Seaton Junction railway station explained

Seaton Junction
Status:Disused
Borough:Seaton Junction nr Shute, East Devon
Country:England
Platforms:3
Original:London and South Western Railway
Postgroup:Southern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
Years:19 July 1860[1]
Events:Opened as Colyton for Seaton
Years1:16 March 1868
Events1:Renamed Colyton Junction
Years2:July 1869[2]
Events2:Renamed Seaton Junction
Years3:7 March 1966
Events3:Closed to passengers
Years4:8 May 1967[3]
Events4:Goods facilities withdrawn

Seaton Junction is a closed railway station on the West of England Main Line from London Waterloo to Exeter. It was situated 3 miles west of Axminster and 7 miles east of Honiton. It was previously known as Colyton for Seaton and Colyton Junction.

History

Originally named "Colyton for Seaton" the station opened on 19 July 1860 on completion of the Exeter Extension of the London and South Western Railway from Yeovil Junction to Exeter Queen Street.

With the opening of the Seaton & Beer Railway on 16 March 1868 the name was changed to "Colyton Junction", before finally becoming "Seaton Junction" on 18 July 1869.

Originally, trains arriving from the Seaton branch had to reverse into the "down" (westbound) platform. However, when the station was reconstructed in 1927–8 with two through tracks on the main line and loops to the newly extended platforms, a branch line platform was added. This was set at an angle of 45° to the main line.

The location of the station created a major problem for westbound trains stopping at Seaton Junction since it was situated at the start of a six-mile climb at 1 in 80 to the summit of the line at Honiton tunnel.

The steady decline in holiday traffic resulting from increased car ownership in the 1960s led to a gradual run down of services and the branch line and junction station were closed on 7 March 1966 by the Western Region of British Railways.

Stationmasters

Present day

The station building is now a private residence. The platform is still visible (albeit overgrown). The footbridge from the island platform still survives today.Trains still pass the site on the West of England Main Line.

See also

References

50.7631°N -3.0661°W

Notes and References

  1. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Sparkford,, p. 67.
  2. Web site: Seaton Junction.
  3. Book: Clinker, C.R. . Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Scotland and Wales 1830-1977 . October 1978 . Avon-AngliA Publications & Services . Bristol . 0-905466-19-5 . 121.
  4. News: . District Intelligence . Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser . England . 14 May 1879 . 16 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  5. News: . Presentation . Exeter and Plymouth Gazette Daily Telegraphs . England . 21 November 1882 . 16 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  6. . 1839 . 1839-1920 Clerical Staff . Great Western Railway . 82 . 18 July 2021.
  7. News: . At Seaton Junction . Western Times . England . 28 September 1909 . 16 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  8. News: . Honiton . Exeter and Plymouth Gazette . England . 3 February 1920 . 16 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  9. News: . 46 years' rail service . Western Times . England . 16 March 1934 . 17 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  10. News: . Stationmasters' Retirement . Dover Express . England . 23 June 1950 . 17 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  11. News: . New Station-master for Seaton Junction . Western Morning News . England . 15 May 1933 . 17 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  12. News: . Retirement of Mr. W. Beer . Western Times . England . 21 September 1945 . 17 July 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .