Time Capsules
Dulverton Station, Somerset
James Carter is correct (see the original description and resulting comments below). I should have followed up my doubts about the location of the signalbox earlier! This is Dulverton station, on the Taunton-Barnstaple line, actually at Brushford, two miles from the town. Wiveliscombe, to the east, also had the same layout, but without the bay for the branch: signalbox/goods shed/station buildings, in that order, on the up-side platform. The Devon & Somerset’s 43-mile long route from Norton Fitzwarren - on the main line - opened throughout to Barnstaple on 1 November 1873, originally as a broad-gauge railway. It was converted to standard gauge in 1881, while leased to the Bristol & Exeter and became part of the Great Western in 1901. It was a beautiful line to travel on, crossing the rivers Tone, Exe and Bray; there were frequent 1 in 60 gradients and three tunnels en route. After World War II, Churchward and Collett 2-6-0s were the mainstay motive power with Collett 0-6-0s used on lighter goods trains. The small prairie tank 5525 was less typical; this loco was shedded at Taunton in 1959. South Molton to the west of Dulverton used to provide enough rabbits for a daily special before myxomatosis struck. Quantities of fertiliser were imported, too, with hides for the tannery at Swimbridge.
The bay platform at Dulverton was the northern terminus of the Exe Valley branch, which diverged southwards at Morebath Junction to reach Tiverton on 1 August 1884. A further section of the route opened from Tiverton to Stoke Canon, on the Bristol & Exeter’s main line on 1 May 1885. These branches were standard gauge from the outset and latterly worked typically by Collett 0-4-2 tank-powered auto trains. One of these engines, 1442, is preserved in Tiverton Museum.
Beeching’s Axe fell here and the branch from Dulverton to Exeter via Tiverton closed in 1963. The Taunton - Barnstaple route came to an end on 5 October 1966.
Martin Bodman
______________________________________________________________
3 March 2010 - Editor:
The original title I used was 'Lostwithiel Railway Station 1950s'. However, following the comment of James and the in-depth research of Martin Bodman I have changed the description as above. But I have left the original description and the comments below as they are a valuable trail and show some nice 'paper archaeology'.
Original description:
Photo of the Lostwithiel Railway Station, in Cornwall, as it was in the 1950.
Situated on the banks of the river Fowey, this station opened in 1859 by Cornwall Railway. Currently only two platforms are in use (2010). Note the signal box on the right and the bridge of course.
Waiting at the platform are a passenger train and locomotive 5525 (heading a goods train).
Photo © The Step Back Through Time Collection
Picture added on 27 December 2009
This picture is in the following groups
Step back through Time, trains and stations
Step back through Time, trains and stations
Enjoyed the photograph. But are you sure it is Lostwithiel? It looks like Dulverton to me. Of course I may be wrong!
Regards James Carter
Regards James Carter
Added by James Carter on 27 February 2010
Re James Carter's comment above I have to admit to a concern about the signalbox. The Lostwithiel box was up by the road crossing, guarding the gates. It is possible there were two boxes at the station; but then again the bay platform isn't ideally situated for the Fowey branch, but I expect Marcel has good reason for identifying the shot as Lostwithiel
Added by Martin Bodman on 27 February 2010
It wasn't me who identified this as Lostwithiel... it is the title that came with the photo. And as far as I know those titles were provided by the actual photographer (which wasn't me, I just got hold of copies of these great photos and permission to use them)...
Added by Marcel Gommers on 27 February 2010
Sorry, Marcel, I should have employed better English. I have no wish to impugn your reputation. The background hill has similarities with Lostwithiel views today. I'll try and locate some modern views on the Geograph site for comparison.
Added by Martin Bodman on 27 February 2010
I think James Carter is probably right and the station is Dulverton - for the following reasons:
1 The signalbox is in the wrong place for Lostwithiel. A plan of Lostwithiel in 1908 shown in Alan Bennett's 'The Great Western Railway in Mid Cornwall', [Run Past Publishing 1992] indicates one signalbox there, by the road crossing to the east, and not in the middle of the platform
2 The footbridge shown in a photo of Lostwithiel station in Bennett's book is of an entirely different design
3 Lostwithiel didn't have a goods shed alongside the platform [as per plan mentioned above]; Dulverton and Wiveliscombe stations did, and to this design
4 Small prairie 5525 was shedded at Taunton in 1959, which suggests the loco may have been in the vicinity in 1950, too. [Source: W J Gardner. Cleaner to Controller. Reminiscences of the GWR at Taunton. The Oakwood Press 1994]
5 The bay platform would have been the right side for trains on the branch to Bampton and Tiverton
1 The signalbox is in the wrong place for Lostwithiel. A plan of Lostwithiel in 1908 shown in Alan Bennett's 'The Great Western Railway in Mid Cornwall', [Run Past Publishing 1992] indicates one signalbox there, by the road crossing to the east, and not in the middle of the platform
2 The footbridge shown in a photo of Lostwithiel station in Bennett's book is of an entirely different design
3 Lostwithiel didn't have a goods shed alongside the platform [as per plan mentioned above]; Dulverton and Wiveliscombe stations did, and to this design
4 Small prairie 5525 was shedded at Taunton in 1959, which suggests the loco may have been in the vicinity in 1950, too. [Source: W J Gardner. Cleaner to Controller. Reminiscences of the GWR at Taunton. The Oakwood Press 1994]
5 The bay platform would have been the right side for trains on the branch to Bampton and Tiverton
Added by Martin Bodman on 28 February 2010
Here's a recent view of Dulverton station, which was actually at Brushford, a couple of miles from the town. It was on the Devon and Somerset line, linking Taunton and Barnstaple: see lostrailways.fotopic.net/p46479639.html
This is looking in the opposite direction to the 'Lostwithiel' shot, but the goods shed is in about the right location and seems to match
This is looking in the opposite direction to the 'Lostwithiel' shot, but the goods shed is in about the right location and seems to match
Added by Martin Bodman on 28 February 2010
I am happy to have put the record straight. I agree with Martin, it must have been a delightful line to travel on - if you were not in a hurry. I am in the early stages of constructing a 00 gauge model of Dulverton; Martin's photograph will come in most useful. Does he have access to any more?
James Carter
James Carter
Added by James Carter on 15 March 2010
Great photo have visited this location several times while of holiday in glorious Devon one of my favourite station, the name just rings with beauty and Peter Gray has also shots of this station in one of his books, beautiful location for the station would have loved to have ridden this line, but discovered it too late. Thanks for the photo, brilliant
Added by Michael Robinson on 21 March 2010
I have changed trains at Dulverton during the 1940s my granparants lived at East Ansty, Grandad was a Lenthman/Platelayer on this line. He was working this line in the 1901 censes.my family all worked for the G W R at various stations in the West Country, Exeter Churston, Minehead, Didcot.
Added by John Coles. on 01 April 2010
I was at a boys boarding school at East Anstey during the mid fifties called Kestrels. I frequently went on this line having come up from Exeter on the Exe Valley line. We used to call the train the Tivy Bumper although I believe this name was given to the Tiverton to Tiverton Juntion line. The photograph fits Dulverton station and we used to cross the footbridge when arriving from East Anstey.
I am researching everything to do with Kestrels school and its then headmaster, Richard Stapledon. Any information about the school or these lines would be most welcome as I am preparing a book about my schooldays at Kestrels. Perhaps someone who was at Kestrels will get in touch; railway traveller or not,whether before or after the mid fifties.
Editor: Click on Iain's name (in blue) for his email address so you can approach him directly
I am researching everything to do with Kestrels school and its then headmaster, Richard Stapledon. Any information about the school or these lines would be most welcome as I am preparing a book about my schooldays at Kestrels. Perhaps someone who was at Kestrels will get in touch; railway traveller or not,whether before or after the mid fifties.
Editor: Click on Iain's name (in blue) for his email address so you can approach him directly
Added by Iain Morison on 21 August 2010
England
5525 was one of the numerous 4575 class of 2-6-2Ts introduced in 1927, modified from Churchward's 4500 class of 1906. Several of these locomotives have been rescued from Barry scrapyard, rebuilt and preserved on 'heritage' lines.
Lostwithiel is in a dip, by the river: the railway has come down from Doublebois and Bodmin Road on gradients of 1 in 70, 1 in 96 and 1 in 66. To the south it climbs up at 1 in 72 to Treverrin Tunnel before falling again to Par Station. The climb from there to St Austell is at 1 in 6o: the route is something of a switchback.
This view is, I think, looking roughly north, so that the photograph was probably taken in the afternoon, judging by the light