PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The Station was built by the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway. The line was opened for goods traffic only on Monday May 12th 1890 and the signal box was brought into use on that date. St Budeaux Station was opened for passengers on Monday June 2nd 1890. It was at first named just St Budeaux, then became St Budeaux for Saltash and finally, from September 26th 1949, St Budeaux Victoria Road to distinguish it from the Western Region's station. On Wednesday September 26th 1906 the LSWR inaugurated its new suburban service between Devonport and St Budeaux. There were eighteen trains in each direction on weekdays and eight on Sundays. The first car left Devonport and 6.18am, returning from St Budeaux at 6.40am. The last car left Devonport at 10.30pm and St Budeaux at 11.10pm. On Sundays the service would start at 9.08am from Devonport and 9.27am from St Budeaux and continue until the last train left Devonport at 10.08pm and St Budeaux at 10.25pm. The fare from Devonport to Camel's Head was one penny and to Weston Mill and St Budeaux, tuppence. All trains called at Ford Station. From Monday October 1st 1906 this service was extended in to Plymouth's Friary Station. In March 1941, just before the Plymouth Blitz, the Great Western and Southern Railways laid in a link between their lines at St Budeaux. This enabled GWR trains to and from London to use the lightly-used Southern main line to get to Exeter if their own main line was damaged. It also meant that Southern trains had an alternative route into and out of Plymouth if need be. The small goods yard was closed in 1963. The line between St Budeaux Victoria Road Station and Devonport King's Road Station was closed on September 7th 1964 as unnecessary duplication of track. St Budeaux Signal Box was closed from July 25th 1965.
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