Railways

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Tomorrow the last passenger train

will make its way from Torrington to Halwill, closing the book on the West Country’s youngest branch line.

The last train leaving Torrington on the route will be at 3.55pm returning from Halwill at 6.20, to reach Torrington at 7.30.

As early as 1831 (writes a railway enthusiast) people around here were thinking of railways, but it was nearly 100 years before they could take a ride on the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway.

Passengers were only an afterthought, as the main reason for the railway was to carry clay, and many years ago one of the mining companies had built their own narrow gauge tramway to take it to Torrington. From there the main line trains could carry the clay to the docks at Freminton, Fowey or Avonmouth.

The men, who came from all over the country, often could not find lodgings, so they slept rough. Some had been on the dole for many years, and did not like this enforced hard work. Thinking trouble makers would be dismissed and sent home, they drank away most of their pay at Hatherleigh one Saturday and started a scuffle which resulted in the near slaughter of a policeman. Fortunately the townsfolk rallied round and the culprits were duly dealt with, but the local constabulary must have breathed a sigh of relief when the railway was finally completed.

Here is a link to a report on the last trip - Closure in style

Gazette article dated 26 February 1965

Signal Stays Red For Rail Passenger Hopes

But green light for freight

Although there seems no hope of the Bideford to Barnstaple line ever carrying passenger trains regularly, it is possibly unique in the economic role it plays.

Depending on circumstances one train make two trips daily, Monday to Friday, between Barnstaple and Peters Marland and Meeth, with stops at Torrington for the Unigate milk factory, before returning to Barnstaple and ending with a trip to Exeter.

Aptly it has been described as ‘a maid of all work.’

One man who refuses to believe that a regular passenger service is ‘not on’ is Mr Roger Joanes, of Filleigh, who has organised a number of trips from Bideford to London and now plans the most ambitious yet – in a reverse direction.

In May he is organising the first combined rail and sea trip from the Metropolis to Lundy.

The full Gazette article dated 17 February 1978

Stationmaster's Retirement

Presentation of a power drill and attachments was made at Bideford station

on Monday on behalf of the station staffs at Bideford and Instow to Mr W J O Hatherell, who has retired after 49 years' railway service, the last 11 as stationmaster at Bideford (with Instow).

The gift was handed to him by the relief stationmaster, Mr F Barrow.

Among those present were Mr L Somerfield (stationmaster, Torrington), Mr H Braunton and Mr T Colwill.

Mr Hatherell, who lives at 9 Alverdiscott Road, retired earlier this month.