Exmouth Junction Railway Depot
Photos - 35.
Where - Exeter, Devon.
Visited - September 2006.
Posted - 11 September 2006.
Categories -
urbex, now-demolished, railway.
Exmouth Junction was built as a locomotive depot in 1885. The locomotive depot closed in 1967, but carriages and wagons continued to receive repairs there for a few more years.
Shed
There is a six road shed here. Inside is an elevated supervisor's office had a grand view of the entire shed.
In it's later years it was split into two - carriages and wagons maintained in one half, and track machines (used for railway renewal/maintenance) in the other half. The track machine side continued to be used after privatisation in 1994 and was refurbished. A couple of years later it was declared surplus to requirements.
One track machine was converted to be used as a shunter within the confines of the depot. When the depot closed, this was just left in the shed. It is due to leave soon as it has been purchased by a preservation group.
Another shed
This little shed was used to maintain smaller railway vehicles such as trolleys.
Stores
Not sure what can be said about this building. It was used to store items. There is an old Austin in one of the buildings - I was surprised that it wasn't burnt out.
Water Tower
The depot also had a large water tower. Unfortunately the huge metal water tank has been cut off.
Your Comments
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Posted 14 September 2006, 10:50 From Keith Gunner
A most fascinating visit and well worth recording before it inevitably gets pulled down for something else.
Keith 14/9/06
Posted 23 March 2007, 13:30 From matt
This is right behind our house. Fascinating. I'm looking for pictures of the yard when it was operational. Can anyone help? Congrats on a superbly obscure site!
Posted 23 March 2007, 13:40 From matt
I'm not sure they will knock this down as it's probably listed. Also the whole site is contaminated with heavy metals and industrial pollutants, so any developer would be liable for the clean-up. The yard is behind our house - I think they should let it go back to nature. That's unlikely in a place like Exeter though.....
Posted 23 January 2008, 19:30 From keith james
i lived about 1/2 mile from here in the early 60's as a kid i loved to watch the steam trains i know most of it was demolished but its a bit sad to see it like it is but cheers great photos
Posted 6 April 2008, 23:50 From Dave Roberts
What a mess! I worked here in the early eighties as an apprentice and know every inch of the place. The small plant shed (ODM) I helped set up as it was refurbished from its former derelict state! Back then it was state of the art but look at it now! I even remember working on that heating boiler. Also of interest is the c&w supervisors elevated office I remember it well. Think the thing I most remember was the noise! defening with all the rivit guns! Thanks for the memories
Posted 26 May 2008, 20:40 From Alvan Spicer
Hi I noticed a few days ago that they are starting to pull down the carage and wagon shops at Exmouth Junction.
I think they are selling the land for housing.
Posted 4 June 2008, 18:20 From simon pearson
Im not sure what they are doing either, but there is no chance of housing being built there.. Network rail applied to the rail regulator to sell it but there were objections from a few of the train operating companies, on the basis that the site was of strategic importance. With the much talked about re-doubling of the Exeter- Waterloo line it is probable that the site will be used as a track maintenance and storage yard. It is a complete mess there, if only the railways hadn't been buggered in the 60's this site would have still been a fully working yard.
Posted 6 July 2008, 22:30 From Alvan Spicer
the whole site has now been pulled down all apart from the water tower base.
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