This weeks work at SwiB - June 18th 2012

Today I have been cataloguing a collection by David Hocking, a local photographer who has built up his own personal archive of images and histories of various aspects of life within Devon and Cornwall. The collection I have been working on is DH-10, the tenth collection we have on record and one that relates specifically to the rail network on the South Devon and North Cornwall divide during the closure of many of these stations during the 1960s. This collection is of particular interest to me as I grew up in a village near callington and have often passed remnants of the old railway lines when travelling to and from the town. Interestingly the Callington Station was actually situated in Kelly Bray.

"Callington railway station was a railway station in the town of Callington, Cornwall, built by the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway, but operated by the London and South Western Railway. It was the terminus of a branch line from Bere Alston, and the station closed in 1966. The Tamar Valley Line still operates services from Bere Alston with services terminating 5 miles (8 km) to the east at Gunnislake railway station. The now-closed section of line north of Gunnislake had several severe gradients and speed restrictions, which made operating difficult.

A small locomotive depot was built by the PD&SWJR in 1872, which remained in use until closure in 1964."

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callington_railway_station

These two Images show the change in landscape for Callington, the original railway station would have been where Harris Close now stands and this road still bears the name "Station Road"

The railway shed (pictured right) was part of Callington station at Kelly Bray, some distance from the town itself. The local landmark of Kit Hill can be seen in the distance.

 

The part of the branch line from Gunnislake to Kelly Bray closed in 1966, as part of the Beeching Axe. The last train left Callington on 5 November, to the sound of detonators & fireworks, and carrying a wreath.

Here are a selection of some of the other Images and articles I have been cataloguing from this collection:

A timetable showing some of the now closed lines




(Left) Latchley Train Station, Closed in 1966 This station had a single platform on the Down side of the running line, which was recorded in 1908 as being 220' long. Immediately west of the platform the railway crossed a minor road by an un-gated level-crossing. There was a siding on the Up side opposite the platform, which was accessed by a connection facing to Down trains at the Gunnislake end of the station. A small loading platform was located between the main line and siding in front of the main platform and opposite this again outside the siding was the stationmaster's house and ex-ECMR goods shed. The siding was removed at some unknown date after 1950 and the station itself was closed on 5-Nov-1966. The station house and trackbed are now in private ownership.

 (Left) Bere Alston Station, which is still in use today

 (Right) Callington Sheds, which held the locomotives

 (Left) Callington/Kelly Bray Station

(Right) Luckett StationThis station was known originally as Stoke Climsland It had a 225' platform on the Down side and a loop siding opposite it on the Up side, with connections to the main line at both ends of the station. Immediately to the west of the station the line was crossed by a minor road on a girder over-bridge. There was a further siding on the Down side at the Gunnislake end of the platform, with a connection that faced Up trains, and apparently this siding boasted a carriage shed for some years. There was originally a small ground-level signal-box here on the Up side at the Callington end of the loop, but in 1923 this was reduced to a ground-frame. A separate small ground-frame worked the Gunnislake end of the loop siding. The carriage siding was taken out of use on 31-Mar-1923. The loop siding was taken out of use on 23-Sep-1962 and the station itself was closed on 5-Nov-1966. The station house and trackbed are now in private ownership.