{"id":6984,"date":"2024-05-16T01:56:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T00:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/?p=6984"},"modified":"2025-07-18T11:37:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T10:37:40","slug":"95-tiverton-branch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/95-tiverton-branch\/","title":{"rendered":"96 Tiverton Branch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The scout rode up the Culm Valley, across to Tiverton and down the Exe Valley, doing a refresher of the route taken by the “Tivvy Bumper” on the way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Looking from Burn Rew Bridge, the main line is seen descending towards Cullompton.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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From the same bridge, an Up train approaches Tiverton Junction, whose platforms, stripped of their edgings, can still be seen.
Mail apparatus once stood beside the Down line and possibly the Up. Postmen would have reached it from this bridge.
The next bridge gave access to the Lloyd Maunder factory in the vee of the junction between the main line and the Tiverton Branch. This was established in 1914 and continued as Lloyd Maunder until sold to 2 Sisters Food Group<\/em> in 2008. +<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

“AF” and “FM” insulated containers, used by Lloyd Maunder, are often mentioned in the G.W.R. Letter Register which came from Tiverton Junction and was later kept as a Visitors’ Book in the railway’s Camping Van at Christow.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lloyd Maunder, Sainsbury’s oldest supplier, began sending eggs, poultry and rabbits from his farm at Witheridge, North Devon to the company’s London headquarters in 1898. These entries in the Letter Register from 1958 refer to South Lambeth. +<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A 1959 entry refers to an “FM” container consigned to J. Sainsbury, South Lambeth. +<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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A glimpse from the Downside of what remains of Tiverton Junction, one of the six stations between Taunton and Exeter which were extensively remodelled in 1932. The work at Tiverton Junction employed 200 men and took only a year to complete.
The line which led to the Culm Valley platform remains as a siding. Beyond the island platform is the quadrupled main line; the platform lines remain as loops. On the far side of the other island was the Tiverton platform. The goods yard was to the left and behind the camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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The road once led to the Goods Shed and Parcels Office on the Upside. +<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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The “Tivvy Bumper” enters Tiverton Junction, passing a line of insulated containers in Lloyd Maunder’s siding.
Tiverton Junction loco shed is seen at left.
Copyright David Glasspool Collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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At the top end of the Up island platform, looking west. Access to both islands was by means of the footbridge, whose entrance was on the Downside. The Goods Shed and Parcels Office is seen at right.
Copyright: Roger Joanes. Shared under Creative Commons.<\/em> +<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The station began as Tiverton Road in 1844 and became Tiverton Junction when the branch opened in 1848. It might simply have been Willand. The station closed in 1986, being replaced by Tiverton Parkway, built where Sampford Peverell had been.
Quadrupling of the 1\u00be miles between Sampford Peverell and Tiverton Junction was proposed as part of the 1930s improvements.
Copyright: Roger Joanes. Shared under Creative Commons.<\/em> +
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Shamefully, the scout never used the station and only remembers standing on the platform once. Not many years ago, his stopping train was looped and came to a stand at the old Up platform.
Copyright: Roger Joanes. Shared under Creative Commons.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The scout turned off the road which he had last used when Tiverton Junction was open and followed Brown’s Bridge Lane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n