Back Along North Devon's Lines - FULL VIDEO

[@markclifton14]

Shame the line from Barnstaple to ilfracombe closed . Today would have made a very interesting heritage line and a vital transport link for tourists. Great film 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@peterjhillier7659]

Thank you for sharing, I was Subganger at the P.way to Okey and still live near enough to hear the Trains in the Valley between Eggesford and Kings Nympton that used to be called South Molton Road.

[@steveevans6241]

A very valuable document recorded at a time when things had almost disappeared & most certainly have gone by now. The whole ethos, way of life & environment have been consigned to history. It is what it was & thanks to Victor Thompson (and Aarchive Railways!) we can revisit it to remind ourselves of what has been lost. Let's appreciate the vestiges & hope it inspires people to keep what's left alive.

[@AarchiveRailways]

Victor was great, his voice, his love of history. Thank you for the comments.

[@devonmoors]

At St David’s I remember the whistle melody from the little extra push engine which was connected to help the train up the gradient to Exeter CentralThe head engine then answered with an identical melody and off they went!

[@onchnc3546]

Great film. Went up to Barney on a Runabout ticket in 75, loco and coaches with the run around still in place. Such a shame its been so rationalised. Love the BR blue unit. Happy days back then.

[@richietheg86]

I had a copy of this video on tape many years ago (probably when it was first released, no doubt advertised in the North Devon Journal!) - am so glad to have found it again. Brings back memories - not just the memories of the line (the Ilfracombe branch of which I'm too young to remember), but memories of my time as a slightly railway-obsessed kid!

[@tommaude9490]

What a treat this was to watch and learn about this beautifull line and all the now closed branch lines off it. Thank you so much for sharing it.

[@AarchiveRailways]

My father and I made it a few years back now. He's now passed away, but would be glad to know they are still being enjoyed.

[@djc8541]

Fantastic record of lost line to Ilfracombe

[@AarchiveRailways]

We were pretty pleased to find it, with the age of it.

[@cyberheritage]

A railway Heritage documentary without equal perfection in production and narration, evocative emotional and absolutely stunningly perfect and an amazing memoir to this long loved railway.

[@AarchiveRailways]

Thank you so much...I know dad, and Victor, would have been proud to hear that.

[@cyberheritage]

What is the origin of the music track? I am also a filmmaker of history films and I’d love to use your tracks, It’s strictly nonprofit.

[@AarchiveRailways]

@@cyberheritage It has been a while, but we used to a CD of non-copyright music. I honestly cannot remember from where now. I do replace some of it, which is from KZbins music library.

[@cyberheritage]

Cheers, I guess I should be ok using the music myself

[@robfindlay2422]

Agreed, i used to own the video of this and that music has stayed in my mibd ever since !

[@janinapalmer8368]

The real North Devon railway ran between Taunton and Barnstaple 😊 There is absolutely no video of this service ... pity 😢

[@AarchiveRailways]

We are always on the look out, but no lucky, yet.

[@robfindlay2422]

I drive that route from Taunton on to Barnstaple every year, always glance to the old station at venn cross

[@robertpagetfilms]

Great film and wonderful poetic narration.

[@AarchiveRailways]

Victor had a wonderful way with words.

[@katelowes4231]

Recently spent a long weekend walking in the area. How wonderful to watch the history in this video. Thank you b

[@AarchiveRailways]

I did visit last year, to update it, but the weather got the better of me. There will be an update soon though.

[@paulogabbini9238]

This was made by my uncle Vic Thompson amazing to hear after all this time.

[@AarchiveRailways]

My father knew Vic and he had an incredible collection of films and a wonderful voice for narration. 🙂

[@brianwillson9567]

Never been there, but seen so many historical pictures of Barnstaple, ‘then and now’ and the curved bridge. The opening shots I immediately recognised from ‘memories I never had’. Thank you so much for this wonderful video.

[@shanewarnes7339]

A fantastic film

[@limey587]

Great job Roger, I like the combining of my dads old footage with the other material. I well remember helping him film this and I make the odd appearance here and there. By the way the footplate shots were filmed on the West Somerset Railway shortly after opening.

[@AarchiveRailways]

Thank you Chris. Roger passed away nearly 20 years ago now, this is his son Phil. It's taken me a while, but I've finally got to updating these videos I made with dad. I am very thankful of the footage your father provided as well and I'm glad to share it with everyone.

[@limey587]

@@AarchiveRailways In that case, great job Phil, thoroughly enjoyed watching those again.

[@bobmoseley4978]

Thank you so much for this. Holidays, for my family, were taken in Croyde Bay and we used the Waterloo to Ilfracombe trains to get to and from there. I rode the ACE (11am from Waterloo) in its last years. I also remember one of the last through trains to Waterloo, after the Western Region had taken over and singled the line from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe, being hauled by a Warship class diesel hydraulic - so sad. Yes, the crossing gates at Braunton held up the traffic. I know, because I was caught out many times! I may be wrong, but I seem to recall that rebuilt WC/BB locomotives were not permitted on the line to Barnstaple because they were too heavy. Great memories for me and thank you for uploading this.

[@AarchiveRailways]

You're most welcome and thank you for the story. We love hearing about them.

[@bazza3643]

I thought that only the Merchant Navy class locomotives were prohibited north of Exeter.

[@bobmoseley4978]

@@bazza3643 Before the rebuilds, that was the case. After the rebuilds, the WC/BB rebuilds were also too heavy for the lines north and west of Exeter.

[@aljonflavin6760]

Thanks for the memory.

[@AarchiveRailways]

You're most welcome. There is an update of this video on the way in the next few months.

[@henry9911]

I remember Exeter Central to St David's during the war of a guide dog and owner collecting for the blind

[@janinapalmer8368]

Is there a documentary on the Taunton to Barnstaple line ?

[@AarchiveRailways]

There maybe, but not by us, sorry to say. I am always on the look out for new footage of lines, so maybe in the future.

[@janinapalmer8368]

That's not the north Devon line ! The north Devon line went from Barnstaple to Taunton

[@AarchiveRailways]

The title was based on a book by Victor Thompson. A lot of people considered the line from Exeter to Barnstaple then on to Ilfracombe A North Devon line, maybe not THE North Devon Line.

[@alexishamer6427]

The trains 🚆 that run 🏃‍♀️ from Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple in north Devon is currently operated by GWR - Great Western Railway 🚃 runs everyday and public holidays except Christmas 🎄🎅 🤶 🧑‍🎄 Day and Boxing 🥊 Day uses the class 150s, 158s, 165s and 166s second generation DMU - Diesel ⛽️ Multiple Unit trains 🚊 that currently have standard class accommodation only. All trains 🚆 have a toilet 🚽 🚻 . Back in the past, there were first generation DMU - Diesel ⛽️ Multiple Unit trains 🚊 that were going to Barnstaple in north Devon in the southwest of England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 until 1992 is 31 previous years ago. WOW 😮, time 🕰️ flies and life is short. At present 💝, there are trains 🚊 run 🏃‍♂️ to Okehampton on the Tarka Line is turning left from Yeoford and turning right to Barnstaple on the Tarka Line. There are two 2️⃣ passing loops 🔂 🔁 are Crediton and Eggesford. The reason why that the railway 🚃 track 🛤️ is single is because it’s a branch line. The train 🚆 runs 🏃 by the countryside and it’s called Westcountry because it’s rural. This 2 car class 150233 is still in the southwest of England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. It used to be called Barnstaple Junction where trains 🚆 are currently used. The other former Barnstaple railway station 🚉 is called Barnstaple Town. North Devon is a small place and it’s pointless for trains 🚆 to run 🏃‍♀️ to Ilfracombe via Braunton and to Bideford via Instow because more people have their own cars 🚗 🚘 🚙 . The railway 🚃 track 🛤️ was single from 1874 until 1888 and doubled for 79 years from 1888 until 1967 and was singled again in 1967 with the last train 🚊 on Saturday 3rd 🥉 October 1970. It’s highly unlikely that trains 🚆 will run from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe via Braunton, even in 2030. 👍 😃 😀