The Withered Arm: Southern Lines to the Far West

The Southern Railway s Withered Arm the lines in Devon and Cornwall that were developed in the 19th century by the London & South Western Railway served some of the most popular holiday destinations in the country. Places like Bude, Ilfracombe and Padstow were all accessible by direct train services from London Waterloo, most notably the famous Atlantic Coast Express . The bulk of the ex-Southern network survived into the 1950s and beyond. During the 1960s, most of the lines disappeared culminating in the closure of the lines to Ilfracombe and Okehampton in 1970 and 1972 respectively. Today, passenger services are restricted generally to the Barnstaple and Gunnislake branches but there are hopes that other lines may be restored. This latest in Unique Books series of albums featuring the railways of Britain in the years after the end of World War 2 features the once extensive network of ex-Southern lines in north Devon and Cornwall. Drawing upon the collections of many photographers, the book explores the many and varied stations and services that were such a feature of these fascinating and much mourned routes.