Report - Yelverton Station & Railway Tunnel - Devon - Aug '09

[mrjonesybop]

Fairly image heavy I’m afraid!

Visited with Icutyou.

Yelverton station and tunnel were opened in 1859 as part of the ‘South Devon and Tavistock Railway’ which ran from Plymouth – Tavistock. The tunnel stretches for 586 metres (641 yards) 30 metres beneath the town of Yelverton, and is the highest point on the SD&T railway at 500ft above sea level. The line was extended to Launceston in Cornwall in 1865 and became the ‘South Devon and Launceston Railway’ respectively.
In 1883 a junction was added to the line at Yelverton to form the start of the Princetown Railway. The Princetown line ran for 73 years until its closure in 1956 and the South Devon and Launceston Railway was shut down 6 years later in 1962.
We found that the Tunnel was in far better condition inside than expected - No rubbish or graffiti at all. The roof is leaky in places and so there are some shallow pools, but nothing too major. The station itself is now almost unrecognisable as 47 years of natural environmental recovery have taken their toll - Although there are still some interesting features. On with the Photos!

Yelverton station circa 1900 facing north. Tunnel can be seen in the distance.


Yelverton Station circa 1940 - Facing south with the Princetown branch line clearly visible on the left.


The North end of the Tunnel


We never did come across the large Dog...


'68' A hide in the east wall of the Tunnel


Brickwork inside the Tunnel


Pickmarks in the west wall


Looking North


The southern Tunnel entrance


North end of the Platform


Footbridge from the old trackbed


View across the footbridge from east to west


Underpass for signal rods


The south end of the platform


The old Trackbed, reclaimed by nature


Cable


Damaged GWR Streetlight


Junction Box


GWR Streetlight


Signage

[gingerspeedfreak]

Great report. This sort of thing fascinates me, especially the fact that nature has really taken over. Cracking pictures by the way. The third one, showing the north portal, looks so foreboding with the undergrowth in front.

[True_British_Metal]

Excellent! I was staying across the road from here in September when I went to the open day at Plymouth University - I had a look but didn't venture in due to time restrictions and the fact that it was bogged down completely. It looked brilliant!

We did walk part of the railway line towards Marsh Mills/Tavistock though, but we never were able to find the north portal towards Dartmoor prison.

[mrjonesybop]

Originally Posted by True_British_Metal

Excellent! I was staying across the road from here in September when I went to the open day at Plymouth University - I had a look but didn't venture in due to time restrictions and the fact that it was bogged down completely. It looked brilliant!

Really? Where abouts? I'm a local boy myself...

[nickg]

Fab report! Love how the passage of time has past over this station! Really appreciated seeing the old photos showing how it once was in it's days of glory!

[True_British_Metal]

Originally Posted by mrjonesybop

Really? Where abouts? I'm a local boy myself...

I was staying at Barnabas House on the 17th of September.

[mrjonesybop]

The tunnel goes right under Barnabas

[True_British_Metal]

Originally Posted by mrjonesybop

The tunnel goes right under Barnabas

Now THAT is COOL!

Hi, can anyone tell me where i can gain access to this tunnel? i am trying to get it in my mind just where all of this sits within the village of Yelverton. and i just cannot find much trace of it???? i was led to believe that this is all now private land, and yet you have taken some great photos of the site. well done.

[mrjonesybop]

Originally Posted by greenbeezo

Hi, can anyone tell me where i can gain access to this tunnel? i am trying to get it in my mind just where all of this sits within the village of Yelverton. and i just cannot find much trace of it???? i was led to believe that this is all now private land, and yet you have taken some great photos of the site. well done.

On this site we don't give out entry details. I'll be happy to take anyone down there for a tour, but only after they've got a couple of good reports up. Just a personal policy.
All I will say, is that it is on private land at both ends - And I gained permission from the landowners first. (They have large Dogs)