BARNSTAPLE TO TORRINGTON (LSWR)
27th November 2006

The line from Barnstaple Junction to Bideford opened in 1855 as a broad gauge line. It was later extended to Torrington in 1872. The final section from Torrington to Halwill Junction opened as late as 1925. After closure to passengers in 1965 the line remained open for freight between Barnstaple and Torrington until 1982. The Bideford & Instow Railway Group are aiming to reopen a section of the line.

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Barnstaple Junction in LSWR days. (Picture courtesy of John Law). OS: SS555325
Barnstaple Junction in LSWR days. (Picture courtesy of John Law). OS: SS555325
 Barnstaple Junction. Looking west with the unusual signal box at the centre. (Picture courtesy of John Law). OS: SS555325
Barnstaple Junction. Looking west with the unusual signal box at the centre. (Picture courtesy of John Law). OS: SS555325
 A similar view of Barnstaple Junction on 1st August 2007. OS: SS555325
A similar view of Barnstaple Junction on 1st August 2007. OS: SS555325
 Barnstaple Junction in 1964, seen from the rear of a train departing for Ilfracombe. (Photo: P.G.Marks) OS: SS555325
Barnstaple Junction in 1964, seen from the rear of a train departing for Ilfracombe. (Photo: P.G.Marks) OS: SS555325
View towards Barnstaple from the level crossing at Instow. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473301
View towards Barnstaple from the level crossing at Instow. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473301
 Restored signal at Instow. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473301
Restored signal at Instow. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473301
 Instow. Level crossing and preserved signal box. 1997. OS: SS473301 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Instow. Level crossing and preserved signal box. 1997. OS: SS473301 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 Instow. Level crossing and preserved signal box. 1st August 2007. Note the track still in situ on the crossing. OS: SS473301
Instow. Level crossing and preserved signal box. 1st August 2007. Note the track still in situ on the crossing. OS: SS473301
Instow signal box as preserved. 1997. OS: SS473301 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Instow signal box as preserved. 1997. OS: SS473301 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 View looking back towards Instow signal box from near the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473300
View looking back towards Instow signal box from near the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473300
 View towards Instow station from near the signal box. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473300
View towards Instow station from near the signal box. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473300
 Instow station seen from the Barnstaple end. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473300
Instow station seen from the Barnstaple end. 1st August 2007. OS: SS473300
Instow. Restored platform. 1997. OS: SS473300 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Instow. Restored platform. 1997. OS: SS473300 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 Bideford. Looking towards Barnstaple from the platform ends in June 1976 when the line was still open for freight. OS: SS457264 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Bideford. Looking towards Barnstaple from the platform ends in June 1976 when the line was still open for freight. OS: SS457264 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
 Bideford. Occupation crossing at the Barnstaple end of the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
Bideford. Occupation crossing at the Barnstaple end of the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
Bideford. The western end of the station which has been cut off from the restored section due to the raising of the bridge that bisects the station site. OS: SS457264 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Bideford. The western end of the station which has been cut off from the restored section due to the raising of the bridge that bisects the station site. OS: SS457264 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 Platform starter signal post. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
Platform starter signal post. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
 Bideford. Looking along the station site towards Torrington. 1997. OS: SS457264 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Bideford. Looking along the station site towards Torrington. 1997. OS: SS457264 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
The Royal Hotel which opens onto the Barnstaple bound platform. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
The Royal Hotel which opens onto the Barnstaple bound platform. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
 The northern end of the Torrington bound platform. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
The northern end of the Torrington bound platform. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
 SR concrete gradient post on the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
SR concrete gradient post on the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457264
 Looking towards Torrington across the raised bridge at the centre of the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Looking towards Torrington across the raised bridge at the centre of the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Looking across the raised bridge towards Barnstaple. Despite having been raised and narrowed it still appears to retain the original girders. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Looking across the raised bridge towards Barnstaple. Despite having been raised and narrowed it still appears to retain the original girders. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
 SR concrete fencing on the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
SR concrete fencing on the station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
 Looking towards the station building from the raised bridge. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Looking towards the station building from the raised bridge. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
 Steps leading to the Torrington bound platform. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Steps leading to the Torrington bound platform. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Bideford. The restored eastern end of the station in 1997. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Bideford. The restored eastern end of the station in 1997. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
 Bideford. The station building in June 1976. It housed a branch of the Midland Bank for many years. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Bideford. The station building in June 1976. It housed a branch of the Midland Bank for many years. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 The station entrance. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
The station entrance. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Bideford. The station site looking north in June 1976. Although the line was still open the rusty rails suggest that it had not seen a train for some months. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Bideford. The station site looking north in June 1976. Although the line was still open the rusty rails suggest that it had not seen a train for some months. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
A similar view on 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
 Bideford. The signal box which has been rebuilt on the original foundations. 1997. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Bideford. The signal box which has been rebuilt on the original foundations. 1997. OS: SS457263 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 Close up of the replica signal box. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Close up of the replica signal box. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Preserved rolling stock at the southern end of Bideford station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
Preserved rolling stock at the southern end of Bideford station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS457263
 Bideford station site from the south. 1st August 2007. OS: SS456262
Bideford station site from the south. 1st August 2007. OS: SS456262
 Looking towards the end of the track just south of Bideford station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS456262
Looking towards the end of the track just south of Bideford station. 1st August 2007. OS: SS456262
 Torrington. Surviving track and the station house in the background. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Torrington. Surviving track and the station house in the background. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Torrington. General view of the station site. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Torrington. General view of the station site. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 Torrington. The station building from the forecourt. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Torrington. The station building from the forecourt. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 Torrington. Etched glass door on the station building. I'm not sure if this is original or reproduction. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
Torrington. Etched glass door on the station building. I'm not sure if this is original or reproduction. 1997. OS: SS480197 (Photo courtesy of Phillip Lindhurst).
 Edmondson severed half ticket from the line.
Edmondson severed half ticket from the line.
Plan of the route.
Plan of the route.
Mapping images used on this site produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
© 1998-2009 - All copyrights rest with the Author
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