Dartmoor Railway

[support-uk-rail]

The Dartmoor Railway have long been planning to move to the unused platform at Yeoford and seem to be making a move on this promise now.

Although it was supposed to be up and running by the end of May, but the excuse was that DR could not finalise arrangements with Network Rail. Yet, the platform they intend to use is no more worthy than it was before any plans were made. There isn't even any public access to it.

I live only a few miles away from Yeoford, and I keep an eye on the progress that isn't happening. It seems that DR may be funding this with no idea what they are doing. I spoke to a member of staff in Okehampton who was not sure about the current situation. The usual Sunday Rover, a First-operated summer sunday service between Exeter and Okehampton is running, but nothing else. Other than an irregular ballast train heading for Meldon, this is the only traffic on the line.

I'm still waiting...
Does anyone have any information?
Thanks.

 

[Turbostar]

I thought NR was supposed to be taking the line over in the hopefully not-too-distant future, eventually linking from Exeter to Tavistock, in order to link onto the new link from Plymouth to Tavistock??? Like you said, it sounds like Dartmoor Railway have got no idea what they're doing, & it'll probably get to a stage whereas they hold up their hands & say things are going not like they should be... & they're financially in trouble, then it'll be back to square one again.

 

[support-uk-rail]

Your right about the financial stuff. It's just been taken over by an American company which seems its funding out of its arse. The last one went bankrupt.

I really can't see them opening up to Plymouth, because that would mean buying back LOADS of land they sold off 40-50 years ago. Also, it would mean a lot of resignalling probably; the line right now, which is Tarka (Exeter-Barnstaple) is two lines from Exeter to Crediton then a single line from Crediton to Eggesford and then a two line back to Barnstaple. Between Crediton and Okehampton is a single line used by EWS or occasionally Freightliner serving ballast to Meldon and the Sunday Rover FGW service, but it's virtually unused. This second line would have to be completely redone with points and signals and extended to Eggesford for it to become any sort of mainline operation.

 

[Bush]

I Volunteer there as a Diesel & Carriage Fitter/Restorer and also do the Safety exams for the rolling stock there for 5 years now, so I feel I can answer your questions.

The platform will need some considerable rebuilding, and whilst talks with Network Rail are ongoing I cannot comment on them as I just stick to providing Rolling Stock for the railway.
You cannot have volunteers working adjacent a operational Network Rail line, once the line from Coleford Junction to the South end of Yeoford platform is transferred over then the contractors will start rebuilding the platform.

Yes we do know what we're doing, plans and works are in hand. Fianance is there, but we're dealing with NR here, and it all takes time. We WILL be getting there.

We operate between Meldon & Sampford Courtenay on Saturdays and Meldon & Okehampton on Sundays. Perhaps you'd like to help out on the carriages at Meldon,? We start working on the mk2 stock for Yeoford at the end of the year. They need bodywork repairs/repaint and some electrical work.

The Dartmoor Railway have long been planning to move to the unused platform at Yeoford and seem to be making a move on this promise now.

Although it was supposed to be up and running by the end of May, but the excuse was that DR could not finalise arrangements with Network Rail. Yet, the platform they intend to use is no more worthy than it was before any plans were made. There isn't even any public access to it.

I live only a few miles away from Yeoford, and I keep an eye on the progress that isn't happening. It seems that DR may be funding this with no idea what they are doing. I spoke to a member of staff in Okehampton who was not sure about the current situation. The usual Sunday Rover, a First-operated summer sunday service between Exeter and Okehampton is running, but nothing else. Other than an irregular ballast train heading for Meldon, this is the only traffic on the line.

I'm still waiting...
Does anyone have any information?
Thanks.

 

[support-uk-rail]

Fairplay, and thanks for your decent reply.

But these 'plans' and ideas started years ago with no progress. Also, I don't see how they will access the abandoned platform. I doubt the current owner will allow them constant access of his land onto road, and the bridge overhead is narrow, so you'd have to build a pavement or something.....

Yeah I'm willing to volunteer wherever I can. Though I'm not ALWAYS free (coursework, exams, work, band is quite a portion of my life). Ideally I want to make it to onboard ticket inspector, or like, ASSISTANT conductor or equivilent. I dunno.

Also, I read somewhere about plans to develop it as an actual commuter line (Yeoford-Okehampton/Meldon) as well as heritage. Is this true?

Cheers.