Your Recollections
If you wish to submit any anecdotes, pictures, holiday snaps, postcards, photos, memories, articles on Babbacombe Cliff Railway for inclusion on this website contact the webmaster: webmaster@friendsofbabbacombecliffrailway.org.uk jml@friendsofbabbacombecliffrailway.org.uk
Bottom Station
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My family were from St. Marychurch/Babbacombe in those days some lived close to the railway. I first went to Babbacombe in 1939 when I was 4 years old to escape the bombing, which didn’t happen for two more years then again when I was 15 then not again till I was 35. Good luck with the ups and downs of your cliff railway. Photograph courtesy of P Bale of the bottom station of the Cliff Railway under construction in the twenties.
Who Are They?
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Family photograph. Babbacombe Cliff Railway 1920’s?
Photograph courtesy of H. Gill.
Does anyone recognize the family in this photograph?
Do you know names and date? Contact webmaster:
Picture of the Railway
I was looking through your site and found it very interesting. I have a memory of, possibly, the opening of the railway. On a visit, many years ago, to Mr Skinner (master baker) I remember seeing a picture of the railway which was made out of confectioners sugar in a glass display case.
I seem to remember that Mr Skinners son became mayor of Torbay. I know these details are scant maybe you could find a picture of it.
D Frampton
Can anyone provide any information about the sugar picture ? Contact webmaster:
Babbacombe Cliff Railway, Torbay Council Refurbishment.
I have just returned from a weekend in Devon and was delighted to visit and ride on the Babbacombe Cliff Railway.
I came on holiday to Babbacome in the summer of 1948 (I was five years old) and we used to walk down to the beach, past the derelict cliff railway. My parents said it was shut because of the war, and my memory is of a very sad-looking track, that gave the impression it would never run again. I have always imagined that it remained closed ever since, or perhaps had been demolished.
Can you imagine my delight today on finding the railway restored and looking absolutely splendid! My husband and I rode it down and up, and I felt a childhood dream had been fulfilled.
Amazing! Thank you for restoring the Babbacombe Cliff Railway and keeping it going.
Very best wishes, G Crow London
Memories of the Babbacombe Cliff Railway.
When I was 7 years old I used to live at Western Road St Marychurch. The cliff railway was about a 20 minutes walk away, and during the school holidays I used to go and watch the cliff railway just about every day. I used to tell my mum and dad I was playing with friends at Babbacombe, as I thought I would get into trouble for going up there!
After a while I guess my face was familiar and got to know the men on the cliff railway (the operators), in those days which was 1970 nothing was too much trouble and people could be trusted. After a while I was allowed to press the start buttons now and again but I was never allowed to open the car platforms or doors, one day I can vividly remember a small problem and I was allowed into the top station engine room with an engineer. I can remember that electrical/oily smell like it was yesterday.
After a while I was promoted to tea boy, and used to ride up and down delivering tea to the man at the bottom station (paying of course) sometimes he would let me ring the bell at the bottom, the call for last order!
As time went on I got to know different operators, and used to dread the thought of someone being there who knew my mum and dad but it never happened until one day...............
I arrived there one day and performed the 10 o’clock tea duties, down to the bottom station only to find my uncle Eddie working at the bottom station! That’s it I thought and didn’t go there for a while after. Eventually one day I was getting a lift with my friends and saw uncle on the way to my house with a saw to do a job! That was the end of my little secret but my parents were ok about it.
I wonder if anyone out there remembers these times and I would love to visit the engine room again one day. Congratulations for the recent refurbishment program and I hope the BCR gives plenty of fun to others.
Best Regards Steve McKimm. Bedfordshire.
Right Royal Day
Visiting Babbacombe for the reunion weekend of HMS Glory, at the Trecarn Hotel from Friday March 31 to Monday April 3, I was delighted to come across the 80th birthday celebrations of the cliff railway when taking a Saturday morning stroll.
It was the highlight of my visit and I enjoyed seeing the many 'friends' dressed in costumes from 1926. I travelled on the bus down to the beach and listened to the brass band and saw the wonderful vintage cars meeting up with a local lady called Janice Anderson-Smith. We chatted and she promised to send me your newspaper.
How delighted I was to see the photo taken that day and there I am in the front row, fourth from the right, all in pink.
I spoke to Cllr Peter Killick, chairman of Torbay Council and said that I was visiting from London.
I explained that my husband was an ex-navy World War II Fleet Air Arm pilot and also that we were the Pearly King and Queen of the Old Kent Road.
If we had known earlier of this splendid event we would have worn our buttons and helped with a 'right royal' send off to this marvellous day.
Please thank everyone who organised the festivities.
DOREEN GOLDING ( Pearly Queen )
Amusing stories from Bett Jackson.
Ticket
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I did not realise what I had said!
Jump Seat
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Another time the bell had been rung for the last car up and it was full. I had all the cash to carry up and flatly refused to walk up carrying it. The chap on the bottom station called Wally said, I could ride on the little seat under the car and he would ride outside. Reg Tomk the manager in those days his face was a picture when he saw me come out from under the car at the top station!
Bett Jackson was a cashier on the railway from 1957-1966.
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