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.
Read MoreInstow 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.
