bgman Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Update for Crediton over bridge from 17.00 today, unfortunately the weather wasn't as good as the last photographs but I thought they were worth taking to show the refurbished bridge. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Better than most bridge rebuilds. It almost looks authentic. Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Hi bgman Great set of pictures....Thanks for sharing....... 'They' have done a really good job & the station looks really good now....... BUT..... Spear fencing still in place on the top of the bridge where passengers cross separating what ????? I know why originally it would have been there but why still in place now (health & safety etc etc) ?????? Can't see any reason but perhaps someone knows something I can't think of....... Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted October 22, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 22, 2015 Spear fencing still in place on the top of the bridge where passengers cross separating what ????? I know why originally it would have been there but why still in place now (health & safety etc etc) ?????? Can't see any reason but perhaps someone knows something I can't think of....... Sorry, no idea, chum. Better than most bridge rebuilds. It almost looks authentic. Er, that's because it is authentic, Brian. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaneggleston Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Better than most bridge rebuilds. It almost looks authentic. Brian. Would look really authentic if they had replaced that colour light signal with a semaphore one at the same time! Coat, Hat etc......................... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted October 22, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 22, 2015 Just need the colour lights upgraded to semaphores and manual gates put back in. I must stop dreaming Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Caught this (just!) as I went to catch the train into Crediton early, Hanson Traction Class 31 Devon Diesel Society taking thumper units back to Okehampton..... Excuse the quality it was taken very hastily on my 'phone ! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 A very short video of the same https://youtu.be/wXu2bSRq0Sg 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Caught this (just!) as I went to catch the train into Crediton early, Hanson Traction Class 31 Devon Diesel Society taking thumper units back to Okehampton..... image.jpeg Excuse the quality it was taken very hastily on my 'phone ! Very nice. If there had not been a WR takeover of the SR lines in the west then DEMUs would have become a regular sight down there, cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted February 6, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 6, 2016 (edited) I thought I should post these images of Lapford here, they were taken in October 2012, as research for my then planned 'interpretation' of Lapford (Tawford Cross ) Photography was a bit tricky due to bright, low sunlight but still worthwhile. The classic "over the bridge parapet" view: Looking the opposite way (towards Exeter): Bridge close up - the left hand arch was an abbatoir at one time (!) and there are still big hooks embedded in the arch to hang things from (!!) Station building from embankment opposite - the vegetation here made this view difficult: Looking down the tracks from footpath crossing - note jointed track & not that straight in telephoto! Opposite direction - I think this bridge was originally something to do with drainage as there were settling tanks to the north (right) of the line on earlier maps: The only train I saw during my visit - non-stop, there's only 4 stoppers each way daily: A hasty going away shot at maximum telephoto - the "Limit of Lapford token" sign is (I believe) something to do with a short section token used by trains accessing the sidings - which no longer exist, so the token is probably redundant! Walking up the road to the village of Lapford, you cross the bridge seen in the 2nd picture & get a view back to the main skew bridge. The different brickwork in the parapet is where the steps down to the demolished down line platform used to be: View the other way - note bullhead track! Finally, just off the bridge is this rather nice mill which will be a good basis for the view block on my layout plan - again, vegetation made pictures difficult (the white building is marked as the Post office on old maps): Interestingly, I looked on Google streetview & this mill is a more visible (winter picture, less leaves!), but the main interest for me is that the loop track is still in place on their images. I think the loop got removed around 2009/10 It also shows the rail-over-river bridge which I forgot to photograph myself... EDIT - I think this part of the track was renewed last year & is no longer bullhead. Edited February 6, 2016 by Ramblin Rich 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Ironic to see the modern bus shelter alongside the original building but sadly adequate for todays business. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Ironic to see the modern bus shelter alongside the original building but sadly adequate for todays business. Brian Passenger figures for most stations on the route have increased by double, in some cases more, over the last ten years except for Lapford, Portsmouth Arms and Chapelton which have more or less remained the same, cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted February 6, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 6, 2016 Passenger figures for most stations on the route have increased by double, in some cases more, over the last ten years except for Lapford, Portsmouth Arms and Chapelton which have more or less remained the same, cheers 70 percent of the traffic is now 'end to end '. Overall ridership for the whole line was just under 200,000 journeys in 2001, rising to over 660,000 in 2015. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Y'all must forgive me gents, but I'm too far away to hear all the latest. That's why a site such as this and its posters are so invaluable. Glad to see then, that traffic is good! Brian. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted February 7, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 7, 2016 70 percent of the traffic is now 'end to end '. Overall ridership for the whole line was just under 200,000 journeys in 2001, rising to over 660,000 in 2015.Brilliant stats, CK! Thus more than justifying your personal efforts to get renewals authorised in recent times. You are truly a friend to the railway! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted February 7, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 7, 2016 Brilliant stats, CK! Thus more than justifying your personal efforts to get renewals authorised in recent times. You are truly a friend to the railway! The efforts are all due to a three-way effort on the part of FGW, the Devon & Cornwall Community Rail Partnership and the Tarka Rail Association, all of whom work tirelessly to improve passenger levels and provide a good service. Much work is also going into providing better units for the future. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted February 7, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 7, 2016 (edited) Some more recent photos around Eggesford. I wanted to get a better look around the station as I'm aiming to incorporate some of the features into my latest ideas for a layout. Last Wednesday's forecast (3rd Feb) was supposedly fine so I took a trip down the line on the 1119 from Exeter Central, arriving in Eggesford 1203, just as the rain started to pour! So some of the following set are in the rain or with a damp lens, so apologies for the quality, but hopefully a useful record of operations. First, the train that got me there, 143 611 waiting in the down platform for the up service to arrive & allow it to proceed on to Barnstaple - note the guard/conductor sheltering in the doorway A couple of shots of the ornate building, sadly cordoned off with building site fencing Here comes the up train, 150 263, 1143 from Barnstaple The train crew go to the token apparatus to exchange their token from the Barnstaple - Eggesford section for the Eggesford - Crediton one and also lower the level crossing barriers Up train departs, note rain drops on lens! Meanwhile the down train departed too; given the weather I retreated to the nearby garden centre cafe for a hot drink, slice of cake & chance to dry by a radiator! Walking back, a view of the level crossing over the Taw river bridge I'm standing the safe side of the barriers; here is the next down train arriving (1220 from Exeter Central) formed of 143 619 and 143 618. The driver halts the train to operate the level crossing control, waits for the flashing white light to show the barriers have lowered correctly, then sets off over the crossing into the down platform The barriers automatically open again once clear and I crossed over & around the road side of the station building Onto the up platform, with the down train waiting on the other line for the returning up service to arrive A view of the level crossing with instruction boards Here comes 143 611 returning (1243 from Barnstaple), which I caught back to Exeter Looking back at the earlier photos (July 2014, start of the thread), there's definitely less weed growth which makes it look better kept, possibly new ballast too but still bullhead track - which puts me in the market for Peco's new track! Edited May 30, 2016 by Ramblin Rich 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted February 8, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2016 but still bullhead track The line immediately north of the loop is steel-sleepered CWR for approx 8 miles to Portsmouth Arms. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted February 8, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2016 Thanks CK, I knew there had been renewals nearby, but also thought the ballast may have been fettled in the station area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devonbelle Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Thanks for posting the recent batch of photos Rich. I haven't travelled the line for 4 years - it looks in excellent condition - quite a contrast to the 80s when it was being run down, and in the 90s when run with minimum infra work. The scale of relaying the last couple of years is quite something. Passenger growth quoted by the Captain is heartening - big conundrum now is what infra works can happen next, after train lengthening ceases to be an option - what seemed logical in Autumn 87 taking the Barny SB box out - would now seem illogical with numbers of passengers. Keep the pictures coming - and I've made note to self to 'do' the line this Spring - to give further impetus to finish my o gauge slice of the Barny line, Lapford Gate. Cheers Paul 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devonbelle Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 I did a trip up the Barnstaple line last week. Healthy passenger loadings - mid morning on a weekday. The Meldon line has clearly seen some use, lovely shine to the rails. Anyway I travelled as far as Eggesford, for some further inspiration for Lapford Gate my o gauge 70s/80s layout I am building - see in 7mm area of this forum. Shame that heras fencing around the platform front of Eggesford station building. So a few photos follow. Paul 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted March 20, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2016 Better weather than I had Paul! There was a charter that went to Meldon on 12th March (see part way down this page http://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/news ), presumably that explains the shiny rails Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 21, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2016 Better weather than I had Paul! There was a charter that went to Meldon on 12th March (see part way down this page http://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/news ), presumably that explains the shiny rails Yes, that and the recent transfer out of the Class 45 loco that had been used for the 'Polar Express' operation over the Christmas period. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Thought I would post this just for info if anyone is interested. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted May 28, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 28, 2016 Cheers would like to do this at sometime, unfortunately it seems the Sunday bus service which used to run from Okey to Gunnislake isn't running now so not possible to do a trip all around (Exeter-Okey-Gunny-Plym-Exeter). PS was that photo taken by the Hood from Thunderbirds...? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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