Really Sidetracked: Kingskerswell Traditional Cache

As early as 1849, the residents of Kingskerswell were petitioning the South Devon Railway Company to stop trains at their village; they would even be prepared to pay for the station themselves. It was not until 1 July 1853 that a station was eventually provided.

The branch had only a single track, but a passing place was provided at Kingskerswell in 1861 to allow more traffic to be handled. On 19 November 1864 a goods train passed through the station without stopping and collided with a passenger train approaching from Torre, but luckily there were no serious injuries. Another accident occurred on 22 January 1874 when a passenger train going towards Newton Abbot was derailed in the station.

A second track was laid to Newton Abbot and brought into use on 22 May 1876 along with a second platform at Kingskerswell; the double line was extended to Torquay on 26 March 1882.

The station is situated in a cutting beneath a viaduct carrying a road across the line. The station building was at road level on the west side, with the booking office at first floor level; access to the other platform was by steps from the viaduct. A signal box was situated at the south end of the northbound platform, with a goods siding beyond. The platforms were extended to 600 feet (183 metres) in 1911 to allow longer trains to call.

The station closed on 5 October 1964 but the platforms are still clearly visible from passing trains.