Exeter and Exmouth Railway
1861 The line was constructed connecting the City of Exeter and the port town of Exmouth. It was built in two portions by two railway companies, but worked as a single entity. It separated from the London and South Western Railway at Exmouth Junction
In 1845 the Railway Mania was at its height, and two similar schemes for an "Exeter Topsham and Exmouth Railway" were publicised in August of that year. A few months later the Great Western Railway issued a prospectus for a "Great Western & Exeter, Topsham & Exmouth Junction Railway", and the South Devon Railway also issued a prospectus, proposing to run an atmospheric-powered broad gauge line from the Exminster pumping station, across the canal and crossing the River Exe on a 14-span viaduct to Topsham, and thence to Exmouth.
The engineer of the line was W. R. Galbraith and the contractor for Topsham to Exmouth was James Taylor of Exeter, for the sum of £39,000. Not without setbacks, the line was completed and inspected by Colonel Yolland of the Railway Inspectorate on 27 April 1861
1861 May 01st. The line opened and the first train was pulled by the 2-2-2 Beattie well tank no. 36 Comet.
Railway Stations on the line.
- Exeter St. David's Railway Station
- Exeter Central Railway Station
- St. James Park Railway Station
- Mount Pleasant Road Halt (1906-1928)
- Polsloe Bridge Railway Station
- Digby and Sowton Railway Station
- Topsham Railway Station
- Exton Railway Station
- Lympstone Commando Railway Station
- Lympstone Village Railway Station
- Exmouth Railway Station