OLD DEVONPORT . UK
www.olddevonport.uk
 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: February 11, 2016
Webpage updated: February 09, 2022

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RAILWAYS IN OLD DEVONPORT  |  LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY
MAIN LINE, LYDFORD STATION TO FRIARY STATION

DEVONPORT KING'S ROAD STATION

The impressive overall roof  of the Devonport LSWR Station
Is seen in this view from the western entrance.
©  Locomotive and General Railway Photographs.

When opened by the London and South Western Railway Company on Wednesday May 17th 1876 this was known as Devonport for Stonehouse Station and was the terminus of the Company's narrow gauge railway line that came down from Lydford intertwined with the South Devon and Tavistock Railway Company's broad gauge track from there to Plymouth.  The line then branched off the South Devon Railway Company's main line at Cornwall Loop Junction and off the Cornwall Railway line at Devonport Junction to enter Devonport for Stonehouse Station from the east.

Having glided through Ford Tunnel and Devonport Park Tunnel, a Down train emerges
from under Paradise Road to run into Devonport King's Road Station.
Note the Home Signal on the left and the Devonport technical College on the right.
© Brian Moseley.

The South Devon Railway had stopped short of entering Devonport so on the opening day of the LSWR Station the residents of the Town celebrated wildly with triumphal arches and church bells ringing continuously.  No less than four regiments of foot trooped their colours at Mount Wise and a public dinner was given in the new goods shed.  A refreshment room was provided on the Station.  A new road was constructed from the Station to the bottom of Devonport Hill and Stonehouse Bridge.  It was was later given the name King's Road.

Public passenger trains started the following day, May 18th, with the first train out of Devonport and Stonehouse being hauled by a locomotive named "Gem".

The frontage of Devonport LSWR Station.
©  Locomotive and General Railway Photographs.

The Station buildings included stores, offices and apartments for the station master.  The platforms were originally arrival and departure ones, when it was a terminal station.  They were covered with a roof 400 feet long by 130 feet wide.  There was also a goods shed of 200 feet in length by 100 feet wide.

A branch line from the Station yard to Stonehouse Pool was constructed in 1876 but was not opened for goods traffic until March 1st 1886.  Passenger trains came much later with the advent of the Ocean Quay Station.

When the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway Company opened its route from Lydford via Tavistock and Bere Alston, the up and down lines were reversed and Devonport for Stonehouse became a through station.  On the Down Platform, which was originally the Up Platform, of course, were a Parcels Office, two Waiting Rooms, a Cloak Room and the all-important Refreshment Rooms.

A wonderful panoramic view of Devonport King's Road Station looking west, 1950s.
Note the Goods Shed, the tunnel of the Stonehouse Pool Branch,
 and on the extreme right the former LSWR Engine Shed.
© Anthony R Kingdom.
Courtesy of Devon Library Services.

As from Wednesday March 1st 1905 quarterly season tickets were available by the London and South Western Railway between Devonport Station to Friary Station for £1 first class, 13 shillings (s) 9 pence (d) second class and 11s third class; also to Mutley Station and North Road Plymouth Station for 15 shillings (s) first class, 10s second class and 8s third class; and to Ford Station for 15s first class, 10s second class and 8s third class; and to Saint Budeaux Station for £1 5s 0d first class, 17s 6d second class and 14s third class.

For the London and South Western Railway Company's train departure board in operation in both directions on weekdays and Sundays from June 7th until September 30th 1914, or until further notice, CLICK HERE.

On the afternoon of Wednesday September 8th 1915 Devonport Station received a Royal Visit when the King and Queen arrived by Great Western train.   As this was after Devonport had been amalgamated with Plymouth and East Stonehouse, the Royal guests were greeted by the Mayor of Plymouth, Mr T Baker, along with Major-General A Penton, commander of the fortress and Admiral Sir George Egerton, commander of the naval station.

The frontage of Devonport King's Road Station,
possibly after closure as everything seems to be boarded up.
©Western Morning News Company Limited.

Mr P C Hayman, Station Master at Friary Station, was responsible for Devonport Station in June 1948 and Mr F J Hammett of Friary Goods Depot was responsible for the Devonport Goods Depot.

It acquired the King's Road part of its title upon Nationalisation in 1948 when it became necessary to prevent confusion with the Western Region's Devonport Albert Road Station.

On Weekdays and Sundays, 'where train service permits', commencing on May 1st 1953, the following cheap day return tickets, first and third class, were available from Devonport King's Road Station to: Bere Alston, 3 shillings (s) 6 pence (d) 1st, 2s 3d 3rd; Bere Ferrers, 2s 6d 1st, 1s 8d 3rd; Brentor, 7s 6d 1st, 5s 3rd; Bridestowe, 8s 9d 1st, 5s 9d 3rd; Callington, 6s 9d 1st, 4s 6d 3rd; Calstock, 4s 1st, 2s 9d 3rd; Gunnislake, 5s 3d 1st, 3s 6d 3rd; Lydford BRSR, 7s 9d 1st, 5s 3d 3rd; Okehampton, 11s 1st, 7s 3d 3rd; Tavistock North, 5s 3d 1st, 3s 6d, 3rd.  Tickets were valid for return from Lydford BRSR Station, Lydford BRWR Station, Tavistock North Station, or Tavistock South Station by either route.

For the Departures from Devonport King's Road Station from June 14th 1954 until further notice CLICK HERE.

Rebuilt Battle of Britain class number 34056 "Croydon" pauses at Devonport King's Road
with a train for Friary Station.
© the late Mr R C Riley.

According to the "The Official Hand-book of Station 1956" Devonport King's Road Station dealt with goods traffic, passengers, parcels, miscellaneous traffic, furniture vans, carriages, motor cars, portable engines and machines on wheels, live stock, horse boxes, prize cattle vans, and carriages and motor cars by passenger or parcels trains.  It was not provided with a crane.

Devonport King's Road Station was closed to passengers from Monday September 7th 1964 when the Southern Region line was closed.  It remained open for goods traffic until Thursday January 4th 1971, accessed only from Devonport Junction.

The Down platform at Devonport King's Road Station.
From the author's collection.

Rebuilt Westcountry class number 34104 "Bere Alston" about to depart from
Devonport King's Road Station with a train for London Waterloo.
© the late Mr  R C Riley.

The site of the Station and goods yard is now occupied by the City College.