Great Western Coffee Shop

Journey by Journey => London to the West => Topic started by: Oxonhutch on October 14, 2018, 13:53:26



Title: Railway Magazine (1935) v. 77
Post by: Oxonhutch on October 14, 2018, 13:53:26
On a rainy Sunday afternoon, I am entertaining myself with an old bound copy of volume 77 of the Railway Magazine with an article on the 1935 government loan guarantee scheme for the four major railway companies to the tune of £30M - a not inconsiderable sum in today’s monies.

Two schemes proposed by the GWR, neither of which saw the light of day.  I wonder what became of them but I am sure that the Second World War finished them off.  They were as follows (quoting pages 413 & 459):

“[A] new branchline to Looe which will divert much of the traffic from the existing Liskard-Looe line, even if it does not result in the abandonment of the latter. The new branch to Looe is designed to leave the main West of England line about 1 3/4 miles west of St. Germans station at what is known as Trerule Foot. It will be about 7 miles long; will traverse the Hessenford Valley; and will probably have three intermediate stations at Hessenford, Seaton Beach (near Downderry), and Millendreth. A new terminus station will be built on the high ground at East Looe. The train service will be worked by streamlined diesel railcars to and from Plymouth where connections will be given with the main line services. The journey between Plymouth and Looe will occupy 35 min., representing a saving of about half-an-hour as compared with the existing route.”

and,

“The only other new line contemplated is a G.W.R. 8 1/2 mile double-track deviation between Dawlish Warren and Newton Abbot. It will pass under Haldon Down, north of the existing sea coast route, and will be used for trains to and from the Torquay line, Plymouth, and Cornwall, not requiring to serve Dawlish or Teignmouth.”

I can’t see why there was the pressing need for the former, but it is a crying shame that the latter never bore fruit - could have proved most convenient.


Title: Re: Railway Magazine (1935) v. 77
Post by: eXPassenger on October 14, 2018, 16:02:54
I understood that detailed surveying and land purchase for the Dawlish diversion was in hand in late 1939.  It then became a war casualty.


Title: Re: Railway Magazine (1935) v. 77
Post by: ellendune on October 14, 2018, 17:27:29
I understood that detailed surveying and land purchase for the Dawlish diversion was in hand in late 1939.  It then became a war casualty.

I understood that work had actually started in March 1939


Title: Re: Railway Magazine (1935) v. 77
Post by: SandTEngineer on October 14, 2018, 18:38:09
I think the reasoning behind the Looe line proposal was related to it becoming an expanding holiday resort, frequent flooding of the existing line and the steep gradient between Liskeard and Coombe Junction.  Guess what, the line has been closed for three days now (@14/10/2018) due to Floo….. ::)


Title: Re: Railway Magazine (1935) v. 77
Post by: FarWestJohn on October 14, 2018, 19:04:02
It was not long ago that BRB property finished selling off the land purchased for this inland line.


Title: Re: Railway Magazine (1935) v. 77
Post by: Pb_devon on October 14, 2018, 19:18:11
Details of the Looe shortcut here:
http://brucehunt.co.uk/south%20east%20cornwall/proposed%20short%20cut%20to%20looe.html



Title: Re: Railway Magazine (1935) v. 77
Post by: Oxonhutch on October 14, 2018, 19:50:39
It was not long ago that BRB property finished selling off the land purchased for this inland line.

Now that, is a real crying shame.



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