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  1. Railway Remains and Relics
  2. The Withered Arm: Meldon to Bere Alston

Tavistock Station and Viaduct

Tavistock North was a railway station built for the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway which formed part of the Exeter to Plymouth railway of the LSWR. Following the 1923 grouping the line passed to the Southern Railway and finally British Railways Southern Region on nationalisation in 1948. The line and station was briefly operated by British Railways Western Region for around four years prior to closure.
Tavistock North served the Dartmoor stannary town of Tavistock. The station opened on 2 June 1890 and closed on 6 May 1968. The main station building has been completely restored by its current owners and converted into 3 luxury self-catering cottages and has been awarded 5 stars by Visit Britain. The Station Master's house is being restored to a private dwelling, while the extensive goods yard is now known as Kilworthy Park and houses the offices of West Devon Borough Council. The trackbed for around a mile south of Tavistock North station is open to the public as a footpath and nature reserve, and it is possible to walk across the viaducts that overlook the town.
Following the breaching of the Dawlish Sea wall in the winter of 2014 and the severing of the Great Western mainline between Exeter and Plymouth it has been suggested that the railway between Bere Alston and Meldon should be reopened restoring an alternative route to Plymouth. Whilst plans are being developed to reopen Bere Alston to a new station at Tavistock reopening through Tavistock North would require the demolition of some houses and the West Devon Borough Council offices.
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  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Approach road to Tavistock North Station - goods yard approach can be seen to the left whilst the approach to the passenger station passes under the viaduct on the right. The granite column is believed to have been the base of an ornamental lamp post.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    West Devon Borough Council Offices at Kilworthy Park occupy much of the former goods yard and track bed north of the station.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    West Devon Borough Council Offices at Kilworthy Park occupy much of the former goods yard and track bed north of the station.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    The Restored Tavistock North Station which now offers self catering holiday accommodation. In 2011 the newly restored station won the Modern Railways Restoration Award. The site of the up line platform is now occupied by a terrace of modern houses and gardens. If the line was ever to be reopened these would have to be demolished.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968. View south across the viaduct towards Bere Alston.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968.View south across the viaduct towards Bere Alston.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    View from the viaduct to the town centre

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968. View north across the viaduct towards Tavistock North Station which lies beyond the new houses. These would have to be removed if the line was ever to be reopened.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    View from the viaduct to Tavistock town centre.

  • View west from Tavistock Viaduct

    View west from Tavistock Viaduct

  • Watts Road Cutting - Tavistock - October 27, 2016

    Watts Road Cutting - Tavistock - October 27, 2016

    View towards Bere Alston through Watts Road Cutting.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968. View from Watts Road Cutting towards Tavistock North Station.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968. Tavistock viaduct looking south.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968. Tavistock viaduct looking south.

  • Viaduct Walk sign post

    Viaduct Walk sign post

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    The Restored Tavistock North Station which now offers self catering holiday accommodation. In 2011 the newly restored station won the Modern Railways Restoration Award.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    The Restored Tavistock North Station which now offers self catering holiday accommodation. In 2011 the newly restored station won the Modern Railways Restoration Award.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    The Restored Tavistock North Station which now offers self catering holiday accommodation. In 2011 the newly restored station won the Modern Railways Restoration Award.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    The Restored Tavistock North Station which now offers self catering holiday accommodation. In 2011 the newly restored station won the Modern Railways Restoration Award.

  • Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock North Station - October 27, 2016

    The Restored Tavistock North Station which now offers self catering holiday accommodation. In 2011 the newly restored station won the Modern Railways Restoration Award.

  • Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock Viaduct - October 27, 2016

    Tavistock viaduct is some 75 feet (23 m) high and 420 feet (128 m) long. It is made of granite, with concrete blocks under the eight arches. The viaduct now forms part of the Tavistock Town Trail. Train services having ceased in May 1968. This view shows the station approach road passing under the viaduct.

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