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Barnstaple Devon

Ray Griffiths

Ray Griffiths

master brummie
Hi Folks

For people who have holiday in North devonplease look a tYou Tube
View from an engine front Barnstaple 1898.

Has anybody been over this bridge from Barnstaple via Braunton to Ilfracombe.

Ray
 
Yes Ray, when there were railways in North Devon and North Cornwall. Oh! the 'withered arm' of the Beeching era. :cry:
 
Didnt you used to have to cahnge trains there cos the track was a different guage ?

I dont mean in the 19th century, I mean in the 60s. Think the station is a restuarant now if I'm right. Used to change ther to get to Westward Ho ! when I was a nipper.

Thden again, it was many moons ago so I could be wrong.
 
A bit later than 1898, I went by train to Ilfracombe in 1954, leaving Moor St station at midnight.
I remember the train seemed to do a 3 point turn in Barnstaple, and then an interesting chug along a branch line through Mortehoe to the buffers in Ilfracombe. I think the journey took 6 hours but the two week holiday in Combe Martin was wonderful.
 
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Yes your right the train come in from Birmingham go an fillup with water go to the rear of train pull it up the Bideford line then return to the front of the train to take it round the curve across the Taw to Ifracombe.

We in Branstaple and it is difficult to see how this back and forward worked, now they have built the new by pass.

They have left a bridge if ever they decide to run a line through to Bideford and Torrington, the line this still there as a tarmaced cycle track the Tarka Trail.

You mention the train from Moor St. Station I went Ifracombe on the overnight train it was midnight from Snow Hill in 1955 what journey.

Dawn was just about breaking on arrival in Barnstaple and the sun was shining, there was a mist on the surface it was a wonderfull site.

Who would have thought 51 years later I would move to this wonderfull North Devon.

There was a pice in our local paper that highlighted this film, the camera man was strapped on the front of the steam train to take these picture brave man, the metal bridge was pulled down in 1977.

The Shapland's factory is still there so is the Strand and the old railway building, Barnstaple had 3 Railway Staionsi on the West side of the Taw and 2 on the East side.

If anybody is interested there is a super DVD by Branch Line Video's called Memories of the Barnstaple to Ifracombe Line.

Address Branch Lines Vieo, 84 Himley Green, Leighton Buzzard LU7 QA it has pictures of the line from Barnstaple through Braunton Mortehoe and Ifracombe .hr. 30 mins long

I though this might bring back happy memories of childhood holiday's in North Devon.

Brummie living in wonderfull North Devon Ray





fatfingers said:
Didnt you used to have to cahnge trains there cos the track was a different guage ?

I dont mean in the 19th century, I mean in the 60s. Think the station is a restuarant now if I'm right. Used to change ther to get to Westward Ho ! when I was a nipper.

Thden again, it was many moons ago so I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
 
I can ( just ) remember getting the night train to Westward Ho ! which isnt too far from Illfracombe. Getting on in a station with a glass roof - Snow Hill ? Maybe because it was late and the pubs had shut, or maybe a remnant of the wartime spirit ( mid / late1950s ) sing songs on the train, people sharing sandwiches and flasks of tea with complete strangers, main thing I remember was the great atmosphere.

Daylight by the time we changed trains at Barnstable - or could have been Bideford now I come to think of it, somebody on here will probably know. Along a coast line to Westward Ho! getting there around mid afternoon. Takes what - 3 hours by car these days ?

I took a train last week, for the first time in 30 years. What a difference, people drinking form cans, swearing loudly into mobile phones, and no rhythmic clunkity clunk from the wheels. Horrible, not an experience I'll repeat in a hurry.
 
Wished I had been on that line only remember collecting tent & camping gear from Mortehoe/Woolacombe station back in the 50s BUT have rode our bikes from That long gone station to Great Torrington & the other way to Ilfracombe.It must have been one fantastic sight.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS
 
Hi

If you would like to see pictures of Barnstaple, Bideford, Instow if you go to www.northdevonuk.co.uk/NDUK.webcams.php you be able to see the places live do it during day time live webcam pictures.

Barnstaple through to Ifracombe, the brach to Bideford was only a local train I believe then fron Bideford which is 10 miles you could get the bus to Westward Ho! or Appledore.

Ray
 
Thanks for that Ray.
Was 50+ years ago so I dont remember everything. I spose there must have been a coach involved in the journey somewhere as I do rememebr we stayed at a Holiday Camp on top of a big hill, seemed like a mountain to me at the time. Wonder if its still there.
 
Some of the heavy holiday trains had to be banked at the rear from Mortehoe into Ilfracombe terminus - just memories now.
 
If you want to see heavy steam locomotive hauled trains climbing steep grades just visit the Heritage Railway that runs from Paignton to Kingwear (for Dartmouth). In the last three years (Apr-Oct) up to twelve coach trains have been hauled regularly, fully loaded, up the banks either side if the summit station at Churston. The principal locos in use have been ex-GWR 2-8-0T 4277 and 5239 plus 7827 Lydham Manor. The two prairie tanks which would struggle with these loads are both out of ticket. One is for sale. There are You Tube videos to be seen.

However extra train services are now added to the timetable to avoid the heavy loads even so it is impressive as is the scenery.
 
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