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.  

  Nothing now remains of this bridge,but the road still goes where it used to go over the bridge.If you look on an old map,there used to be a large triangular embankment here.Why there was such a large cutting here I don't know,but it's certainly unusual,so there must have been a reason.Again no doubt to cut costs,this large embankment was never filled in and is still there,only now it has been reused and is the Tiverton Adventure Playground.

To rejoin the line,you have to walk around the adventure playground until you come to a cut through.At this point you will notice a rather hideous looking green metal construction,which I beleve is meant to stop cars and slow down everyone else.This rather sorry sight is where Bridge 4(or Watery Lane Bridge) was located.If you look back up towards the adventure playground from here,you can sort of imagine the line,but looking the other way as the line goes through gardens,it is alot harder to envisage.Rather sad really.

Detouring around the housing blocks here,you come to an open space where there is a skateboard/BMX park.The line used to cut right across this park,before curving right to meet up with Bridge 5(or Lowman Bridge).

The town of Tiverton takes its name from Twyfordton,meaning,"Two Ford Town" and was originally built between the two fords on the River Exe and the tributary of the Exe,the River Lowman.

There was once a rail bridge here,but that has been replaced by a concrete monstrosity now covered in graffiti.From here the line carries on down what is now the Eastern Distributor Road,until it reaches our final bridge,Bridge 6(Blundells Road Bridge). 

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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.

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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

                                                

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GWR Posters

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