The North Devon Line

Barnstaple, North Devon, England

another "content over style" heritage web page from Steve Johnson`s "Cyberheritage"

THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION   

The Signal Box and activity at Cowley Bridge Junction, Exeter

  click above to enlarge

all are 1985-1986

I spent many a happy hour doing my best not to be run over by a car or a lorry while perching on the small bridge that overseas Cowley Bridge Signal Box.

The night shot of the Signal Box really stands out in my memory. It was a black winters night - A signal box at night is a very evocative image, the warm and protective shell of an oil lamp glow - or electric in main line boxes is a sight that sadly will not be seen for too much longer. Already it is a rare sight. The tail lamps of a Barnstaple bound DMU can be seen streaking away at top middle right of shot.

Some of the shots show snow at Cowley Bridge. I well remember this day in March 1985. I left Plymouth early in sunshine, by Telegraph Hill on the A38 road it was snowing heavily, and by journeys end at Exeter it was snowing like mad one minute - and then sunny the next.

The black and white timbered building with a car park at the right of a couple of the shots is the "Cowley Bridge Inn."

....................................................................................................................................................................................

class 33, no 33032 on a passenger turn approaches Cowley Bridge Signal Box in snow, note empty newspaper vans at rear of train

class 33, no 33032 on a passenger turn approaches Cowley Bridge Signal Box in snow, note empty newspaper vans at rear of train

class 33, no 33032 on a passenger turn approaches Cowley Bridge Signal Box in snow, note empty newspaper vans at rear of train

class 33, no 33032 on a passenger turn approaches Cowley Bridge Signal Box in snow, note empty newspaper vans at rear of train

class 33, no 33032 on a passenger turn approaches Cowley Bridge Signal Box in snow, note empty newspaper vans at rear of train

the 33 takes the token

the 33, no 33032 has taken the token 

a class 33 on a passenger working crosses the River Exe on its approach to Cowley Junction

a DMU bound for Barnstaple approaches Cowley Bridge Junction from Exeter St. Davids

a west bound  class 47 on the main Paddington to Exeter line passes Cowley Bridge Signal Box

a class 33 on a passenger working  passes Cowley Bridge Box on a damp and misty day

a DMU for Barnstaple  collects the token for the section from  Cowley Bridge Box

on a cold frosty yet sunny morning, a DMU heads north to Barnstaple

a Railfreight grey class 31on a goods train  awaits the right away for its journey to Barnstaple Junction - note remains of semaphore signals cut down to give way to MAS

a Railfreight grey class 31on a goods train  awaits the right away for its journey to Barnstaple Junction - note remains of semaphore signals cut down to give way to MAS

a class 33 on a passenger working approaches the Junction in high summer

a class 33 on a passenger working approaches the Junction in high summer

a DMU approaches the Junction from Exeter St. Davids on a Barnstaple working - note new MAS systems and brand new red brick substation

a class 33 on a passenger working crosses the River Exe in early spring sunshine

a DMU bound for Exeter bathed in snowy sunshine passes Cowley Bridge Box having collected the token

a class 33 on a passenger working joins the main line into Exeter

a couple of black and white photographs

a Railfreight grey class 31on a goods train  awaits the right away for its journey to Barnstaple Junction - note remains of semaphore signals cut down to give way to MAS

a Railfreight grey class 31on a goods train  awaits the right away for its journey to Barnstaple Junction - note remains of semaphore signals cut down to give way to MAS

HOME