Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent condition. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> The Launceston branch had a complex and colourful history and a demise to match. It consisted of two formally independent railways which were joined together at Tavistock. They were the South Devon & Tavistock Railway which opened in 1859 and the Launceston & South Devon Railway which opened in 1865. They were in the forefront of the gauge war between the LSWR and the GWR and as such they had the distinction of being mixed gauge between Lidford and Tavis- tock Junction on the branch and thence to Plymouth North Road on the main line. However with the advent of the LSWR main line from Lidford (as originally spelt) to Devonport Kings Road during 1890 the branch returned to broad gauge passenger working. The demise of the broad gauge in May 1892 saw the removal of the ‘third rail’ as the branch became ‘narrow’ or more accurately 4′ 8’/2″ standard gauge. It was 36 miles long between its two terminii and as its final demise was as late as 1966 it must surely qualify as a contestant for being one of the longest GWR branches both geographically and historically. The second World War saw the bombing of Millbay and the conse- quent cessation of passenger services from there during 1941 where- upon all passenger services commenced and terminated at North Road. The description of the journey over the main line from Millbay to Lipson Junction is covered in ‘The Yealmpton Branch’ published by the OPC during 1974. From Lipson Junction the main line followed the course of the river Plym alongside its northern tidal bank after passing through the site of the former Laira Halt with its famous motive power depot alongside. Still following the tidal Plym the branch crosses it just west of Tavistock Junction and before they both swing northwards. From Marsh Mills the line was single throughout except for passing places at Bickleigh; Yelverton; Horrabridge; Tavistock; Lydford; Lifton and Launceston. It lost the use of its Launceston terminus in 105 branch trains (LL)