Sir Felix Pole
Member
Realtime Trains now has the timings from 12th December - 43-45 mins to Exeter Central is perhaps a tad disappointing. More services running through to and from Central, than I was expecting, however.
Cream train first.
Argh..curses, Devon!Cream train first.
That's the real reason for the closure of the line, so that cream and jam trains from Gunnislake need to reverse at Bere Alston before causing significant offence to the local community. Prior to that, with direct running via Okehampton the politics was beyond comprehension!They would have to remarshal the consist at the border obviously!
Realtime Trains now has the timings from 12th December - 43-45 mins to Exeter Central is perhaps a tad disappointing. More services running through to and from Central, than I was expecting, however.
Neither, they would be passenger rated trafficBut will the jam be in the top half or the bottom half of the freight container?
Such a tasty derailment is very unlikely now that the track has been completely relaid, however since it is single track, a head on collision between separate jam and cream trains is entirely possible.Imagine the (tasty) mess if a wagon derailed...
(Anyway - I'll leave you knowledgeable folk to get back to your conversations )
The Okehampton - Plymouth line runs entirely within Devon. Bere Alston - Gunnislake only passes into Cornwall when crossing the River Tamar on the Calstock Viaduct.They would have to remarshal the consist at the border obviously!
The L&SWR it seems were experts in the politics of cream tea trains. By requiring a reversal at Plymouth, they were able to ensure that the trains ran cream first through Devon, but were jam first when they entered Cornwall. For such traffic to run via Brunel’s route without a reversal would be grossly offensive to both Devon and Cornwall. It’s not beyond comprehension that it could also suffer seawater contamination at Dawlish!That's the real reason for the closure of the line, so that cream and jam trains from Gunnislake need to reverse at Bere Alston before causing significant offence to the local community. Prior to that, with direct running via Okehampton the politics was beyond comprehension!
Passive provision for Okehampton Parkway? as is Marsh Barton in the Paignton-Exmouth service.I wonder if that's the actual timings or just published for " slack" and allowing the track to bed in - or what ever
Such a tasty derailment is very unlikely now that the track has been completely relaid, however since it is single track, a head on collision between separate jam and cream trains is entirely possible.
Work to reopen the Dartmoor Line by the end of the year is continuing to progress well with this latest phase of work involving trains travelling the 14 mile stretch of railway to test out the newly laid track.
The increased activity starts from next week and during this time the two pedestrian level crossings – which are in the process of being upgraded – will be temporarily closed for safety reasons. The other four user worked level crossings will remain open and are only accessible by authorised farmers and their representatives.
Network Rail’s team of engineers are continuing with the remaining work on the Dartmoor Line including installing the new GSM-R masts (the railway’s mobile communications system), completing the necessary drainage work, installing fencing and repairing some of the bridges. This follows the confirmation of government funding in March and the successful relaying of the 11 miles of new track, 24,000 sleepers and 29,000 tonnes of ballast in May.
Hopes for a heritage operation working off platform 1 to Meldon sadly rather unlikely for the foreseeable then?The Supporters' Association are reporting today that the turnout to Platform 2 at the Meldon end of Okehampton station has been removed and plain-lined.
Not so much left there now I believe, the link below may help although I‘m not certain how often it gets updated?Just out of interest how much old stock is still stored in the old quarry?
Not so much left there now I believe, the link below may help although I‘m not certain how often it gets updated?
Stocklist - Dartmoor Railway Association, Okehampton, Devon
www.dartmoor-railway-association.org
Oct 6 2021. View from the old A30 bridge, looking towards the station. This was a tree tunnel, with the tops touching from both sides. The line was barely visible in summertime. Perhaps they will do the other side as well. It must be 50 odd years since it was last like this. Now if only existing lines could get this level of vegetation management........ View attachment 103628
I hope that left hand bank is secure. Looks rather vulnerable to landslips if you ask me.Oct 6 2021. View from the old A30 bridge, looking towards the station. This was a tree tunnel, with the tops touching from both sides. The line was barely visible in summertime. Perhaps they will do the other side as well. It must be 50 odd years since it was last like this. Now if only existing lines could get this level of vegetation management........ View attachment 103628
I hope that left hand bank is secure. Looks rather vulnerable to landslips if you ask me.
I hope you are right but I know from experience of a slope whilst being cleared of tress actually slipped.No more vulnerable than it was before the vegetation was removed. And rather less vulnerable to leaves on the line (still attached to the trees).
I hope you are right but I know from experience of a slope whilst being cleared of tress actually slipped.
I hope you are right but I know from experience of a slope whilst being cleared of tress actually slipped.