Launceston Station was a beautiful terminus from Plymouth. It was original two stations, a terminus for the GWR, and a through station for the LSWR. The station remained open for goods traffic until 28 February 1966, the LSWR station, Launceston South, being closed completely on 3 October 1966.
The Last Days
Just before we see the station after the closure, let’s have a look at some more of Launceston in his heyday.
This was the GWR side of the signal box, taken on the 11th December 1965. It’s point rodding and signal wires can be seen on the right of the picture. Image by C. L. Caddy.
Taken in some time in 1939, the wonderful image shows the full passenger facilities such as seats and lighting, which was by gas. The upward extension of the front wall is believed to have been part of a plan for an overall roof, similar to the one provided at Tavistock. Image by Stations UK.
Stood on the tracks, you just just about make out the seven and a half ton goods crane, just peeping over the middle van. As part of BR’s rationalisation programme, all passenger trains were transferred to the adjacent station after 30th June 1952. However, the 10.15am departure on the 9th May 1956 was from this platform, as the Royal Train was occupying one of the through lines. Image by Stations UK.
This time, looking east, from the end of the platform, taken in 1950. You can see the ground frame, engine shed and turntable, which was 45ft in length. One Class 4500 2-6-2T allocated here until the end of 1962. Image by D. Clayton.
In 1959, this image shows two container wagons standing at the loading dock, with the goods shed behind them. This contained a 2-ton crane. There is also evidence of platform lengthening on the right, the other one was probably never used by a passenger. Image by Lens of Sutton.
After the Closure
It’s now June 1967, and you can see the state that Launceston was left in. A general view, looking west, at the engine shed in the foreground, goods shed and later good shed in the distance. Image by C. G. Lennox-Jones.
Again, looking west, with the goods dock trackbed in the foreground. Image by C. G. Lennox-Jones.
Standing where the trackbed once was, this time looking eastwards towards Lifton. You can just about make out the engine shed in the distance. Image by C. G. Lennox-Jones.
Launceston Today
We now move on to where the station used to be and, as always, it’s another sad story, with very little to see there was once a station at the site.
As you can see, the site is now an industrial estate. The LSWR line is now 69S Street, following the trackbed. The GWR line is behind the units and completely grown over.
Standing on St Thomas Road, this is the view of the trackbed, looking east, towards where the south station would have been. You can just about make out remains of the trackbed. This road also leads to Launceston Steam Railway, which still runs a narrow gauge through the Kensey Valley in Cornwall.
Now standing on 69S Street, looking westward, back to towards the bridge in the above. Again, there is a small remanence of the trackbed left, but that’s it.
If you turn around, facing west, this where the GWR (north) station used to be. I’ve said it before, but fate, it seems, isn’t without a sense of irony; where the trains once ran, it’s now a car lot.
Moving down on 69S Street, this is where the LSWR (south) station was. This is standing on where the trackbed was. This is it, this is what the station site looks like today.
Again, from another angle, this is the GWR station site today.
Then and Now
As I always say, with these than and now photos, they are very rough guesses. With Launceston, there is little to nothing left, but I’ve done the best I can.
I’m 100% sure, but the above image is the shed on the southern LSWR side, and the below image is in the same general area. As I said, it’s very difficult to tell.
The ‘then’ image was of the former Launceston passenger station, during the summer of 1959. Today, it’s a depot for timber goods.
Sadly, that’s the best I can do with these images, until I can get down to Launceston and do some filming myself., I can only do so much via Google Maps.
Next Up
That’s the end of the Plymouth to Launceston. I’ve covered all the stations on the route, and managed to make some interesting videos about them as well. Hopefully you’re already subscribed to my YouTube Channel, as the next video I will be working from is Plymouth to Exeter – The Southernway. This is the line that ran across the north of Dartmoor, through Tavistock North and Okehampton.
I have said in a previous post, I have remastered the video. The blog will focus on the stations on that line, including some wonderful images and movie footage to stir the memories.
