hemyock at 6.08pm, 8 minutes late on the timetable. Quite early in the evening for a last train of the day, but when you see the size of Hemyock even today not really surprising. It took 31 mins to reach Tiverton Junc, 7.5 miles away. Average speed less than 15mph.
The Hemyock Branch was the second "Last Day" (of passenger services) that Mike attended on that day 51 years ago. He had left Plymouth by train at midnight and travelled to Bristol. Three hours at Temple Meads and he caught the first stopping train back towards Taunton at 6.45am hauled by Hall no. 4972. He alighted at Yatton, and made his one and only round trip to Clevedon in a 2-car dmu. He then travelled on the 8.03pm Yatton to Witham behind 82037. Yatton - Cheddar - Wells and Witham was known as The Strawberry Line. This was also being closed to passengers on 7 September 1963. He returned from Witham on the next train, the 10.49am to Yatton. Strangely 82037 did not return on this train, which was hauled by a Type 2 Diesel in the D63xx series. Yatton was reached at 12.15 twelve minutes late. Here he caught the 10.15am from Paddington via Bristol, which was hauled by a Hymek. At Taunton the train was split into sections for Minehead and Ilfracombe. Mogul 7304 came onto Mike's section of 4 coaches for Ilfracombe. Mike alighted at Dulverton and transferred to a 3-car dmu as far as Tiverton. Here he caught an auto-train of one coach hauled by 1466. He finally arrived at Tiverton Junction at 4.28pm, after a very circuitous trip, which would not be possible much longer as The Exe Valley Line closed just one month later.
The Hemyock Branch was the second "Last Day" (of passenger services) that Mike attended on that day 51 years ago. He had left Plymouth by train at midnight and travelled to Bristol. Three hours at Temple Meads and he caught the first stopping train back towards Taunton at 6.45am hauled by Hall no. 4972. He alighted at Yatton, and made his one and only round trip to Clevedon in a 2-car dmu. He then travelled on the 8.03pm Yatton to Witham behind 82037. Yatton - Cheddar - Wells and Witham was known as The Strawberry Line. This was also being closed to passengers on 7 September 1963. He returned from Witham on the next train, the 10.49am to Yatton. Strangely 82037 did not return on this train, which was hauled by a Type 2 Diesel in the D63xx series. Yatton was reached at 12.15 twelve minutes late. Here he caught the 10.15am from Paddington via Bristol, which was hauled by a Hymek. At Taunton the train was split into sections for Minehead and Ilfracombe. Mogul 7304 came onto Mike's section of 4 coaches for Ilfracombe. Mike alighted at Dulverton and transferred to a 3-car dmu as far as Tiverton. Here he caught an auto-train of one coach hauled by 1466. He finally arrived at Tiverton Junction at 4.28pm, after a very circuitous trip, which would not be possible much longer as The Exe Valley Line closed just one month later.
The very last day, and indeed the last passenger train has arrived, behind 14.21, at the short platform at Hemyock. 7th September 1963 Copyright Mike Roach
Another view at Hemyock, last train. With 1421 7th September 1963 Copyright Mike Roach
Hemyock, last passenger train 7th September 1963 Copyright Mike Roach
Hemyock, 1421 with the last passenger train 7th September 1963 Copyright Mike Roach. The mini in the background signified a new era. 1421, sadly the old era!
The locomotive has now taken the coaches out into the yard to run round, pushed them back into the platform, and also collected two full milk tanks from the dairy which are now coupled in front of the coaching stock. 7th September 1963 Copyright Mike Roach
1421 is now ready to depart from Hemyock with the complete train. It should have departed Hemyock at 6PM however it was eight minutes late. Copyright Mike Roach
Now back to earlier times
14th February 1962. Sid Sponheimer captures 1446 ready to depart for Tiverton Junction. Copyright.
Having seen snow at Tiverton here's some at Hemyock as the milk tankers are shunted. January 1962 - Christmas card scene. A solitary passenger waits. Copyright Mike Roach
For views of shunting of milk tankers in diesel days have a look at the PRC Railtour of 24th October 1974
