In 1854 a passenger service started to Barnstaple station (later Barnstaple Junction) and in 1855 services were extended to Fremington, Instow and Bideford. This was the current line from Exeter St Davids.
In 1874 a branch was added, running to Ilfracombe calling at Barnstaple Quay, later renamed Barnstaple Town. (Shown on the map above top centre).
A sharply curved bridge was constructed across the River Taw alongside the appropriately named Long Bridge.
In 1898 this station was closed and replaced with a facility a little further north providing interchange with the narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple railway.
The station building here still stands and served for a time as a restaurant.
It is now in educational use.
Trains on both "extensions" were never frequent!
The Bideford line closed in 1965 followed by the Ilfracombe Branch in 1966.
Meanwhile, back in 1873, The Great Western Railway (technically its predecessors) opened a branch line from Taunton to a station (also called just Barnstaple) at Victoria Road.
After fourteen years of splendid isolation, a link was built enabling trains to reverse at the terminus and curve round to the "other" Barnstaple.
In 1905 the junction became triangular allowing through running without reversal in the station. It was not until 1949 when the station had "Victoria Road" added to avoid confusion which had existed for 76 years!
Trains were diverted to the Junction station in 1960 and the line closed in 1966.
Most of this link line is now a public footpath using the former railway bridge across the river.
The bridge can just be glimpsed from the new-ish A361 western bypass road.
The footpath can be spotted as it passes under Rumsam Road and Newport Road ...
... before finally emerging (bottom right) on Eastern Avenue, a road built on the track bed of the former line.
The whole of the passenger station has been flattened; but a trip up Station Road reveals the large goods shed ...
... to be still standing proud.
The building is now occupied by a Church ...
... that looks busy, lively and full!
Apart from goods shed, Town station and thee footpath, the only rail infrastructure left is the stub end of the single track branch from Exeter. Formerly located outside the town on low level riverside open land ...
... you might have trouble identifying the terminus today!
But it really is there ...
... somewhere!
As we shall see tomorrow.
Next Instow blog : Saturday 28th October
The last passenger train between Barnstaple Junction and Ilfracombe ran on Saturday 3 October 1970.
ReplyDelete