Dartmoor Railway

Has the work on the platform at Yeoford been completed then?

 

Wow! Brilliant! Can't wait for that! =D>

 

Hello everyone,

I had a quick look at the Dartmoor railway website. The website is a bit contradictory. On the timetable page there is mention of the service to Yeoford, but the "News" page gives a different picture: http://www.dartmoor-railway.co.uk/news.html

Kind regards

Christoph

 

Sadly, this does not seem likely for some months. I went through Yeoford yesterday, and couldn't see the Okehampton platform looking physically about to become operational. I note that the Dartmoor Sunday Rover network now has an express bus from Exeter to Okehampton that replaces the trains that used to run on summer Sundays; however there is mention of making connections off Tarka Line trains at Yeoford when Dartmoor Railway are running to that station.

I think the new owners are very forward looking and want to make a success of the Dartmoor Railway, but nothing in terms of reopening rail services gets done very quickly in Britain; at least if it involves Network Rail!

John

 

I was talking to someone from the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership today, and they said that Dartmoor Railway have found out that they aren't allowed to do the work on Yeoford themselves, as it is a Network Rail station, and that the delay is down to NR having to arrange for contractors to come in to do it. There doesn't seem to be a timescale at the moment, but there is plenty of paperwork involved...

 

Given the amount of work required at Yeoford, I'd not hold my breath on that one
If NR are doing the work then I suspect that it will have to be to current standards, including meeting disability access regulations.

At the moment there is no access at all to that platform

 

It appears that the main problem with Yeoford is that the platform walls have "blown" so reconstruction will be more involved than first thought, but will still go ahead. Obviously timescales have slipped but Christmas has been mentioned as a possible opening date.

Next weekend FGW will be running the Sunday only through service from Exeter again. Since last Saturday every other trip with the DEMU has been running to Sampford Courtenay to give the punters a bit more of a ride.

Unfortunately now Network Rail have transferred their ballast contract to Lafarge the stone trains are not running as Meldon is a Bardon quarry. This obviously has had an impact on revenue, making the passenger side of the operation more vital, I just hope the owners hold their nerve and stick with it.

 

The Dartmoor Railway website shows their latest timetable, including the Sunday FGW trains from Exeter starting 7th June - see link http://www.dartmoor-railway.co.uk/05062 ... r_2009.pdf.
There is still no update on the Devon CC site or National Rail timetable & the FGW timetable is not showing it yet. If it is running then better publicity would be nice to help keep the route open

 

Too bad they can't extend the track 4 miles back to Crediton and establish the interchange there.

 

I don't think they have the rights to run as far as Crediton but maybe one day, if Network rail agree, they will be able to.

 

I found this thread in search, which seems a better place to discuss Okehampton stuff, rather than hi-jacking the Swanage thread. So, to repeat myself.......

Are there plans to ticket 31874 for the mainline? There is nothing quite so satisfying as a loco coming home to a place it actually worked in steam days. 30053, 41312 and 31806 are 3 examples of that. However, home for 31874 is amongst other places, Okehampton, as it was at Exmouth Junction from Jan 61 to Mar 64, when it was withdrawn. So, an excursion or two to Okehampton and, perhaps Barnstaple, from Eastleigh, Salisbury or Exeter. If the T9 was to be present as well, perfection will have been attained. Bodmin is close to a homecoming but, Okehampton is the real deal.
Even if there are no plans to ticket the N, it could still visit Okehampton by road, as the T9 would have to. Does anyone know if the private line from Coleford Junction to Oke, requires main line ticketed locos? If not, 31874 could pilot a special from Waterloo behind 34046, from Coleford Junction, to return triumphantly to its former stamping ground.

The Polar Express isn't a problem, there are Santa and Thomas events all over Britain's heritage lines. It is more down to BARS stance on preservation, as opposed to Disney style operations.

 

31874 to Barnstaple would be great, but it is hard to run extras because of very restricted track; maybe on a Sunday morning. Okehampton would be nice, too, but would any of this be commercially viable on a 'one off' basis, if loco not 'ticketed' so that road transport would be needed?

John

 

I was on a steam special to Barnstaple with Std 2-6-4T's on each end, in 1995. 31874 could top-n-tail with D6515 or, 34046 Braunton, a station on the Ifracombe line.

Okehampton has so much unrealised potential, if BARS have a mind to see it. The DRSA are striving to keep it Southern. www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org

Also travelled to Okehampton behind a Std 2-6-4 from Exeter, in about 95/6

 

If my memory serves me correct, weren't these BR Standard specials ran at the same time as the Exeter Railfair? They also did trips to Paignton and Exmouth too.

 

yes i think that is correct,
Getting back to the Oakhampton line, is it just leased by the current operators BARS from NR? because there was talk about NR wishing to take it back in house after 2017 to safeguard the route of course this could mean daily services between Oakhampton and Exeter and would safeguard any plans NR may have for future reopenings on sections of the line, after all if Oakhanpton proves to be profitable, then further re openings may be viewed in a positive light.
i wonder how long before we see Waterloo, Salisbury Exeter Oakhampton on a destination board at Waterloo

 

There are some serious studies looking at the missing link between Okehampton, Tavistock and Bere Alston. Apart from within Tavistock itself where I believe council offices stand over the old route, are there any other places where the former route has been built over?

 

i believe that apart from the station site at Tavistock, there are no other parts that have been built over, but extensive ground works are needed to bring the trackbed up to modern standards and Meldon viaduct needs renewing or rebuilding for rail use. long term, it hasnt been ruled out, but due to the reported costs it wont happen soon.

 

The Bere Alston-Tavistock reopening is still on as far as I know so, that bit is sorted. As the council are behind that scheme, they can't really resist moving out of the way at Tavistock North, if further reopening ever happens. There are some houses as well I believe but, they will just have to move. Simples.