Dartmoor Railway
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The Dartmoor Railway was a heritage railway based at Okehampton in Devon. The line is currently 15 miles long, and has running powers from Meldon through to Coleford Junction on the 'Tarka' (Exeter to Barnstaple) line. Trains were operated by heritage diesel locomotives in push-pull, usually 'top and tail', mode with former Southern Region electrical multiple units. A steam service did operate on certain days with non-electric stock, currently (02/07) BR Mk1 Rosemary and a Directors' Saloon as the driving trailer.
The route was originally part of the London and South Western Railway line from Exeter to Plymouth, which opened in stages from 1865-79. The line beyond Meldon was closed by British Rail in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts.
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 carries ballast from the quarry at Meldon.
Dartmoor Railway closed on 18th April 2008, as the operating company, ECT, decided to pull out of railways.[1] 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.
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.
Contents |
[edit] Stations
- Meldon Quarry
- Okehampton
- Sampford Courtenay
[edit] Locomotives
- Steam Locomotives
- Hunslet 0-6-0ST no. 3738 Darfield No 1. Operational and used on steam operating days, on hire from the Llangollen Railway.
- Diesel Locomotives
- Diesel Multiple Units
- BR Class 205 units 205028 and 205032
- Electrical Multiple Units
