Reliving The Nostalgic Tarka Line Journey From Exeter To Barnstaple In The 1970s

[@tankmicr00man]

Thank you. Great to see this one.

[@followthetrawler]

Brilliant look at the Tarka Line - thanks for sharing! I am a regular user from Umberleigh to EXD so it was great to see how much, and how little has changed in the last 50 years. The line is now so busy they are talking about dualling it again and adding more passing loops. Sadly I dont think that will happen until the junction (and road bridge) at Cowley are improved.

[@barriejones2890]

I vividly remember sat on a high field looking down to a steam train full pelt towards Barnstaple 1966 i was 5 visiting my cousins with my two sisters its a fond image etched in my mind. Little did we know it wouldnt last. Thank you for the videos ❤ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ❤

[@ChangesOneTim]

Well-written narration and some great scenes of past operation. Further 'rationalisation' since then was singling between Cowley and Crediton, and closure of Eggesford and Barnstaple boxes. Therefore Exeter-Barnstaple branch is today a very long single line with three passing places...and since 2022 with added Okehampton trains to fit in between Cowley and Crediton!

[@EErail26]

Fascinating film. Loved glimpsing a couple of unrefurbished 50s at St Davids. I first did the Barnstaple line in summer 1990 with a 50 working vice DMU on a hot sunny day.

[@Tarkaman1]

Thanks

[@AarchiveRailways]

You're welcome and thank you.

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Excellent - thanks for posting it!

[@simonburton5945]

Wonderful stuff. I'm sure it could be me at the beginning at the southern end of St. Davids (in an orange pac-a-mac!)

[@duncancurtis5108]

Barnstaple survives but at a price. Barely a station left and no through services beyond Exeter even in summer. Just a crowded old 80s DMU.

[@Devonshireoldfart]

You're joking! I live near Eggesford, the train line's thriving, it pays for itself from what I've seen, the Exeter to Okehampton line had over half a million passengers in the 3 years it's returned. Now they're trying to bring back the Bideford and Braunton extensions, good for them, I'm originally from Bideford, I think the trip to Barny would be a lot quicker, travelled many times on the Tarka line, my favourite. My son works for Rose removals at Lapford when not studying engineering at Plymouth, the old Ambrosia depot, they're very busy. I worked beside Crediton station last year, that's busy, although the yards have gone the animal feed mills are still going, and there are still sweet factories in Crediton, Bristows, E and J etc, even a cake and pie manufacturer. My daughter worked at the Fox and Hounds Eggesford until 4 years ago, I preferred the older building which they demolished in the 80s, it was old,worn but had character

[@SpoonyMcSpoonface]

The steam cab shots were taken on an Austerity tank either on the Dart Valley or West Somerset. Certainly not on the Barnstaple line.

[@AarchiveRailways]

Really? I only transferred it, but I guess it needed some filler.

[@sandfordmerlin]

Too much steam, this was meant to be the 70's. Some class 42 Warships would have been better.

[@AarchiveRailways]

It was late 60s, very early 70s.

[@ianstjames]

Too much 'R' rolling, in an effort to be distinctive and characterful, for my taste.

[@AarchiveRailways]

Victor did have a flair for the dramatic. I always enjoyed listening to him, but each to their own.

[@ianstjames]

Still a great vid, but Victor’s ‘flair for the dramatic’ was so over the top…in my opinion. And yes - each to his own.

[@synthengine]

You are lucky he made the effort to film it .