AVP Steam trains at Shute 1984

Decade: 1980

A film of steam train hurtling through the East Devon countryside. The trains include The Atlantic Coast Express and The Flying Scotsman. Shute is the nearest settlement to Seaton Junction on the West of England Main Line from London Waterloo to Exeter.

Originally named "Colyton for Seaton" the station opened on 19 July 1860 on completion of the Exeter Extension of the London and South Western Railway from Yeovil Junction to Exeter Queen Street.

With the opening of the Seaton & Beer Railway on 16 March 1868 the name was changed to "Colyton Junction", before finally becoming "Seaton Junction" on 18 July 1869.

Originally trains arriving from the Seaton... Read more A film of steam train hurtling through the East Devon countryside. The trains include The Atlantic Coast Express and The Flying Scotsman. Shute is the nearest settlement to Seaton Junction on the West of England Main Line from London Waterloo to Exeter.

Originally named "Colyton for Seaton" the station opened on 19 July 1860 on completion of the Exeter Extension of the London and South Western Railway from Yeovil Junction to Exeter Queen Street.

With the opening of the Seaton & Beer Railway on 16 March 1868 the name was changed to "Colyton Junction", before finally becoming "Seaton Junction" on 18 July 1869.

Originally trains arriving from the Seaton branch had to reverse into "down" (westbound) platform, however the station was reconstructed in 1927/8 with two through tracks on the main line and loops to the newly extended platforms. At the same time a new branch line platform was added, set at an angle of 45° to the main line.

The location of the station created a major problem for westbound trains stopping at Seaton Junction since it was situated at the start of a six miles climb at 1 in 80 to the summit of the line at Honiton tunnel.

The steady decline in holiday traffic resulting from increased car ownership in the 1960s and the cuts proposed by Dr Beeching led to a gradual run down of services and the branch line and junction station closed on 7 March 1966.