 The Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway worked as an ally of the LSWR in promoting a branch lines locally, and they obtained powers in 1875 to construct short branches from the P&DR line at Cattewater.The LSWR took over these powers in 1882 and the branches were from the LSWR Friary line.On 2 August 1883 the P&DR obtained powers to build a line to Turnchapel; it succeeded in building a bridge over the Plym near Laira road bridge, opened as far as Plymstock (then called Pomphlett) in 1887.