Okehampton

[whole diary]

[bobm]

It may be of interest to some that UKRailtours are running a trip to Okehampton (and Paignton) on Saturday 26th March, picking up at Paddington, Slough, Reading and Swindon. Out via Bristol and return via Westbury and TransWilts Full details on their web site

Not sure what happened on the way back.  Delayed at Exeter St David’s for 45 mins and 75 down by Chippenham.

[grahame]

It may be of interest to some that UKRailtours are running a trip to Okehampton (and Paignton) on Saturday 26th March, picking up at Paddington, Slough, Reading and Swindon. Out via Bristol and return via Westbury and TransWilts Full details on their web site

Not sure what happened on the way back.  Delayed at Exeter St David’s for 45 mins and 75 down by Chippenham.

It had been hauled by two locos at the front London to Paignton, then top and tail from there to Okehampton and back to Exeter.   Where both were to go back on the front.   Unfortunately there was a problem with ono the locos coupling electronics to link the two locos in tandem, so they had to take what should have been the train loco off, put what should have been the pilot on first, bring back the train loco and test it.

Then an engineer's train was ahead of us from Fairwater yard to Westbury, we had to wait for the single line through Melksham which should be redoubled and then we had to wait to get off the single line and sit behind a London express as it did its business at Chippenham.

[grahame]

First pictures ...





Pretty impossible to get them person-free.  Here's Hercules Smith with Hercules Class50

[MVR S&T]

looks like both the special and the service train were there at the same time, thought it was worked as one train at a time?

[grahame]

looks like both the special and the service train were there at the same time, thought it was worked as one train at a time?

We went to Paignton too (just over 2 hours there) where the picture was taken. We stopped for ten minutes at Okehampton - just time to get off the train before we had to get back on by the time we had walked through to the platform.

[grahame]

looks like both the special and the service train were there at the same time, thought it was worked as one train at a time?

We went to Paignton too (just over 2 hours there) where the picture was taken. We stopped for ten minutes at Okehampton - just time to get off the train before we had to get back on by the time we had walked through to the platform.

Here is the picture I took at Okehampton - didn't get up to the loco

[trainbuff]

looks like both the special and the service train were there at the same time, thought it was worked as one train at a time?

I think that photo is taken at Paignton. I believe the buildings behind are the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway

[REVUpminster]

Paignton is my station and I watched it's arrival. Two locos at front and 12 coaches. Fouled the points for 15 minutes with 1 and 1/2 coaches until all the persons got off and it could proceed into Goodrington Coach sidings.
Went back at 1400hrs and one engine had run round to top and tail for the trip to Okehampton.

The service train 150232/158762 in the picture had to use platform 1 and shunt back wrong line to wait for the charter train to leave platform 2, meanwhile late running (30mins) Paddington-Paignton stood at Torquay waiting for the local to shunt to platform 2 before it could get into platform 1.

The shunt move takes place 2/3 times a day with even a cross country voyager doing it.

As an aside I can't upload photos without using flkr.

[GBM]

..............

As an aside I can't upload photos without using flkr.

I don't have flkr either, so had ask TonyK to upload my Bristol ones!

[REVUpminster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6EaDi5Az2g

Charter train arriving at Paignton Saturday, fouling the level crossing which took about 15 minutes to clear..

[GBM]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6EaDi5Az2g

Charter train arriving at Paignton Saturday, fouling the level crossing which took about 15 minutes to clear..

Link not working for me, but is this the one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6EaDi5Az2g

[AMLAG]

Can any passengers on this UKR Special train please gives some details of the speeds attained between Coleford Jn and Okehampton, as a spirited run was noted by onlookers.

Also comment on the unnecessary and juvenile hooliganism of load shouting/ bellowing by a few UKR ‘Customers’ in the rear of the train as it left Okehampton; which has been recorded on a posted YouTube, and was much to the disapproval of the many locals and supporters of the very successful reopening of the line to regular trains, who were at Okehampton station to welcome this train.

[REVUpminster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6EaDi5Az2g

Charter train arriving at Paignton Saturday, fouling the level crossing which took about 15 minutes to clear..

Link not working for me, but is this the one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6EaDi5Az2g

Link looks the same and it is the one. I have posted another with the train clearing the station.

[grahame]

Link looks the same and it is the one. I have posted another with the train clearing the station.

I will spare you the three minute video of the traffic and pedestrians clearing the level crossing once the train moved down toward the sidings

[rogerw]

Also comment on the unnecessary and juvenile hooliganism of load shouting/ bellowing by a few UKR ‘Customers’ in the rear of the train as it left Okehampton; which has been recorded on a posted YouTube, and was much to the disapproval of the many locals and supporters of the very successful reopening of the line to regular trains, who were at Okehampton station to welcome this train.

If you could forward the YouTube link to info@ukrailtours.com they may be able to identify the culprits and take appropriate action as the individuals may well be in breach of the strict rules laid down for railtours