John H Luxton Photography

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  1. Railway Remains and Relics
  2. The Withered Arm: Barnstaple to Halwill Junction

Instow Station and Signal Box

The railway opened from Barnstaple to Fremington in 1848, and then passenger trains ran from Barnstaple to Bideford from 2 November 1855 following the opening of the Bideford Extension Railway. The line was further extended to Torrington in 1872. Passenger services ceased on 2 October 1965 although ball clay traffic continued until 1982. The track was finally lifted in 1985.

Instow Station signal box, which is over 130 years old became the UK's first Grade II listed signal box.. In 2003 the box was nationally recognised for its restoration and educational value by receiving the Carillion Rail Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards. The signal box is now managed and run by volunteers of the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre and is open to the public on occasional Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Back in 1979 when the future of the box was threatened by British Railways a petition was launched. I recall signing this when travelling on the Wirral Railway Circle’s Atlantic Coast Express to Torrington and Meeth.

However, despite being a regular visitor to Devon I had not visited the box, last seeing it from the ACE almost 40 years earlier. Therefore, in April 2019 I resolved to go and visit and photograph the box and the remains of Instow Station of which one platform remains for the first time.
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  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow signal box

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    L2019_0685

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Signal Box name board - should be green but seen in grey primer.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Signal Box and Level Crossing

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Signal Box and Level Crossing

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Signal Box and Level Crossing

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Signal Box and crossing

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station looking towards Bideford and Torrington

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    A filled in Southern Railway concrete ballast bin carries a plaque commemorating the opening of the former railway as part of the South West Coastal Path in 1987 - just two years after the track was lifted.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Running in board

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Station seat

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Looking along the surviving down platform. Part of the track bed and up platform site have been taken over by a sailing club.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Looking along the surviving down platform. Part of the track bed and up platform site have been taken over by a sailing club.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Station seat and running in board in grey primer

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station - the running in board is in grey primer but why is there a replica Western Region name totem on the lamp post? Instow was a Southern Region Station - it should be green!

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    The starter signal looks to be in need of some TLC.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    View looking towards Barnstaple Junction.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Information board

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    A length of line from the station to the signal box was left in place.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    the box was in the process of being smartened up hence the grey primer in places. The small wooden platform was used by the signalman to exchange single line tokens with train crews.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    The box is maintained by the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    View across the level crossing. The surviving platform of Instow Station can be seen.

  • Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    Instow Station and Signal Box, Devon - April 10, 2019

    View towards Fremington Quay and Barnstaple Junction

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