Fat Controller Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Reading the various postings on parcels traffic on here has led me to wonder why, even into the late 1970s, the Barnstaple branch seemed to carry a lot more parcels traffic than comparable lines elsewhere (the Milford Haven branch, for example). Apart from the dedicated pool of Fruit Ds, that lingered on in a form of shuttle between Exeter St Davids and the terminal, there seemed to be quite a few other vans either attached to the various passenger services or running as part of the branch freights. None of the towns on, or close to, the line would seem to be large enough to generate more than a few mailbags daily. Was there some sort of local industry which justified such a quantity of parcels traffic? A printer, perhaps, or a secret MoD archive? Yours, curiously. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 15, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 15, 2009 Reading the various postings on parcels traffic on here has led me to wonder why, even into the late 1970s, the Barnstaple branch seemed to carry a lot more parcels traffic than comparable lines elsewhere (the Milford Haven branch, for example). Apart from the dedicated pool of Fruit Ds, that lingered on in a form of shuttle between Exeter St Davids and the terminal, there seemed to be quite a few other vans either attached to the various passenger services or running as part of the branch freights. None of the towns on, or close to, the line would seem to be large enough to generate more than a few mailbags daily. Was there some sort of local industry which justified such a quantity of parcels traffic? A printer, perhaps, or a secret MoD archive? Yours, curiously. Brian Barnstaple was a parcels concentration depot with an extensive road delivery area so I suspect that the vans were most closely associated with traffic for that. There was also a Barnstaple sort for 'papers and I know at one time they went forward by rail from St Davids, for example in 1971 the 00.40 Padd-Pze conveyed a GUV (News) for Barnstaple, detached Exeter. Barnstaple was also a concentration point for GPO traffic and, again taking 1971 as the example, the 22.20 Padd-Pze Postal conveyed a Siphon G extreme rear for Barnstaple, detached Exeter. Interestingly the latter (and its predecessor from Waterloo) had for many years after the line closed a BR operated connection from Barnstaple to Lynton In West Wales the most westerly parcels concentration depots were at Whitland (which I think went at some time in the early '70s?) and Carmarthen with very limited passenger rated wet fish in boxes despatched from Milford Haven although how long that lasted I don't know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 Barnstaple was a parcels concentration depot with an extensive road delivery area so I suspect that the vans were most closely associated with traffic for that. There was also a Barnstaple sort for 'papers and I know at one time they went forward by rail from St Davids, for example in 1971 the 00.40 Padd-Pze conveyed a GUV (News) for Barnstaple, detached Exeter. Barnstaple was also a concentration point for GPO traffic and, again taking 1971 as the example, the 22.20 Padd-Pze Postal conveyed a Siphon G extreme rear for Barnstaple, detached Exeter. In West Wales the most westerly parcels concentration depots were at Whitland (which I think went at some time in the early '70s?) and Carmarthen with very limited passenger rated wet fish in boxes despatched from Milford Haven although how long that lasted I don't know. Thanks, Mike- that makes a bit more sense now. I could be quite tempted by a mid-70s Barnstaple.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 15, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 15, 2009 Thanks, Mike- that makes a bit more sense now. I could be quite tempted by a mid-70s Barnstaple.... From what I can remember of it I don't think that Barnstaple's parcels depot was very inspiring, now Taunton's........... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I seem to recall they had an early newspaper train up there until mid 80s. Not forgetting RAF chivenor was up that way and I believe that would have been a fairly large base in terms of staff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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