{"id":665,"date":"2020-12-10T10:05:15","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T10:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/?p=665"},"modified":"2026-02-01T22:55:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T22:55:02","slug":"49-moretonhampstead-branch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/49-moretonhampstead-branch\/","title":{"rendered":"49 Moretonhampstead Branch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Again, photographs kindly lent by Richard Holladay have prompted the scribe to go through the files and the scout to saddle up, this time to prepare a feature on the other East Dartmoor <\/em>branch line.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richard has provided a set of photographs of the “South Devon Phoenix,” which are marked “Copyright C. [Cedric] H.S. Owen.” They have been added to the C.R.S. Moreton Branch collection but without the inscriptions on the reverse of each photo, which have been included here (in italics).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following extract from “The Moretonhampstead Branch: A Railway from Shore to Moor,” by John Owen, published by Waterfront<\/em>, describes the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Undaunted [by B.R’s. intransigence], the Society [South Devon Railway Society] continued with their campaign from their new headquarters at Teigngrace Halt, and planned a further major publicity Special for the following Whit Monday (11th June 1962).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To advertise and promote the event, the SDRS held a competition to find a suitable name for the excursion; the winning title of ‘South Devon Phoenix’, suggested by a lady in Kingskerswell, being most appropriate given its intention. The ‘Phoenix’ left Newton Abbot at 1.18pm, with motive power being provided by ‘large Prairie’ 5153, and six carriages carrying 200 or so occupants – one of whom was W.N. Ayliffe, chairman of Newton Abbot Rural District Council. Stops were made at all the stations and halts along the Line, the train again receiving a particularly enthusiastic welcome at Lustleigh, the villagers having decorated the station as they had done two years previously. At the terminus, a ‘pilgrimage’ was made to the granite memorial stone inscribed with the names of the original M&SDR directors. After a stop-over of an hour and a quarter, the excursion set off for the leisurely amble back to Newton Abbot – there being a 15mph speed limit in force over the Branch – arriving there at 5.30pm. Although the trip had been an undoubted success in terms of attracting local publicity and interest, not to mention a pleasantly nostalgic day out in its own right, this well-supported hint to the Railway Authorities once again fell on deaf ears and unseeing eyes. With the exception of a Sunday School Special run just two months later, the ‘Phoenix’ proved to be the swan-song for passenger-carrying trains over the full length of the Branch. It also marked a change in direction for the SDRS, which soon switched its attention to developments taking place in the Dart Valley.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\"
S.D.R.S.<\/strong>
5153 for “South Devon Phoenix” at Newton Shed.
Inspector H.T. Cooke, Driver P. Stone & Fireman C. Vosper.
Whit Monday 11-6-62<\/em>

The loco must have been turned at Goodrington for it is seen later running boiler first on the branch. It is not known whether this had been requested by the organizers or it was considered good practice with the maximum load being taken.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
The traincrew block adjoining the running shed was new when the “Phoenix” photo, above, was taken. Here it is, abandoned, in 1992<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Newton Abbot, “Moreton Bay”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The “Moreton Bay” or No. 9 platform at Newton Abbot seen in 1998, before the buildings were demolished. Beyond the bicycle sheds was a brick-built waiting room and lock-up. The carriage chute was used latterly for loading CARFLATs<\/em> on Motorail<\/em> trains. There was another platform face and two sidings, each with chutes. More buildings at track level nestled against the high retaining wall on Quay Road.
A water tower stood at the end of the building at centre, which was Edwin Tucker’s rail-served malthouse. When it closed in 2018, it was the last remaining in Devon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The same scene in February, 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
In this 1928 view of the newly-rebuilt Newton Abbot Station, the course of the Moretonhampstead Branch can clearly be seen as far as Teignbridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\"\"
On the 10th October, 2015, the 16.42 Heathfield to Paddington return charitex<\/em> is seen at Moretonhampstead Junction awaiting the signal to proceed onto the Up Main. Most of the train is on the curve, the most severe on the whole line.
From where the train is standing, in 1957 it was possible to move directly to all the Newton Abbot station running lines as well as the branch bay: the Up Through, Up Main, Up Relief<\/strong>, Down Main<\/strong>, Down Relief <\/strong>and Down Through, serving eight platform faces. Those in bold type remain and can be seen above.
 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n