Great Western Coffee Shop

In a book I have, there is a map of where broad gauge was.

Surprisingly, the current Barnstaple line (from Exeter) was built to broad gauge, but the direct line from Taunton was not.

I thought that the direct line was GWR and the current line was SR/ LSWR.

Is it a mistake? Or did the LSWR build it broad?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_and_Crediton_Railway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_and_Crediton_Railway)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Devon_Railway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Devon_Railway)

In the Great Book "West Country Railway History" by David St John Thomas (He of David & Charles publishers, Newton Abbot fame), it is suggested that the GWR line from Norton Fitzwarren to Barnstaple was converted (from Broad) to Standard Guage in May 1881.

Also in the book is this Extract from the offical Cornwall Railway rule book.


                                              THE CORNWALL RAILWAY

Hereafter, when trains moving in an opposite direction are approaching each other on separate lines, guards and drivers will be required to bring their separate trains to a dead halt before the point of meeting and be very careful not to proceed until each train has passed the other.


Just think about it!