Westward Ho!

[rogerfarnworth]

An independent standard-gauge line with no direct connection into the wider network. ....... The first section of the line was completed in 1901, the full line finished in 1908. All of the track and rolling stock were requisitioned during the war and the railway closed in 1917. The materials never saw active service! ........

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/06/04/bi ... 1-railfile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ExCon90]

I've often been curious about the reason the town was named Westward Ho!. Is it the only town (and railway) anywhere with an exclamation point in its name?

[David Benton]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westward_Ho" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;!
I wonder why it tak such a circular route. I have only skim read the blog.

[rogerfarnworth]

Yes, I think it is the olny station location and town with an exclamation mark in the name in the UK. It appears to have been built with the hope of becoming a significant resort town. The railway was probably a part of trying to make that happen. It appears that distances from centres of population were too great in days when cars were not available.

[rogerfarnworth]

I have been intending to follow up my first article about this line (http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/06/04/bi ... 1-railfile) with a second one. It has taken me sometime to complete it. This next article covers the line from Bideford to Westward Ho!

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/11/30/bi ... way-part-2

[rogerfarnworth]

A final article from me which covers the remaining length of the line - the length from Westward Ho! to Appledore.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/03/21/bi ... way-part-3