Exminster Operations

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Ex-Exminster station staff Greg Crane explains the layout peculiarities of Exminster.
By Greg Crane

Liaison with Cowley Bridge Junction
Cowley Bridge Junction was the only Box in the Exeter Division to have a Train Regulator on duty. These were senior signalmen. The Signalmen at Exminster would advise him when an up train had passed Dawlish Warren. While on the subject of Cowley Bridge, Southern Region trains had preference over Western Region trains on the Junction.

Points 25 & 26
The one used on a regular basis was 26, this was used by the 0545 Hackney Yard to Exeter Riverside stopping goods. The train would stand on the Up Platform, and then shunt to the sidings via point 26. This was involved in detaching coal traffic for the Devon Mental Hospital, also for the local coal merchant S. H. Gush, as well as collecting empties, also traffic, on a less regular basis, for various farms in the area. Very occasionally traffic was loaded away from farmers. This would mainly be grain and sugar beet.

Cattle Dock
The Cattle Dock at the time I was there was hardly ever used. The trucks arrived on the end of up stopping passenger trains. The train would go via point 24 to the Up Platform Line. It would then reverse via points 25 and 33 to the Cattle Dock. After detaching it would return to the Up Platform, and continue on its journey.

Down Sidings
The Down Sidings were regularly used to stable traffic awaiting acceptance further down the line. When a train was required to proceed, a light engine with a guard was sent from Newton Abbot to collect it. This would crossover via points 19 and disc 30, then travel Down Main to the far end of the Sidings, and join the front of its train via points 39 and disc 37.