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Lapford station yard

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Cowley

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A bit of an update on the little ground frame hut.
I found this picture online showing it in all its glory:

21CB23EB-471F-439A-B89B-D5D0D5A0631A.jpeg
Unfortunately I can’t remember what site it was on or who took it. I was surprised though to see that all the levers were outside of the actual hut.
Would there have been a machine inside the hut that would have needed unlocking before the ground frame was able to be used would anyone know?
 
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John Webb

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There's a bit of a lump on the right-hand lever (brown painted?) which may be a lock released by an Annett's key on the single line staff? The lever would then be pulled to unlock the frame and allow the facing point lock (blue lever) to be moved, then the point lever (black) to alter the points.

Looking at the large platform the levers are on, I wonder if the hut was once placed over the levers but was removed for some reason?
 

Cowley

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There's a bit of a lump on the right-hand lever (brown painted?) which may be a lock released by an Annett's key on the single line staff? The lever would then be pulled to unlock the frame and allow the facing point lock (blue lever) to be moved, then the point lever (black) to alter the points.

Looking at the large platform the levers are on, I wonder if the hut was once placed over the levers but was removed for some reason?
That’s interesting John. I’ve got another photo here (again not mine) that shows the quite complex points in the yard. All the points in the actual yard seem to have levers next to them, and although it’s a bit difficult to tell for sure it looks like the hut is covering the ground frame possibly? This picture is late 1970s/early 1980s I think:

C3D7D393-7A3A-4330-820B-E165B177323E.png

Is it possible then that the four levers on the ground frame would do something like: 1) Unlock the frame, 2) the loop points at the Exeter end, 3) the loop points at the Barnstaple end, and 4) the lock mechanism for the points?
 

30907

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Quite normal for ground frames to be open-air, though as you say the hut may have been moved.
There appears to be an electrical cabinet behind it in the close-up photo, so I assume there was an Intermediate Token instrument in the hut, rather than just Annett's Key, certainly after Eggesford box was closed.

According to the signal box diagram (on the SRS site) there was a 2-lever ground frame at the Exeter end, apparently to work the loop points which were a long way from the box and that must have been retained post 1970.

The 4 GF levers would then have been - main line points plus (blue) lock; two siding points in former down loop plus their trap points.
The layout was later rationalised, one set of points removed and its lever became spare (white as in the close-up).
 

Cowley

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Quite normal for ground frames to be open-air, though as you say the hut may have been moved.
There appears to be an electrical cabinet behind it in the close-up photo, so I assume there was an Intermediate Token instrument in the hut, rather than just Annett's Key, certainly after Eggesford box was closed.

According to the signal box diagram (on the SRS site) there was a 2-lever ground frame at the Exeter end, apparently to work the loop points which were a long way from the box and that must have been retained post 1970.

The 4 GF levers would then have been - main line points plus (blue) lock; two siding points in former down loop plus their trap points.
The layout was later rationalised, one set of points removed and its lever became spare (white as in the close-up).
Great information thanks 30907.
 

John Webb

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That’s interesting John. I’ve got another photo here (again not mine) that shows the quite complex points in the yard. All the points in the actual yard seem to have levers next to them, and although it’s a bit difficult to tell for sure it looks like the hut is covering the ground frame possibly? This picture is late 1970s/early 1980s I think:

View attachment 63334
.....
Your photo in post #61 does show one white lever, which indicates a spare, as 30907 says, probably due to rationalisation.
Your photo in post #63 is interesting as it shows all the individual sidings have trap points, presumably because there wasn't room to put a single trap at the exit from the goods yard due to space restrictions.
My guess is that the hut was over the lever frame, was removed during the rationalisation and never put back!
 

Cowley

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Your photo in post #61 does show one white lever, which indicates a spare, as 30907 says, probably due to rationalisation.
Your photo in post #63 is interesting as it shows all the individual sidings have trap points, presumably because there wasn't room to put a single trap at the exit from the goods yard due to space restrictions.
My guess is that the hut was over the lever frame, was removed during the rationalisation and never put back!
There’s trap points all over the place. It seems like quite a complex setup for such a small yard, although the trackwork was clearly quite old by the 1980s.
 

30907

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There’s trap points all over the place. It seems like quite a complex setup for such a small yard, although the trackwork was clearly quite old by the 1980s.
With a cramped site like that, there's no way of avoiding complex trap points - and more had to be added when the down line became a loop siding; one is visible in one of your class 47 photos, and there must have been another at the Exeter end, worked from the older ground frame.
 

Cowley

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Evening folks.

I’ve got a few photos to add relating to freight workings to and from the yard in the last few years of operations...
These have all come from various books on the line that a friend that I’ve got to know recently has passed on to me.
Needless to say none of these are my photos and some of them are screenshots from various books, so thank you to the authors and I’ll apologise in advance for the iffy reproduction quality, but I reckon they’ll be of some interest. They’ve certainly helped me to get an understanding of what was going on during the period I’m particularly interested in - circa 1985 to 1994:

72595387-182E-48A2-BFE4-32D6B952BF9D.jpeg
A triple grey Railfreight class 47 shunting wagons into the siding after leaving some other wagons on the main running line.

32120DAE-041B-4A30-8244-4310F9DEB535.jpeg
(I think?) A different class 47 in the same livery also shunting wagons into the siding.
I’m assuming that these are both Tinsley allocated Distribution 47s?

746795CC-B7CF-4E64-9B66-00965EC3A613.jpeg
A photo from inside the actual yard showing the rather ‘rural’ unloading methods...

FAFC8834-82FC-4C24-ADF4-580769B9C84E.jpeg
A split headcode Dutch 37 doing some shunting in the early 90s after detaching its train in the station and reassembling its load for the onward journey.
Here’s something that I’m unsure about though..?
Up until the run around loop at Barnstaple was taken out it seems that anything dropped off or picked up at Lapford seemed to have only been done in a northbound direction...
The train would pull in, do some shunting, and then continue north to drop other wagons off in the yard at Barnstaple before heading south again later with whatever was going that way.
I think that this was partly due to the yard arrangements at Lapford, but also due to the fact that most of the freight trains had wagons bound for the very busy (in the mid 1980s) yard at Barnstaple.
However, Barnstaple yard and the run around loop in the station at Barnstaple (Junction) had been removed BEFORE the fertiliser traffic had finished at Lapford which raises some interesting questions about how these trains were accommodated in the last couple of years?
Did they then run around in the loop at Lapford? I’ve been told that this wasn’t necessarily possible, but surely it was the only option available?
The more I look into it the more I learn...
I’m not sure if any of the very helpful contributors to this thread have any answers to that question, but it’s been a very interesting thread none the less and I’d like to give thanks to those that have added to it as it’s been incredibly useful to me.

I leave you with this rather interesting photo of the largest amount of one ton dumpy bags that I’ve ever seen in one place:39C04049-8B54-4115-9166-BB99F6BC0631.jpeg

This is a view that I hadn’t seen before, looking down the siding towards the station building.
What a fascinating little place it was back then...
 

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30907

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AFAIK both ends of the loop were usable, but running round at Eggesford would also have been an option.
 

Cowley

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AFAIK both ends of the loop were usable, but running round at Eggesford would also have been an option.
Ah yes. Eggesford had a working box still at the time I suppose?
 

ChiefPlanner

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Great photographs , an ex work mate of mine , being 1st on call for the Area , related how one freezing winter night he went out and unfroze the ground frame with the aid of a blow lamp. Not an enjoyable job , but one you related afterwards.
 

Cowley

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Great photographs , an ex work mate of mine , being 1st on call for the Area , related how one freezing winter night he went out and unfroze the ground frame with the aid of a blow lamp. Not an enjoyable job , but one you related afterwards.
Well I’m steadily putting together various bits and bobs for this now.
I’ve been concentrating on making the distinctive buildings so far, as I haven’t been able to fit the railway shed out yet. But this good in a way because it means I’m doing the tricky stuff first and as I’ve never built anything in N gauge before it means I’m not rushing things.
This is my rendition of That warehouse...
9FF25D22-8C65-4201-B6BE-C0E5EB314477.jpeg

You’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve put together a version of the Exeter Scratch Set with one Network Southeast mk1, one NSE mk2 and two blue and grey very weathered Mk1s... ;)
I’ll post some more photos when I get a bit further with it all.
 

mailbyrail

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The website derby sulzers has a section on various workings including class 25 workings to Lapford which may be on interest. (www.derbysulzers.com/laira.html)


With effect from May 1st 1972 the information below covers the Exeter/Barnstaple/Newton Abbot area trips under Target 7B70 (LA 92) Monday - Friday. Class 25's were booked for this diagram, though Classes 35 and 42 could also be turned out for these trips.

Exeter / 0B15 02.45 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 4B99 07.20 Barnstaple - Exeter / Exeter S.D. / 8B71 09.20 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exmouth Junction from Exeter to Exeter Central banking Train Engine / 0B58 09.40 Exeter Central - Exeter Riverside Yard / 8B70 10.05 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exmouth Junction banked from Exeter to Exeter Central by DIA. 385 / 0B58 10.40 Exmouth Junction - Exeter / Exeter / 0B70 12.55 Exeter - Exeter Riverside Yard / 8B70 13.15 Exeter Riverside Yard - Hele & Bradnich 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 14.23 Hele & Bradnich - Tiverton Junction 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 15.34 Tiverton Junction - Hemyock 'Milk empties and freight' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 16.57 Hemyock - Ulfculme Exeter 'Milk and freight' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 17.38 Ulfculme - Exeter Riverside Yard 'Milk and freight' / 6B70 18.54 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exeter 'Milk' / 0B70 19.05 Exeter - Exeter S.P. / Exeter.

Monday - Friday Exeter / 0B15 02.45 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple / SHUNT and TRIPS as required / 6B24 16.35 Torrington - Barnstaple 'Milk' / 6B24 17.20 Barnstaple - Lapford 'Milk' / SHUNT as required / 6B24 19.07 Lapford - Exeter 'Milk' / Exeter.

Saturday only Exeter / 0B22 12.50 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 6B22 13.05 Exeter - Lapford 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 6B22 14.08 Lapford - Torrington 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 6B24 16.35 Torrington - Lapford 'Milk' / SHUNT as required / 6B24 18.40 Lapford - Exeter 'Milk' / Exeter.

Monday - Friday Exeter / 0B19 04.15 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 7B19 04.30 Exeter - Lapford 'Milk empties' / 7B19 05.35 Lapford - Kings Nympton / 7B19 06.14 Kings Nympton - Barnstaple / 8B70 08.50 Barnstaple - Torrington / SHUNT and TRIPS as required to MEETH & MARLAND / 6B70 12.20 Torrington - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 6B70 15.00 Barnstaple - Torrington / SHUNT as required / 6B24 16.35 Torrington - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 7B67 19.10 Barnstaple - Exeter Riverside Yard 'Vans and freight' / SHUNT as required / 7B67 20.50 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exeter 'Vans' / Exeter.

Saturday only Exeter / 0B19 04.15 Exeter S.P. - Exeter Riverside Yard / 7B19 04.30 Exeter Riverside Yard - Lapford 'Milk empties' / 7B19 05.35 Lapford - Kings Nympton 'Milk empties' / 7B19 06.14 Kings Nympton - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 7B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter Riverside Yard (Dep. 11.02 SUMMER SATURDAYS ONLY) / 0B66 12.40 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exeter S.P. / Exeter.

Saturday only Exeter / 0B70 13.48 Exeter - Exeter S.P. / 6B70 14.35 Exeter - Tiverton Junction 'Milk empties' / 6B70 15.10 Tiverton Junction - Hemyock 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 6B70 16.45 Hemyock - Tiverton Junction 'Milk' / 6B70 17.38 Tiverton Junction - Exeter 'Milk' / 0B70 18.05 Exeter - Exeter S.P. / Exeter.
 

Cowley

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The website derby sulzers has a section on various workings including class 25 workings to Lapford which may be on interest. (www.derbysulzers.com/laira.html)


With effect from May 1st 1972 the information below covers the Exeter/Barnstaple/Newton Abbot area trips under Target 7B70 (LA 92) Monday - Friday. Class 25's were booked for this diagram, though Classes 35 and 42 could also be turned out for these trips.

Exeter / 0B15 02.45 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 4B99 07.20 Barnstaple - Exeter / Exeter S.D. / 8B71 09.20 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exmouth Junction from Exeter to Exeter Central banking Train Engine / 0B58 09.40 Exeter Central - Exeter Riverside Yard / 8B70 10.05 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exmouth Junction banked from Exeter to Exeter Central by DIA. 385 / 0B58 10.40 Exmouth Junction - Exeter / Exeter / 0B70 12.55 Exeter - Exeter Riverside Yard / 8B70 13.15 Exeter Riverside Yard - Hele & Bradnich 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 14.23 Hele & Bradnich - Tiverton Junction 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 15.34 Tiverton Junction - Hemyock 'Milk empties and freight' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 16.57 Hemyock - Ulfculme Exeter 'Milk and freight' / SHUNT as required / 7B70 17.38 Ulfculme - Exeter Riverside Yard 'Milk and freight' / 6B70 18.54 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exeter 'Milk' / 0B70 19.05 Exeter - Exeter S.P. / Exeter.

Monday - Friday Exeter / 0B15 02.45 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple / SHUNT and TRIPS as required / 6B24 16.35 Torrington - Barnstaple 'Milk' / 6B24 17.20 Barnstaple - Lapford 'Milk' / SHUNT as required / 6B24 19.07 Lapford - Exeter 'Milk' / Exeter.

Saturday only Exeter / 0B22 12.50 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 6B22 13.05 Exeter - Lapford 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 6B22 14.08 Lapford - Torrington 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 6B24 16.35 Torrington - Lapford 'Milk' / SHUNT as required / 6B24 18.40 Lapford - Exeter 'Milk' / Exeter.

Monday - Friday Exeter / 0B19 04.15 Exeter S.P. - Exeter / 7B19 04.30 Exeter - Lapford 'Milk empties' / 7B19 05.35 Lapford - Kings Nympton / 7B19 06.14 Kings Nympton - Barnstaple / 8B70 08.50 Barnstaple - Torrington / SHUNT and TRIPS as required to MEETH & MARLAND / 6B70 12.20 Torrington - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 6B70 15.00 Barnstaple - Torrington / SHUNT as required / 6B24 16.35 Torrington - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 7B67 19.10 Barnstaple - Exeter Riverside Yard 'Vans and freight' / SHUNT as required / 7B67 20.50 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exeter 'Vans' / Exeter.

Saturday only Exeter / 0B19 04.15 Exeter S.P. - Exeter Riverside Yard / 7B19 04.30 Exeter Riverside Yard - Lapford 'Milk empties' / 7B19 05.35 Lapford - Kings Nympton 'Milk empties' / 7B19 06.14 Kings Nympton - Barnstaple / SHUNT as required / 7B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter Riverside Yard (Dep. 11.02 SUMMER SATURDAYS ONLY) / 0B66 12.40 Exeter Riverside Yard - Exeter S.P. / Exeter.

Saturday only Exeter / 0B70 13.48 Exeter - Exeter S.P. / 6B70 14.35 Exeter - Tiverton Junction 'Milk empties' / 6B70 15.10 Tiverton Junction - Hemyock 'Milk empties' / SHUNT as required / 6B70 16.45 Hemyock - Tiverton Junction 'Milk' / 6B70 17.38 Tiverton Junction - Exeter 'Milk' / 0B70 18.05 Exeter - Exeter S.P. / Exeter.
Thanks for that. I can’t remember if I’ve seen it or not, but I’ll have a look at it after work.
 

Ash Bridge

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And a superb job you're doing on modelling those buildings so far If I may say so Mr Cowley :)
 

Ashley Hill

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The north GF IIRC had 3 levers and was released by the token. An FPL,the branch to loop point and the other for the loop to yard point. Until Eggesford box closed an intermediate token instrument was located in the hut together with a telephone to provide a shut in facility. When Eggesford box closed the instrument was removed. A special white token Crediton-Lapford was then provided so only allowing out and back trips. The telephone was retained in the hut as a direct line to Crediton box. The south GF was a 2 lever affair with branch to loop point and its FPL. This frame was also released by the token.
 

Cowley

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The north GF IIRC had 3 levers and was released by the token. An FPL,the branch to loop point and the other for the loop to yard point. Until Eggesford box closed an intermediate token instrument was located in the hut together with a telephone to provide a shut in facility. When Eggesford box closed the instrument was removed. A special white token Crediton-Lapford was then provided so only allowing out and back trips. The telephone was retained in the hut as a direct line to Crediton box. The south GF was a 2 lever affair with branch to loop point and its FPL. This frame was also released by the token.
Thanks for that bit of detail. Do you know where the south ground frame was located? I’ve been struggling to work it out and wondered if it was here at the end of the bridge?
3C1FEA77-B231-44EB-B474-EBF340578971.jpeg

You can see the point rodding heading off to the catch point I think?
 
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