If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Weardale, Dartmoor and RMS for sale

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by sycamore, Jan 5, 2020.

  1. D7076

    D7076 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2007
    Messages:
    1,399
    Likes Received:
    480
    Beware of friendly fire ...
     
  2. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You mean the sidings at Meldon Quarry?
    Now the Weardale railway ownership is sorted and can run when the lockdown ends, it is known in the heritage industry the Dartmoor Railway still needs a new owner (like Jeremy Hoskins) or a trust like consortium?
    Also hopes are GWR will restart daily trains from Exeter to Oakhampton.
     
  3. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,281
    Likes Received:
    11,608
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Can you please get Mr H's name right please? It's Hosking.
     
    paullad1984 and ross like this.
  4. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks for correction
    Looking him up he has a 30% share of the Dartmouth Railway Trust, so maybe aware of what's happening, or not at the Dartmoor railway?
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2020
  5. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2015
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Honiton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    If anyone knows him they should really let him know in case of The lockdown He hasn’t heard about it
     
  6. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Looks like the local council will match the new Weardale railway owners investment to get track repairs done and steam trains working in 2021, despite some local people calling it a "white elephant".
    https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18725924.investment-weardale-railway-branded-white-elephant/

    Still sadly seems no progress at Oakhampton with whats left of the Dartmoor railway.
     
  7. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2005
    Messages:
    4,414
    Likes Received:
    2,729
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Chester le Street County Durham
    That weardale county councillor has a reputation of being opposed to anything, the later comments from a resident back that up.

    Its probably why he presides over a desert of anything, and cannot get any real investment, as well as being in the middle of nowhere.

    Know the County Councillor who has presided over the award, he is a decent bloke, and has helped us many times at our leisure facility.

    Good Luck to all, if people drive into the depths for the NYMR etc.., with decent stock and loco's, why not here, as well as getting the odd visitor from shildon???
     
  8. GWR Man.

    GWR Man. Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2014
    Messages:
    2,197
    Likes Received:
    2,413
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  9. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    50007/50049 were operating for GBRf and delivering six Mk 3s to Weardale this week.

    Patrick
     
  10. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    From the FB page all is looking well for the Weardale railway
     
    Bluenosejohn likes this.
  11. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Sadly no buyer yet for the BAR Dartmoor Railway assets and Cream tea/Christmas Diesel and Mk2 coach rolling stock, which from FB are looking neglected.

    But the line is being worked on for HS2 ballast freight and seems Government money is available for GWR to run more trains from Exeter to Okehampton in 2021, but no full announcement.

    Looks like the local supporters association are working with the council to look after Okehampton station and have some heratige rolling stock of their own, which was vandalised, but being restored.

    The line is being discussed on the general railway chat Some lost rail routes may be 'restored' thread.
     
  12. Mike Stone

    Mike Stone New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2016
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    17
    Location:
    CREWE
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The section of line from Coleford to Okehampton is reported to have transferred to Network Rail ownership.
    This would apear to be supported by the publication of a section A table in the Sectional Appendix, although the local instructions haven't been amended to match.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2020
    jnc likes this.
  13. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Still no GWR announcement about Dartmoor to Exeter services with a modern DMU for the Summer?
    I see from the Swanage thread the old Dartmoor railway rolling stock is now for sale individually (rather than the Santa and Cream Tea operation as a whole business).
    No prices published.
    Some heratige stock will remain with the local railway supporters association.
     
  14. The Black Hat

    The Black Hat Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2010
    Messages:
    860
    Likes Received:
    399
    Occupation:
    Defender of the Faith
    Location:
    51F
    Yes have seen that some stock is available from Dartmoor, the irony is that it might be useful for Weardale (or maybe Wensleydale) up here if they can be bought, brought and restored.
     
  15. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2019
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    1,562
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Alton, Hants
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    jnc likes this.
  16. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    As in the Some lost rail routes may be 'restored' thread the Exeter to Okehampton route now has funding.
    From the BBC report
    "The budget stated the investment would "provide good quality transport links between communities" as well as "improve employment opportunities" in the local area.

    Mel Stride, Conservative MP for Central Devon, said the funding meant the reopening is "now a clear reality", with people in Okehampton and the surrounding area able to "look forward to a massively improved" rail service."
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2021
    dwr7903 likes this.
  17. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,336
    Likes Received:
    418
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Of the stock for sale https://rmslocotec.com/for-sale the "thumper" DEMUs have historical roots in South England, hope they find a good home.
    It might be GWR buy and restore them for the new Okehampton service, but expect they will use modern DMUs.

    Rmslocotec are based in Bishop Auckland, but Weardale has some DMUs and some Mk3 carriages, so may not need a thumper?
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2021
  18. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2005
    Messages:
    9,623
    Likes Received:
    8,261
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Alderan !
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I presume the heritage service at Okehampton is now no more
     
  19. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2019
    Messages:
    1,173
    Likes Received:
    1,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brighton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes hopefully they will find a good home, but absolutely zero chance that GWR will be buying them!
     
  20. brennan

    brennan Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2016
    Messages:
    240
    Likes Received:
    288
    Location:
    Gloucester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A local contact tells me that most if not all of the track between Coleford Junction and Okehampton has been renewed with CWR and the track though the station has been singled to allow for the installation of security fencing. GWR plan to start regular passenger services this year and Devon County Council are working up a scheme for a new park and ride station with access from the A30. There is a rumour about Meldon quarry reopening as part of HS2 but this has not appeared in any official statement. The RMS Locotec adverts describe all stock as being stored at Meldon so it appears that everything has been moved from Okehampton station. Meldon is very open to attacks by vandals so anything stored there is very much at risk. Heritage services don't appear to part of any long term plan at this stage.
     

Share This Page