Barnstaple Barnstormer

Yesterday we went to Barnstaple by train as we always try and go there at least once a year, if only for the exciting journey along the Tarka Line.

This bucking bronco of a train ride takes just over an hour to reach the former Barnstaple Junction station from Exeter St Davids and, through a combination of old and decrepit rolling stock and long sections of non-welded track, the ride is far from smooth.

We commenced our journey at Templecombe where we caught the 06:50 SWR train from Salisbury to Exeter St Davids.

Templecombe station footbridge, which is no longer in use for passengers.

Where, now, those trees and bushes grow, did once arrive trains off the S&D, as they travelled
between Bath and Bournemouth. The S&D, along with Templecombe station, closed in 1966 but,
fortunately, the station reopened in 1983. Ah, would that the S&D might reopen too, some day!

The 06:50 Salisbury to Exeter St Davids.
A 6-coach train of which we were almost the only passengers until Honiton.

Amazingly this train was on time, given SWR's penchant for train cancellations and notoriously late-runnings.

We arrived at Exeter St Davids at around 08:20 and only had to wait a few minutes before the Exmouth to Barnstaple train arrived. 

This was a four coach Class 143, of the Pacer family of DMU's, and, boy, what a bone-shaker!

I believe these units were built in the mid-1980s and are beginning to both show and feel their age, despite sporting a nice, new, GWR livery!

The Tarka Line is extremely pretty, though, as the two views from the train, below, testify.

We arrived at Barnstaple on time, at 09:39, and here we see our train at the buffer stop:

Looking the other way, we can see where the line once continued to Bideford and Torrington, to the left, and to Barnstaple Town station and Ilfracombe, to the right.

In April 1971 the former Barnstaple Junction was the subject of a rationalization sheme whereby Platform 1 became a terminal, Platform 3 was taken out of use and a run-around loop was constructed.

Sadly even this has now gone and Platform 2 has also been taken out of use thereby precluding the visit of any lengthy, loco-hauled specials to Barnstaple, even though the old platform still remains.

After a five minute wait at Barnstaple our train is seen departing, below, with the 09:43 train to Exmouth. 

The former Platforms 2 and 3 can be clearly seen to the right.

It is good to see that all of the signage at Barnstaple reflects its Southern heritage.

The GWR did, of course, have its own station at Barnstaple, at Victoria Road, and, when this closed in 1960, its trains shared the Southern Region station until the GWR line from Taunton closed completely in 1966.

The photo above shows where a road now covers what was, once, the line towards Bideford and Torrington.

Here, now, is the River Taw and it was at this point that a wrought iron bridge carried the line over the river. 

This bridge was 213 yards in length and of 7.5 chains radius, curving through 90*. 

It reached the other side of the river just to the left of the brown building with the white windows.

The former Barnstaple Quay station building can also been see in the photo above. It is to the left of a tree and in front of the tall, light brown building.

Here is a closer view of Barnstaple Quay station building. This was sited quite close to the river bridge but was too cramped to incorporate the narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, so a new station was constructed, 11 chains to the north. 
This new station, together with the L&B, opened in May 1898.

Quite remarkably, the former Barnstaple Town station and its signal box both still survive. The views above are from the platform side while, below, we see the station building from the road side - and doesn't she look magnificent!