Great Western Coffee Shop

The days of taking excellent pictures from trains are over, and I ask readers to accept my "for the record" pictures in this article - and elsewhere. Literally a reflection of modern times, also somewhat obscured by the find spray of mud that seems to dull down so many trains.  None of the proud, gleaming "crack" trains of days gone by - they seem to be more reminiscent of some of the pictures taken 50 to 60 years ago as rail ran down and the expectation was "never to return".

Exmouth station - nice enough, but "now" a single track to a buffer stop when "then" it was four platforms with two lines.  And I suspect the line to Exeter was double track all the way.  Having said which, it is absolutely incredible to see the "dance" making best use of what's left, with trains passing at Topsham every 30 minutes.  The trains I was on paused there for little more than a normal station stop - perhaps the timekeeping aided by dwell times at the Exeter stations and at Exmouth, or perhaps I was just lucky?

Full and Standing on the train from Exeter Central toward Exmouth, even when it arrived.  Once people moved down the inside, we all got on and I even got a seat.  It would appear this was "the match train" as we ran non stop to Digby and Sowton where almost everyone got off then to Topsham. So no St. James Park, Polsloe Bridge, or Newcourt.  Passed the Exeter bound service, then just Lympstone Village before Exmouth.

My first trip to Exmouth - and completing my GWR "collection" - I think I have now been on every line they operate in the FOSW area, though not called at all the stations.

Current services - mostly 143 + 150/2 4 car formations.  A passing phase, as the 143s aren't with us much longer (heck, they're not supposed to be with us now!).  I did note one train of 2 x 150/2.  On a Saturday it's hard to see the flows; I was pleasantly surprised to see that Exmouth Station had a couple of staff on duty which indicates a good level of patronage.  Less pleasantly surprised to walk up the ramp to the station from the car park and find the gate closed and have to walk all around.  It did say "access when ticket office closed" or something like that, but nothing to help the visitor know what that means in clock time - GWR may know when the ticket office is opened and when not, but I don't.

25 on at Lympstone Commando.  We were talking in another thread about gender mix, and often age mix comes up. Every one of the 25 was male, every one aged (I would guess) in the 20 to 25 range. Please excuse me not taking and posting a series of pictures in this case.


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The regulars are clearly so used to the scenery that they take more interest in their mobile devices

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I'm sure the cycle racks are much busier on a weekday?

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A small station these days - but with an intense service

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Clearly a seaside town!!

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Private station - is it the only 'private' station that GWR serve?

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Past era - but Topsham Signal Box still stands

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Beside the Exe estuary

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Topsham looks like it would be worth a stop

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So many new / re-opened stations - both on "The Mule" (my earlier post) and on the Exmouth branch. A lesson for us in Wiltshire, perhaps, where that most recent new station was 1937 and the only re-opening was 1985.

Topsham is certainly worth a visit.  It's a pretty little town you can stroll around, you can have a relaxing time birdwatching at the  Bowling Green RSPB reserve just south of the town or from the Goat Walk path that takes you back to the town along the coast and have a very pleasant pint and lunch at the Lighter on the quay. One of my favourite ways of passing a morning in Devon!

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip on our line, Graham.

For the record - the line was double track from Exmouth Junction to Topsham until the early 1970s (when the M5 was built), but it has only ever been single track between Topsham and Exmouth. Lympstone - now Lympstone Village - had a goods loop (but no second platform) until the 1960s. I think the current service is the best the line has ever had.

Topsham is indeed 'worth a visit' but I should point out that The Swan (in your picture) is in the wonderful village Lympstone, which is worth a visit too!  :)

It appears that some of your picture captions have got a bit lost!

The half-hourly EXM<>EXC, and then to/from PGN, timetable consists of alternate 'all stations' & 'limited stop' services during most of the 'working' day; the limited stop trains run fast between EXC & DIG and TOP & LYM. LYC & EXN are request stops.

Grahame, perhaps you should use this guide when planning your next trip...... ::)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crap_Towns

Not all pictures captioned ... I have, though, moved the one that was in the wrong place.

I can recommend The Swan in Lympstone too. Had a very nice meal and pint there a few months ago.

Admittedly I didn't travel there by train. Next time Finn and I go to Exmouth for a stroll I may jump on the train up to Topsham and back, with a pi(n)t stop in Lympstone.