Okehampton-Tavistock. Discussion on reopening and potential use as a diversionary route

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I saw what was posted before you deleted it all, Graham. I'm simply taking a neutral view on it.

There was no intention for the post ... just as a generally annoying thing to wind up the moderators! You see, I know stuff.

I'm not sure how you can be so certain you saw all of the posts, Tom, and how you can be fully aware of the intention of each of them.  Perhaps you had better explain further.

You have a PM (that you haven't replied to).

I'm just up. I can confirm that your personal message is with me, Tom, and will be fully considered.  Either you'll get a single answer in return, or a "holding" message followed by a more considered answer if it's turning out to take longer than I anticipate to look at the issues you raise and points you make in quite a long piece of text.

[grahame]

see.... kind of gone off the subject yet again...

From Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmoor_Railway under their free documentation license - page dated 29th July, so I'm sure there are some useful additions ... I'm offering this as a starter to get us back towards the right tracks for this thread.

Dartmoor Railway closed on 18th April 2008, as the operating company, ECT, decided to pull out of railways. The passenger and maintenance operations of the railway have now been put up for sale. Freight operations over the line continue however, as the route itself is owned by Aggregate Industries who maintain a railway ballast quarry at the head of the line.

The railway was unusual amongst heritage lines, as a public service is operated from Exeter to Okehampton during the Summer, by First Great Western. The line also has an as required freight service that carrying ballast from the quarry at Meldon onto the main line.

Devon County Council are running the Sunday Explorer trains between Exeter & Okehampton, every Sunday from 25th May to 21st September, during 2008. The five return trains will be run by First Great Western on behalf of the Council, according to the Council's website, and there may also be some basic facilities at Okehampton station, run by the Friends of Dartmoor Railway.

See also http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2569 for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s page on the subject of their summer trains on the lines, including fare options which I know I have already seen discussed on The Coffee Shop

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

if anyones interested i was at okehampton today and took some photos and did a bit of video...sorry if the quality aint great also has the run down to dawlish... link below

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JYPF6pysQPg

[grahame]

if anyones interested i was at okehampton today and took some photos and did a bit of video...sorry if the quality aint great also has the run down to dawlish... link below

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JYPF6pysQPg

Looks good - may I grab a couple of stills and add them into this thread - perhaps use them at the page head for a month too??

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

not a problem i will email you the pics if you want?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

if anyones interested i was at okehampton today and took some photos and did a bit of video...sorry if the quality aint great also has the run down to dawlish... link below

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JYPF6pysQPg

Looks good - may I grab a couple of stills and add them into this thread - perhaps use them at the page head for a month too??

just emailed them to you, let us know if they dont come threw

[grahame]

Many thanks ...



... as you can see, I have them, and they look great.   I'm going to suggest that we feature Okehampton for September in the top panel of the site - and perhaps tie in Tavistock as they should in the future be related.

I enjoyed watching the yourube clip at  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JYPF6pysQPg - of necessity of a lower picture quality than those excellent stills!

[The SprinterMeister]

Have heard something to the effect that the Dartmoor Railway operation has been sold. More when known.

Seems the new Operations manager is a long standing railwayman known to me personnally!

 

[signalandtelegraph]

Try this link for more info, looks like things are moving in the right direction.

http://www.friendsofdartmoorrailway.org/news.php

[Umberleigh]

Good news

Passenger services stated again over Easter on the Oke - Meldon stretch using a 'Thumper' unit.

Looks like the new owners are still up for the Yeoford interchange plus other developments:

http://www.dartmoor-railway.co.uk/

Well done to all, especially after the rather negative press coverage following ECT's pull-out.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Indeed, good news, Umberleigh - and thanks for posting on this topic! 

Just for completeness, there is another topic where this news has been posted, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3882.msg39591#msg39591

No problem with the overlap - I just want to make sure everyone's aware of what's happening! 

[The SprinterMeister]

Good news

Passenger services stated again over Easter on the Oke - Meldon stretch using a 'Thumper' unit.

Looks like the new owners are still up for the Yeoford interchange plus other developments:

http://www.dartmoor-railway.co.uk/

Well done to all, especially after the rather negative press coverage following ECT's pull-out.

I'm told the County Council have started works on the down platform at Yeoford in preperation for the services to Okehampton. There will be no FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services from Exeter this year. Change at Yeoford for some form of 25mph contrivance to Okehampton.

[vacman]

Good news

Passenger services stated again over Easter on the Oke - Meldon stretch using a 'Thumper' unit.

Looks like the new owners are still up for the Yeoford interchange plus other developments:

http://www.dartmoor-railway.co.uk/

Well done to all, especially after the rather negative press coverage following ECT's pull-out.

I'm told the County Council have started works on the down platform at Yeoford in preperation for the services to Okehampton. There will be no FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services from Exeter this year. Change at Yeoford for some form of 25mph contrivance to Okehampton.

If stock with CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking) is used then they can run up to about 50 on the Oke branch I believe?

[The SprinterMeister]

If stock with CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking) is used then they can run up to about 50 on the Oke branch I believe?

You may be right, it depends on the Safety Case. Possibly 25mph only where the line runs parrallel to the Barnstaple line and DR traincrew fully passed out on Rule Book module GE/RT8000/M1 The Hamphire unit currently being used doesn't have CDL. I have no idea what rolling stock they are proposing to run to Yeoford.

[devon_metro]

Last time I was up there there was a vast collection of mk2fs all with CDL^▸ (Central Door Locking).

I look forward to the service starting, far better than bussing it to Okehampton.