[otd] 17th May 1876 - first through Exeter - Plymouth train via Okehampton

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[grahame]

Extracts from Wikipedia[url] on the complex history of trains from Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock

Lidford was chosen as the terminus because from there a connection with the SDR's Tavistock branch line could give LSWR^▸ (London South Western Railway) trains access to Plymouth via Tavistock. However it was only on 17 May 1876 that the connection was made and trains could run through to Plymouth. This was a broad gauge line so, as at Crediton, a third rail was added to create a mixed gauge route

Running over the SDR line, the trains of the LSWR entered Plymouth from the east.

Access to Plymouth was inconvenient as LSWR trains had to run over the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s lines from Lidford to Plymouth and Devonport, most of which was just a single-track where GWR trains were given precedence.

The PD&SWJR line opened on 2 June 1890 and this changed Devonport into a through station. The new west-facing connection to Friary was brought into use on 1 April 1891. Trains to London now started from Friary, ran through Plymouth from east to west, called at North Road, and continued westwards through Devonport before heading north alongside the Tamar.

Trains between Exeter and Plymouth via Okehampton were withdrawn from 6 May 1968. The 20-mile (32 km) section between Meldon Quarry and Bere Alston was lifted, and between Meldon and Okehampton the line was only retained for freight trains. Okehampton to Exeter passenger services were withdrawn on 5 June 1972.

Proposals were made in 2008 to reopen the line from Tavistock to Bere Alston for a through service to Plymouth. In the wake of widespread disruption caused by damage to the mainline track on the south coast at Dawlish by coastal storms in February 2014, Network Rail considered reopening the Tavistock to Okehampton and Exeter section of the line as an alternative to the coastal route. The line was listed in 2019 by Campaign for Better Transport as a 'priority 1' candidate for reopening.

[grahame]

Extracts from Wikipedia on the complex history of trains from Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock

Lidford was chosen as the terminus because from there a connection with the SDR's Tavistock branch line could give LSWR^▸ (London South Western Railway) trains access to Plymouth via Tavistock. However it was only on 17 May 1876 that the connection was made and trains could run through to Plymouth. This was a broad gauge line so, as at Crediton, a third rail was added to create a mixed gauge route

I look forward within my lifetime to through trains running again from Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock and though I am slowing down, I really hope that gives them a good few years.   In the spirit of compromise, I would be happy to see the line being just standard gauge in spite of the engineering advantages of a wider internal gap as is still used in Ireland, Finland, Spain ...

For modern times, a clockface service powered by sustainable energy - probably electricity - generated / gathered away from the moving vehicles - is to be encouraged.  Connecting onward services by road are to be offered from most stations including mass transit and smaller personalised vehicles such as cycles and scooters, where appropriate with sustainable power assistance.  Customer facilities at stations are to make passengers feel welcome, including where appropriate selling Irish breakfasts, Haggis neaps and tatties for lunch, afternoon teas with the jam on top of the cream, and pints of Hobgoblin and Spingo with traditional curl-edged cheese sandwiches in the evening.