{"id":5561,"date":"2023-08-04T02:13:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T01:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/?p=5561"},"modified":"2025-10-30T10:01:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T10:01:59","slug":"87-barnstaple-junction-to-okehampton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/87-barnstaple-junction-to-okehampton\/","title":{"rendered":"87 Barnstaple Junction to Okehampton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The scout had ridden from Okehampton to Barnstaple in 2019, the last year of the summer Sunday service. He had followed the route, wholly or in part, on many occasions, most recently in 2021 after riding the Torrington turnpike from Morchard Road, but had never photographed all of its features.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonhay Road in Exeter was quiet as the scout headed for St. David’s to catch the 0810 to Barnstaple, but a motorist still felt compelled to draw alongside him and call through the passenger window, dispensing advice about where to cycle. A little further on, the red car was spotted pulling out of a turning to the left; the driver went back in the other direction and parked. The scout looked at his handlebar clock and then crossed over to confront the silly fellow with: “DON’T ****ING SHOUT AT ME THROUGH THE WINDOW OF YOUR CAR EVER AGAIN!” Suitably told, the fellow quietly asked that the scout use the cycleway, to which he replied: “No!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be clear, a length of pavement on Bonhay Road has been marked as a cycle lane. It starts where it is least needed and ends where it is most needed and is far from adequate in between. The only time the scout uses it is when he hears a lorry behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 0810 has long dwells at Crediton and Eggesford to await paths on the single lines and takes 78 minutes to cover the 39 miles, an average of 30 m.p.h.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnstaple Junction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The scout remembered getting off a train here and speaking to the fresh-faced guard, who settled a matter that would otherwise have preyed on the scout’s mind all day. When the scout said that he was going to follow the line, the newly appointed guard asked: “Did the railway used to go on beyond here?” In much less than a minute, the scout waved his arms around and gave the directions and destinations once served by rail. +<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The scout also remembered the day in 1982 when he stood behind the driver of a Class 31 setting off from the former Down platform (2) to Meeth to collect clay wagons which would never be loaded again from there. It was a move which the scout had arranged to coincide with his rest day and the Driver working the turn being asked beforehand if he’d mind having a footplate passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the event, four more were on the loco: the Secondman and P.W. Chargeman in the leading cab and the Guard and Shunter in the rear cab.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In 2007, the scout had come to see the new roads and bridges of the \u00a342-million Barnstaple Western Bypass.
The viaduct ahead spans a busway and footpath from the truncated Sticklepath Hill and was supposed to allow for a reinstatement of the line to Bideford through the centre span.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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What look like enginemen are standing not far from where the scout was in the photos above.
Copyright: Roger Joanes. Shared under Creative Commons. +<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a now out of print pamphlet, the scribe had likened Barnstaple to a railhead on the American frontier where a hoss could be hired to take a rider on over the barren prairie. On this occasion, the scout went to the “stables” to buy some chain oil. There was none for sale but a fellow was kind enough to lubricate the dry derailleur. He was expecting a coach party, for which he had bikes ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n