NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 121
Kingsbridge Road Siding
Michael L. Roach
This instalment carries on with the story of Wrangaton Station. The OS 25-inch of 1886/7 annotates the station as Kingsbridge Road Station with a passing loop and a signal box on the westbound platform. To the west of the station where the loop reverts to single track there was a single short siding with what appears to be a small goods shed. On the opposite side was a second signal box and in front of the box was an ultra short loop off the up side platform road just about long enough to hold one engine. All very strange. Wrangaton Station and the line opened to passengers in May 1848 but Brent Station did not open until the following year.
Since writing Part 117 I have pondered why the South Devon Railway and its Engineer (Brunel) chose to locate the only original passenger station between Totnes and Plymouth at this remote hamlet. I have come up with three contributory reasons for the choice and for locating a siding there as well. First – it is close to the mid-point of the length between Totnes and Laira Green. Second – Wrangaton is the highest point on the line and at the top of a 9-mile climb from Totnes (Rattery Bank) and where any pilot or banking engine would have come off the train in the early years, and waited outside the box to return to Totnes. Third – at the crossroads above the short tunnel to the east of the station a turnpike road started which headed south, via Kitterford Cross and California Cross, to Kingsbridge some 9 miles away; that road was the B3196 in 1964. Until Kingsbridge got its own railway station in 1893 Wrangaton might have been the best place to off-load goods for Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Modbury and the whole of the South Hams area.
The first image of a one inch map shows that this was a good place to unload goods for the South Hams. Note that in 1961 Ivybridge, Bittaford and Wrangaton are shown as closed stations while Brent remained open. It is just 1½ miles from Wrangaton to Kitterford Cross but in just that small area the A and B roads were owned by four different turnpike trusts in 1840. The old A38 has become a B-road, the B3213 as one would expect; but in a strange reversal of fortune the B3196 to Kitterford and the B3210 to the south west has become the A3121.
The turnpike roads in the vicinity of Wrangaton and Kitterford Cross are fascinating. In between the two is Venn Cross, a crossroads of two turnpikes. West to east through Venn Cross the road was operated by the the Totnes and Bridgetown Trust. To the south of Venn Cross by the Kingsbridge and Dartmouth Trust. West of Kitterford Cross by the Modbury Trust. Through Wrangaton Cross by the Plymouth Eastern Trust and for 1½ miles east to Brent where the Ashburton and Totnes Trust took over. That leaves a small piece one mile long from Venn Cross to Wrangaton Cross operated by the Totnes and Bridgetown Trust. No less than four turnpike trusts in an area little more than one mile square. All the information in this paragraph came from a marvellous recently purchased book – The Turnpike Roads of Devon in 1840 by Martin Ebdon. The book was a real labour-of-love by Martin and is highly recommended. Obtainable from www.martinebdon.com.
I remember the day that the third image was taken very well even though it was 65 years ago. It was a Wednesday and I was having a couple of days off work to photograph trains. On this day I was on my home to Plymouth from Heathfield Station, Newton Abbot after photographing the MWFO goods train to Moretonhampstead which was still steam-hauled at the time. I snapped the train on the way up to Moreton and then waited in the shelter at Pullabrook Halt until the train returned just over an hour later. The result was quite good considering the heavy rain when the train did run past me, and I cannot think of another photo where the rain drops are quite so obvious. The image is attached together with the WTT for the Moretonhampstead Branch dated 11 September 1961 which came from the freight timetable for the Exeter District which would have been useful in October 1961, but any information I did have would have come from my friend Charles Fennamore who was very knowledgeable on train working on the branch lines of South Devon at the time. My memory of the day is standing in the heavy rain at Pullabrook Halt waiting for a train that might or might not come anytime soon.
I think that the triangle of land upon which Kingsbridge Road Siding and goods shed sat is probably still in railway ownership after many decades out of use, but cannot confirm this.
Since writing Part 117 I have pondered why the South Devon Railway and its Engineer (Brunel) chose to locate the only original passenger station between Totnes and Plymouth at this remote hamlet. I have come up with three contributory reasons for the choice and for locating a siding there as well. First – it is close to the mid-point of the length between Totnes and Laira Green. Second – Wrangaton is the highest point on the line and at the top of a 9-mile climb from Totnes (Rattery Bank) and where any pilot or banking engine would have come off the train in the early years, and waited outside the box to return to Totnes. Third – at the crossroads above the short tunnel to the east of the station a turnpike road started which headed south, via Kitterford Cross and California Cross, to Kingsbridge some 9 miles away; that road was the B3196 in 1964. Until Kingsbridge got its own railway station in 1893 Wrangaton might have been the best place to off-load goods for Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Modbury and the whole of the South Hams area.
The first image of a one inch map shows that this was a good place to unload goods for the South Hams. Note that in 1961 Ivybridge, Bittaford and Wrangaton are shown as closed stations while Brent remained open. It is just 1½ miles from Wrangaton to Kitterford Cross but in just that small area the A and B roads were owned by four different turnpike trusts in 1840. The old A38 has become a B-road, the B3213 as one would expect; but in a strange reversal of fortune the B3196 to Kitterford and the B3210 to the south west has become the A3121.
The turnpike roads in the vicinity of Wrangaton and Kitterford Cross are fascinating. In between the two is Venn Cross, a crossroads of two turnpikes. West to east through Venn Cross the road was operated by the the Totnes and Bridgetown Trust. To the south of Venn Cross by the Kingsbridge and Dartmouth Trust. West of Kitterford Cross by the Modbury Trust. Through Wrangaton Cross by the Plymouth Eastern Trust and for 1½ miles east to Brent where the Ashburton and Totnes Trust took over. That leaves a small piece one mile long from Venn Cross to Wrangaton Cross operated by the Totnes and Bridgetown Trust. No less than four turnpike trusts in an area little more than one mile square. All the information in this paragraph came from a marvellous recently purchased book – The Turnpike Roads of Devon in 1840 by Martin Ebdon. The book was a real labour-of-love by Martin and is highly recommended. Obtainable from www.martinebdon.com.
I remember the day that the third image was taken very well even though it was 65 years ago. It was a Wednesday and I was having a couple of days off work to photograph trains. On this day I was on my home to Plymouth from Heathfield Station, Newton Abbot after photographing the MWFO goods train to Moretonhampstead which was still steam-hauled at the time. I snapped the train on the way up to Moreton and then waited in the shelter at Pullabrook Halt until the train returned just over an hour later. The result was quite good considering the heavy rain when the train did run past me, and I cannot think of another photo where the rain drops are quite so obvious. The image is attached together with the WTT for the Moretonhampstead Branch dated 11 September 1961 which came from the freight timetable for the Exeter District which would have been useful in October 1961, but any information I did have would have come from my friend Charles Fennamore who was very knowledgeable on train working on the branch lines of South Devon at the time. My memory of the day is standing in the heavy rain at Pullabrook Halt waiting for a train that might or might not come anytime soon.
I think that the triangle of land upon which Kingsbridge Road Siding and goods shed sat is probably still in railway ownership after many decades out of use, but cannot confirm this.
The OS 7th Series One Inch map of 1961 showing the area between Ivybridge and South Brent in the north and Kingsbridge in the south.
An OS large scale plan of Wrangaton Siding in 1904, not to scale. A larger version of this plan, including the station, can be found in the Middleton Press book of the line; and an earlier version on NLS Maps.
The noon Penzance to Manchester passenger and mail train passes Wrangaton Sidings at 4.07pm on 25 October 1961 behind 5914 Ripon Hall of 81C Southall Shed and a D800 Warship. The narrow private road on top of the shallow cutting led to the earlier Kingsbridge Road Siding (seen in the previous image) and on to a field only. This was the last of just seven photos taken that day. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Pannier tank 3659 of Newton Abbot Shed approaches Pullaford Halt in the rain with the returning Moreton goods on 25 October 1961. The engine ended its days at Templecombe Shed being withdrawn in October 1965. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
 The Newton to Moreton freight train timetable dated 11 September 1961. Of note is the train going to Trusham on the Teign Valley line SO. |  The Moreton to Newton freight train timetable dated 11 September 1961. |
The Blue Pullman
Martin Scane
The Midland Pullman (Wrexhan to Paignton) running 16 early at Teignmouth yesterday. 19.08.2026, copyright Martin Scane.
The Blue Pullman on her return to Wrexham passing Teignmouth station on time at 17-16. 19.08.2026, copyright Martin Scane.
Many thanks Martin, well done for catching it.
Re: 37673
Michael Forward
Roger Geach's lovely picture of 37673 has prompted me to send these two pictures taken during my visit to Lostwithiel on 20 September 1989. Firstly the loco arrives from St.Blazey and goes into the loop at Lostwithiel. Copyright Michael Forward.
And then 37673 heads for Fowey docks with 35 loaded CDAs,I wish I could send the sound. 20.09.1989, copyright Michael Forward.
Lovely stuff Michael, many thanks indeed.
August 1976
Part 20
Roger Winnen
D1010 Western Campaigner arrives at Penzance conveying Holiday Makers etc. 27.08.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
D1051 Western Ambassador arrives at Penzance. 27.08.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A Class 47 arrives at Penzance. 27.08.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
D1010 Western Campaigner arrives at Penzance. 27.08.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.