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train depots in north Devon?
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There are none. The only railway line in North Devon is from Exeter to Barnstaple. The depot is at Exeter.
Revilo
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Lynton and Lynmouth cliff railway!
fairysdad
Member
I know they're not, but in theory, could the sidings at Barnstaple still be used for stabling? (I assume that the HST tour up there a few years back used them, and I guess there hasn't been any work or reason to remove them!)
Ashley Hill
Established Member
No,there are no shut in facilities at Barnstaple. I believe the NSTR regulations don't allow it. If you went down with a 4 car set and came back with only 2 you'd be leaving the other 2 divided in section,even though they're in a siding locked by a ground frame with a trap point.
221129
Established Member
Doesn't have a depot.
But presumably the rebuilt Lynton and Barnstaple has?
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Indeed it does. Here is the depot at Woody Bay station (and the only railway I have been on since February!)But presumably the rebuilt Lynton and Barnstaple has?
The railway has a fleet of four steam and three diesel locos, although not all of them are currently in working order.
Dr Hoo
Established Member
Obviously Exeter isn't in 'North Devon' but GWR's depot facilities there have been significantly enhanced to support services across much of the county, including Barnstaple.
The HST used on the tour, had to stable at Exeter, two ECS workings. Hardly a sign of an efficient and cost effective operation. To the reply, it isn't worth making the sidings available for 1 trip, if stabling facilities were made available, more extra trains would run, with an appropriate promotion campaign locally and to tour operators. Scarborough is a positive example. Diesel and steam tours couldn't run if there were no sidings or run round loop and no spare platform capacity.
There was a news item in the summer, stating that old track from renewals along the Barnstaple line were to be laid along the unused island platform but, no updates since then. If that was done, a railtour could remain in the platform until dep. time.
There was a news item in the summer, stating that old track from renewals along the Barnstaple line were to be laid along the unused island platform but, no updates since then. If that was done, a railtour could remain in the platform until dep. time.
I believe it's been a long held wish to see the second platform re-instated for tour use etc, however it is a shame nothing has yet been done.
How do the first and last services to Barnstaple operate? ECS from Exeter or in service? Would it be cost effective to stable a unit there overnight? As per the likes of Tweedbank (a similar length "branch").
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
To and from Exeter in passenger service
Is there a huge demand for excursion trains to Barnstaple? Whilst North Devon is lovely, Barnstaple isn't really a massive draw - its an inland market town.
Gloster
Established Member
This not really a possibility as stabling a unit at Barnstaple would involve one of the following:
- the crew sitting there overnight, and so doing very little work in a long shift.
- the crew being taxied to and from Exeter at either end of the shift, which would both be costly as it would take up a fair proportion of their shift and risk the early turn crew arriving late in poor weather.
- establishing a traincrew depot at Barnstaple, which would require 5 or 6 drivers and a similar amount of guards once you have to factor in the amount of cover needed for rest-days, holidays, sick leave etc., even for just one early and one late turn. At Exeter cover is spread over a number of turns.
Despite fuel and track access charges the present situation is almost certainly cheaper, even if the unit goes out and comes back empty. Unfortunately, you no longer have the revenue from a van full of newspapers being taken out as a tail-load, as used to be the case with the 04.05 Exeter.
- the crew sitting there overnight, and so doing very little work in a long shift.
- the crew being taxied to and from Exeter at either end of the shift, which would both be costly as it would take up a fair proportion of their shift and risk the early turn crew arriving late in poor weather.
- establishing a traincrew depot at Barnstaple, which would require 5 or 6 drivers and a similar amount of guards once you have to factor in the amount of cover needed for rest-days, holidays, sick leave etc., even for just one early and one late turn. At Exeter cover is spread over a number of turns.
Despite fuel and track access charges the present situation is almost certainly cheaper, even if the unit goes out and comes back empty. Unfortunately, you no longer have the revenue from a van full of newspapers being taken out as a tail-load, as used to be the case with the 04.05 Exeter.
Gloster
Established Member
The situation is different because they all have full signalling. Barnstaple is NSTR and, if #5 is correct, then the configuration is ‘what goes in must come out’ before the next train can run to Barnstaple. It might be possible to alter the signalling to allow shut in, but there would be no facilities.
DelW
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While that's true, I would imagine a tour promoter would offer road coaches to local attractions (which might include Lynton and Lynmouth, and the L&B at Woody Bay). There are also frequent buses to Bideford and Ilfracombe - when I was there a few summers ago, they were double deckers running at 10 minute intervals, and were well used.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Remember the "Withered Arm". Much of the area was transferred from the Southern to Western Region back in the 60/70s and the Western took an early decision to close much of the ex Southern Network.
DorkingMain
Member
All of the stations you mention have multiple platforms, full signalling and a crew depot at or near the station (Llandudno Junction)
The station for North Devon is Tiverton Parkway. The drive there from Barnstaple is straightforward and high speed throughout, all new road, about 45 minutes, about half the time the train takes to get to Exeter, plus going the right way for trains to Bristol or London. Barnstaple station is in an inconvenient location, on the wrong side of the river for the town (like Looe or Londonderry), and with a trivial town bus operation most people would need to get the car out to get there anyway; locals would say the station is in Sticklepath rather than Barnstaple. It's actually a sight more dogleg and non-intuitive to walk from there over the bridge into the town than was the case in the 1960s when I arrived there on the last trains from Taunton. Trains continuing to Ilfracombe stopped at the far more convenient Barnstaple Town station, having crossed the river, but that's all gone.
Looe station is on the same side of the river as the town... Newhaven is on the opposite side though, if going there is anyone's idea of fun
Tiverton Parkway is also quicker to get to by road from virtually everywhere west of the Tamar
Blackpool North has full signalling, six platforms, a traincrew depot, extensive stabling sidings used overnight (but available during the day) with toilet tank emptying facilities and a washing plant. It may still have fuelling as well, though lots of the stabled trains are electric. Basically hardly comparable to Barnstaple, being at the end of a double track electrified secondary main line. Blackpool South, now, that's comparable. One train working, no sidings, single line, truncated remains of a longer route.
Yes but the earlier discussion was about bringing back extra track and the disused platform, allowing more traffic. Reversing BR rationalisation, which has reduced so many locations to the absolute minimum, making it impossible to improve services, without putting back some of what BR took away.
59CosG95
Established Member
Both Blackpool North & Scarborough also have stabling sidings.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
To do this would involve installing some sort of signalling and installing a token instrument at Barnstaple. The costs would be atrocious unless linked to a re-opening scheme such as Bideford where a passing loop at Barnstaple would be desirable.
In relation to #5 under NSTR the section Eggesford- Barnstaple is essentially Eggesford-Eggesford via Barnstaple.
In relation to #5 under NSTR the section Eggesford- Barnstaple is essentially Eggesford-Eggesford via Barnstaple.
headshot119
Established Member
If by signalling you mean a ground frame, and a token machine (Which is all you'd need to shut a train in up there), I'm not sure the costs would be that horrendous really.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
With the token machine it would need connecting to the ones at Eggesford. This can be by either a branch cable or perhaps over BT lines. There may be other ways. Theres a GF at Barnstaple already that could do the job,but if you're planning to have two (or more) trains there then signals would be required and that ain't cheap!
headshot119
Established Member
No signals would be required to simply allow a train to lock into a siding controlled by a ground frame, then have another one use the section. You might need a couple of stopboards depending on the layout but that's it.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
That's ok if you're going to stable one but if the second platform is reinstated then an approaching train would need to know what platform it's going into. The route would need to be proved too. I dont think stop boards alone would cut the mustard in this situation.
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