Exeter St Thomas railway station
Encyclopedia
Exeter St Thomas railway station is a suburban railway station in Exeter
, United Kingdom, serving the suburb of St Thomas
and the riverside area. The station is elevated on a low viaduct
with entrances on Cowick Street. The station is unstaffed with the former station building now used for offices and a Chinese restaurant. It is mainly served by local trains operated by First Great Western
.
. The company had joint use of the Bristol and Exeter Railway
station at St Davids
but St Thomas was its own station. Although built on a 501 yards (458.1 m) stone viaduct, the railway was nearer to the city centre and the quays on the Exeter Canal
. Until 1862 tickets were only sold between St Thomas and stations west of Exeter, not to St Davids and the north!
The railway was worked by atmospheric trains
from 13 September 1847 until 9 September 1848. Unique in all the South Devon Railway stations, there was no engine house
, so the driver had to hold the train on its brakes against the pressure in the pipes while it was stopped here.
The original station featured just a single track with a 175 feet (53.3 m) platform on the city side of the line. A small booking office was built at road level at the north end of the station and steps led up to the platform. The viaduct was widened at this point by five feet to accommodate the platform.
In 1847 some improvements were completed including a larger office, a train shed
over the platform, and an extension to bring the platform to a length of 260 feet.
In 1851 George Hennet
was given permission to build a coal depot at St Thomas from where he could distribute coal, brought by train from his quay at Teignmouth
. This was built on the city side of the line, north of the station. Hennet died in 1857 and the depot was eventually taken over by Robert Ward. It was closed in 1884 but Ward continued to use the land as premises until circa 1930. The site is now occupied by the Great Western Railway Staff Association staff club.
In 1861 the viaduct was widened on the west side (away from the city), and a second track brought into use which necessitated a second platform be built. Elegant new two-storey buildings were built on the city side of the viaduct, and a new train shed built across both platforms.
The train shed was demolished in the 1960s and the station is now unstaffed, the 1861 building now being used as a Chinese restaurant.
on the Riviera Line
from Paignton
which then generally continue to Exmouth
along the Avocet Line
.
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, United Kingdom, serving the suburb of St Thomas
St Thomas, Exeter
St Thomas is a large civil parish in Devon, England, on the western side of the river Exe, connected to Exeter by Exe Bridge. It has a number of pubs, places of worship, a couple of schools and a large shopping precinct...
and the riverside area. The station is elevated on a low viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
with entrances on Cowick Street. The station is unstaffed with the former station building now used for offices and a Chinese restaurant. It is mainly served by local trains operated by First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
.
History
The station was opened on 30 May 1846 by the South Devon RailwaySouth Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
. The company had joint use of the Bristol and Exeter Railway
Bristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
station at St Davids
Exeter St Davids railway station
Exeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail stations in the city of Exeter in southwest England. Today the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Great Western.-History:...
but St Thomas was its own station. Although built on a 501 yards (458.1 m) stone viaduct, the railway was nearer to the city centre and the quays on the Exeter Canal
Exeter Canal
The Exeter Ship Canal, sometimes just called the Exeter Canal, downstream of Exeter, Devon, England was built in the 1560s which means it pre-dates the "canal mania" period and is one of the oldest artificial waterways in the UK.-History:...
. Until 1862 tickets were only sold between St Thomas and stations west of Exeter, not to St Davids and the north!
The railway was worked by atmospheric trains
Atmospheric railway
An atmospheric railway uses air pressure to provide power for propulsion. In one plan a pneumatic tube is laid between the rails, with a piston running in it suspended from the train through a sealable slot in the top of the tube. Alternatively, the whole tunnel may be the pneumatic tube with the...
from 13 September 1847 until 9 September 1848. Unique in all the South Devon Railway stations, there was no engine house
South Devon Railway engine houses
The South Devon Railway engine houses were built in Devon, England, to power the atmospheric trains on the South Devon Railway between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth Millbay railway stations. They contained boilers that provided the power to pumps that created the vacuum to move the trains...
, so the driver had to hold the train on its brakes against the pressure in the pipes while it was stopped here.
The original station featured just a single track with a 175 feet (53.3 m) platform on the city side of the line. A small booking office was built at road level at the north end of the station and steps led up to the platform. The viaduct was widened at this point by five feet to accommodate the platform.
In 1847 some improvements were completed including a larger office, a train shed
Train shed
A train shed is an adjacent building to a railway station where the tracks and platforms are covered by a roof. It is also known as an overall roof...
over the platform, and an extension to bring the platform to a length of 260 feet.
In 1851 George Hennet
George Hennet
George Hennet was a railway engineer and contractor. He undertook many contracts for Isambard Kingdom Brunel's broad gauge railways in the South West of England and funded the provision of extra facilities on the South Devon Railway, these formed the basis of a general trading business that he...
was given permission to build a coal depot at St Thomas from where he could distribute coal, brought by train from his quay at Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
. This was built on the city side of the line, north of the station. Hennet died in 1857 and the depot was eventually taken over by Robert Ward. It was closed in 1884 but Ward continued to use the land as premises until circa 1930. The site is now occupied by the Great Western Railway Staff Association staff club.
In 1861 the viaduct was widened on the west side (away from the city), and a second track brought into use which necessitated a second platform be built. Elegant new two-storey buildings were built on the city side of the viaduct, and a new train shed built across both platforms.
The train shed was demolished in the 1960s and the station is now unstaffed, the 1861 building now being used as a Chinese restaurant.
Services
Most trains are operated by First Great WesternFirst Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
on the Riviera Line
Riviera Line
The Riviera Line is a local railway line that connects the city of Exeter to the "English Riviera" resorts of Torbay in Devon, England. It is closely linked with the Exeter to Plymouth Line with which it shares the route along the South Devon sea wall...
from Paignton
Paignton railway station
Paignton railway station is the railway station serving Paignton in Devon, England. It is the terminus of the Riviera Line from Exeter and is also an interchange between National Rail services and the preserved Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway.-History:...
which then generally continue to Exmouth
Exmouth railway station
Exmouth station serves the town of Exmouth in Devon, England and is south east of -History:The railway to Exmouth was opened on 1 May 1861. New docks designed by Eugenius Birch were opened in 1868 and a short branch was laid to connect them to the goods yard.A branch line with a junction...
along the Avocet Line
Avocet Line
The Avocet Line is the railway line in England connecting Exeter with Exmouth. It was originally built by the London and South Western Railway. The line follows the Exe Estuary for most of its route, giving views of the estuary...
.