Braunton was a very busy station. In addition to the regular passenger and freight traffic, the station was used as a holding area for the banker and pilot engines. These engines were used to assist the heavier trains to ascend and descend the steep gradients on the line to Ilfracombe. As a result, two additional rails or ‘banker’ sidings were placed between the mainline and the River Caen (where the Police Station now stands today). Shunting engines waited at these sidings before being attached to the larger trains making the journey north to Ilfracombe (the old station site is mostly demolished; one goods shed survives, and the old station building is now a newsagents.)