Ron’s travels this time are to the West Country, just about entering the land of the pasty. Some interesting railway pictures are to come but we’ll start with his starting point, Barnstaple.
To get there, he passed through Yeovil Junction…..
And Exeter St. David’s (pictures from several visits below.)
Ron also visited the smaller Exeter Central station. I find all those missing tracks rather depressing.
And so, once again, to Barnstaple. Nice West Country holiday weather, too!
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hi there, as im living in Australia and enjoy the researching of the southern Railway systems of the UK, would you please be able to answer a question for me. Ive noticed there the two main railway stations in Exeter.
St David seems like a happening place , however Exeter central doesn’t, I know the lines through Exeter Central were down graded in the late 60’s.
My question, Were the Exeter tracks reduced as it was owned by the southern Railway and not the Western Railway?? and as Exeter has grown, is St Davids now more central for the town??
and yes, I would find it sad to see the missing tracks as well. Thanks Chris
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Hi Chris, I’m not sure. However, I recall that it was common for banking locos to be kept on these central lines to get trains from St Davids to Central. From Wikipedia, “There were two sidings between the through platforms until 1969 which were used by spare carriages and locomotives.” Less traffic must have lessened the need for these sidings.
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Hi there, sorry fir my later response of your reply, much appreciated, yes your info dies sound like what happened due to the steep incline out of st David’s to Exeter Central,
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