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

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: January 24, 2018
Webpage updated: January 23, 2022

        

RAILWAYS IN OLD PLYMOUTH  |  MAIN LINE, BRENT STATION TO PLYMOUTH STATION (MILLBAY)

WRANGATON STATION (KINGSBRIDGE ROAD STATION)

Wrangaton Station was recorded in 1955 as being 231 miles 70 chains milepost mileage from London Paddington Station via Bristol Temple Meads Station, the original route of the Great Western Railway.  The ruling gradient approaching Wrangaton Station was 1 in 117 rising and continued towards Bittaford Platfom at 1 in 120 falling. 

The South Devon Railway between Totnes Station and Laira Green Temporary Station on the outskirts of Plymouth, including Wrangton Station (sic), was officially opened to both passenger and goods traffic on May 5th 1848.  It was single line as far as Hemerdon Junction, except at the stations.  It was renamed Kingsbridge Road Station in May 1849.

The Dartmoor mist lingers over Wrangaton Station in 1959.
© Western Morning News Company

The Great Western Railway Company doubled the line between Wrangaton Station and Ivybridge Station and it was opened to public traffic on August 13th 1893.

Kingsbridge Road Station reverted to its original name of Wrangaton in July 1895.  It is sometimes misspelled as "Wrangerton Station".

It will be noted from the photograph above that the waiting room and booking office were at a higher level than the station platforms.

Within less than a year of the opening of Bittaford Platform, it was reported in the local press that the traffic at Wrangaton Station had been so greatly reduced that the Great Western Railway Company were now considering closing the Station.

According to the Great Western Railway Company's official "Traffic Dealt with at Stations and Depots", published circa 1936, in the calendar year 1903 Wrangaton Station issued 14,699 railway tickets, dealt with 110 parcels and took in total income £2,728.  During the calendar year 1913 Wrangaton Station issued 11,634 railway tickets, handled only 77 parcels and took in receipts of only £2,037.

In the calendar year 1923 railway ticket sales were down to just 8,592 although this was supplemented by 77 season tickets.  Parcel traffic was up to 241 and total receipts were up to £2,695.  During the calendar year 1929 Wranagton Station sold 7,050 railway tickets plus only 13 season tickets, dealt with 172 parcels and took in total receipts of £1,832.

On Weekdays and Sundays, 'where train service permits', commencing on May 1st 1953, the following cheap day return tickets, first and third class, were available from Wrangaton Station to: Dawlish, 8 shillings (s) 9 pence (d) 1st, 5s 9d 3rd; Dawlish Warren, 9s 3d 1st, 6s 3d 3rd; Devonport Albert Road, 5s 3d 1st, 3s 6d 3rd; Keyham, 5s 9d 1st, 3s 9d 3rd; Kingsbridge, 5s 3d 1st, 3s 6d 3rd; Newton Abbot, 6s 1st, 4s 3rd; Paignton, 8s 9d 1st, 5s 9d 3rd; Plymouth North Road Station, 5s 3d 1st, 3s 6d 3rd; Plympton, 3s 9d 1st, 2s 6d 3rd; Saint Budeaux Ferry Road, 6s 1st, 4s 3rd; Saltash, 6s 6d 1st, 4s 3d 3rd; Teignmouth, 7s 9d 1st, 5s 3d 3rd; Torquay, 8s 1st, 5s 3d 3rd; and Totnes, 3s 6d 1st, 2s 3d 3rd.

According to the "The Official Hand-book of Station 1956" Wrangaton Station, which included the Admiralty's Monksmoor Siding, dealt with goods traffic, passengers, parcels, miscellaneous traffic, live stock, horse boxes, and prize cattle vans.  It was equipped with a crane capable of lifting 2 tons.

Wrangaton Station was closed to passenger traffic on and as from March 2nd 1959 and to goods traffic on and as from September 9th 1963, although access to the Ministry of Defence Monksmoor Depot continued in use.