Avocet Line
| Avocet Line | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Status | Open |
| Locale | Devon |
| Termini |
Exeter St Davids 50°43′44″N 3°32′37″W / 50.7290°N 3.5436°W Exmouth 50°37′18″N 3°24′54″W / 50.6216°N 3.4150°W |
| Stations | 11 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1862 |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | Great Western Railway |
| Character | Commuter |
| Depot(s) | Exeter |
| Rolling stock | Classes 143, 150 and 153 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 11.25 miles (18 km) |
| Number of tracks | 1 or 2 |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Loading gauge | RA6 / W6A |
| Operating speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
The Avocet Line is the railway line in England connecting Exeter with Exmouth. It was originally built by the London and South Western Railway, and was historically known as the Exmouth branch railway. The line follows the Exe Estuary for about half of its route, from just outside Topsham (on the Exmouth end) to Exmouth, giving views of the estuary. The line is named after the pied avocet, which lives in the estuary.
The line was constructed in 1861, connecting the City of Exeter and the port town of Exmouth, in England. It was built in two portions by two railway companies, but worked as a single entity.
The City of Exeter lies on the river Exe in Devon, but the river is not navigable as far as the city. Exmouth, eleven miles further south on the east bank of the river at its mouth became important before the days of railways and reliable roads as the point of arrival for goods by coastal shipping, and the harbour there grew in importance. Topsham, also on the eastern bank of the river and only four miles from Exeter, also shared in growth.
The Exeter Ship Canal had been built in the sixteenth century to alleviate this problem, but use of the canal was inconvenient and limited to small vessels.
As early as 1825, Exeter merchants held a meeting to discuss the possibility of building a railway connection from Exmouth to the city. At this date there were no other railways nearby, and there was no thought of connecting the line to a network. However the proposal — estimated to cost £50,000 — was discontinued when the Corporation of the City of Exeter agreed to extend the canal southwards to Turf, opposite Topsham, enabling 400 ton vessels to reach the head of the canal by passing a difficult reach of the river channel.
In 1845 the Railway Mania was at its height, and two similar schemes for an "Exeter Topsham and Exmouth Railway" were publicised in August of that year. A few months later the Great Western Railway issued a prospectus for a "Great Western & Exeter, Topsham & Exmouth Junction Railway", and the South Devon Railway also issued a prospectus, proposing to run an atmospheric-powered broad gauge line from the Exminster pumping station, across the canal and crossing the River Exe on a 14-span viaduct to Topsham, and thence to Exmouth.
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Wikipedia