OLD DEVONPORT . UK
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©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: April 11, 2016
Webpage updated: September 05, 2020

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RAILWAYS IN OLD DEVONPORT GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY

SALTASH SUBURBAN SERVICE

The inaugural run of the Great Western Railway Company's rail motor suburban service between Plympton, Plymouth and Saltash Stations left Plymouth Station at Millbay at 2,45pm on Tuesday May 31st 1904 and ran to Plympton Station stopping on the way at Lipson Vale Halt and Laira Halt.

It left one of the two cars at Plympton and returned to Plymouth and then took the line to Saltash Station, calling on the way at Wingfield Villas Halt, Ford Halt and Saint Budeaux Halt.  A speed of 50 miles per hour was attained.

The return journey to Plymouth Station was accomplished in ten minutes and the party were then entertained to refreshments in the waiting room.

The full public service started on Wednesday June 1st 1904.

In 1908 locomotives 2120 and 2140 were being used on the service and 2132 later followed them.

Around 1928, so the late Mr Bernard Y Williams recalled, steam railcar number 72 was brought to Plymouth to operate on the Yealmpton branch, where traffic was falling due to increased competition from motor buses.  The railcar did one return trip per day to Saltash around midday.

As from Monday July 7th 1930 the service between Plympton Station and North Road Plymouth Station was cut to just one train, the 8am from Plympton through to Saltash.  It had ceased to run by September 1938.  In the winter timetable, from September 26th 1938 until July 2nd 12939, the first Down Rail Motor left Laira Junction at 5.30am and North Road Plymouth Station at 5.40am.  The second Rail Motor departed fro Laira Junction at 6.20am and North Road ay 6.33am.  It ran only as far as Saint Budeaux East Signal Box.  After that all Rail Motors departed from Plymouth Station (Millbay).

From Thursday January 1st 1948 the Saltash Suburban Service passed into the hands of British Railways Western Region.