As Duty Manager that day I think I talked to Sid and would like to explain that the Thumper operating at Dartmoor railway at present is a Class 205 unit 1118 not a Class 201. There is lots of info re Thumpers and this unit on DRSA website. This site is highly recommended.
http://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/resources
1118 is a hybrid of 1118 and 1129 as both were involved in the Cowden rail crash in 1994 resulting in a number of carriages being scrapped and BR combined the units under the 1118 number. DR has 2 other Class 205 units at Meldon, being 1132 awaiting service and 1128 that is stored.
I was going to e mail some time ago re the great little article on Crediton signal box. The only thing it did not refer to was the fact that it retains the token for the Crediton-Okehampton section (pictures are on DRSA website of the key token). All movements of this token are recorded at CN SB. Normally signed out to DR for engineers train Monday to Friday and then returned. Duty Managers collect and sign for it on Saturdays to enable the Thumper services to run. Presently it is returned Sat night to enable FGW services to run on Sunday from Exeter. The Okehampton -Meldon token is retained at Okehampton and is in the form of a staff.
For the period of the Polar Express season both sections are combined into CN-MN and the staff for that is retained at ON to enable easier running of services. This has been added to Crediton box article. Apologies for the long e mail Paul Martin
Apologies not needed and many thanks for the correction and the bonus information about the token and staff operation.
http://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/resources
1118 is a hybrid of 1118 and 1129 as both were involved in the Cowden rail crash in 1994 resulting in a number of carriages being scrapped and BR combined the units under the 1118 number. DR has 2 other Class 205 units at Meldon, being 1132 awaiting service and 1128 that is stored.
I was going to e mail some time ago re the great little article on Crediton signal box. The only thing it did not refer to was the fact that it retains the token for the Crediton-Okehampton section (pictures are on DRSA website of the key token). All movements of this token are recorded at CN SB. Normally signed out to DR for engineers train Monday to Friday and then returned. Duty Managers collect and sign for it on Saturdays to enable the Thumper services to run. Presently it is returned Sat night to enable FGW services to run on Sunday from Exeter. The Okehampton -Meldon token is retained at Okehampton and is in the form of a staff.
For the period of the Polar Express season both sections are combined into CN-MN and the staff for that is retained at ON to enable easier running of services. This has been added to Crediton box article. Apologies for the long e mail Paul Martin
Apologies not needed and many thanks for the correction and the bonus information about the token and staff operation.
Sid actually sent us three pictures of the tumper at Okehampton. Two were previous included with the entry 27th June Copyright Sid Sponheimer