CULM VALLEY

Built for: Culm Valley Light Railway Terminus: Hemyock Main line connection: Tiverton Junction (Tauntonexeter main line) Opened: May 29 1876 Length of line: 7 miles 27 chains Intermediate stations: 4 Closed: September 7 1963 (passengers); October 31 1975 (freight) Key locomotives you’ll need? GWR ‘14XX’ 0‑4‑2T, BR Class 22 and Class 25 diesels Why’s Hemyock special? In some respects, the Culm Valley was the quintessential GWR branch line. It threaded its way through the Devonshire countryside, terminated in a small village and was the home to ‘14XXS’. But the creamery just beyond the delightful little station kept the line going when the lack of passenger receipts forced similar lines to close a rare example of a GWR branch that survived into the Rail blue diesel era. What’s left at Hemyock? Nothing Where can I find out more? The Culm Valley Light Railway by Colin Maggs (Oakwood Press). ‘14XX’ No. 1471 stands at Hemyock on September 3 1962 with a typical mixed train: there are four six-wheel milk tanks behind the locomotive, while an ex-eastern Region non-gangwayed coach brings up the rear. The train obscures the delightful little station and level crossing, but nothing can hide the huge bulk of the creamery. MIKE MORANT COLLECTION