Next on the Plymouth to Launceston branch line was Yelverton. Yelverton was in the heart of Dartmoor, and a junction for the Princetown branch.
Yelverton was on the Plymouth to Launceston railway, which went north to south. It also branched off for the Yelverton to Princetown line, which was the curve leaving south, then heading east.
A History of Yelverton
Yelverton was originally opened on 1st May 1885, two year after the branch line was opened. Initially the company could not secure the site, so passenger trains continued on to Horrabridge.
This postcard image of the station was taken around the turn of the century, it shows a train bound of Plymouth. Image by Lens of Sutton.
Although not the best picture, however it was taken in the late 1890’s. The Princetown branch is just about visible in the background, as a Launceston to Plymouth train heads south out of Yelverton Station behind a class ‘517’ tank. Image by F. Firth & Co Ltd.
This above image was taken in the summer 1905. Noticeably, there is a longitudinal track and the double turn out to Princetown branch at the end of the ‘up’ platform. A Princetown coach can be seen on the right of the picture. Image by Photomatic Ltd.
Meanwhile, this image, taken in 1910, shows the signal box at the station, and the down platform, clearly showing the gas lighting plant gantry on the left. Image by W. R. Gay’s Series, courtesy of E. J. Thomas.
Again, in 1910, the train entering Yelverton on the Launceston Line, hauled by 4-4-0 “Duke”. Image by Anthony Kingdom.
The line from Plymouth to Tavistock had two platforms, with the Princetown branch only having a single ‘bay’.
Here can be seen the junction off the Princetown on the left. A steam railmotor arrives with an excursion from Plymouth, taken circa 1912. Image by Lens of Sutton, courtesy of King Street Curios, Tavistock.
Meanwhile, this is a general view of the station, looking north towards Yelverton Tunnel and Horrabridge. Taken circa 1934. Image by S. Taylor.
An unidentified 0-6-0 PT leaves Yelverton tunnel, bunker first, with the train for Plymouth in the summer of 1954. Image by B. Gibson Collection.
A deserted scene at Yelverton during the summer of 1957, following the closure of the Princetown branch. Clearly the station name board now just reads Yelverton. Image by Anthony Kingdom.
An Unusual View
A more unusual view of the station, taken presumably from the top of the signal post. However, it is a view showing the inspection pit and turntable road. No 4410 waits in the Princetown ‘bay’ with a single coach, but the ‘down starter’ remains stubbornly on. Image by R. C. Riley.
No 3675 had an autocoach and a van in tow as it approached the down platform on the 17th Aug 1955. Interestingly, the signal box had 35 levers and was in use until 4th May 1959. Image by R. E. Toop.
June 1956, and No. 4583 is attached to a boat train luggage van. Image by J. W. T. House/C. L. Caddy.
The Princetown Branch
Yelverton was the junction for the Princetown branch line.
In the Princetown ‘bay’, is No 4403 and a train of clerestory stock with a glimpse of a Tavistock to Plymouth train in the background. Taken on the 15th June 1926. Image by H. C. Casserley.
Nearly 30 years later than the preceding image, but shows a slightly different angle of the ‘bay’, with No 4401 waiting for passengers. Taken in Aug 1953. Image by Real Photographs Co Ltd.
The Tavistock train is stocked on the down branch, whilst No. 4407 blows off as it awaits departure for Princetown. Taken in November 1949. Image by R. C. Sambourne.
The Staff and Passengers
A male passenger chats with the driver of the Princetown train, while his wife waits ‘patiently’. Image by Lens of Sutton.
The last E. J. Thomas senior, a member of Yelverton Station staff for 45 years. Alongside him is his dog, a member of the staff for a little less time. Image by Mrs E. J. Thomas.
These two images were taken on the very last trains from Princetown to Yelverton, everyone seems unusually jovial for such a sad occasion. The photo includes staff members and their wives. Sadly, it was 10:20pm on the 3rd March 1956. Image by H. Rowe.
The Closure of Yelverton
The Princetown line closed on 5 March 1956 but the station was retained until the Tavistock line itself was closed on 31 December 1962.
Sadly, like many stations that were ‘axed’ by Beaching, Yelverton was left to let nature take over and sadly, nothing is left of the station today.
Sadly, looking from the northern end of the ‘down’ platform, in the summer of 1962. The Princetown branch had been closed and you can see nature had started to take back the track. Image by O. P. C./B. R.
Secondly, this image is on the Princetown ‘bay’, and looking back towards the junction. Another shot of how nature had taken over and completely covered the track. Image by O. P. C./B. R.
Additionally, above is three images from March 1978. Another view of how much nature had taken over the site, with very little or nothing to see of the station.
Yelverton Today
Dad and I went to film the location in 1996, although it’s now in private hands. Looking at this map below, which is an original Ordinance Survey Map and then an image from a recent satellite photo from Google Images.
Hopefully this year, I will get up to Yelverton and try to take some more modern photos for comparison.
This is the closest image I could get from Google of where the station was, but it was actually about half a mile down this road.
Up Next
Before I go on to the next station, I would like to thank Anthony Kingdom for use of the images from his books; The Plymouth, Tavistock and Launceston Railway and The Princetown Branch. Obviously, both of Anthony’s books go into a lot more details about the lines and have lots more wonderful images from history.
I would also like to thank Middleton Press for used of some of the images from there books. Their WEBSITE is worth looking at, as they have many books about the history of the railways from all over the UK.
Lastly, the next station on the Plymouth to Launceston branch line was Horrabridge. In the meantime, I have just updated the video I made with dad, Plymouth to Launceston via Tavistock South. It still had dad’s wonderful narration on it, but there are new images, footage and music. And please don’t forget to subscribe to the channel.
