Moretonhampstead branch and Teign Valley Line

[Ramblin Rich]

On 08/11/2022 at 22:04, KeithMacdonald said:

I've read some authors talking about "china clay" from Heathfield via Newton Abbot. This is an easy mistake to make, as so many other articles (and topics here on RMWeb) cover the china clay subject as well. And most of us have seen various pics and models of the china clay hood wagons further west in Cornwall with their signature blue cover sheets.

 

 

Less well featured, or less frequently mentioned, is the ball-clay traffic, which didn't use such distinctive wagons. Some from places like Meeth and Marland via the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway. But plenty came down the Teign Valley Line. This might well be some in this picture taken by Roger Joanes in 1959, now on Flickr.

 

A "plain brown wrapper" kind of wagon?

 

Apologies for backtracking the thread, but just reading through I wanted to point out there were some 'clay hoods' used for ball clay traffic. Here's a mixed rake with the flat tarpaulin (10ft wheelbase opens) and 'clay hoods' (9ft wheelbase tipplers) in the same rake at Heathfield. (Flickr image)

On Paul Bartlett's site there a number of ball clay 'hoods' which have a yellow line on the hood and 'BALL CLAY ONLY' markings eg:

https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brclayhood/e9303b36

There were a few loading points, including this raised dock just north of Newton Road in Newton Abbot, itself just north of the the large goods depot. (Flickr image)

There was another raised bank at Teigngrace, demolished in the late 80s and where the timber traffic loaded in 2011-2013. (Flickr image)

 

And the large works just south of Heathfield, seen behind the log train here (Flickr image):

Sadly clay traffic finally ceased in 2006.

 

The Cornwall Railway Society page mentions traffic for Ambrosia from Heathfield - rice pudding and custard presumably. But not mixed...

 

The other traffic in recent years was oil to the Heltor terminal in the industrial estate just north of Heathfield, this finished late 1995. I haven't found any online images of the terminal, but the 2nd view above shows the empties and this Flickr view shows some manoeuvring in Newton Abbot - click the image for explanation (Flickr image)

 

Sorry for the slightly out of turn clutter, but I've only recently realised there was such a variety of traffic in relatively recent times which seems a bit overlooked.

Edited November 14, 2022 by Ramblin Rich
additions and corrections

[Rivercider]

Once the traincrew depot and diesel depot at Newton Abbot closed in 1981 the traincrew mostly worked down from Exeter. The weekday freight trip that served the Heathfield branch was crewed from Exeter. Though I believe St Blazey or Plymouth crews may have also been involved with export clay traffic from Heathfield to Fowey in clayhoods. 

 

 

On 9th July 1985 47097 heads west through Exeter St Davids with a service for Heathfield. Two empty PBA clay tigers for English China Clay at Heathfield have been attached in front of loaded tanks from Waterston to Heathfield. 9/7/85

 

cheers

 

[KeithMacdonald]

3 hours ago, Ramblin Rich said:

Sorry for the slightly out of turn clutter, but I've only recently realised there was such a variety of traffic in relatively recent times which seems a bit overlooked.

 

@Ramblin Rich No sorry needed! 😀

That's great feedback - and well done for finding some great pictures that had eluded me and my searches on Flickr! 😀

It all adds to the appeal of Heathfield as a modelling location doesn't it?

 

[KeithMacdonald]

Dunsford Halt

The direction of the line from Chudleigh was roughly-speaking due north up the Teign valley. Until it reached what is now the A3212 between Dunsford and Ide. At this point, the railway could go no further up the Teign valley and turned right to start heading east towards Exeter. The halt was so small it's almost lost on the map.

 

 

As it's nearly two miles to Dunsford itself, it's a wonder it was called Dunsford Halt. Here it is in 1957, photo by John L Smith. So small it didn't even have the classic GWR pagoda, instead something that looks more like a corregated shed.

 

 

 

[KeithMacdonald]

Longdown Station

 

One stop closer to Exeter; just one mile from Dunsford Halt, also rather remote and little-used, hiding in a valley between two tunnels.

 

 

Info from Disused Stations:

 

Quote

The station was situated a mile or so from Longdown village in an extensive woodland setting, located between 836-yard Perridge and 248-yard Culver Tunnels. A five-lever signal box was added in 1916. Longdown station had a looped siding which was used almost entirely for coal and timber for the Culver Estate until November 1956. Between 19th September 1943 and July 1954 a 1100ft running loop was in place, vital for passing trains when the main line from Newton Abbot to Exeter was blocked. The up line was signaled for reversible running.

 

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/l/longdown/index.shtml

The SRS Diagram shows the position of the running loop:

https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwe/S888.htm

 

Which lets us add it to the earlier map that just showed the smaller looper siding.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.0&lat=50.70110&lon=-3.62170&layers=168&b=1

[KeithMacdonald]

Elsewhere on RMWeb, today's topic on the Proposed GWR electrification in the 1930s/1940s mentions the Teign Valley line as a diversionary route. Which got me thinking - have we seen any pictures of diverted trains actually on the Teign Valley line?

[KeithMacdonald]

Are we there yet? Nearly.

 

 

Ide Station

 

A small loop siding with a loading dock.

 

 

This picture looks like it was taken from the east-end of the platform, and the goods siding is hidden from sight.

 

 

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/i/ide_halt/index.shtml

 

 

[KeithMacdonald]

Alphington Halt

 

A 100ft-long wooden platform that hardly appears on maps.

 

Mentioned previously:

 

And:

Trains to and from Exeter City Basin and the Alphington  Branch.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/exeter-city-basin.html

[KeithMacdonald]

Isn't it typical? Go searching the RMWeb archives for one thing and find another. 15 pages on Heathfield Branch Developments. Sadly the first 12 pages are seriously afflicted with "RMWeb ISP Image Library Disaster", so start at page 12 if you just want pics.

 

 

[JohnR]

I came across this clip from BFI...

 

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-royal-demolition-1962-online?fbclid=IwAR19jD9iAgQrSS0oI2yV9KHGpbXBi-qtR9e3uv3gAuCZDtJIywPc_Flfg_I

[Cowley 47521]

On 15/11/2022 at 22:09, KeithMacdonald said:

Alphington Halt

 

A 100ft-long wooden platform that hardly appears on maps.

 

 

A few years ago I was working on a house in Alphington and I’ve got a feeling that one of the gardens that has the remains of the trackbed at the end of it has an ‘Alphington Halt’ running in board, it could possibly even be the original one but it was quite difficult to see from where I was. Can anyone else confirm this?

[Rivercider]

For anyone interested in moving to Moretonhampstead properties in the Hingston View development,

which is on the site of Moretonhampstead station, are now going on the market. The former goods shed

is being converted into three homes - they are not affordable housing, Bradleys Estate Agents have the details

 

cheers

[Cowley 47521]

On 18/04/2023 at 16:20, Rivercider said:

For anyone interested in moving to Moretonhampstead properties in the Hingston View development,

which is on the site of Moretonhampstead station, are now going on the market. The former goods shed

is being converted into three homes - they are not affordable housing, Bradleys Estate Agents have the details

 

cheers

I was there yesterday helping a friend move in. 😉

 

[KeithMacdonald]

On 18/04/2023 at 16:20, Rivercider said:

For anyone interested in moving to Moretonhampstead properties in the Hingston View development, which is on the site of Moretonhampstead station, are now going on the market. The former goods shed is being converted into three homes - they are not affordable housing,

 

Is this one of them?

 

Quote

Originally, the Moretonhampstead railway station, Hingston View, was a thriving terminal for those wanting to explore the wonders of Dartmoor. In order to keep some of the industrial heritage, the old railway goods shed and part of the station's platform will be converted and restored as part of Hingston View.

 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133648274#/?channel=RES_NEW

[Rivercider]

2 hours ago, KeithMacdonald said:

 

Is this one of them?

 

 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133648274#/?channel=RES_NEW

Yes, as I read it there are three properties built in the old goods shed

 

cheers

[South devon trains]

Hi I've been interested in the Heathfield and Teign Valley lines for quite a while so I'm glad I found this forum.

 

So I must admit I've been on the line and walked along it multiple times. So I'm going to share some pictures I've taken of it recently.

The photos above show a rail holder from 1963 I found it interesting as on the next sleeper after the fishplate there was a new style from 1995

but if you go the opposite direction towards the road bridge it switches again to a different style newer than the 1963s but older than the 1995s (sadly I haven't gotten a photo of them)

 

[DLT]

On 18/11/2022 at 21:23, JohnR said:

I came across this clip from BFI...

 

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-royal-demolition-1962-online?fbclid=IwAR19jD9iAgQrSS0oI2yV9KHGpbXBi-qtR9e3uv3gAuCZDtJIywPc_Flfg_I

 "A four hundred year old railway bridge"....?

[Harlequin]

Here are some shots of Moretonhampstead "station" as it is today:

 

 

The engine shed and the goods shed are still there - just.

 

All those fancy new houses right next to a busy lorry park... I imagine that might cause some friction.

 

And a couple of shots from further down the trail:

 

 

The old trackbed heads off down the Wray valley. Imagine if steam trains still ran in this beautiful part of the country...

 

[KeithMacdonald]

On 30/09/2023 at 19:05, Harlequin said:

All those fancy new houses right next to a busy lorry park... I imagine that might cause some friction.

 

Ah, that's Thompsons Transport of Moretonhampstead, isn't it? IIRC, they gave up some of their lorry park for the housing development.
 

Quote

 

Proposal 7.12 (12) Land at Thompson's Haulage depot, Moretonhampstead
1. An area of land at the Thompson's Haulage depot at Station Road is allocated for residential development of around 26 homes, of which not less than 45% must be affordable housing to meet local needs.

2. Development of this site should:
a) be of an appropriate density in order to respect the rural edge location and historic character of the site;
b) conserve and enhance the site's railway heritage, sensitively incorporating the goods shed and platform;
c) include landscaping to the south and east of the site;
d) provide a link to the Wray Valley Trail; and
e) be supported by a flood risk assessment which includes consideration of climate change and demonstrates that any development will be safe, not increase flood risk elsewhere and where possible reduces flood risk overall.

 

https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/96652/7.12-Policy-Advice-THOMPSONS-v0cs.pdf

 

Thompsons also tried to get planning permission for a better location at Whiddon Down, next to the A30 dual carriageway. Which would have reduced a lot of heavy lorry traffic down the narrower and twistier A382. But that was in a different parish (Drewsteignton), and that parish didn't even want a farm shop there, let alone a lorry park.

 

Some might wonder at the logic (or the lack of). Thompsons largely specialises in the bulk haulage of flour and animal feed. To and from farms that grow and/or rear the food we eat. Some might say there is some cognative dissonance around the food we buy in the supermarkets and where it comes from. That is, some people are happy to be consumers, but don't want the means of production and distribution in their neighbourhood. Smelly farms and noisy tractors etc.

https://thompsonsdevon.co.uk/?page_id=570

 

Thompsons also provide storage for the Ambrosia factory in Lifton, further down the A30, but originally on the Launceston branch.

https://launcestonthen.co.uk/index.php/the-parishes/lifton/ambrosia/

[Rivercider]

On Thursday we visited Parke NT, and as usual walked around part of the estate including along the track bed of the former Moretonhampstead branch towards the north. This was our first visit for some time and when we reached the end of the cleared path the skew bridge over a minor public road (just North of Pullabrook Farm) has new timber fencing across it and the undergrowth has been cleared. It looked to me like the Wray Valley Trail is to be extended further north across the bridge towards Lustleigh,does anyone know if this is the case?

 

Edit - I see the skew bridge is actually the Yeo Road Bridge, near to the site of Hawkmoor Halt, which was later renamed Pullabrook Halt.

 

cheers

Edited April 13 by Rivercider
Additional info