Martin Brown, a railway buff, time served with Great Western Railway entertained Teignmouth Probus Club with his most interesting local history illustrated talk about Brunel’s pioneering atmospheric railway from Exeter to Newton Abbot in the 1840’s. Martin actually held I.K. Brunel’s 7 foot and ¼ inch walking stick, the broad-gauge track width favoured by Engineer Brunel. The railway arrived in Exeter in 1844 and Plymouth petitioned Parliament in 1840’s with an inland route over Dartmoor but that was dropped in favour of the more populous (more customers) coastal option. Inclines and gradients (banks of Dainton, Rattery) presented a real civil engineering problem as locos of the day were not powerful enough. In the early 1840’s West London Railways, Kingston to Dalkley, Dublin and Croydon had trialled the atmospheric vacuum system capable of pulling 4 tons at 40mph up 1:60 gradient and Paris (France) 1:28 using quick and cheap light track. So Atmospheric was chosen for 1st stage development Exeter to Teignmouth. In 1844, South Devon Railway was formed and Brunel was appointed to build it. A 15 inch vacuum tube was selected through which a piston (attached to the passenger carriages) was sucked along with powerful velocity. Steam driven pumping stations were spread at 3 mile intervals along the route with the talk centring on Starcross which can still be seen today.

The Victorians didn’t mess about and the whole system was designed, fabricated, land and permissions secured and installed in just a couple of years, with the 1st leg of track Exeter to Teignmouth completed by May 1846. For the grand opening 1500 passengers travelled in 21 carriages in fine style hauled by locos. The atmospheric system was first came into service later in 1847 the system however was vulnerable with materials of the day (cast Iron, leather and lubricants) corrosion, leaking seals leading to breakdowns and increased running costs equating to 3 shillings and 9 pence per mile. When a train failed to maintain service a steam loco was used to haul it at a cost of 2 shillings and 6 pence per mile. In just 1 year of operation, the atmospheric system was abandoned as it was elsewhere. The several pumping stations built beyond Teignmouth (Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Totnes etc) were abandoned. Investors never earned a penny from the venture.

This railway line continues to this day, adapted to dual track with the narrower gauge system.If present day materials had been available, would it have led to a different outcome? (stainless steel/neoprene/plastics etc).

The vote of thanks was given by our Speaker Finder Chris Inch.  

Posted by Press Officer Rick Purnell