Ilfracombe line manned gate boxes c1970

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

Good evening !

I’m planning a 00 gauge model railway in my garden, based on the Ilfracombe branch c1970 . Can anyone tell me how many manned signal / gate boxes there were left on the last year of operation ?

 

[Gloster]

It looks like Barnstaple Town was the only box, but there were ten crossings.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Agree. The line forward to Ilfracombe operated on the 'one engine in steam' mode. Although the boxes (Wrafton, Braunton. Mortehoe and Ilfracombe) all closed, ground frames were kept for the crossings and for the run round at Ilfracombe, plus all crossings were still protected by signals in both directions (GF operated), so there were still crossing keepers employed I believe. Whether any of these were joint responsibilities with remaining station staff?

 

[30907]

The list around 1960 runs:
Junction B
Westcotts Crossing
B Town (2×LC)
Pottington (swing bridge)
Wrafton
Vellator LC
Braunton (2xLC)
Georgeham LC
Stoney Br LC
Heddon Mill LC, block post summer SO
Willingcott (occupation crossing)
Mortehoe (no LC)
Ilfracombe.

(Checked against Nicholas and Reeve, The N Devon Line)

 

[Gloster]

Westcotts may have closed in 1966 and was probably under Barnstaple Junction B. Willingcott lost its keeper in 1954.

 

[30907]

Westcotts may have closed in 1966 and was probably under Barnstaple Junction B. Willingcott lost its keeper in 1954.

Thanks.

 

[Gloster]

Thanks.

A bit of rooting around found a couple of aerial photos of the Shapland & Petter site at Sticklepath and it looks as though the level-crossing south of the Taw did not have a hut. As it seemed to be the main entrance to the factory and led on to what passed for a main road in north Devon, it must have been a nightmare for the signalmen. (This oddment has vaguely irritated me for years, so I am glad to have been spurred to find the answer.)

 

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

Interesting info ! Thanks all