The North Devon Line
Barnstaple, North Devon, England
another "content over style" heritage web page from Steve Johnson`s "Cyberheritage"
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION
BARNSTAPLE JUNCTION GOODS & FREIGHT YARD -in 1985 to 1987
"the Cement Train"
click above to enlarge
The daily Exeter Riverside goods train!!! Ah!! What with all the shunting and the creaks and groans of trucks and wagons on well greased axles - it was surely "Thomas the Tank Engine" along with "the Fat Controller" come to life. Much of the access was due to the kind nature of life long and time served North Devon railwaymen, quite unlike the customer friendly and above all "fully trained" rail staff of today! These men had railways in their blood and were the product of long service and dedication to the railway.
If my memory serves me correct, the man who really helped the most was called "George" - I suspect by now he will have retired, but without him, none of you would be looking at this!
On other pages of this site you will see photographs of this goods train as it travels along the "Tarka Line."
Cement I feel was the main load, followed by resin or something along this line, then timber and fertilizer would be put down and picked up at Lapford. Due to their being no run around loop at Lapford, the whole lot had to be hauled back up to Barnstaple to finally get the engine in front!
a class 33 with timber from Lapford
33015 with a timber load from Lapford
33015 with a timber load from Lapford
33015 with a timber load from Lapford
31403 coming out of Barnstaple Station
33060 leaving Barnstaple Station
33060 waits for the road at Barnstaple Junction Station
early 1986 sees 31110 in the yard
31402 is in the yard with an Inspection Saloon
31402 is in the yard with an Inspection Saloon
31143 is in the yard in early 1986
31152 heads a rake of fertilizer vans from Lapford in the yard in August 1986
31405 heads a timber load from Lapford in August 1986
31403 is in the yard in August 1986
31144 is in the yard in June 1986
July 7 1986 sees 31430 in the yard
a class 31 in Railfreight Grey livery is in the yard
33003 on a timber load from Lapford
a class 31 awaits the road in the station
a class 31 and a DMU in Barnstaple Station