24grange

But if Aggregates have sold the whole line ( presumably for HS2 traffic) to access the quarry at some point- that means its all "Network Rail" and that means no heritage stuff ( although they have the extended siding on the former down platform maybe)? Its not clear - but I can't find an example of heritage stock running on Network Rail without a ton of safety stuff? which the heritage won't be able/afford to do. The 08, I'm sure isn't main line certified for a start.

I guess that's the end of the heritage set up . Network Rail won't let any stock that's not been "safety cased" to death near their railway?- New yellow " Keep back" line on Okehampton's platform? I doubt any of the spec on Okehampton platforms ( or the station itself) is up to Network rail safety spec ? - Do they do "grandfathers" rights on anything - like the footbridge for example?

Ah, Didn't realise that - make sense now

Hi, I've seen a picture in one of the magazines of a rail replacement train at Crediton heading towards the Okehampton Branch. I've also seen a youtube clip of replacement rails alongside long sections of the branch ready to be replaced. Now I appreciate that the branch is due to open " in 2021" and there have been rumours of stone trains running from the quarry in connection with HS2.- I thought all the equipment at the quarry had been removed and it was abandoned ? Now from Coleford Junction to the quarry used to be private property ( aggregates?) - so what are network rail doing relaying track on a branch they do not own? It would be like Network rail deciding to relay the great central? Very nice of them and all - but it isn't network rail property ? Or has it now been transferred from Aggregates to Network rail ready for the grand reopening in 2021? Confused as usual!!

Exmouth - Lovely old station http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9oTslXzpqec/SPmBoojfwuI/AAAAAAAADUc/sUa_MzNlWlw/s400/Exem2.jpg demolished to make way for this https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=54C19C3292FBA7B56D861ED1A33E5D241D785089&thid=OIP.B8c7nkdR6xm7qQBXrbLmigEsDh&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs0.geograph.org.uk%2Fgeophotos%2F03%2F30%2F08%2F3300840_a60a296b.jpg&exph=480&expw=640&q=exmouth+Railway+station&selectedindex=13&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,6 It was demolished to make way for a relief road from the docks, so that lorries didn't have to drive through the town centre. 6 months after the relief road opened, the docks closed - no more lorries!

Is there a standard length for a container train in the UK? Do they run as the equivalent of a "trip" working or similar, which would cut down on the overall length? You could have one full length and a "trip" working on the other line maybe? Good work ! Love the weathering

In Devon ( mainly Exmouth/Exeter) we used to call them "Bugs"

Happy New Year David ! That explains it ! My Mum didn't work, so we only had my Dad's income, I'm younger than you,( born 1960) so couldn't afford a "proper" camera and film until I went to Art College in 1979 - still remember the glee in getting back my first yellow plastic box of Kodak slides ( as well as the smell!) These days everyone has a camera on their phone and they don't even think about it, but what to take photos of on the last few frames of a roll was a big decision!! Wonderful work! Best

Not being funny, your image collection is fantastic. But how on earth did you manage to afford all the film and processing? My Dad was a Biology teacher and all we could afford were a few 12 exposure B&W rolls per year ! You must have spent most of your combined disposable income on film stock and processing? Good job that you did mind! The collection is superb!

How much was that 450 worth ! Jeepers - looks good, but I just couldn't do it to a model that price! Although saying that I wonder if its now worth more, if you wanted to sell it on, as its now famous, having run over Michael and been customized by James !! - a mini work of art which should appreciate !!! :-)

I wasn't criticising,but I just pointing out that everyone who follows this thread think loftus is a fantastic layout and( although I appreciate the reasons)was sad at missing recent updates,that's all.

Same thing happened with Wells-Green TMD, all of a sudden no more updates. Shame

Coming home on the Exmouth train today, at St Davids, at 17:18 was surprised and pleased to see 2 Freightliner 66's with a massive load of Railtrack ballast wagons heading west down the mainline - really weird to see an actual train heading west, rather than the units, which sulk on the otherside of the bridge before being let back into the depot. Guess this is new ballast for the breach?

Meldon Quarry is shut , I think - permanently I believe as a lot of equipment has been removed, so unlike the previous time when it was "mothballed" for a while. I think this time it is closed. Lots of stone still there, but not economic to bring out - cheaper to bring it by ship from Scotland I hear. The train could be DCR, maybe moving locos to or from store at the Quarry? -

OK - Thanks, didn't appreciate Exeter's Signal Boxes reach that far.

1 track wasn't that long ago on the Viaduct, they changed the headshunt from the viaduct to running to the left of it sometime in the 1990's I think - The Meldon Buffet car sits at the end of it now. In the late 1980's/early 1990's I saw a class 50 with a rake of dogfish on the viaduct itself - so it must have been "passed" for loco's less that 25 years ago ! All the decking on top was replaced when the viaduct was restored in the 2000's for Sustrans - whether this was just cosmetic purposes or not I do not know. I heard the MP for Dawlish getting all excited saying how the railway must remain in Dawlish and that It mustnt be diverted otherwise people in Newton Abbot, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth have no rail service. I think the point everyone is making is that Bere Alston, Tavistock, Okehampton Credition would be a diversion route only ( Hopefully serviced by local services tavistock - Plymouth and Okehampton - Exeter) and not replacing the line through Dawlish and closing it, but having the Okehampton - bere Alston section bit route as "emergency diversion" one. I think Bere Alston to Meldon is 19 miles - if they rebuild back to Tavistock it drops to 13 I think. I commute from Exmouth To Plymouth. Average this week is 3 Hours, train to Exeter St Davids. The Direct Bus to Plymouth leaves, just as the Exmouth Train arrives at Platform 1 ( Good timing, I watched it go! ) next direct bus in one hour, so Bus to Newton Abbot, wait 40 minutes, Bus to Plymouth, stopping at Totnes and Ivybridge. If it wasn't for my season ticket, I'd go by car. Anyone know why trains are not going between Plymouth and Newton Abbot ? Track damage? lack of crews?