Okehampton Station is the station on the Southern Railway “Withered Arm” which closed to scheduled passenger trains in 1972 and became almost derelict.
The station was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1871 initially as a terminus before the line was extended west on completion of Meldon Viaduct in 1874. The line also acted as an interchange station for the LSWR and latterly Southern Railway lines in north Devon and Cornwall.
The route through Okehampton, known to many as the Dartmoor Mainline was a strategic alternative to that provided by the former Great Western route along the vulnerable Dawlish sea wall. Unfortunately the section of between Bere Alston and Meldon closed to traffic in May 1968 severing the Dartmoor mainline. However, passenger services to Okehampton from Exeter continued to run until 1972. However, following closure to passengers the station at Okehampton fell into gentle decay.
However, as fate would have it - the Okehampton and Meldon never quite closed - thanks to freight traffic. Occasional troop (for the Army training camp) and excursion trains to Okehampton Station located high above the town and with easy access to some of the remote areas of the Dartmoor National Park.
Following sale by British Railways during the privatisation process the station and railway beyond Crediton to Okehampton and Meldon passed to Ealing Community Transport (ECT) and in partnership with Devon County Council the station reopened for a scheduled summer weekend service to Exeter, supplemented by a shuttle service to Meldon Quarry on the edge of the high moor.
The station was closed in 2008 (though the Devon CC sponsored weekend trains continued to run) as ECT put the line and station up for sale. However it was acquired by Iowa Pacific Railroad of Chicago and is now operated by a subsidiary British American Railway Services Ltd with some volunteer input. Plans are afoot for restoration of a commuter service to Exeter with park ride facilities.
Okehampton Station Goods Yard - October 1979
Okehampton Station - August 19,1982
Okehampton Station August 19, 1982.. Platform 1 (right) was the departure point for the North Cornwall line trains via Halwill Junction. Platform 2 (left) served the Plymouth via Meldon and Tavistock. Whilst platform 3 far left was the "up" London Waterloo (via Exeter) platform.
Okehampton Station signal box August 19, 1982.
Platform 1 - August 19, 1982
Life started to return to Okehampton Station in 1985. Here is an experimental Dartmoor shuttle train on August 24. The station was really quite derelict by now.
An old Pooley Weighbridge survived
The boarded up buildings are can be clearly scene here in this August 1985 view. The van was serving refereshments. Today the station buffet has reopened.
Another general view in August 1985
This story has a happy ending here is a photograph of the station in October 2010
The full set of pictures during the closed period can be found at:
http://jhlphotography.smugmug.com/R...The-Withered-Arm/Okehampton-Station-1970-80s/
To see further views of the restored Okehampton and other parts of the Dartmoor Mainline - click on this link:
http://jhlphotography.smugmug.com/Railways-and-Tramways/Dartmoor-Railway/
Quite a transformation - the goods shed is now used as a hostel for groups visiting Dartmoor.
Hope you enjoy the photos.
John
The station was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1871 initially as a terminus before the line was extended west on completion of Meldon Viaduct in 1874. The line also acted as an interchange station for the LSWR and latterly Southern Railway lines in north Devon and Cornwall.
The route through Okehampton, known to many as the Dartmoor Mainline was a strategic alternative to that provided by the former Great Western route along the vulnerable Dawlish sea wall. Unfortunately the section of between Bere Alston and Meldon closed to traffic in May 1968 severing the Dartmoor mainline. However, passenger services to Okehampton from Exeter continued to run until 1972. However, following closure to passengers the station at Okehampton fell into gentle decay.
However, as fate would have it - the Okehampton and Meldon never quite closed - thanks to freight traffic. Occasional troop (for the Army training camp) and excursion trains to Okehampton Station located high above the town and with easy access to some of the remote areas of the Dartmoor National Park.
Following sale by British Railways during the privatisation process the station and railway beyond Crediton to Okehampton and Meldon passed to Ealing Community Transport (ECT) and in partnership with Devon County Council the station reopened for a scheduled summer weekend service to Exeter, supplemented by a shuttle service to Meldon Quarry on the edge of the high moor.
The station was closed in 2008 (though the Devon CC sponsored weekend trains continued to run) as ECT put the line and station up for sale. However it was acquired by Iowa Pacific Railroad of Chicago and is now operated by a subsidiary British American Railway Services Ltd with some volunteer input. Plans are afoot for restoration of a commuter service to Exeter with park ride facilities.
Okehampton Station Goods Yard - October 1979
Okehampton Station - August 19,1982
Okehampton Station August 19, 1982.. Platform 1 (right) was the departure point for the North Cornwall line trains via Halwill Junction. Platform 2 (left) served the Plymouth via Meldon and Tavistock. Whilst platform 3 far left was the "up" London Waterloo (via Exeter) platform.
Okehampton Station signal box August 19, 1982.
Platform 1 - August 19, 1982
Life started to return to Okehampton Station in 1985. Here is an experimental Dartmoor shuttle train on August 24. The station was really quite derelict by now.
An old Pooley Weighbridge survived
The boarded up buildings are can be clearly scene here in this August 1985 view. The van was serving refereshments. Today the station buffet has reopened.
Another general view in August 1985
This story has a happy ending here is a photograph of the station in October 2010
The full set of pictures during the closed period can be found at:
http://jhlphotography.smugmug.com/R...The-Withered-Arm/Okehampton-Station-1970-80s/
To see further views of the restored Okehampton and other parts of the Dartmoor Mainline - click on this link:
http://jhlphotography.smugmug.com/Railways-and-Tramways/Dartmoor-Railway/
Quite a transformation - the goods shed is now used as a hostel for groups visiting Dartmoor.
Hope you enjoy the photos.
John
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