RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted December 11, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 11, 2013 Here's an unusual and definitely 'one-off' chance for a bit of rare 'trackage' coming up in Devon. As many people know, the Barnstaple branch and the line to Okehampton and Meldon run out from Crediton as two separate single lines, running parallel for a few miles until the site of the former Coleford Junction, where the Meldon line diverges away to the left, running via Sampford Courtenay and Okehampton to it's current terminus at Meldon Quarry (aka the Dartmoor Railway). FGW services for Barnstaple depart from the Down platform at Crediton (the one opposite the main station buildings with the excellent tea rooms), and then cross over to the North Devon single line just north of the signal box. From Christmas Eve coming, until the evening of Saturday 04th January 2014, NR is relaying just over a mile of the single North Devon line, from a point just north of the Crediton crossovers, to a location to the south of Yeoford. Over Christmas Day and Boxing Day, there are, of course, no services and the relaying work will start in unimpeded fashion, but from the first normal, booked service on the morning of Friday 27/12/13, FGW will be running a normal timetable between Exeter and Barnstaple. How will this be done, if the North Devon single line is under possession and being re-laid?! Well, just to the north of the end of the relaying site, the Okehampton line will be temporarily severed, and slewed across to the North Devon line, which itself will be severed from the bit being relaid. Thus down direction Barnstaple services will depart from Crediton and will run on what is normally the Okehampton line for about a mile and a half, before traversing the slew and regaining their normal formation. Whilst trains are running during the next 9 days, the relaying gang will be getting on with the renewal, behind safety fences and also at night. They will then take a complete blockade of the whole line on Sunday 05th January, having finished the relaying, to remove the slew and restore the Barnstaple single line to it's normal configuration. The Okehampton line will be restored shortly afterwards. I appreciate that it is possible to travel by FGW sprinter units over the Okehampton line on Summer Sundays, but these don't cross over to the North Devon line just to the south of Yeoford! The configuration of the slew will make it possible to use the existing, operational platform at Yeoford. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted December 13, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2013 There are a total of four ballast trains only on this job, top and tailed with class 66s, one per night, load 10 autohoppers. They don't start running until after Christmas (but before New Year - I'll have to check the exact dates etc. and get back to you). Best place to see them is probably Crediton station itself, perhaps from the footbridge? There are also a couple of road overbridges further along, but I'd need to check if they are not beyond the relaying site. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Congratulations to all concerned for a bit of lateral thinking (literally!) to keep the trains running during what would otherwise be a total blockade and bus substitution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Evening Captain, A quick question about how are the trains going to be 'signalled'. I assume pilotman to/ from Eggesford because they obviously wont be able to obtain the Crediton to Eggesford token as they will be using the Okehampton line away from Crediton. This has been the subject of much debate in the messroom and the answer has not been answered yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted December 14, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2013 Evening Captain, A quick question about how are the trains going to be 'signalled'. I assume pilotman to/ from Eggesford because they obviously wont be able to obtain the Crediton to Eggesford token as they will be using the Okehampton line away from Crediton. This has been the subject of much debate in the messroom and the answer has not been answered yet. Yes, Working by Pilotman will be in operation between Crediton and Eggesford, and CN4 signal should not be cleared at Crediton for down trains. The Eggesford token will be secured out of use. The Okehampton Train Staff will be temporarily re-plated to apply to the Dartmoor Railway infrastructure only, and issued to them 'for the duration', to enable their own internal workings to carry on operating, and temporary sleeper stop blocks will be placed in the appropriate places, to supplement the normal possession protection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterbournecm Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Fascinating, and a real bit of railway work there mate. Congrats to all concerned. (Always available after 27th for a bit of P2 working!!). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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