WATERGATE HALT
(Copyright 24.6.1980 Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)
This little gem was Watergate Halt on the Torrington to Meeth line in Devon. In 1980 this line was still used by china clay trains and was the remaining section of the North Cornwall Junction Light Railway, opened as recently as 1925. The line originally ran from Torrington to Halwill Junction, and was never heavily used by passengers, one coach usually being sufficient to handle the traffic. It struggled on a few years after 1980 until closing completely. It's unlikely that this line will ever reopen, which is a shame as it was a classic country light railway, but who knows? It closed to passengers in 1965, lasting just 40 years.
I had a ride on this line as far as Meeth quarry in August 1980 ,DMU went to the end of the line and then back to Petrockstowe where refreshments were provided, we visited all the halts and stations between there and Barnstaple, south of Torrington the line was very steeply graded with sharp turns and the DMU's engines got rather warm , a couple of years later the clay traffic went out by road transport and the line removed. The trip was organised by Roger Joanes who used live in the old Filleigh station he organised several trips on this line and to Okehampton as well
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