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 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

WALKING THE HEMYOCK BRANCH
Andrew Triggs takes a stroll in 2017

Tiverton Junction to Hemyock - One Inch 7th Series 1955 - 61 Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

The site of Coldharbour Halt, looking towards Tiverton Junction, the Mill is behind the Trees and is now a Museum, the station site is now a carpark for the Museum. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Again in the Tiverton direction, looking across the former Level crossing site at the Coldharbour station site, this being the start of the 1/2 mile walkway to Uffculme. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

The trackbed is well defined with former railway fencing well maintained on both sides of the trackbed, looking towards Uffculme. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Remaining girder bridge shortly before reaching Uffculme, our Dog, Daisy (pictured) enjoyed the walk! 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

As Ulffculme is reached the trackbed has been built over with Light Industry behind the fence to the right, while the footpath diverts to the left. 9th Sept. 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Just up from the former station site, A light hearted resident recreates Kings Cross and Harry Potter! 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Our walk arrives at Ulffculme station1. Looking towards Coldharbour Halt, the former Level crossing site at Uffculme, the concrete post providing memories of yesteryear and the railway. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

In the opposite (Culmstock) direction from the Level crossing, the line and former station site is redeveloped with Housing, the direction9th Sept2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

In the opposite (Culmstock) direction from the Level crossing, the line and former station site is redeveloped with Housing, the direction of the former line is roughly where the large Pine tree stands. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Rejoining the line 5/8th of a mile short of Culmstock, the major 3 span skew girder bridge on the line over the River Culm, viewed from the down side. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Two wooden sleepers still embedded in the well ballasted trackbed just on from the girder bridge 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Arrival at Culmstock, the line is now covered by the tall green hedge behind the wooden gate 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

The tall pine tree marks the former level crossing at Culmstock, crossing the road to roughly the base of the right hand wall of the bridge. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

From the level crossing site, the station is long gone and the car park of the Culm Valley Inn covers the site. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

The Level crossing site, in the opposite direction. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Journey's End at Hemyock, Looking towards the end of the Line, even the former Dairy factory has also gone and has been redeveloped for Housing. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

From the former station entrance, the road also once carried a level crossing to the Dairy behind the photographer. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

The sole remaining Railway link, the retaining wall of the former Coal Merchant's store, the rest of the site although cleared, has not been redeveloped. 9th September 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs