Great footage and interesting to see work on the platforms at Bere Alston possibly for longer trains - the 150s won't last forever , but not forgetting that extending to Tavistock is still a very hot topic locally.
A very interesting journey, thanks for posting this video. Long may this line remain, and be improved to give better service to the public if possible.
All being well, if the government authorises funding for Bere Alston - Tavistock reopening, the line will get something like a 45min frequency each way all day. For Gunnislake I believe it will mean changing trains at Bere but journey time from Plymo will be the same.
Nice bit of vid. Thanks. Bout time the weed killer train was sent up by the looks. Never remember that line being left to go to seed, like that! Gotta laugh at the workforce at Bere Alston with all their kit on watching the unit bear down on them. That bit of fencing n a few sleepers wouldn’t be much good if his wheels picked up!There’s been a few there, in the past, I can tell ee. They’ve been talking of getting back to Tavy for 50+ years, tis a long way off still it seems! 🙄
Excellent video. I grew up in St. Budeaux and often took the train to/from Plymouth using both the stations. I wonder if the Keyham Dockyard points and line are still active or the Ernesettle sidings? Next time I'm back home from the USA, I'll have to travel it again and also hopefully the old LSWR line to Exeter.
The LSWR certainly constructed a well engineered line to Plymouth from Exeter all double tracked. It does make you wonder why they kept the line open to Gunnislake, but decided to not to keep the line open from Tavistock to Plymouth, in fact why didn’t they keep the whole line open to Exeter. Certainly would have saved problems encountered at Dawlish, where the whole West was cut off for 2 to 3 months in 2014! I don’t know when this video was recorded, but have works started at Bere Alston with the line reinstatement to Tavistock? Nice video.
@@davidirvine4294 Indeed. I have a friend who lodged for a year at Calstock, and his host much preferred to drive to Liskeard and not Plymouth to pick him up if there was no train on the branch.
Travelled on the branch a couple of times. Good scenic route. Don't know when this was filmed, but all the speed restrictions seem the same as when l travelled on it several years ago. Would have thought some investment might have improved the line for a faster service.
It’s very obvious that the Bere Alston-Gunnislake section was built as a light railway. The line speed must rival the Hemyock branch for being the slowest passenger line in the UK. I imagine the St Budeaux end would be upgraded as part of the Tavistock reopening (if that ever gets off the ground) but I doubt the other end will, as it will only need to allow the branch unit to achieve one round trip in 50-minutes to connect with an hourly Plymouth-Tavi service.
It was listed for closure and only kept open as the roads in the area are so poor. The distance between Bere Ferrers station and Plymouth is seven miles by train, as compared with a 28-mile journey by bus.
Watching the train going across Weston mill viaduct I see that the waste incinerator on the left isn't there and construction on that started in 2012 or 13.
Great footage and interesting to see work on the platforms at Bere Alston possibly for longer trains - the 150s won't last forever , but not forgetting that extending to Tavistock is still a very hot topic locally.
What a gorgeous branch line! Must add it to my list of "still to do"!
A very interesting journey, thanks for posting this video. Long may this line remain, and be improved to give better service to the public if possible.
All being well, if the government authorises funding for Bere Alston - Tavistock reopening, the line will get something like a 45min frequency each way all day. For Gunnislake I believe it will mean changing trains at Bere but journey time from Plymo will be the same.
Nice bit of vid.
Thanks.
Bout time the weed killer train was sent up by the looks. Never remember that line being left to go to seed, like that!
Gotta laugh at the workforce at Bere Alston with all their kit on watching the unit bear down on them. That bit of fencing n a few sleepers wouldn’t be much good if his wheels picked up!There’s been a few there, in the past, I can tell ee.
They’ve been talking of getting back to Tavy for 50+ years, tis a long way off still it seems! 🙄
Must be worth a visit!
From Bere Alston to Plymouth was part of the LSWR double-track, as you can see from the infrastructure, main line from Exeter.
Wonderful memories. Stayed twice at Berre Ferrers holiday sight
Lovely branch.... interesting that this and Looe have survived ....pity not the same for others, such as Penrith to Keswick
Excellent video. I grew up in St. Budeaux and often took the train to/from Plymouth using both the stations. I wonder if the Keyham Dockyard points and line are still active or the Ernesettle sidings? Next time I'm back home from the USA, I'll have to travel it again and also hopefully the old LSWR line to Exeter.
Smashing
The LSWR certainly constructed a well engineered line to Plymouth from Exeter all double tracked. It does make you wonder why they kept the line open to Gunnislake, but decided to not to keep the line open from Tavistock to Plymouth, in fact why didn’t they keep the whole line open to Exeter. Certainly would have saved problems encountered at Dawlish, where the whole West was cut off for 2 to 3 months in 2014! I don’t know when this video was recorded, but have works started at Bere Alston with the line reinstatement to Tavistock? Nice video.
It was because it was considered that the roads were inadequate.
@@davidirvine4294 Indeed. I have a friend who lodged for a year at Calstock, and his host much preferred to drive to Liskeard and not Plymouth to pick him up if there was no train on the branch.
Travelled on the branch a couple of times. Good scenic route. Don't know when this was filmed, but all the speed restrictions seem the same as when l travelled on it several years ago. Would have thought some investment might have improved the line for a faster service.
It’s very obvious that the Bere Alston-Gunnislake section was built as a light railway. The line speed must rival the Hemyock branch for being the slowest passenger line in the UK. I imagine the St Budeaux end would be upgraded as part of the Tavistock reopening (if that ever gets off the ground) but I doubt the other end will, as it will only need to allow the branch unit to achieve one round trip in 50-minutes to connect with an hourly Plymouth-Tavi service.
That's some climb up from Calstock! Anyone know what the ruling gradient is, please?
Great little line. How did it avoid Beeching's vandalism?
It was listed for closure and only kept open as the roads in the area are so poor. The distance between Bere Ferrers station and Plymouth is seven miles by train, as compared with a 28-mile journey by bus.
A delightful line with a fascinating history. Is that continuous rail about to be installed between Calstock and Gunnislake? Thanks for posting.
When was the video taken because it looks about 20 years ago from the cars in the car parks?
Watching the train going across Weston mill viaduct I see that the waste incinerator on the left isn't there and construction on that started in 2012 or 13.