Weardale, Dartmoor and RMS for sale

Is an Oakhampton the same as a Woodenwilly?

 

If trains restart May, will be in time for the tourist season which could be larger this summer?.
From 2020
http://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=438110&headline=Call to save buses&sectionIs=&searchyear=2020
The 6 bus is packed at times, but not offpeak times, so there could be bus timetable reductions?.
Ideally in a metro system bus and train operations should be co ordinated to give the best service for passengers, but GWR/First and Stagecoach who run buses are rivals, which may help to reduce fares, but does not always help ordination for passengers.
Looking at the Dartmoor Railway supporters association website they want the bus to stop at the station, so it can link to the town centre.

https://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/news
Also noticed a tribute to a guard and they hope to start publishing the newsletter again.
They may be able to reopen the station cafe, and run some heratige and charter trains?.

 

Looking further at the Dartmoor Railway supporters association website, https://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/wip there is a picture of the thumper class 205 DMU now for sale, which volunteers cleaned in September (maybe someone with lots of cash spare might buy it and look after it as a working unit?)

 

Spot on.

The initial plans are for a 2 hourly Okehampton - Exeter Central service. The unit will then go ECS to Exmouth Jcn to await it's return path.

For interest the other Exeter local services are proposed as follows:

The Barnstaple - St James Park hourly service is planned to be extended to Pinhoe but AIUI some signaling work needs to be undertaken before trains can terminate there and turn back without a shunt.

The Exmouth -Paignton and half hourly service continues unchanged.

 

Reading the Dartmoor Railway supporters association website further, looks like some of the volunteers would like keep as much of the stock as possible to run a heratige service between Okehampton and Meldon, and reopen the workshops?

But getting the GWR Exeter Okehampton service in the summer is the priority?.

 

Class 31 (31.452) and GUV van 86443 reported as departing the Dartmoor Railway yesterday by road transport. <BJ>

 

They need to make there something to do at meldon whe it was open years ago there was nothing to look at there and nothing to do. It is pointless them staying with nothing to do there

 

Does anyone know where 31452 has gone to?

 

Great Yarmouth to provide eth to the Eastern Rail Services coaches based there

 

The 31 and GUV van did not appear in the for sale list,
https://rmslocotec.com/for-sale
so not clear if either RMS kept them for rental or sold?.
The only items shown as sold on the website are the maintenance trollies.
Does not bode well for the sale of Llangollen's asserts!.
The supporters association is doing work parties at Meldon, and has enough stock for a heritige service from Okehampton and reopen buffets, but looking at their website are in no rush to do so.

 

Looks like the 2 class 205 Thumper units are under offer. Hope they go to good homes.

 

Given the comments on the difficulties facing the Llangollen Railway Trust reopening that line because the operating licence was held by the PLC, presumably similar issues must apply here too.

 

There are different issues with the Weardale and Dartmoor railways.
Parent Iowa Pacific got into debt in the US forcing sales.
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/n...xpress-lawsuit-casts-shadow-weardale-railway/
Weardale railway got sold as a whole to a trust run by a millionaire, so most probably still have an operating licence for 2021.
The Dartmoor railway CIC is being disolved and stock still being sold. However track and stations remain and GWR will run it's own trains to Okehampton under it's licence.
The Dartmoor Railway Supporter's Association has it's own heritage stock and might apply for it's own licence to run trains.

 

Anymore news on the future of the Dartmoor Railway or disposal of stock?
Update: Just taken a look at the RMS Locotec website and most of the stock is now shown as sold.
Which include Both complete "Berkshire" DEMU's 1128 and 1132 , Trailer buffet ex 4BIG 69332 Mk2 BSO 9501,MK3 Sleepers 10611 10518 and 10595, CCT 94691, Motor Ferry van 889002 plus various engineers wagons.
The two 4CEP Driving trailers plus the 7 MK2 "Polar express" coaches remain unsold.
I just hope and pray that the buyer was not the scrap merchant.

 

Has Network Rail taken over the whole line as far as Meldon, or just to Okehampton? Could a heritage operation continue on the Okehampton - Meldon section once daily services restart?

 

anyone know where the Thumpers ended up (or will end up)?

 

AFAIK, Network Rail only goes as far as Okehampton unless anyone knows different?

 

There are recent photos of work in progress which will take months till trains run again.
https://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/wip
And
https://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/comingsgoings

 

South Devon railway has the Polar Express contract.
No one seems to want the MK2 coaches.
Are the 4CEP Driving trailers MK1 based and might have some heritage value somewhere?

 

At a passing glance, several of those images could be taken as a 3rd rail line!

Query: Re: rail being replaced by NR. Is this material suitable for further use (thinking here within the heritage sector), or merely going for scrap?