John H Luxton Photography

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Redlake Tramway and China Clay Works - Dartmoor

The Redlake Tramway was a railway built to carry supplies and workers between Bittaford and the clay workings at Redlake, in the heart of the southern part of Dartmoor.
The tramway was constructed in 1911 to a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge, and ran for a circuitous 8.3 miles (13.4 km).
The trackbed provides for an easy walking route and back in October 1989 my father and I decided to walk the track, though we didn’t quite make it to the very end of the line as my father were starting to suffer from sore feet and had developed various blisters by the time we returned to the car at Bittaford!
For a detailed history of the tramway which closed around 1933 following the closure of the associated clay works one is recommended to read the “The Redlake Tramway and China Clay Works” by EA Wade published by Twelveheads Press.
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  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    View from the trackbed at Cantrell to the former clay dries the building has been used as an engineering works for many years following the closure of the clay works.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    The terminal of the the line at Cantrell, Bittaford. The buildings are the remains of the carriage shed with the skeletal remains of the roof of the locomotive shed just visible beyond..

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Setting off along the track near the route of the incline down to the exchange sidings and china clay dry at Cantrell.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Setting off along the track near the route of the incline down to the exchange sidings and china clay dry at Cantrell..

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    This shows the abutments of the bridge which crossed the incline to the exchange sidings with the GWR and the clay dries. The track which crossed the bridge provided access to a small quarry.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    The remains of the Cantrell Incline engine house which was used to power the incline. Access to the incline was via wagon turntables which led off the inner engine house side of a run round loop at this location.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Heading further along the track

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    This shows the abutments of the bridge which crossed the incline to the exchange sidings with the GWR and the clay dries. The track which crossed the bridge provided access to a small quarry. Beyond the bridge the line of the incline has been absorbed into fields.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    My late father John William Luxton admires the view from the track bed looking up the line. Butterdon Hill is in the background.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Track near Butterdon Hill.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Looking down the line towards Cantrell from near Butterdon Hill.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    CCE0061

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Looking down the line Western Beacon in the background.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Butterdon Hill Stone Row can be seen on the left of this view looking down the tramway towards Cantrell.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    The tramway did not carry the china clay from the pit to the works. This was transported via a pipeline. Here one of the iron access covers can be seen.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    CCE0065

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    CCE0066

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    One of the inspection manholes on the china clay pipeline from Redlake to Cantrell (Bittaford) china clay dries

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    The base of the stone crusher located at Three Barrows used to produce ballast for the tramway. Note the bolts in the engine bed.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Some remaining sleepers near Leftlake

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    remains of the mica plant at Leftlake

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    My father John William Luxton taking a break amidst the remains of the engine house which once powered the tramway over the tip at the Leftlake china clay pit approximately 5 miles 17 chains from the start of the line.

  • Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989

    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon - October 23, 1989

    Leftlake china clay pit

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    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989
    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989
    Redlake Tramway & China Clay Works, Dartmoor, Devon -  October 23, 1989