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Dartmoor Mk2s

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crewmeal

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Sky are continually reporting from Dawlish and one of the news items came from Okehampton station. In the background there were a rake of green Mk2d coaches. What are they used for?
 
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fgwrich

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Sky are continually reporting from Dawlish and one of the news items came from Okehampton station. In the background there were a rake of green Mk2d coaches. What are they used for?

They see occasional but nowadays more seasonal use by Devon & Cornwall Railways operations at Okehampton Station. IIRC they were originally due to be used in conjunction with their DBSOs and 31s on the long proposed Exeter St James Park to Okehampton and Meldon service which has yet to get off the ground. Nowadays they just see use on a handful of days per year when the 'Dartmoor Railway' runs a loco on a special (or when the Thumper isn't working) or on the 'Polar Express' services at Christmas.

Most of them aren't in the greatest of conditions either having been stored for many years in the open either in Meldon - which isn't the driest of places, or in the Yeovil Railway Centre.
 
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47245

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Sky are continually reporting from Dawlish and one of the news items came from Okehampton station. In the background there were a rake of green Mk2d coaches. What are they used for?

47375, 47769 and 31459 are still sat there on one end of the rake waiting to go back up north.
 
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starrymarkb

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Sky are continually reporting from Dawlish and one of the news items came from Okehampton station. In the background there were a rake of green Mk2d coaches. What are they used for?

Dartmoor Railway - most recently used for Polar Express trips (basically a very expensive Santa Special with a licence from IIRC Warner Bros)
 

D1009

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Sky are continually reporting from Dawlish and one of the news items came from Okehampton station. In the background there were a rake of green Mk2d coaches. What are they used for?
I presume that's what the Dartmoor Railway use for their dining trains.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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They see occasional but nowadays more seasonal use by Devon & Cornwall Railways operations at Okehampton Station. IIRC they were originally due to be used in conjunction with their DBSOs and 31s on the long proposed Exeter St James Park to Okehampton and Meldon service which has yet to get off the ground. Nowadays they just see use on a handful of days per year when the 'Dartmoor Railway' runs a loco on a special (or when the Thumper isn't working) or on the 'Polar Express' services at Christmas.

Most of them aren't in the greatest of conditions either having been stored for many years in the open either in Meldon - which isn't the driest of places, or in the Yeovil Railway Centre.

Is it likely that there will be through rail services, Steam or Diesel from Meldon-Okehampton to Exeter, either by the Dartmoor Railway or FGW, I know some years there has been some FGW Trains and the odd special charter go through, so it is possible, I am sure it would be a popular service in the Spring/Summer at weekends.? (Or at least have trains from Meldon-Okehampton to the station on the junction on the Barnstable line, where connections could be made between Dartmoor Rail & FGW services.)
 
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richw

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Fgw operate a Sunday only service to okehampton from Exeter in conjunction with Devon council.
 

455driver

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Fgw operate a Sunday only service to okehampton from Exeter in conjunction with Devon council.

And there are serious considerations for a proper service up there, the only problems are funding and trains, other than those small details its a done deal!
 

CC 72100

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And there are serious considerations for a proper service up there, the only problems are funding and trains, other than those small details its a done deal!

I'm guessing that the problems are the 'lack' of each of the two things you mention?

(Knowing how stretched to capacity the Devon metro services are in terms of available stock.)
 

455driver

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I'm guessing that the problems are the 'lack' of each of the two things you mention?

Yes it is, I did the Okehampton route a couple of times last Summer and the trains were very busy with many people asking the guard (oops I mean Conductor) when they would be getting a proper weekday service. All he could say was that FGW were in talks with people to make it happen but there were some things to sort out. He was very professional in the way he answered all the questions.

One train we caught down to Okehampton was a 2 coach 150/1 (2+3 seating) and all seats were taken (including the drop down ones in the cycle space) and 6 people were standing up (I was stood up like a good boy ;)).

We then caught the last train back from Okehampton and that had about 50 people on board.

Very impressive numbers and indicative (I think) of the number of (normal) passengers that would use the service if it was available.

Fingers crossed for the future.
 

CC 72100

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Yes it is....

Very impressive numbers and indicative (I think) of the number of (normal) passengers that would use the service if it was available.

Fingers crossed for the future.

When I've done it the trains haven't been empty either. Not quite as many as you've described, but when I've done it it's been 30 - 50 on board as opposed to 10 - 20.

(Also, unlucky to have to enjoy the 150/1 ;) )

Unfortunately the lack of stock is something that I can't see changing for a few years yet. There'd be an argument for any extra stock to be used as reinforcements on other services in the first place, too.

And just in case anyone has come up with an answer after reading the above coupled with the title of the thread - no. The Dartmoor railway Mark 2s are NOT the answer! :lol:
 
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