Torrington

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Torrington (1872-1965)

Opened on the Torrington and Marland Light Railway.
Opened on the Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway).

Description

Tarka Valley Railway
Puffing Billy
Tarka Trail

Tags

Terminus Station
07/08/2023




Chronology Dates

  /  /1872Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Opened from Bideford [1st], which is closed replaced by Bideford [2nd], to Torrington.
  /  /1880Torrington and Marland Light Railway
3ft mineral line opened from Torrington to Marland Clay Works and quarries, for the North Devon Clay Company.
  /  /1925North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway
Opened from Torrington (Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)) to Halwill Junction (Holsworthy Branch (London and South Western Railway)). Much of the Torrington and Marland Light Railway was used, having been converted into a standard gauge railway. Stations opened at Dunsbear Halt, Petrockstow, Meeth Halt, Hatherleigh, Hole. The Marland Clay Works lines remained 3ft and in use.
  /  /1965North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway
Torrington and Marland Light Railway
Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Bideford Extension Railway
Taw Vale Railway and Dock Company
Torrington closed to regular passenger trains. Hole, Hatherleigh, Meeth Halt, Petrockstow, Dunsbear Halt, Yarde Halt, Watergate Halt, Torrington, Bideford [2nd], Instow, Fremington. Halwill to near Meeth Clay Works closed.
10/01/1968Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Bideford [2nd] to Torrington re-opened to passengers as Bideford Bridge damaged by flooding.
22/01/1968Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Bideford [2nd] to Torrington re-closes to passengers
  /10/1978Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Last milk tanks train leaves Torrington. Milk depot officially closed 1980.
06/11/1982Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
The 'Last Train to Torrington' railtour runs, 15 carriages 'topped and tailed' with locomotives 31174 and 31158.
27/01/1983Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Final train to Torrington, a DMU on a private special working for interested parties, run during discussion of the line's future.
  /05/1984Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Torrington opened as the 'Puffing Billy' restaurant.
  /06/1984North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway
Torrington and Marland Light Railway
Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
Bideford Extension Railway
Taw Vale Railway and Dock Company
Track lifting begins, working back from Meeth Clay Works through Torrington and Bideford to Barnstaple.
08/04/2023Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
143617 named at Torrington after the late Rod Garner, founder and chairman.
05/08/2023Torrington Extension (London and South Western Railway)
First train from Torrington station on phase 1 of the re-opening to Bideford [2nd], 300 yards of track.

News items

06/08/2023Train leaves disused Devon station for first time in decades [BBC News]
13/02/2015Full steam ahead to lay Torrington railway tracks [North Devon Gazette]