PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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LAIRA GREEN STATION TO PLYMOUTH On Friday May 5th 1848 the South Devon Railway opened their new railway line from Totnes as far as a temporary station at Laira Green. The event was a joyous affair and the Directors and their guests left Laira at 8am by a special train drawn by the Great Western Railway's locomotives "Pisces" and "Cancer" and arrived at Totnes just over 42-minutes later. There they were treated to a large breakfast some at the Seven Stars Hotel and others at the Seymour. At 10.38am the special train, again drawn by the same two locomotives, this time suitably bedecked with flags and evergreens, left Totnes for the non-stop run to Laira Green. The down journey was accomplished in 45-minutes, the train being cheered into Laira Green Station at 11.23am. From the point of view of omnibus travel, the list of vehicles that attended the opening is of interest. Mr Elliott of the Royal Hotel, Plymouth, sent his "Royal" omnibus drawn by four grey horses, with the post-boys dressed in scarlet jackets and caps and the guard in a scarlet coat and gold-laced hat. He also provided two stage coaches, both also drawn by four greys, and with their post-boys and guards similarly attired. Mr Radmore of the Globe Hotel sent his vehicle while Mr Moorshead of the Royal Hotel, Devonport, sent his new four-horse omnibus. Mr Townshend of the London Inn, Devonport, drove his own new four-horse bus while Mr Rivers of the King's Arms at Bretonside was there with his 'neat' two-horse one. Although stage coaches are not the subject of this history, it can be mentioned in passing that with the opening of the railway most services ceased but the "Quicksilver" and Bath Mails continued and the "Telegraph" and "Tally Ho!" coaches from Cornwall ran no farther east than Laira. Accident to the "Atlas" Omnibus The opening of the railway clearly presented a business opportunity to the horse bus operators and someone, as yet unidentified, started a service running passengers from Laira Green Station in to Plymouth. One of these horse buses was named "Atlas" and it was the object of an unfortunate accident. "Atlas" was being driven along the Embankment after meeting the 12.20am train on the night of Tuesday May 30th 1848 when one of the horses took fright and the reins broke. The bus 'rattled along the road at a fearful rate' until it crashed into the post of the turnpike gate and turned over. One horse was killed and an inside passenger was severely bruised. Three other passengers escaped injury. The second horse ran off and was found at its stable door in Plymouth. The driver was injured but no bones were broken. |
