I've cycled up "the bank" many times. Cycling down it is a breeze! But I'd far rather it was still a railway line. Thank you for this fascinating video.

Great to see this available on KZfaq and to see that so many folks have watched it, my father made this documentary just before the line closed, those are his dulcit tones narrating the soundtrack. We had a lot of fun filing this, including several high speed chases following the train down the A361......

I lived in Braunton way back in the late 1960s early 70s residing at 10b Abbotts Hill and working at Taw Garage in Barnstaple. I knew the line well... Such a shame that it was closed as today it would be a top tourist attraction making a fortune...

Brilliant! Never seen the inside of the goods shed or the signal box before.

Fabulous insight into the Ilfracombe Railway.

Cant believe they got rid of it! Thank goodness we can still walk and cycle along this amazing coastline.

I have travelled on that line both ways way back in 1959. I was in the Boys Brigade and we went to Combe Martin for a 2 week holiday... Happy days, now alas like the railway long gone...

Thank you for sharing this film, we are indebted to your father for his insight and time for making this excellent archive, what an asset this line would be today if it had survived.

It was never a "Branch Line" - this was part of the LSWR Main Line from Waterloo, albeit built with severe gradients and sharp curves necessitating low speed running. The journey from Barnstaple Junction to Barnstaple Town was at 5 mph with the wheel flanges squealing and shrieking madly as you crossed the River Taw on a severely curved bridge. The GWR had running rights and in the 1960's there were through trains from both London Waterloo and Paddington right up until 1966. In fact, I went to the RAF Chivenor Air Show in 1967 and there were special Diesel Hauled services from all over the UK disgorging their passengers at Wrafton! We travelled from Morchard Road on an 8 carriage train hauled by a Hymek. It was a wonderful railway, always busy, and the decision to close it was absolutely non-sensical.

My mum and dad and my 2 brothers came on holiday in 1969 to ilfracombe so this brings back memories from my childhood.I loved going on the trains in those days and i still do enjoy the trains these days but not as much as the late 60s early 70s. We came from glasgow on holiday that year. 5* and saved to favs

im sure theres plans to re-open more branch lines due to the road congestion, if the old branch lines were re-opened, or in some cases re-routed congestion would drop quite a bit

Fantastic! I remember visiting just after its closure. Thank you!

I can relate to The Bank at 1:30. The reopened Borders ex Waverley route to Tweedbank has some pretty steep sections, many in double figures. I think I saw 1:60's. The 30 ( 30 1/4?) miles are timed at about 56 mins. It's a slow grind and you could feel the train struggle. Very scenic and well worth doing.

"Power without soul - and Ah knaws of nothin' worse". Could he have known even then about Theresa May?

Wonderful! Thank you, Craig.

Excellent archive, the closure by transport minister Peyton, (product of Eton), was such a waste of a valuable asset, even with the onslaught of the private car and the powerful Road haulage association there was a justifiable case to be made for the retention of this line, if only for freight and parcel traffic.

00.59 - Isnt that Mr Rudd the taxi driver? - always impecably dressed - that brings back memories!

Another wonderful creation, excellent, thank you.

great vid, we used to live below the cairn, on the railway side... of course it was just a path when I was born

Brilliant footage, thank you for sharing

I grew up in Braunton in the 1950's and early 60's so I have seen a great number of trains pass through the village with the loco's straddling the level crossing on Cean Street, so please don't call this iconic piece of railway history a "branch line". It was one of many lines the ACE was to use and was as good as any main line and it was the last few miles of what was one of the finest routes in the country. The "withered arm" was an expression used to indicate the lack of investmentin the south west by LSWR over electrification nearer London and the home counties not a reflection on the quality of the service by the Loco's, rolling stock and staff. The section of the line from Ilfracombe to Mortehoe was a challenge for any loco pulling 12 coaches on BR at the time, and when fully loaded would need a banker to get it up the grade of 1:36, even then only just sometimes. When it comes to lack of forward planning on the part of those in authority this jewel in the crown of North West Devon deserved more than being thrown aside like a broken toy. When those willing to contribute to bringing it into private ownership, as happened in the late 60's only to have all the funds stolen by unscrupulous characters pretending to support the cause. The line also had another historic feature in the "Iron Bridge" which crossed the River Taw in an elegant arc, however Barnstaple didn't see the value in this piece of history and had it torn down. Just to show I am not bias viewers please note that the carpenters shop my Father had adjacent to the first straight out of Braunton Station was set alight by a spark one night by a passing train probably fighting to gain traction on the sometimes slippery rails.

Great stuff.

I went from combe station up to London for a holiday with my dad in 1967

wonderful, important footage, thank you so much...

There you are Thanks very much, what's this it's a window sticker that says we've been to Ilfracombe. Harry worth comedy clip from the audio only episode one for the road

Harry worth comedy clip. There you are, thanks very much, what's this, it's a window sticker that says we've been to Ilfracombe

In steam didn’t they double head trains for the gradients.?

Beautiful vid ! tnx!

Narrated by Victor Thompson...

the waverly route being one

Beeching gutted Devon and Cornwall of railways, giving it over to the gods of petroleum and their blessed motor car.

bring back the branch lines

What class is the DMU?

One of many STUPID decisions to close that line, the roads are now so full of cars they are almost unusable, and will be in the not to distant future. It couldn't be brought back without knocking down alot of newish buildings, far to expensive to contemplate.

Must have cost Ilfracombe tens of millions in lost revenue over the decades as not everyone drives a car or can afford to run a car, oil is going to become more and more expensive due to global instability so these small town with become further cut off.

The film footage is great but the narration is completely stupid and ruins it.

I read recentley that there were plans to preserve the line from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe way back in the 70's what a shame this did'nt happen.I was down Woolacombe way earlier this year and had a stroll along the old track bed and thought about the trains..."And behold it was but a dream"