into use on the Exeter line as far as .The station was further enlarged and resignalled between 1922 and 1924. This included cutting back the hill above the station so that a new track could be added behind the platform that had been built in 1874 to provide an additional platform face. With the creation of British Railways in 1948 there was opportunity to rationalise the facilities in Barnstaple. Most of the goods traffic was handled at the Victoria Road station although full wagons loads were still handled at Barnstaple Junction. Victoria Road closed to passengers on 12 June 1960 so all trains from Taunton ran to Barnstaple Junction. During the next ten years most of the lines around Barnstaple closed. Passenger services on the Bideford route ceased from 2 October 1965, the Taunton service was withdrawn from 3 October 1966, and the Ilfracombe branch closed on 5 October 1970. This just left the service to Exeter and Barnstaple Junction became plain Barnstaple once more. On 21 May 1971 the track was simplified and the line to was reduced to just one track. The goods trains to Victoria Road were withdrawn on 30 May 1970 and those on the Bideford line stopped on 31 August 1982. A new booking office was opened on 10 November 1981 but the second platform was closed in August 1990. In 2008 a café was opened in the former station master's house. Engine shed The North Devon Railway had an engine shed and workshops at Barnstaple along with a turntable. These continued to be used by the LSWR although the workshops were closed in 1894. In later days the two-track timber engine shed was situated near the entrance to the goods yard and the turntable was replaced by a larger version. The former GWR shed at Victoria Road closed at the beginning of 1951 after when their locomotives were serviced at the Barnstaple Junction shed. This shed was closed after steam trains were replaced by diesels in 1964. At one time there were 44 engine drivers and 44 firemen at Barnstaple but by 1968 there were just 10 and 4 respectively, and none from 1971. Description The railway station is on the west side of the River Taw near the Long Bridge and the junction of the A3125 and A361 roads; the town centre is on the east side. A footpath under the road gives