NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 63
Launceston Branch Centenary 1965
Michael L. Roach
The first railway to reach Launceston was built by the Launceston & South Devon Railway from Tavistock to a terminus in the valley to the north of the Town via Lydford and Lifton; and it opened to the public on 1 July 1865. Throughout its history the passenger trains ran from Launceston to the main station in Plymouth. This route was also the first to close to passengers on and from Monday 31 January 1962; but passenger trains continued to serve the town by the former London South Western Railway's North Cornwall route until 3 October 1966. The Great Western Society commemorated the opening of the line with a railtour called The Launceston Branch Centenary Tour 1865 – 1965 which ran on Sunday 5 September 1965. The steam engine chosen to haul the four coaches was Ivatt 2-6-2 tank 41283 of Templecombe Shed, which had earlier 1963-4 been based at Barnstaple Junction. I did not realise until now that this was the same engine that had come to our rescue on 5 October 1963 when travelling on a Taunton to Barnstaple train behind a Churchward Mogul with a tender full of rubbish which refused to burn. 41283 was sent out from Barnstaple Junction and met our train at East Anstey where it came on to our train in place of 7337 and departed 114 minutes late.
When the line closed at the end of 1962 Launceston to Lifton was retained for freight to and from Lifton but this was switched to Lydford – Lifton on 7 September 1964. This railtour is believed to be the only passenger train to use the Lydford to Launceston line after closure to passengers. The railtour started at Exeter St. Davids at 12.20 and finished there seven hours later. The route was Okehampton, Lydford, Lifton, Launceston, Halwill Junction, Bude, Halwill Junction and Okehampton. For this particular railtour I decided to chase it by car, which allowed me to get ahead of it and photograph it at places where it was just passing through without an official photo stop. Another factor which probably swayed the decision to chase it was that the previous day I was linesiding on the Cambrian main line and did not get home until midnight. My first stop of the day was at Okehampton station to see the railtour arrive and make its first photo-stop of the day with several more before I arrived at Ashbury for a last photo from the road bridge on a very dull evening. Next to last was Tower Hill where from memory there were four of us gathered on the road bridge to see the special pass. One was the well-known Plymouth enthusiast Harold Liddell and another was Syd Sponheimer whose photos of the special appear in the railtour section of the CRS website (click here and scroll down).
There is a good section on the history of Launceston's railways on the following website: launcestonthen.co.uk
When the line closed at the end of 1962 Launceston to Lifton was retained for freight to and from Lifton but this was switched to Lydford – Lifton on 7 September 1964. This railtour is believed to be the only passenger train to use the Lydford to Launceston line after closure to passengers. The railtour started at Exeter St. Davids at 12.20 and finished there seven hours later. The route was Okehampton, Lydford, Lifton, Launceston, Halwill Junction, Bude, Halwill Junction and Okehampton. For this particular railtour I decided to chase it by car, which allowed me to get ahead of it and photograph it at places where it was just passing through without an official photo stop. Another factor which probably swayed the decision to chase it was that the previous day I was linesiding on the Cambrian main line and did not get home until midnight. My first stop of the day was at Okehampton station to see the railtour arrive and make its first photo-stop of the day with several more before I arrived at Ashbury for a last photo from the road bridge on a very dull evening. Next to last was Tower Hill where from memory there were four of us gathered on the road bridge to see the special pass. One was the well-known Plymouth enthusiast Harold Liddell and another was Syd Sponheimer whose photos of the special appear in the railtour section of the CRS website (click here and scroll down).
There is a good section on the history of Launceston's railways on the following website: launcestonthen.co.uk
The railtour arrives at Okehampton for the first photo-stop of the day on 5 September 1965. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A heavily cropped version of a photo in the railtour section showing a rake of wagons at Launceston on their way to or from Lifton where they were loaded with rice puddings from the Ambrosia factory. The railway container pre-dated the ubiquitous shipping container by several decades and were originally heavily advertised for domestic house removals where they could travel door-to-door. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
41283 has arrived at the Launceston GW station which was closed to passengers on 30 June 1952 when the branch trains arriving from Plymouth moved to the former LSWR/SR station alongside. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The railtour passes through Holsworthy on its way down to Bude. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The railtour arrives at Whitstone & Bridgerule on its way back from Bude. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Stopped at Whitstone & Bridgerule. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Stopped at Dunsland Cross. Points to note – the mechanical lubricator and the SC plate for a self-cleaning smokebox. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The last photograph of the day as the railtour passes Ashbury on the very dull evening of 05.09.1965. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks for another superb article and for
the selection of unrepeatable photographs, Mike.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
the selection of unrepeatable photographs, Mike.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
Devon Route Learning
David Tozer
Thankfully in sunshine rather than liquid sunshine - 66720 'Wascosa' running light engine as the 0739 0Z82 Eastleigh East Yard to Exeter St David's route learner. 04.09.2025, copyright David Tozer.
Many thanks as always, Dave.
Worcester Visitors
Steve Widdowson
66748 TnT 66744 at Worcester Shrub Hill whilst working 1Z94 - the 1001 Barmouth to Oxford 'Britannic Explorer'. 03.09.2025, copyright Steve Widdowson.
66748 TnT 66744 at Worcester Shrub Hill whilst working 1Z94 - the 1001 Barmouth to Oxford 'Britannic Explorer'. 03.09.2025, copyright Steve Widdowson.
196009 and 196102 pass Norton, Worcs with the 5Q66 1451 Long Marston - Tyseley LMD. 03.09.2025, copyright Steve Widdowson.
Great shots - many thanks, Steve.