Torrington and Marland Railway

Coordinates: 50°57′07″N 4°08′56″W / 50.952°N 4.149°W / 50.952; -4.149
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

50°57′07″N 4°08′56″W / 50.952°N 4.149°W / 50.952; -4.149

Torrington and Marland Railway
Overview
HeadquartersMarland
LocaleEngland
Dates of operation1880–1971
SuccessorAbandoned
Technical
Track gauge3 ft (914 mm)
Length6+14 miles (10.1 km)

The Torrington and Marland Railway was a

narrow gauge built to carry clay from the quarries at Clay Moor to Torrington in north Devon
.

History

The line was surveyed in 1879 by John Barraclough Fell who was also the consulting engineer to the nearby Pentewan Railway. Fell's survey was notable for its use of ten wooden viaducts, which were an unusual feature for a British railway.

The railway was a private line, built to serve clay traffic, but part of the agreement with the landowners over whose land it passed was that it would carry local passengers. Steam locomotives were used on both the main railway and the internal lines in the clay pits.

In 1925 the main line was replaced with a

. The Torrington and Marland was cut back to a 1½ mile stub and the internal quarry lines. These continued in use until 1971 when the line finally closed.

Locomotives

Number Name Builder Type Date Works number Notes
1 Mary Black, Hawthorn & Co
ST
1880 576 Scrapped 1925
2 Marland
W.G. Bagnall
T
1883
3 Peter Stephen Lewin
ST
c. 1870 Scrapped 1925
4 Merton
Fletcher Jennings
0-4-0+T 1880 Constructed from pieces of three
Fletcher Jennings
locomotives.
11 Avonside
ST
1901 1428 Scrapped 1925

See also

References

  • The Torrington & Marland Light Railway - Rod Garner (Kestrel Railway Books)