Alex Coomber
The Roller Coaster. Basingstoke to Exeter via Salisbury. 128 Miles. Basingstoke, Andover Junction, Salisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe, Yeovil Junction, Crewkerne, Chard Junction, Axminster, Seaton Junction, Honiton, Sidmouth Junction and Exeter Central. The London & South Western Railways switchback route to Exeter was a great success and opened the door to the company's domination of North Devon and North Cornwall. It's relegation to a secondary route in the 1960s can only be regretted.