Lydford railway station
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Lydford railway station was a junction at Lydford between the Great Western Railway (GWR) and London and South Western Railway (LSWR) situated in a remote part of north-west Dartmoor in Devon, England.
History
The station, known then as "Lidford", was opened on 1 June 1865 with the
On 12 October 1874 the
On 17 May 1876 a junction was opened between the two lines and LSWR trains could then reach its new station at Devonport by running over the GWR's route, which was mixed gauge. On 1 June 1890 a new line, built by the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway, gave the LSWR a route to Devonport independent of the GWR. The GWR line was converted to standard gauge on 20 May 1892.
The connection between the two lines was removed in 1895 but was replaced in 1943 to give flexibility should the railway lines around Plymouth be damaged by
The station had been renamed "Lydford" on 3 June 1897. Trains were withdrawn from the former GWR branch on 31 December 1962 but continued on the main line until 6 May 1968. Goods traffic ceased on 7 September 1964.
Description
The original station had a passing loop and two platforms, with the station offices on the platform used by trains towards Plymouth. The LSWR built their platforms alongside the original ones, so the original booking office became a waiting room on an island platform with both companies opening new offices on their respective outside platforms.[2]
From 1 March 1914 the LSWR took responsibility for the GWR platforms. The GWR
Goods traffic was handled in a yard at the north end of the station between the two lines with access from both.
Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Bridestowe | London and South Western Railway | Brentor | ||
Mary Tavy and Blackdown
|
Great Western Railway | Liddaton Halt |
References
- ISBN 0-85361-491-1.
- ISBN 978-1-904349-55-6.
Further reading
- Roche, T.W.E. The Withered Arm.