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Post-grouping Southern RailwaySouthern Region of British Railways 19 July 1860 Opened as Colyton for Seaton 16 March 1868 Renamed Colyton Junction July 1869 Renamed Seaton Junction Similar Chard Junction railway st, Axminster railway station, Yeovil Junction railway st, Seaton Tramway, Feniton railway station | ||
Seaton Junction is a closed railway station on the West of England Main Line from London Waterloo to Exeter. It was situated 3 miles west of Axminster and 7 miles east of Honiton.
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History
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 led to a gradual run down of services and the branch line and junction station closed on 7 March 1966 by the Western Region of British Railways.
Present day
The station building is now a private residence. The platform is still visible (albeit overgrown). The footbridge from the island platform still survives today. Trains still pass the site on the West of England Main Line.