Welcome to Exe Valley Railway.com

The Exe Valley Railway was a branch line in Devon built by the Great Western Railway.It was in constant use from 1884 until the line was closed to passengers on the 7th October 1963.

It ran for almost 25 miles through beautiful Devon countryside and is still a happy memory for those who were lucky enough to travel along this picturesque route.

Although the line has been dismantled,most of the line remains unbuilt on,a tantalising thought that leaves open the possibility,however small,of the track one day being relaid and once again people travelling by train this beautiful route.  

What it Looks Like Today:   West Exe Halt

  West Exe Halt in Tiverton was opened in the same year as Bolham Halt 1928,to serve the growing town of Tiverton and also to provide a closer stop to Tiverton's biggest employer,Heathcoat's Mill.It was built to the usual length for a halt,109 feet,although this was extended in 1937,due to the halt's heavy usage.In fact,out of all the halts on the Exe Valley Railway,West Exe Halt was the most used of them all.

It's one of the things that I find so amazing about the old rail network,is that from any tiny little village or town that had a station,even if it was hardly used or in the middle of nowhere,you could from there travel to anywhere in the country...with a few changes of course.What a loss!

   Disappointingly,there is not much to see where West Exe Halt used to be.The rail bridge that used to cross West Exe South has long since gone and the ground on either side has been levelled and developed.If you match up old pictures though,you can still see the old buildings that are still there and with a bit of imagination,you can still get a sense of how it once was. 

There is however,a large overgrown patch next to the playground(see Google Map) that is about where the platform might be,but at the time of my visit,it seemed impossible to get through the dense brambles and fences to investigate this area further.I might return maybe,when everything has died down to have another look.UPDATE I couldn't leave it like that,so I returned,determined to explore this overgrown patch,only this time not in shorts .Christine and I found a sort of opening and battled our way in,but I can report that there is nothing of interest to be seen.

After this we then crossed over the road and onto the Great Western Way,the road that was built on top of the old line into Tiverton Station.In the old days there used to be a lovely arched bridge that the train would cross the Exe on,but that has been demolished and a rather grim concrete replacement stands in its place.

 Click on the buttons to switch between how it used to look and how it looks today.

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In this interesting old postcard of Tiverton you can see the track and arched bridge on the left and the line continuing along towards Tiverton Station on the right.

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News From Down the Line

newslogo44Every now and then when I talk to people and they hear of my interest in the Exe Valley Railway,they tell me little bits of information or recall an old memory.It always amazes me how even today,more than 50 years after it's closure,the fondness with which people remember the railway and how fresh the memories seem to be to them.

This little section of the website is to pass on to you these little "titbits" and any other small pieces of information that I have come across.

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- LATEST NEWS-

 

 

24/4/19These interesting pictures of Dulverton Station were sent in by Fred Gillard, who visited in about 1970 to take some pictures for a model railway project that he was building. The station buildings were bought by the Carnarvon Arms (now closed down) and used as staff and overflow guest accommodation,before being converted into residential housing. Thank you very much Fred for taking the time to share your pictures.

READ MORE

 

 

Memories of the EVR

If you have any memories of the Exe Valley Railway that you would like to share with us,please get in contact with me and maybe we could publish them on our website.Likewise,if you have any photographs or film related to the railway that you would like to share,please contact me.   

Exe Valley Railway Quiz

How much do you know about the Exe Valley Railway?Take our quiz and find out!

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Interesting Videos

Select the video you want using the buttons below,then click on the screen to play the video

                                                

Visit Our Picture Gallery

GWR Posters

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