Small part of the Heathfield Branch brought back into use

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Not often you see the signal at the east end of platform 3 at Newton Abbot display this



For the rest of the current timetable there is an empty unit which comes up from Paignton at around 09:45 and stables at the start of the Heathfield branch for nearly an hour before coming out to form a service to Exmouth starting at Newton Abbot.

Appears to be a signalled move and does not involve the token for the branch.

[grahame]

Very interesting, thanks, Bob.   On the one and only trip I had on that line (a special in a association with the Community Rail Conference in Torquay) we also visited the track into the bay - but it looks like that's been cut off from your pictures.   Do I have that right, or were there two bay tracks and one still remains?

[bobm]

I was on that trip too.

There is still one track in the bay - the one furthest from platform 3.  It is heavily rusted and I must admit I didn't follow it to see if it is still connected.

Enlarging one of photos it is possible it still is - looking at the background to the left of the train (which is putting the rails in the shade).

[REVUpminster]

There are two track beds but one is the remains of the old through platform that is now part of the car park and direct access to the exit and booking hall. The westerly track into a bay. I don't know if it ever was used for passenger trains.



 Newton abbot by Robert, on Flickr

I recorded this train over three months ago reversing at shunt signal 706

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/devon-metro.2038413/page-71

[bobm]

Didn't Newton Abbot have a motorail terminal at some point?

[smokey]

Newton Abbot used to have 4 through Platforms, the up Platform 4 and the up through line came out of use with the opening of Exeter power box.
I believe there were Bay platforms 5,6,7,8,9 and 10.
The Platform still with Track nearest the Railway Brewhouse I believe was Platform 11 (might have been platform 9) this platform was used by local trains to Moretonhamstead and the Teign Valley line to Exeter.

[PhilWakely]

Didn't Newton Abbot have a motorail terminal at some point?

Yes!

Newton Abbot used to have 4 through Platforms, the up Platform 4 and the up through line came out of use with the opening of Exeter power box.
I believe there were Bay platforms 5,6,7,8,9 and 10.
The Platform still with Track nearest the Railway Brewhouse I believe was Platform 11 (might have been platform 9) this platform was used by local trains to Moretonhamstead and the Teign Valley line to Exeter.

Not quite correct. There were, as you say, four through platforms, but each was split into 2 - numbered 1 thru 8. The Moretonhampstead/Teign Valley bay was Platform 9. This bay was also used for the motorail services.

[grahame]

Not often you see the signal at the east end of platform 3 at Newton Abbot display this



For the rest of the current timetable there is an empty unit which comes up from Paignton at around 09:45 and stables at the start of the Heathfield branch for nearly an hour before coming out to form a service to Exmouth starting at Newton Abbot.

Appears to be a signalled move and does not involve the token for the branch.

Pictures elsewhere show the Heathfield line washed out (tracks hanging over a void) at Teigngrace.  I would not be optimisic for a train service again - beyond parking up on the stub at Newton Abbot.

[Bob_Blakey]

Didn't Newton Abbot have a motorail terminal at some point?

Yes, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorail_(British_Rail) seems to confirm my recollection that there was a service to Stirling.