Yelverton Station did not exist when the Princetown Railway Company opened its line to Princetown in 1883. It was then known simply as Yelverton Junction as both passenger and freight trains for Princetown ran through Yelverton Tunnel to Horrabridge Station.
The Great Western Railway Company had provided a siding here, on the Down side, which required the opening of the first Yelverton Signal Box around 1876 when the London and South Western Company’s trains started to use the Launceston Branch south of Lydford Station to access Plymouth.
The Station, located at 7 miles 37 chains mile post mileage from Tavistock Junction, was opened on 1st May 1885 and in addition to having Down and Up platforms, it also had a separate platform at an angle for the Princetown Branch trains.
A turntable with a radius of 23 feet 6 inches was provided, primarily for turning the snow-ploughs that were necessary on the Princetown Branch during the winter months.
As stated in “The Official Hand-book of Station 1956,” Yelverton Station handled passengers, parcels, miscellaneous traffic, horse boxes, and prise cattle vans. However, it did not have a crane.
Princetown Branch trains ceased to use Yelverton Station on or after 5th March 1956, and Yelverton Signal Box was closed on or after 4th May 1959. After these closures, both Down and Up trains utilised the Down platform.
Yelverton Station was closed to passenger traffic on and after 31st December 1962, when the Launceston Branch also ceased operations.
“YELVERTON [GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY] opened 1 May 1885 (Western Morning News 1st); closed 31 December 1962**” (source: here).
Research note:
1921 – 1932 J. Thomas, Station Master
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