Welcome to the first in our series of route surveys, this one covers the Exmouth branch, a former Southern railway line running south along the East bank of the Exe estuary from Exeter to the small port and seaside resort of Exmouth. We'll be following the line south from Exmouth Junction, the location where it diverges from the Exeter to London Waterloo former Southern main line, this location is covered in our connecting Rail Centre's: Exeter thread, click on the red link to visit that thread. These days the line is operated by Wessex Trains, who operate all the former "regional railways" routes in the south west. All trains from Exmouth operate into Exeter Central, most continue down the hill into Exeter St Davids and many continue from there to Paignton (after reversing) or Barnstaple, giving interesting through train options which were not available in Southern/Great Western days. Most trains on the branch are formed from either class 150 or 153 DMU's, with occasional visits from other Wessex trains units such as classes 158 and 143. Our first port of call will be Polsloe Bridge station, within sight of the signal box at Exmouth Junction! [ 07. August 2002, 21:40: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
An Exmouth to Paignton (via Exeter St Davids) service pauses at Polsloe Bridge. The guard is on the platform and closing the passenger doors before departure. This station is located on an embankment and is entirely constructed of pre-fab concrete from the Southern Railway's nearby Exmouth Junction concrete works. In the distance is Exmouth Junction signal box, although it's not easy to make out on these pictures, sorry The Exmouth trains carry a two person crew of driver and guard, with the guard responsible for door operation and on-board ticket sales as the majority of stations on the branch are unstaffed. The line from Exmouth Junction as far as Topsham was originally double track and the remains of the former Exmouth bound platform are visible here as another Exeter bound train approaches the platform. Note the pronounced dip as the line crosses the valley. Beyond the overbridge in the distance is a curve followed by the next station. From the road outside as an Exmouth bound train arrives, the precast concrete construction is evident! Looking towards Exmouth Junction the disused trackbed is obvious, on the far right is the disused platform, overgrown by Ivy. Looking at the west side of the line you can make out the ivy-covered staircase that used to be a mirror image to it's opposite number. Right then, next stop Digby & Sowton... [ 05. August 2002, 17:21: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Martyn, you are doing a great job I wish I had travelled around more when I was down there in the 'sixties, so I could add more 'old time' photos. Instead, we spent the whole day at Exeter St. David's!
Next installment! After crossing the valley seen in the previous pics, the line rounds a curve through the ridge and emerges above the Clyst valley, it now starts descending and will reach the side of the river Exe as it meets the river Clyst, just after Topsham station. Anyhow, before that we come to Digby and Sowton station. This is a new station which was opened in 1995 using money from the local council & local businesses, it serves a new housing developement on one side of the line, and an industrial area on the other. Here an Exeter bound train is calling at the single platform, the platform is built on the trackbed of the lifted southbound track. The housing area is off to the right behind the trees, and is accessed via the footbridge, the industrial area is behind and to the left, accessed via the footpath that also utilises the old trackbed for a short distance, including a bridge over a main road! From the next bridge south an Exmouth train is seen pulling away from the station. The layout using the extra space left by the second track can be seen quite well here. Just south of there the line crosses the main road into Exeter from the M5 motorway on a modern (1960's) concrete bridge, the bridge is single track, so post-dates the line being singled. Shortly south of this the line passes an abandoned military (Royal Navy) stores depot on the west side of the tracks, there are yard lamps, loading guages and ground frame huts still in evidence here dating from when this was a busy source of traffic for the line. Shortly after this the line crosses over the M5 motorway on a bridge similar to that seen above, (sorry, have not been able to get decent shots of either of those landmarks) before running into Topsham, which is the passing place on the branch, as well as the end of Track Circuit block control by Exmouth Junction signal box and the start of "one engine in steam" operation. (these days without the steam! ) Topsham is the next station stop... [ 07. August 2002, 21:13: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Welcome to Topsham, here a class 150 is leaving for Exeter across the only level crossing on the branch, which is right on the platform ends at Topsham station. Because this is the crossing place on the branch, road delays can be quite long here, the roof of the former signal box can be seen above the train. Here's a view from the Exmouth bound platform looking towards Exeter, at left is the now disused signalbox, with the signal protecting the single line in front of it. The single line starts just beyond the crossing. At the far right of the picture is the mast with the CCTV camera's to remotely monitor the crossing, note the floodlight attached to the end of the signalbox to illuminate it enough for the camera's at night. Moving further back along the platform and here is the old station building, now not in railway use. [ 20. August 2002, 22:54: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
"Moving further back along the platform and here is the old station building, now not in railway use." So that is why it is looking so smart Thanks for the ride further down the line, martyn
Here is how a typical meet at Topsham goes, a similar routine happens about every 30 minutes on weekdays, as the trains run a roughly 30 minute frequency in both directions. Here a unit is arriving from Exeter, the "bus shelters" are the current station buildings! Looking south, the train from Exmouth arrives, it's just coming off the single line section. The Exmouth bound train has now departed, as the Exeter bound train makes it's station call the crossing gates are lowered again ready for it to depart. And it departs north towards Exeter on the single line...
A nice and simple operation Our trains run at approximately one hour each way intervals, but we still have double track
