Moretonhampstead railway station explained

Moretonhampstead station
Status:Disused
Borough:Moretonhampstead, Teignbridge
Country:England
Platforms:1
Postgroup:Great Western Railway
Years:4 July 1866
Events:Opened
Years1:2 March 1959
Events1:Closed to passengers
Years4:6 April 1964
Events4:Line closed to goods traffic

Moretonhampstead railway station was the terminus of the Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway at Moretonhampstead, Devon, England.

History

The station opened on 4 July 1866;[1] it was situated on the south side of the town by the road to Bovey Tracey. The platform was 300 feet long and mostly covered by a wooden train shed. Beyond the train shed was a short platform with cattle pens.

South of the station was a goods shed and engine shed. The signal box was unusually built onto the side of the engine shed.

In 1929, the Great Western Railway, which now owned the line, opened the Manor House Hotel just outside Moretonhampstead. Set in 193acres, it boasted a golf course and also attracted holidaymakers to visit Dartmoor.

After the last passenger train ran on 28 February 1959,[1] [2] regular goods trains continued until 6 April 1964, although British Railways continued to use the station as a base for its road goods services until the end of the year.

The site today

Although the train shed was demolished shortly after the station's closure, the goods and engine sheds were retained; these are now used by a commercial road haulage business. Part of the platform is extant.[3]

References

Sources

50.6577°N -3.7606°W

Notes and References

  1. , Page 163
  2. Book: Quick, M. E.. Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales – a chronology. 2002. Railway and Canal Historical Society. Richmond. 303. 931112387.
  3. Web site: Station name: Moretonhampstead. Disused Stations . Holman . Dave . 21 May 2017. 15 August 2024.