the dartmoor railway

Dartmoor Railway is the name given to a 15.5 mile long line that runs across the northern edge of Dartmoor between Meldon Quarry in the west, and Coleford, near Crediton, in the east. It is not part of the national railway network and is maintained by Dartmoor Railway with its own permanent way team. This growing railway currently has three stations – Meldon Quarry, Okehampton and Sampford Courtenay, all recreated in the former Southern Railway style. Although the line does connect to the main rail network at Crediton, and stone trains still run from the quarry to Exeter and beyond, Dartmoor Railway itself can only operate up to Coleford. There are, however, aspirations to reach the redundant platform at Yeoford station, a mile or so beyond Coleford, which would provide connections with First Great Western services running between Exeter and Barnstaple.

history of the line

The route of Dartmoor Railway is part of what once was the Southern Railway mainline from London Waterloo to Plymouth and North Cornwall. When many of the lines in the South West were closed in the 1960s, this particular stretch of line was kept open for the transport of stone ballast from the quarry to all parts of the Southern Region of British Railways. Meldon Quarry and its connecting railway line were subsequently sold off from the national network and were purchased by Aggregate Industries. That company, together with Devon County Council, Dartmoor National Park and RMS Locotec together formulated the concept of Dartmoor Railway as a means of creating a community railway and enabling visitors to reach and enjoy the National Park without the use of a car. In November 2004, the Dartmoor Railway operation was acquired by the ECT group, a community-interest company associated with various transport projects. This development enhanced the aim of the Railway to serve both the local community and visitors who come to this beautiful part of Devon.