Following the failure of the atmospheric system, the South Devon Railway was short of money. Hennet proposed that he rent land alongside the line and build goods depots. These were both for his own trade and also for general traffic handled by the railway. Depots were established at Exeter, Starcross, Dawlish, Teignmouth Eastcliff, Totnes, Rattery, Brent, Hemerdon, and Plymouth. At Stoneycombe he established a quarry on railway land and laid a siding to serve lime kilns that he built there. In addition, two stations were built and operated on behalf of the railway, at Exminster and Cornwood.