The up service to London passing the upper Slade reservoirs on 27 July 1963 in the care of both WR & SR engines, these are Mogul 6346 and 34079 141 Squadron respectively. Source: Twitter
Vista of the reservoir and the former railway at the same location as the 1963 aerial. I created this specially from a You Tube video (link lost again on this one) by merging two different views from the video.
Just before the twin Slade tunnels the Ilfracombe distant signal is still extant as an evocative reminder of the former railway. When I walked the line in the 1980s the signal was there too with the trackbed still quite clear at this point.
This is a photograph I took of the old Ilfracombe railway in 1980 whilst walking along the line. Its taken from one of my slides – but havent found a way to pull good quality images off my slides – the scanner I use isnt very good…
Looking from the north end of Slade tunnel with the second railway worker’s hut which can be seen on this section. Source: Visit Ilfracombe
The north end of the tunnels as evidenced from this 1980 picture I took which is on one of my slides. The trackbed was still as it had been left after the lines had been ripped up some five years earlier.
The twin Slade tunnels, one of which is now blocked off. Source: Tarka Trail
Spectacular views as the former railway line approaches Ilfracombe. Source: Twitter
How the scenery looked by rail during the 1930s! Source: Twitter.
How the line looked to travellers in its final years. View from DMU approaching the terminus. Source: Twitter.
National Cycle Network sign near the site of Ilfracombe station. Green is a homage to the Southern Railway! Source: Twitter.