Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway
| Locale | England |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1866–1972 |
| Successor | South Devon Railway |
| Track gauge | 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) |
| Length | 12.35 miles (19.88 km) |
| Headquarters | Newton Abbot |
| Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway | |
|---|---|
The Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway was a 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) broad gauge railway which linked the South Devon Railway at Newton Abbot railway station with Bovey (in the town of Bovey Tracey, Lustleigh and Moretonhampstead, Devon, England.
In 1861 the Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway company was formed at the Globe Hotel in Exeter, and in 1862 the bill for making the railway was given Royal Assent. Work on the line commenced in 1863, and the major earthworks (with cuttings and embankments, many still visible today) were complete. All the granite used for construction of the bridges was cut from Lustleigh Cleave. The line was 12 miles, 28 chains (20 km) long.
Following a Board of Trade inspection, the branch line opened to the public on 4 July 1866 although the directors had a ceremonial opening on 26 June. A public holiday was observed, with people turning out to witness the first journey from Newton Abbot to Moretonhampstead.
In 1892, the 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) broad gauge line was replaced by a 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge format, taking only 32 hours and 60 men to complete - part of the wider conversion of the whole network.
The railway brought tourists to the area. Other users of the service were local industries: farmers' produce, nursery plants and blacksmiths' products were sent by train.
Traffic grew from 1866 to the 1930s and then went into decline. Despite a significant summer tourist trade, featuring in many contemporary guide books, traffic on the branch over the year was not enough to cover rising costs.
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