A hugely successful Charter train ran faultlessly, crewed by Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association volunteers on 12/4/13 on the Dartmoor Railway with 190 passengers (the max. that could be seated in the 3 coach train - formed; 47375, MkII TSO 5920, ex EMU TSO S70508 and DBSO S61743) which was hauled by 47375 at 1030 from Okehampton to Coleford Jn, reversed then propelled to Meldon and finally hauled back to Okehampton, was organised by Tony Hill for the Dartmoor Society. There is a further report on this train by John Ball at the foot of the photographs
The train, after some doubt, received 'specific permission' to run from the remote mother outfit, IOWA Pacific Holdings of Chicago, following their (increasingly unpopular) recent edict that no Heritage trains are to run in 2013 on the Dartmoor and Weardale Railways run by their British American Railway Services subsidiary.
They plan to now only promote luxury 'themed' lunch, tea and dining trains running up to 4 times a week from June until October and 'Polar Express' trains in November & December, on both these lines.
Those with their feet on the ground are sceptical that these train will prove viable; certainly on the Dartmoor Railway.
It is possible, subject to satisfactory negotiations, that the DRSA may take on the running of Heritage services between Okehampton and Meldon.
They plan to now only promote luxury 'themed' lunch, tea and dining trains running up to 4 times a week from June until October and 'Polar Express' trains in November & December, on both these lines.
Those with their feet on the ground are sceptical that these train will prove viable; certainly on the Dartmoor Railway.
It is possible, subject to satisfactory negotiations, that the DRSA may take on the running of Heritage services between Okehampton and Meldon.
Dartmoor Explorer at Meldon Quarry platform. 47375 ready to haul the train back to Okehampton 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hill.
A general view of part of the extensive sidings area at Meldon Quarry- 'mothballed' since July 2011. 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hil
DBSO S61743 leads the train en route to Meldon Quarry 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hill
At the end of the days operations 47635 brings to train into the former down platform at Okehampton. 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hil
Friday 12 April
I went on the Dartmoor Railway special, and can add little to the report from Tony Hill. Both the buffet and the model railway shop at Okehampton were doing good business, but the buffet at Meldon has closed for the time being at least because the regular heritage train was needed to bring in staff and supplies. Another class 47 was in the sidings at Meldon and I saw one coach of the Thumper unit there, as well as an 08. Let's hope that something can be salvaged from this situation. I fear for the future of the line, as there has not been any stone traffic for years and it seems to me that much of the plant at Meldon has been dismantled. it is to be hoped that the dmu service from Exeter will run again this summer on Sundays. I picked up a copy of the Dartmoor National Park newsletter, which ominously made no mention of the Dartmoor public transport network apart from an item on the Haytor Hoppa from Newton Abbot to Widecombe and that part of the Moor.
Report by John Ball
I went on the Dartmoor Railway special, and can add little to the report from Tony Hill. Both the buffet and the model railway shop at Okehampton were doing good business, but the buffet at Meldon has closed for the time being at least because the regular heritage train was needed to bring in staff and supplies. Another class 47 was in the sidings at Meldon and I saw one coach of the Thumper unit there, as well as an 08. Let's hope that something can be salvaged from this situation. I fear for the future of the line, as there has not been any stone traffic for years and it seems to me that much of the plant at Meldon has been dismantled. it is to be hoped that the dmu service from Exeter will run again this summer on Sundays. I picked up a copy of the Dartmoor National Park newsletter, which ominously made no mention of the Dartmoor public transport network apart from an item on the Haytor Hoppa from Newton Abbot to Widecombe and that part of the Moor.
Report by John Ball