PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The branch railway from Plymouth to Yealmpton was first projected by the South Hams Railway Company, which planned to construct a line from Plympton through Yealmpton, Modbury and Kingsbridge to Dartmouth. It would then connect with the Dartmouth & Torbay Railway providing a link back through Paignton and Torquay to Newton Abbot. The collapse of their bankers, Messrs Overend & Gurney, in May 1866 brought this proposal to an end. That railway had been supported by the London & South Western Railway Company and after its failure they persuaded the Plymouth & Dartmoor Railway to build a line from Plymouth to Yealmpton and Modbury. When the Plymouth & Dartmoor Railway (South Hams Extension) Act received the Royal Assent on June 28th 1888, the rival Great Western Railway became worried about the prospect of competition from the LSWR and proposed its own branch line to Modbury. The same Act gave authority for the LSWR to construct the Turnchapel branch. Work on the line to Turnchapel was already under way, however. The bridge across the River Plym was completed in 1887 and the line as far as Pomphlett was ready by June 25th 1888 so the London and South Western Railway started to operate freight traffic over it. It was not officially opened until July 1st 1892. Public trains were still not allowed to use the line until Monday September 5th due to the need for signalling standards to be improved. 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. In the meantime, the dispute between the London & South Western and Plymouth & Dartmoor Railways on the one hand and the Great Western Railway was resolved when the LSWR agreed to let the GWR have rights of access over their line from Cattewater Junction as far as Plymstock Station. This arrangement was formally agreed on July 19th 1894 and added as a schedule to the Great Western (Number Two) Act of August 17th 1894. It was planned to construct four stations on the line, at Billacombe, Brixton, Steer Point and Yealmpton and the whole line was projected to cost £89,032, including the signalling. An additional stopping place at Elburton Cross was added in March 1896 at an additional cost of £215. The contractors were Messrs Lucas & Aird, soon to be renamed Messrs John Aird and Company, under their engineer, Mr McQuinn. They were expected to complete their contract within two years at an estimated cost of £54,553. The Western Morning News reported that the route to be taken had been "pegged out" and work had started on Monday December 30th 1895, when 20 navvies were set to work. Another gang of workmen started on Thursday January 2nd 1896 and it was anticipated that there would be several hundred more navvies employed before long. In addition to the contractor's engineer, the Great Western Railway also sent a resident engineer from Plymouth, Mr P A Anthony. Part of the work involved constructing embankments for a new line from Mount Gould Junction to Cattewater Junction. To enable this to be done, the existing road from Tothill (Tothill Lane) had to be diverted 200 yards to the north before joining the Embankment. The old toll-gate was removed and a new one was already in place by January 1896. A bridge gave pedestrians access to the Embankment. To the south of that, an 85 feet span iron bridge was swung in to place to carry the line to the next embankment behind the works of Messrs Bunton's. This work was being undertaken by Messrs Townsend, Walton & Gates at a contract price of £7,536. Colonel H A Yorke RE carried out the Board of Trade's inspection of both the branch from Plymstock. to Yealmpton and also the connecting line from Mount Gould to Cattewater Junctions and gave both lines his approval. The line was duly opened by the Countess of Morley, wife of the local landowner, on Monday January 15th 1898, when a special train was run leaving Plymouth's Millbay Station at Noon. The engine in charge was named "Lady Morley" especially for the occasion as no such engine name is recorded as existing other than on the opening day. Billacombe and Elburton Cross Stations, the only ones now within the modern Plymouth, were opened on January 17th 1898.
Yealmpton Station Both passenger and goods traffic grew steadily until the 1920s brought the advent of the motor bus running from closer to people's homes right into the shopping and commercial centre of Plymouth. As usual throughout the country, takings began to decline, culminating in a public announcement in the press and on stations announcing the projected closure of the line from Plymstock. This announcement, in 1928, asked for suggestions as to ways of increasing the revenue but apparently none were forthcoming and the line was closed to passengers from Monday July 7th 1930. Goods traffic continued to use the branch, although the stations at Elburton Cross and Steer Point were dismantled and the station buildings at Billacombe, Brixton Road and Yealmpton were rented out as dwellings and workshops.
A Laira to Yealmpton freight
train passing through But that was not quite the end of the story and it was fortunate that the line was not taken up. The Blitz of Plymouth in March and April 1941 brought about a change in the circumstances and the Great Western decided to re-instate the service as many Plymothians were trekking to the countryside to sleep of a night-time. Temporary station buildings were hurriedly put up and an un-advertised workmen's service was started on Monday July 21st 1941. One major change was made, though: the trains ran from the Southern's Friary Station instead of Millbay. An advertised public service of eight trains in each direction was started on Monday November 3rd 1941, each with its own female conductor to issue and collect tickets. Resplendent in their black and red uniforms, they were Miss Wakeley and Miss Jarrold. CLICK HERE to go to details of the route
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