OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
Plus parts of the South Hams and West Devon
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

RAILWAYS IN OLD PLYMOUTH  |  SOUTH DEVON AND TAVISTOCK RAILWAY COMPANY
LAUNCESTON BRANCH

BRANCH LINE, PLYMOUTH STATION (MILLBAY) TO LAUNCESTON STATION

For more information about the Engines Sheds, Goods Depots or Yards, Ground Frames, Halts, Junctions, Platforms, Sidings, Signal Boxes, Signalling, Stations, Tunnels, and Viaducts along the branch line between Plymouth Station (Millbay) and Launceston Station click on the links provided below.

It describes the situation  in 1955.  Stations which were still in use in 1955 are in CAPITAL LETTERS and signal boxes (signalling block posts) still in use at that time are in bold lower case lettering.  Where they both appear together then the signal box was on the station platform.  Mile Post mileage is from Tavistock Junction.

All items refer to the Down direction (i.e. Plymouth Station (Millbay) to Tavistock and Launceston) except where indicated by ^ sign, which indicates it only refers to the Up Direction towards Plymouth Station (Millbay).

The speed limit on the Branch was 40 miles per hour.

 

00 miles 00 chains	PLYMOUTH STATION (Millbay)
	Plymouth Mill Bay Signal Box x
	Site of King Street Signal Box or Ground Frame. (246 miles 47 chains)
	Site of Plymouth Engine Shed
	Site of Harwell Street Ground Frame or Signal Box. Controlled exit from and entrance to the old Plymouth Engine Shed.
	Plymouth Great Western Docks Junction. (246 miles 31 chains)
	Cornwall Junction Signal Box 246 miles 26 chains
	North Road West Signal Box
	NORTH ROAD PLYMOUTH STATION 68 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 61 rising. ^34 miles 53 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 72 rising.
	North Road East Signal Box
	Site of Mutley Station and Mutley Signal Box
	Mutley Tunnel
	Mannamead Signal Box
	Site of Lipson Vale Halt
	Lipson Junction and Lipson Junction Signal Box
	Site of Laira Halt
	Laira Junction Signal Box and Laira Junction 2 miles 63 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 72 falling. ^32 miles 58 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 143 rising.
MILEPOST MILEAGE FROM TAVISTOCK JUNCTION
00 miles 00 chains	Tavistock Junction and Tavistock Junction Signal Box 3 miles 54 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 143 rising. ^31 miles 64 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 200 falling.
00 miles 18 chains	MARSH MILLS STATION and Marsh Mills Signal Box 3 miles 73 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay), ruling gradient 1 in 200 rising. ^31 miles 46 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 97 falling.
	Coypool Marsh Sidings
1 miles 11 chains	Lee Moor Crossing Signal Box 4 miles 65 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 97 rising. ^30 miles 53 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 132 falling.
1 miles 39 chains	PLYM BRIDGE PLATFORM 5 miles 13 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 132 rising. ^30 miles 25 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 60 falling.
2 miles 15 chains	Cann  Viaduct
2 miles 65 chains	Riverford Viaduct
	^Stop Board ^27 miles 66 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 58 falling.
3 miles 37½ chains	Bickleigh Viaduct
4 miles 09 chains	Bickleigh Signal Box and BICKLEIGH STATION 7 miles 63 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 60 rising. ^27 miles 55 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 58 falling.
4 miles 27 chains	Ham Green Viaduct
4 mile 79 chains	SHAUGH BRIDGE PLATFORM 8 miles 53 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 58 rising. ^26 miles 65 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 58 falling.
5 miles 20 chains	Shaugh Tunnel commenced
5 miles 34 chains	Shaugh Tunnel ended
6 miles 25 chains	CLEARBROOK HALT 9 miles 79 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 58 rising. ^25 miles 39 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 60 falling.
	^Stop Board ^24 miles 35 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 60 falling.
7 miles 35 chains	Yelverton Signal Box
7 miles 37 chains	YELVERTON STATION 11 miles 11 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 60 rising. Junction for the Princetown Branch. ^24 miles 27 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 60 rising.
7 miles 41 chains	Stop Board 11 miles 16 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient level.
7 miles 49½ chains	Yelverton Tunnel
8 miles 77 chains	HORRABRIDGE STATION and Horrabridge Signal Box 12 miles 51 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 60 falling. ^22 miles 67 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 60 rising.
9 miles 46 chains	Magpie Viaduct
10 miles 14 chains	Walkham Viaduct
10 miles 62 chains	Grenofen Tunnel
11 miles 65 chains	WHITCHURCH DOWN PLATFORM 15 miles 39 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 60 falling. ^19 miles 79 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 64 rising.
12 miles  66 chains	Site of former Tavistock "B" Signal Box
12 miles 69 chains	Tavistock South Signal Box
12 miles 71 chains	TAVISTOCK SOUTH STATION 16 miles 45 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 64 falling. ^18 miles 73 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 89 falling. Original Tavistock Station destroyed by fire in August 1887.
12 miles 72 chains	Site of former Tavistock "A" Signal Box
14 miles 17 chains	Occupational level crossing to Pitt's Cleave Quarry
14 miles 33 chains	Pitt's Cleave Quarry Sidings 18 miles 7 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 89 rising. ^17 miles 31 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 66 falling.
16 miles 23 chains	MARY TAVY AND BLACKDOWN HALT 19 miles 77 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 66 rising. ^15 miles 41 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 64 falling.
16 miles 24 chains	Site of Marytavy Signal Box
18 miles 17 chains	Approximate site of Brentor Siding
19 miles 20 chains	Site of former GWRC Lydford Signal Box
19 miles 43 chains	LYDFORD STATION (SDR/GWR/BRWR) and Lydford Signal Box SDR, GWR, BRWR 23 miles 27 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 64 rising. ^12 miles 21 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 55 rising.
20 miles 46 chains	Stop Board 23 miles 20 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling  gradient 1 in 57 falling.
22 miles 35 chains	LIDDATON HALT 26 miles 9 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 55 falling. ^9 miles 29 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 55 rising.
23 miles 76 chains	CORYTON STATION 27 miles 50 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 55 falling. ^7 miles 68 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 140 rising.
27 miles 11 chains	Lifton Signal Box
27 miles 14 chains	LIFTON STATION 30 miles 68 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 40 falling. ^4 miles 50 chains from Launceston Station; ruling gradient 1 in 126 falling.
27 miles 51 chains	Leat Siding
29 miles 12 chains	Cawdron Siding
31 miles 33½ chains	Facing (in the Down direction) war-time connecting line to the British Railways Southern Region line. On and as from June 30th 1952 Launceston Branch passenger trains were diverted via this connection to terminate at Launceston Southern Region Station.
31 miles 64½ chains	LAUNCESTON STATION 35 miles 38 chains from Plymouth Station (Millbay); ruling gradient 1 in 126 rising.
31 miles 66 chains	Launceston Signal Box
31 miles 67 chains	Launceston Station buffer stops.

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