When railways in the area began to be proposed, a number of alternative routes between Plymouth and Exeter were put forward, and a line through Buckfastleigh and Ashburton was considered.
However the line actually adopted was the South Devon Railway (SDR) which followed a more southerly course through Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Totnes.
They quickly found that other towns that were railway-connected gained in importance as their transport costs were reduced, and Buckfastleigh and Ashburton declined rapidly due to the competitive disadvantage.
It was clear to local people that the impact on the towns would be seriously negative, as the coach traffic would cease, and Buckfastleigh and Ashburton would be off the contemporary transport network.
At this time getting money was extremely difficult, and it proved impossible to raise the required capital; in 1851 the company was dissolved, with nothing done.
[1][page needed] Decline had been predicted for the industries of Buckfastleigh and Ashburton if they were isolated from the railway network, and the gloomy forecast proved true.
The short branch, a "railway or tramway", to the Quays at Totnes was on the south side of the SDR main line, and was to be horse-worked.
c. xli), was obtained, on 26 May 1865, authorising an extension of the line to Ashburton; however the town remained absent from the company name.
[5][page needed] Authority was obtained in the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway Act 1869 (32 & 33 Vict.
[1][page needed] At length the construction of the line was completed, and amid much rejoicing and festivity the line from Ashburton to the South Devon Railway's Totnes station opened for passenger and goods traffic on 1 May 1872; it was worked from the outset by the South Devon Railway.
The traditional industries of the district in general had further declined, but the woollen mills of Buckfastleigh had resisted the trend, and they provided much of the goods traffic on the line: manufactured articles outwards and coal for the plant inwards.
The first half-year accounts (to 31 March 1873) showed gross receipts of £1,893 10s 0d, and net profit of £1,055 12s 7d after deduction of the SDR charges for working the line.
At the May 1874 meeting, the directors congratulated the shareholders on a successful outcome of the dispute; however the full year (1873) accounts now showed £4,147 12s 10d gross profit, £2,127 4s 0d net.
The small-scale traditional industries of Buckfastleigh and Ashburton were now obsolescent and their potential railway traffic declined with them.
However the Quay line served numerous industrial premises and remained in occasional use; it closed for general goods on 14 June 1965, and the service to the private sidings finished after 4 December 1967.