A site on the quay in Dartmouth was obtained and an 8-foot (2.4 m) wide jetty provided to accommodate a ferry from Kingswear.

An 83-foot (25 m) long pier was built out from the quay, and a 60-foot (18 m) jetty linked this with a pontoon to which the ferry could moor.

The town of Dartmouth instigated improvements to the waterfront in 1884, which saw a new embankment built north and south of the railway jetty, but the railway and town failed to agree on who was to pay to complete the new embankment at the site of the jetty and so a gap was left for five years.

This wooden structure, which had full booking office and waiting facilities, was partially jettied out over the river on oak piles.

The council subsequently sold the service to Dart Pleasure Craft whilst retaining ownership of the pontoon.