OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
Plus parts of the South Hams and West Devon
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RAILWAYS IN OLD PLYMOUTH  |  LAUNCESTON BRANCH
BRANCH LINE, PLYMOUTH STATION (MILLBAY) TO LAUNCESTON STATION

YELVERTON STATION

The approach road down to Yelverton Station.
From a postcard.

A general view of Yelverton Station looking towards
Yelverton Tunnel and Horrabridge, probably in the 1920s..
© Locomotive and General Railway Photographs (but from an older postcard).

GWR locomotive number 3109, later to become 4409, arriving at Yelverton Station
with a train from Princetown.
From the author's collection.

Yelverton Station did not exist at the time the Princetown Railway Company opened its line to Princetown in 1883.  It was then known simply as Yelverton Junction as both passenger and freight trains for Princetown ran through Yelverton Tunnel to Horrabridge Station.

GWR locomotive number 4403 waiting to take the 2.50pm branch train to Princetown in June 1926.
the late Mr H C Casserley.

A steam railmotor with a Down train at Yelverton Station, probably in the 1920s.
From author's collection.

An  unidentified class 45xx brings an Up train
 in to Yelverton Station in August 1954.
© R B Parr.

The Great Western Railway Company had provided a siding here, on the Down side, which required the opening of the first Yelverton Signal Box circa 1876 when the London and South Western Company's trains started to use the Launceston Branch south of Lydford Station to access Plymouth.

An expectant crowd of passengers on Yelverton Station
await an Up train to Plymouth, circa 1950s.
Note the Down refuge siding beyond the Signal Box.
© Norman Simmons.

An Up milk train pauses at Yelverton Station in August 1958.
From author's collection.

The Station, at 7 miles 37 chains mile post mileage from Tavistock Junction, was opened on May 1st 1885 and in addition to having Down and Up platforms had, at an angle, a separate platform for the Princetown Branch trains.

A Down train awaits the arrival of an already signalled Up train at Yelverton Station.
From author's collection.

A turntable of 23 feet 6 inch radius was provided, mainly for turning the snow-ploughs that had to be used over the Princetown Branch during the winter months.

According to the Great Western Railway Company's official "Traffic Dealt with at Stations and Depots", published circa 1936, in the calendar year 1903 Yelverton Station issued 42,549 railway tickets, dealt with 183 parcels and took in total receipts of £3,341.  During the calendar year 1913 Yelverton Station issued 48,018 railway tickets, dealt with 190 parcels and took in total receipts of £4,167.  During the calendar year 1923 Yelverton Station issued 39,917 railway tickets plus 438 season tickets, handled 224 parcels and took in total receipts of £5,245.  Following the introduction of motor bus services during the calendar year 1929 Yelverton Station issued only 33,178 railway tickets plus 233 season tickets, dealt with 222 parcels and took in total receipts of only £3,134.   

Changing ends at Yelverton, by gravity, as the carriages run back into the Branch platform
on August 21st 1954.
the late Mr Robert Parr.

On Weekdays and Sundays, 'where train service permits', commencing on May 1st 1953, the following cheap day return tickets, first and third class, were available from Yelverton Station to: Coryton, 5 shillings (s) 9 pence (d) 1st, 3s 9d 3rd; Devonport Albert Road, 4s 1st, 2s 9d 3rd; Keyham, 4s 6d 1st, 3s 3rd; Launceston, 8s 3d 1st, 5s 6d 3rd; Lifton, 6s 9d 1st, 4s 6d 3rd; Lydford BRWR, 4s 6d 1st, 3s 3rd; Plymouth North Road Station, 3s 9d 1st, 2s 6d 3rd; Saint Budeaux Ferry Road, 4s 9d 1st, 3s 3d 3rd; Saltash, 5s 1st, 3s 6d 3rd; and Tavistock South, 2s 3d 1st, 1s 5d, 3rd.

According to the "The Official Hand-book of Station 1956" Yelverton Station dealt with passengers, parcels, miscellaneous traffic, horse boxes, and prize cattle vans.  It was not equipped with a crane.

British Railways locomotive number 4401 waits to take the branch train to Princetown in August 1953.
© Real Photographs Company Limited, Broadstairs, Kent.

The Princetown Branch trains wait to depart while loco number 1408 is on its way to Tavistock with a single railcar.
From the author's collection.

Princetown Branch trains ceased to use Yelverton Station on or as from March 5th 1956 and Yelverton Signal Box was closed on or as from May 4th 1959, after which both Down and Up trains used the Down platform.

An empty and rather sad looking Yelverton Station,
 looking towards Bickleigh, after closure.
© Brian Moseley.

Yelverton Station was closed to passenger traffic on and as from December 31st 1962, when the Launceston Branch closed.