RAILWAYS IN OLD DEVONPORT |
MAIN LINE, PLYMOUTH STATION (MILLBAY) TO LISKEARD STATION
SALTASH TO WEARDE DOWN GOODS RUNNING
LOOP
A Down Refuge Siding existed at
Wearde
Signal Box. Running behind
Defiance Platform,
which ceased to be used on and as from October 27th 1930, it was capable of taking 37 wagons plus engine
and brake van.
In April 1943 it was converted into a Down
Goods Running Loop by extending the eastern end to just short of
the Combe-by-Saltash Viaduct at Saltash. Access was
controlled by the Saltash Signal Box.
The District Traffic Manager, Mr J S P
Pearson, issued instructions in June 1945 for "The running round
engines of empty coaching stock trains and shunting of coaches
for stabling at Wearde".
'The
Down Goods Running Loop may be used, when practicable, for
the purpose of running round the engine of empty coaching
stock trains. In the event of this course being
necessary, or in order to preclude the necessity of
providing two engines to facilitate the shunting of coaching
stock to Wearde Carriage Sidings, as referred to in the
Instruction headed "Stabling of Coaches Wearde, Loop
Siding" the following instructions must be carried out:
1. The provisions of Double Line Block
Regulations 10A must be observed.
2. The Signalman at Saltash and Wearde must
arrive at a clear understanding and must ensure that
a second train or engine is not admitted to the
Goods Running Loop following the empty stock train
until the working covered by BT Regulation 10A has been
completed.
3. In cases where it is desired to send
empty coaching stock trains to Wearde, which consist
of more vehicles than shewn [sic] in the
instruction "Stabling of Coaches, Wearde. Loop
Siding" which necessitates the use of two engines
for shunting, the Station Master concerned must
ascertain from the Signalmen at Saltash and Wearde
whether they will be in a position to allow the
Goods Running Loop to be used for running round the
engine. If so, it will not, for shunting
purposes, be necessary to attach an additional
engine but a competent Traffic Department man, in
addition to the Guard, must accompany the train, who
must, when the propelling movement from the Goods
Running Loop is made, ride in a suitable position in
order to transmit the Guard's hand signal to the
Driver.'
The Wearde Carriage
Sidings were taken out of use by
British Railways on
November 2nd 1964. The western end of the Down Goods Running Loop
near Wearde Signal Box
was taken out of use on October 31st 1965, the same date upon which
Wearde Signal Box was
closed. The eastern end of the Down Running Loop, which had become
a dead end siding, was taken out of use in October 1972 when the Saltash
Goods Depot was removed.
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