{"id":10302,"date":"2025-05-24T10:42:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T09:42:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/?p=10302"},"modified":"2025-06-27T11:31:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T10:31:04","slug":"114-newton-abbot-to-totnes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/114-newton-abbot-to-totnes\/","title":{"rendered":"114 Newton Abbot to Totnes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The scout had ridden from Ivybridge to Newton Abbot in 2017 but had ceased following the main line at Fishacre Mill. In 2025 he rode twice from Newton.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newton Abbot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All that\u2019s left of the grand junction station, with its \u201cSwindon of the West,\u201d is seen from Torquay Road in 2025.
The extent of the station can be imagined from this track plan<\/a>. A line drawn across the plan at one point would have crossed 26 tracks. +<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Thanks to the specialist publishing firm, David & Charles, whose premises at the time overlooked the railway, this gantry was recovered from the west end of the station<\/a> when M.A.S. was installed and re-erected at the entrance to Brunel Trading Estate. Three distant arms were added to give variety but the spacing is clearly wrong.
This photograph was taken in 2025, shortly after restoration by volunteers from the South Devon Railway. +<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to Kevin Dentith, the former Devon County Council Chief Engineer (Bridges & Structures), the temporary “Tubewrights” footbridge beside the new Torquay Road Bridge was installed because the pavement was considered inadequate. The footbridge was closed when an inspection revealed internal corrosion of the tubes. Why the footbridge, which was installed long after the end of steam traction, had smoke deflectors attached is a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The county used to keep one or more of these bolt-together bridges in the store at Lemonford. One was used over the Exe when Station Road Bridge collapsed in 1974.<\/p>\n\n\n\n