Topsham

Station Description

Topsham (4 m, 26ch. from Exmouth Junction) was the most important intermediate station on the branch to Exmouth. It has retained its double track as a passing loop. The former 10 mph speed restriction has now been raised to 25 mph. Up trains have a straight run, but the down loop is curved at both ends, the turnout at the north end having previously been part of a crossover.

Topsham like Lympstone and Exmouth was an Electric Tablet block post, the Signal Box containing 23 levers with returnable tablet instrument. The signal box, from 20th May, 1973 operated lifting barriers instead of swinging level crossing gates over the main Exeter to Exmouth road until 1988, when the barriers became remotely controlled from Exmouth Junction The redundant box then became a Grade II listed building available for business use.

The down platform is 475 ft in length and the up 508 ft long, both having concrete extensions at their southern ends. The original platforms were rather low and portable wooden steps had to be used to assist invalids. The red brick station building on the up platform, designed by Sir William Tite, received a cream rendering in Southern Railway days. The station building and station master's house are now offices, the date 1860 still visible on their exterior. The substantial flat awning, now removed, over the centre of the up platform was supported on five columns. Flower baskets hung from the awning as they did on most of the branch line's stations.

The station was closed to goods traffic on 4th December, 1967, but the brick built goods shed was used for light industry and a builders' merchant until its demolition in 1993, the site being sold for housing. Principal traffic for its six sidings included timber and domestic coal. Topsham dispatched by passenger train, raspberries, cherries and plums, practically every train in the season carrying fruit. Locally caught salmon were also sent from the station. One local nursery specialized in orchids and 20 to 30 consignments were sent off daily, The station had a lilac hedge and, in spring, the staff returned one evening, cut the blooms and dispatched them to Covent Garden, the proceeds going to the LSWR or SR Orphanage.

Topsham station was lit by gas until 1976; the gas pipes having been renewed in 1958. The redundant piping was used unofficially to strengthen the straight letters of 'Topsham', done in topiary and a feature of the station since 1947; the curved letters were supported by signal wire.

In the 1920s Topsham was staffed by a station master, two clerks, two signalmen, a porter signalman, a goods checker, a leading porter and a porter, Porters were required to do shunting, there being no official shunter. The station was partially unstaffed from 28th February 1965 and fully unstaffed from 6th May 1968. The box had a roster of three signalmen whose duties also included sweeping the station and also those at Exton, Lympstone Commando and Lympstone.

Topsham was the first station (as opposed to halt) on the branch and its name gave rise to a rather naive schoolboy riddle: Why can't they run a non- stop train from Exeter to Exmouth Answer: Because the first station stops 'em.