PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Plymstock Station was located between Billacombe Road and the Pomphlett Quarry at Plymstock. The Station was in two parts. The first to open, on Monday September 5th 1892, was the part on the London and South Western Railway's branch to Turnchapel. Eight passenger and trains and one goods train were run that day, many of the passengers then walking to Oreston and returning to Plymouth by the Oreston and Turnchapel Ferry. The remainder of the week brought crowds of people attending the Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse Races at Chelson Meadow, which was but a short walk from Plymstock Station. Nearly six years later, on Wednesday January 17th 1898,the Great Western Railway opened their part, to serve trains on the Yealmpton Branch. Services on the Yealmpton Branch ceased from Monday July 7th 1930 due to competition from motor bus services. Unadvertised workmen's services re-started on Monday July 21st 1941 as many people displaced by the bombing of Plymouth moved out into the country. A full public service re-started on Monday November 3rd. Once the Second World War was over, the closure of both parts happened quite quickly. The GWR closed their part from Tuesday October 7th 1947 although the line remained open until Monday February 29th 1960 for goods traffic to and from Billacombe. British Railways Southern Region closed their part with the withdrawal of services on the Turnchapel Branch from Monday September 10th 1951. The Station had also been closed between January and the beginning of July 2nd 1951 because of a fuel crisis. Goods traffic remained until Saturday September 30th 1961. Rail access to Plymstock remained open for a further twenty-odd years because of the heavy traffic from the cement works at Pomphlett Quarry but now even that has closed down. All that remains is the track on the iron bridge across the river.
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