Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject: My first Wikipedia Entry.
I have just completed my first ever article for the Online Free Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Here it is in it's original format.
Clearbrook Halt was the name of a small station serving the villages of Clearbrook and Meavy. Both villages are situated in South Devon, nine miles to the North of Plymouth, and a mile and a half from Yelverton.
The station consisted of a short platform and sported a GWR Pagoda type waiting room and ticket office.
It was staffed by a part-time attendant,and closed in 1962.
The Plym Valley railway ran from Plymouth North Road station to Marsh Mills. From there it followed the course of the River Plym, along the edges of Dartmoor, until it reached Tavistock, an ancient Stannary town.
In the 1950's, which is when I remember it from, the line was fairly buy with both passenger and freight trains. Freight included cattle, milk, and general goods. One pick-up freight train per day, usually with a 52xx Class 2-6-2 Prarie tank locomotive in charge.
Passenger trains usually consisted of one or two coaches, often using older "Hawksworth" stock, and pulled by either a 0-6-0 ex GWR Pannier tank, or another 2-6-2 Prarie.
The Branch passenger service was withdrawn from 31 December 1962, the last train running in a heavy blizzard, the day before Dr. Richard Beeching took over as Chairman of the British Railways Board. Marsh Mills to Tavistock was closed completely and demolished in the summer/autumn of 1964, and within two years the northern freight only sections were abandoned.
Now, after doing some further research into the history of this charming line, I find that I although rather belatedly, owe Dr. Richard Beeching an apology.
I always laid the blame for closure of this line to him, and his "axe". However, looking at dates, I realise that he wasn't to blame for the closure. It was British Railways pre-Beeching, that ordered this line to be closed.
For years, I have blamed Beeching for the fact that once the trains stopped running, my Grandmother, who did not drive, was unable to leave the village to do her shopping and business matters. She had to give up her beautiful home, and move into a Care Home, far earlier than she should have, and I always, wrongly, it seems, blamed Beeching for her premature demise.
Sorry, Doctor Beeching. I was wrong in this case. (But not wrong in so many others.)
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