23rd Oct 1986

Crediton: Much of the original station survives here, but of course only trains to and from Barnstaple serve the town, ever since the main line to Plymouth was shut in the '60s. The junction at Coleford, where the Plymouth and North Devon routes parted, was abolished and is now at Crediton, controlled by the wonderfully preserved ex-LSWR signal box still located and in use here. Sadly, Meldon Quarry has closed, so no longer do heavy ballast trains pass through, only the regular passenger service to Barnstaple and occasional trains for Okehampton on the Meldon route.

Turning the clock back, we see the driver of 50008 "Thunderer" handing the branch token to the signalman as it passes the box. This is a train for Exeter Riverside, although it will most likely be forwarded to Woking via the Western route, as by this time I think that ballast trains via Exeter Central had ended.