Teign Valley Line: Exeter-Newton Abbot cut-off 1930s (proposal)

[6Gman]

I read that there was a proposal in the 1930s for a direct Exeter-N Abbot cut-off but cannot find any details.

Was it intended to follow the Teign Valley line or follow a new alignment.

Given the stiff gradients, curves and single line of the Teign Valley route a new alignment would seem the better option but does anyone know?

 

[Cowley]

I must admit that I thought it was to run around the back of Dawlish and Teignmouth (presumably using tunnels) so that it still served those towns. I seem to remember reading that the GWR purchased the land but it was gradually sold off in BR days.

I may well be wrong on this but I’ve always wanted to find out more about the scheme, so hopefully someone can fill in the details?

 

[Gloster]

If you google GWR Dawlish avoiding line, choose Images, and then an item called Dawlish closures - November 2018 on Great Western Coffee Shop it will take you to a forum with these maps. (The item was top right on my result.) Giving away one of my tricks here.

EDIT: Googling 1935 GWR Dawlish line also produces a few results.

 

[Western Sunset]

"Exeter - Newton Abbot - A Railway History" by Peter Kay (1993) gives comprehensive plans of the various options for the inland diversionary line.

 

[Irascible]

I think it's not too dissimilar to one of the proposals from last decade's report ( unsurprisingly, given historic options were looked at, and why not - someone did some legwork already ). Definitely wasn't using the Teign Valley route.