Budleigh Salterton Railway

Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton Railways
Legend West of England Main Line Feniton Sidmouth Junction West of England Main Line Ottery St Mary Tipton St Johns Sidmouth Newton Poppleford Colaton Raleigh siding East Budleigh Budleigh Salterton Littleham Avocet Line Exmouth

File:Budleigh Salterton Station 1973565 42c1301d.jpg

Budleigh Salterton Station in 1964

The Budleigh Salterton Railway was a double track branch railway line that ran from a junction on the Sidmouth Railway at Tipton St Johns to Exmouth via four intermediate stations. Single track was laid apart from passing loops at Littleham and Budleigh Salterton. Newton Poppleford, East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, and Littleham.

History

Opening

Locally sponsored, the line opened as far as Budleigh Salterton on 15 May 1897 with one intermediate stop at East Budleigh with a second being opened in 1899 at Newton Poppleford.

Extension to Exmouth

Although privately owned the line was extended in 1903 by the London and South Western Railway to Exmouth via Littleham.

Closure

Major reduction in the services along the line in the 1960s led to a corresponding decrease in usage. The line closed to freight traffic on 27 January 1964 and to passengers on 6 March 1967.