Post by Dave on Jun 27, 2010 11:31:16 GMT
As you will know I have recently discovered a love for disused railway stations and lines and I intend with Carol by my side to go and see many more old stations and walk along any old disused railways lines we learn about.
There is one old railway station in Devon that never saw a train stop at it as no line was ever build that went to the station and today it’s a café and still looks very much like it did when it was built and opened as a train station in 1864.
There were various schemes to build a railway to Dartmouth during the 1850’s but they all came to nothing. Then the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway Company was formed so a line could be build from the South Devon Railway that ran from Newton Abbot to Torre on to Dartmouth.
The South Devon Railway had run out of funds and therefore was unable to push their line through to Dartmouth and as the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway Company discovered it was too expensive to build a crossing over the river Dart, they build a rail terminus at Kingswear Passengers would then travel on a steam ferry to take them to the Dartmouth terminus.
The Dartmouth and Torbay line reached Paignton on the 2nd August 1859 and two years later Churston that at that time was known as Brixham Road and was remained Churston some time later. The line to Kingswear was finally completed on the 16th August 1864 the same date Dartmouth station was opened.
Later in 1872 the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway Company was absorbed into the South Devon Railway and ten years later the line from Newton Abbot to Kingswear became part of the GWR. Kingswear then saw regular express services running from there to Paddington station in London and as Torbay was being promoted as a holiday destination; many extra trains ran during the summer months.
In 1892 the line was converted from broad gauge to standard gauge to allow more trains to use the line from other parts of the country. When the line was first opened the ferries used to connect Kingswear station with Dartmouth station were privately run until 1901 when GWR took over the running of the ferries use two boats named Dolphin and The Mews.
During the 1960’s the passenger numbers started to decline and in 1968 the line was earmarked for closure and what is interesting is that the 1963 Beeching report suggested the line should be kept open. Due to the threat of the line being closed a group of railway enthusiasts formed the Dart Valley Light Railway Company and started negations to buy the line from British Railways.
During the negations a shuttle service was kept going until the line was finally purchased by the DVLR on the 30th December 1972, strangely the Dartmouth station was closed two months before the DVLR look over the line on the 28th October 1972 at the end of the British Rail summer timetable.
The DVLR started running trains on the line at the start of the summer timetable in 1973 and now also run the ferries that connected Kingswear to Dartmouth just as the GWR did when they look over the line.
In the 1990’s the DVLR was to become the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway and while the Dartmouth Station was never reopened, it was painted in the GRW colours and used as a restaurant as it is today.
I found this rather wonderful story about Jim the station dog the whole story can be read here
www.kingswear-devon.co.uk/Newsletter%20Two%2016.05.07.pdf
The Story of 'Station Jim' at Kingswear Station.
In January 1901 Jim, a handsome collie dog, was found abandoned and dejected in a railway carriage in Kingswear Station’s Waterhead Creek Sidings, so the station master Mr T Abrahams took him onto his 'Staff'. His duties were to collect, in a small brass box fastened to his collar, contributions
from passengers for the GWR’s Widows and Orphans Fund, which he did with great success. He became a general favourite with everyone, and was soon living the high life.
Jim quickly learnt to distinguish the dining car from the ordinary passenger coach, the close proximity of the Royal Dart Hotel kitchens, the galleys of the steamships, and the jetties; all provided rich hunting grounds. However, in 1906 there was consternation at the terminus when, in spite of a wide search, Jim could not be found.
A telegram from Captain Smith, of a Renwick, Wilton & Co Ltd collier, reported they had a stowaway aboard; Jim had boarded at Kingswear and after a good meal from the galley had curled up asleep. He was wakened by the rough waters outside the castle and was very seasick, and after a voyage to Newcastle was greatly relieved to be returned to a joyous welcome by all the railway staff back home.
His adventure did not stop Jim, a gallant Lothario, from occasionally crossing to Dartmouth on either the Lower or Railway Ferry to do a little courting, after which he plied his trade collecting contributions for GWR widows and orphans, before returning to Kingswear. His greatest moment was in
1908 when King Edward VII, on arriving at Kingswear Station on a visit to the Naval College, broke with protocol and strode over to Jim and his minder, gave him a stroke, and placed a golden guinea in his collecting box.
Sadly during 1909, Jim was struck by one of the new-fangled motor cars, and died shortly afterwards. There was great sorrow among both staff and villagers, and he was buried with due ceremony in the railway embankment below Fore Street, Kingswear. Today his simple grave is there for all to see.
Jim
The stone that marks his grave
Dartmouth Station
Kingswear Station
There is one old railway station in Devon that never saw a train stop at it as no line was ever build that went to the station and today it’s a café and still looks very much like it did when it was built and opened as a train station in 1864.
There were various schemes to build a railway to Dartmouth during the 1850’s but they all came to nothing. Then the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway Company was formed so a line could be build from the South Devon Railway that ran from Newton Abbot to Torre on to Dartmouth.
The South Devon Railway had run out of funds and therefore was unable to push their line through to Dartmouth and as the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway Company discovered it was too expensive to build a crossing over the river Dart, they build a rail terminus at Kingswear Passengers would then travel on a steam ferry to take them to the Dartmouth terminus.
The Dartmouth and Torbay line reached Paignton on the 2nd August 1859 and two years later Churston that at that time was known as Brixham Road and was remained Churston some time later. The line to Kingswear was finally completed on the 16th August 1864 the same date Dartmouth station was opened.
Later in 1872 the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway Company was absorbed into the South Devon Railway and ten years later the line from Newton Abbot to Kingswear became part of the GWR. Kingswear then saw regular express services running from there to Paddington station in London and as Torbay was being promoted as a holiday destination; many extra trains ran during the summer months.
In 1892 the line was converted from broad gauge to standard gauge to allow more trains to use the line from other parts of the country. When the line was first opened the ferries used to connect Kingswear station with Dartmouth station were privately run until 1901 when GWR took over the running of the ferries use two boats named Dolphin and The Mews.
During the 1960’s the passenger numbers started to decline and in 1968 the line was earmarked for closure and what is interesting is that the 1963 Beeching report suggested the line should be kept open. Due to the threat of the line being closed a group of railway enthusiasts formed the Dart Valley Light Railway Company and started negations to buy the line from British Railways.
During the negations a shuttle service was kept going until the line was finally purchased by the DVLR on the 30th December 1972, strangely the Dartmouth station was closed two months before the DVLR look over the line on the 28th October 1972 at the end of the British Rail summer timetable.
The DVLR started running trains on the line at the start of the summer timetable in 1973 and now also run the ferries that connected Kingswear to Dartmouth just as the GWR did when they look over the line.
In the 1990’s the DVLR was to become the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway and while the Dartmouth Station was never reopened, it was painted in the GRW colours and used as a restaurant as it is today.
I found this rather wonderful story about Jim the station dog the whole story can be read here
www.kingswear-devon.co.uk/Newsletter%20Two%2016.05.07.pdf
The Story of 'Station Jim' at Kingswear Station.
In January 1901 Jim, a handsome collie dog, was found abandoned and dejected in a railway carriage in Kingswear Station’s Waterhead Creek Sidings, so the station master Mr T Abrahams took him onto his 'Staff'. His duties were to collect, in a small brass box fastened to his collar, contributions
from passengers for the GWR’s Widows and Orphans Fund, which he did with great success. He became a general favourite with everyone, and was soon living the high life.
Jim quickly learnt to distinguish the dining car from the ordinary passenger coach, the close proximity of the Royal Dart Hotel kitchens, the galleys of the steamships, and the jetties; all provided rich hunting grounds. However, in 1906 there was consternation at the terminus when, in spite of a wide search, Jim could not be found.
A telegram from Captain Smith, of a Renwick, Wilton & Co Ltd collier, reported they had a stowaway aboard; Jim had boarded at Kingswear and after a good meal from the galley had curled up asleep. He was wakened by the rough waters outside the castle and was very seasick, and after a voyage to Newcastle was greatly relieved to be returned to a joyous welcome by all the railway staff back home.
His adventure did not stop Jim, a gallant Lothario, from occasionally crossing to Dartmouth on either the Lower or Railway Ferry to do a little courting, after which he plied his trade collecting contributions for GWR widows and orphans, before returning to Kingswear. His greatest moment was in
1908 when King Edward VII, on arriving at Kingswear Station on a visit to the Naval College, broke with protocol and strode over to Jim and his minder, gave him a stroke, and placed a golden guinea in his collecting box.
Sadly during 1909, Jim was struck by one of the new-fangled motor cars, and died shortly afterwards. There was great sorrow among both staff and villagers, and he was buried with due ceremony in the railway embankment below Fore Street, Kingswear. Today his simple grave is there for all to see.
Jim
The stone that marks his grave
Dartmouth Station
Kingswear Station
I love 'em too Dave, and if you refer to my blog of May 18th titled "Fires, Frying Pans & Vampires!" you can read of a "ghost" station near to my home and refer to pictures of it on page 4 of Jelly's Images illustrating it's peace, tranquility and the legend of The Spriggan that so frightens Olivia!
