Ashburton Branch - The End of the Line

[davemarvin]

This is the final part (I promise) of a journey along the Ashburton Branch as we arrive at the small terminus of Ashburton itself. The facilities here included a 2-platform station with overall roof, a goods shed, a cattle dock and a private siding. The main goods handled over the years were timber, umber, wool, seed, fertiliser, cattle and coal. Ashburton also boasted its own engine shed, a sub-shed of Newton Abbot, until 1958 where a locomotive was stabled overnight to work the early morning passenger to Totnes. Closed by BR in 1962, the branch was eventually taken over and re-opened by the Dart Valley Railway, later to become the South Devon Railway, but the section between Buckfastleigh and Ashburton was required for road 'improvements' and had to close in 1971. The rest still thrives under SDR.

We arrive on a snowy winter day as class 45xx No.5503 approaches Ashburton on a short train of loco coal for the shed...


Clear at Ashburton outer home


Switched into the loop


Taking on water after shunting


Snow clouds gather, as a passenger arrival is signalled

The following morning is bright and clear, and class 44xx No.4405 has arrived with the branch goods...


Shunting vans into Tuckers siding...


...and the goods shed

Now for some warm summer days and some passenger services from and to Totnes...


No.4552 meets the bus to Widecombe...


...and then gets some attention at the shed


The starter's off for No.4559


Waiting between turns


Simmering in platform 1


No.1470 with an evening autotrain

But summer ends, and on a miserable autumn day class 14xx No.1419 pulls in with the branch goods...


Bringing wagons for the waiting cattle...


...and vans for the goods shed


Cattle loaded, train assembled, we take our leave of Ashburton.

With thanks to Reg Furniss and to all providers of the stock.

Dave

[jbilton]

Hi Dave
Superb shots..... superb route

Cheers
Jon