Could Meldon Quarry stone trains start again?

[zwk500]

Wouldn’t that make use of rail from the quarry less attractive if 75% of the day is banned?

100% yes. But sometimes the needs of different users of the railway aren't equally balanced.

 

[trainmania100]

. I'd be surprised if mainline locos made it this far in 2021.

I believe they did. I can't actually believe how quickly the stuff grew. There's pictures of 56s at Meldon with a sleeper train in one of gltje links

 

[class442]

The good news is that the movements will require less time than they used to, because of the improvement in line speed east of Okehampton.

For Heavy Axle Weight trains (exceeding the line's RA), which I imagine trains out the quarry will be, they're limited to 20/30mph along the route.

 

[Cowley]

I’ve separated this into a new thread now. Obviously we prefer there to be a proper article with a quote if possible, so if anyone has anything could you please let us know.

Thanks

 

[Sun Chariot]

Thanks @Cowley - given your location, do you have any 80's / early 90's photos of Meldon quarry in use and/or Cromptons on the BR ballast workings? Just to tempt us, like...

 

[Cowley]

Thanks @Cowley - given your location, do you have any 80's / early 90's photos of Meldon quarry in use and/or Cromptons on the BR ballast workings? Just to tempt us, like...

Unfortunately not as I wasn’t much of a photograph taker. Lots of good memories though!

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Thanks @Cowley - given your location, do you have any 80's / early 90's photos of Meldon quarry in use and/or Cromptons on the BR ballast workings? Just to tempt us, like...

Cornwall Railway Soc. have a good selection of shots of Meldon Quarry in action - scroll right down to bottom.

Meldon Quarry

 

[Sun Chariot]

Cornwall Railway Soc. have a good selection of shots of Meldon Quarry in action - scroll right down to bottom.

Meldon Quarry

Marvellous stuff, thanks.
My south west forays were focused on ECC workings and Cornish semaphores. I rue not getting a 35mm shot of the Meldon services

 

[grahamshevlin]

Was trying to find the photos I took without any luck but this is the Google Streetview from last summer from Tors Rd over bridge. The ex railway is to the
left of the cycle path. I'd be surprised if mainline locos made it this far in 2021. About half of the length is worn out (minimum head) bullhead rail with very rotten wooden sleepers. When I walked alongside there were areas the track was completely flooded. If you click the other dates at the bottom you can see how the growth has progressed.

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

I recall Network Rail reporting that some of the track that they replaced for the passenger service upgrades was nearly 100 years old. I would not be surprised if the track from Okehampton up to Meldon Quarry is of similar age.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Had a cycle around Okehampton / Meldon Quarry today. The new company, imaginatively called 'Meldon Aggregates' has started work although some of the signs pointing the way were wrongly spelt 'Melden'! JCBs were demolishing some of the buildings and dumper trucks have created a new drift road into the workings. I suspect they will probably use the already blasted material rather than go for new extraction.

No sign of any vegetation clearance on the line from Okehampton - yes it is overgrown but looks recoverable since last being used in 2020. The access road from the old A30 has been patched however - I suspect stone is going out by road.

The Cl 08 shuter is still safely ensconced in its shed - I'm old enough to member when it housed a USA tank, the last BR steam loco to work in Devon.

 

[Amlag]

Meldon Quarry, now trading as Meldon Aggregates, where the lorry weighbridge has now been reactivated will officially be producing and selling stone ( but not railway ballast) for various uses locally in a couple weeks time, for despatch by road.
With coincidentally the forthcoming closure of the rail served aggregate storage and road distribution depot in Exeter Riverside yard ( which recently, after many years, received its last trainload of stone from Whatley Quarry near Frome ) local business and lorry hauliers will be wanting alternative sources of supply and Meldon Quarry could again, if the price is right, be well placed to supply stone for use in Devon if not further afield.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Meldon Quarry, now trading as Meldon Aggregates, where the lorry weighbridge has now been reactivated will officially be producing and selling stone ( but not railway ballast) for various uses locally in a couple weeks time, for despatch by road.
With coincidentally the forthcoming closure of the rail served aggregate storage and road distribution depot in Exeter Riverside yard ( which recently, after many years, received its last trainload of stone from Whatley Quarry near Frome ) local business and lorry hauliers will be wanting alternative sources of supply and Meldon Quarry could again, if the price is right, be well placed to supply stone for use in Devon if not further afield.

Yes, I had another look last week and there is a great pile of stone now available for dispatch. Unfortunately, a bit of the exchange sidings and pointwork has recently been lifted to make access easier, so any stone going out by rail looks to be very unlikely.

 

[uglymonkey]

Virtually impossible I would have thought. There is nothing there now, it's just an overgrown hole in the ground. I wouldn't try a train though all that overgrowth anyway.

 

[Class15]

Hang on, this doesn’t really line up with the ‘95% must go by rail’ figure in post #21. Something must be off here.

 

[uglymonkey]

Does Network rail own all the track up to the buffer stops at the quarry? Or only to the end of Okehampton platform? It may be too expensive for the quarry company to renew the track , therefore some tarmac and lorry/tipper hire is more cheaper?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Does Network rail own all the track up to the buffer stops at the quarry? Or only to the end of Okehampton platform? It may be too expensive for the quarry company to renew the track , therefore some tarmac and lorry/tipper hire is more cheaper?

Yes, NR own the track up to the quarry and the run-round loop there. The sidings themselves are still owned by the quarry.

Here is a very recent video of the track from Okehampton and activity at the quarry. Just wishful thinking, however, from the YouTuber unfortunately.

Meldon

DRA

Dartmoor Rly Association are reporting, however, that Meldon Aggregates are working with Network Rail to reopen the line from Okehampton.

Meldon Aggregates is in the process, with Network Rail, of reopening the line from Meldon to Okehampton.

DRA has been given access to work on our stock.

 

[Class15]

Excellent news. Possibly to Exeter Riverside considering the loss of the Mendip train to there?

 

[Hotshoe]

Meldon BR Quarry has just started working again. The company is trading under the name Meldon Aggregates and signs have gone up locally in the last few weeks. The quarry is active and they have had at least one blast. I cannot comment on the rail link other than to say what has been said on facebook in that they will send stone 'up country' hopefully by rail where they will get a higher price. Of the English quarries with existing planning consent they have very high quality stone for making tarmac. Their stone takes longer to polish so makes an excellent grip surface.