The Italianate styled Pumping house (1845) of Brunels South Devon Railway (Exeter - Plymouth ) ,
near the Starcross Railway Station.
Instead of using locomotives, the trains were moved by a system of atmospheric traction, with the air being extracted
from pipes laid between the rails by stationary engines at a series of pumping stations along the line.
Starcross is the only complete Pumping House to survive .
Two other Pumping Houses survive at Torquay (torre) and Totnes.
The atmospheric line operated between Exeter and Newton Abbot for less than 1 yr.
In sept 1948 steam locomotives took over.
The tower was reduced in height by 50 foot after storm damage in the late C19.
There is a slipway in front of the building leading to the River .
Ref: 6831
Date: 11/02/2019
Location: SX 9776 8170