Yes they should have been. Next to no passengers. Cut steam locos for scrap, demolish buildings and bridges, lift the track, build housing on the land.
@@PreservationEnthusiast And how are we going to provide acces to that housing, yes the railway line that we just scrapped. A big part of city planning isn't building housing and the building accses it's building a railway first and then the housing so that people are used to it from day one. That's the big problem in America and why it's so car centric. Now I do agree that some railway lines were close to completely useless but Beeching did close way more lines that actually needed
Excellent journey, this part of the World is what makes our Country so appealing. I am a former Royal Marine and know this area very well, Dartmoor was my second home., I travelled from Plymouth to Exeter many times on the old line. In the early sixties I was stationed at Bickliegh and to say it was Beautiful is an understatement. Who wouldn't want to be wakened in the morning by a wild Dartmoor pony sticking its head through the window wanting some bread. I thought the clarity of this video was spot on and the music matched the vid. Well done, keep them coming
Living in Exmouth in the early 1940s, I travelled to and from Kelly College, Tavistock via this line for each term. Double tracks in those days, and steam traction. In Tavistock the line ran just behind the school, and as we lay in the dormitory we could hear the engines working hard to pull the trains up the steep incline.
Although a colorful and nicely shot video, the overlaid music got on my nerves. Much better would be straight track noise and the usual power, braking and station sounds. Streaming some accompanying subtitles describing the route, stations along with some history and the insertion of video clips would make this video much more interesting. At the beginning a map, showing the route north of Dartmoor would help the viewer get the context of the trip.
Great to see this line reopened to passengers service and as for the music, if viewers don't like it, they can alway muted it and put heavy metal on, i found the music relaxing whilst looking at the scenery.
Lovely video. For those who don't know the line, the first station the train called at is Newton St Cyres, the larger two platform station is Crediton, the train passes through Yeoford with the operational Tarka Line platform on the right. The two lines separate at what was Coleford Junction - the right hand line is the Tarka Line to Barnstaple. The actual junction is now at Crediton. The train passes through three closed stations before arriving at Okehampton - Bow, North Tawton and Sampford Courtenay (this is more mothballed than actually closed). Hourly service starts on May 15.
When I was a boy we used to travel the Plymouth -Okehampton- Exeter line and return on the Exeter - Teignmouth - Newton Abbot -Plymouth line. It was lovely.Glad to see some of the old lines re-opening. I fear that Plymouth - Okehampton has been built over now
Nice to see the Okehampton line reopened. Next is the Portishead line to reopen from Bristol Temple Meads to Portishead with new stations being built including Pill and Portishead.
Is that official? That place really does need a fast way into Bristol. I live in Plymouth and the line from the nearby village of Bere Alston (which serves trains into Plymouth) to the town of Tavistock really needs to be brought back. The only road from Tavistock to Plymouth is closed a lot due to landslides and always has traffic jams.
Devon County Council Council [1] has an explicit three-stage plan. Stage 1: Crediton - Okehampton. Open. Stage 2: Bere Alston - Tavistock. Reinstatement is progressing. Station will be located adjacent to Kings Tor Drive, The Tors, off Callington Road. There is an active campaign group, TavyRAIL, chaired by Richard Searight. Stage 3: Tavistock - Okehampton. We won't hear much about this until Stage 2 is complete, operational and successful. There are several significant impediments, notably Meldon Viaduct (a parallel structure may be necessary), Granite Way (can this and railway co-exist?) and the former Tavistock North station, in private ownership and where at least one Quant Park house will need to be demolished. [1] Led by Andrea Davis, Councillor and Jamie Hulland. Deputy Director - Planning. What an outstanding team.
I went to School in Crediton and this had lots of lovely memories for me. Remember catching the train everyday for an activities week. 1975 and seeing the Westerns at work. Our School bus crossed the line in 2 places and I always looked out on the lines. Yes the line to Exeter was once double. I saw them lift it. David and Lily Plymouth and Reading.
I understand there has been a survey of the trackbed no problems there the only problem is okehampton viaduct it's to weak to carry trains, but there is talk that the line from savernake may well be put back towards tavistock is in the pipeline,
Nice scenery, but for those that don't know the line - not very informative. The station boards are too oblique to read on a forward-facing camera. The orchestral noise - I turned the sound off!
Yes, I spotted that too at 33:40. They've done a good job, right down to the green fence. Site of future Okehampton Interchange (West Devon Transport Hub / Okehampton Parkway until May 2024) at 39:50.
Glad to see the route to Okehampton reopened to passengers again - judging by the curvature of the line - looks like it has potential for accelerating the service at some point. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Whilst I appreciate and understand all the comments about not liking the music and wanting raw cab audio, I have to say I rather enjoyed the music on this occasion, and my girlfriend who normally walks out after 5 mins when I'm watching other cab filmed runs, stayed to the end and really enjoyed it. Perhaps the audience for this isn't the rail enthusiast, but the average person in the street to attract interest in the far flung outposts of national rail. ie - marketing. Can't please all of the people all of the time eh? 🙂 Perhaps in the future they could provide a version with the original audio for the rail enthusiasts? In any case, well done national rail for a well filmed and presented video. Please do many more.
Salmon Pool (aka Salmonhutch locally) at 16:52 is a very rare example of a 'locally monitored' automatic level crossing having more than one track over it. Because each train driver has to observe this type of crossing to be clear, plus the potential to confuse road users when two trains approach in the same direction, the controls allow only one train over at a time.
Travelled the 'Barmy' line hundreds of times. Saw the Meldon Quarry gravel trains since the early seventies. Been hauled by locos to Barnstaple, 1st and 2nd generation DMU's. Really nice to see the Okey line open for passenger. I note the continued use of parallel bi-directional lines between Crediton and Coleford. Would be nice to see Yeoford platform reinstated... perhaps even the old turntable for some steam one day...?
Great scenery shot in high quality, but as others have pointed out the music is extremely distracting. Real sound and also some route information would be far better than the music. Agree about Don Coffey s videos, right mix of information in them.
@@Bigbro28 Not when you want to hear the sounds of the engine. You wouldn't find a video of a class 66, for example, spoiled by music, except for the music of the diesel engine powering along, so why spoil this video? I got fed up after the first piece of music and turned the sound off.
@@Bigbro28 That is what I'm saying. I am subscribed to the Don Coffey site as well. They are much better with the sounds of the engine and other normal rail sounds. It's the video here, with music instead that I'm objecting to. Like I said, I switched the sound off completely when I realised that the music was going to accompany the video all the way through, and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
@@chrsrwlns : If you enjoy scenery, may I suggest the Swiss videos of the ‘lorirocks777’ channel? Also there is an excellent Japanese video cab ride posted by AUNZ RAILFAN - ‘4K Cab View; Minobu Line; Full Trip, Fuji …’ (Love the views of Mt Fuji.)
Whilst I really enjoy your videos, and have watched many, I would prefer it if there was a little more detail; for example, some 'on-screen' information like which station we are approaching, any points of interest on the journey etc. and maybe some shots of the train you are on at the start and end? Thanks and regards, Eric.
Great video, good color saturation, crisp clear, and great music, though would have liked a bit of the original track sounds in the background. Thanks for the share!
I have great memories of discovering the Beer Engine at Newton St Cyres back in the mid 90's. It brewed its own beer and had the most wonderful homemade sausages. I do hope that it's still the same today. 🤞🏻😋🍻
Great video but lacking in any information on the line and its stations. Also I would much prefer to hear the acvural sounds of the train rather than someone's dubious taste in 'music'. Perhaps National Rail should take a look at Don Coffrey's excellent videos to see what I mean...
Nothing dubious about that music chum! It even has Pink Floyd overtones! Try relaxing and embrace the serenity of the journey with the harmonious ambience of the music that combines to provide an overwhelming package of fulfillment. Its enhancing combination exudes endorphins like a fine red wine. Sit back and just simply... enjoy the journey. Cheers.
Usually in situations like this the musak has been dubbed over because the people in the cab are talking and don't want their conversations to be part of the final vid, or because company policy or the conditions imposed on the recorders require it. In-transit info, yes, I agree - although you can clearly see the second stop is Crediton...
@@GaryNumeroUno it's widely appreciated that real sounds of the journey are much better than music. Music is down to personal taste anyway and not everyone likes pink Floyd.
Terrific video: from Australia, I have done all these southwest branchlines including Barnstaple (but not, of course, Okehampton). A visit is possible before the end of 2022, as UK has the best heritage steam and diesel scene worldwide by a country kilometre. Just great to see a line reopened. What would DR Beeching think? And even better to observe travellers using the train. Well done to all, including your local MPs. Hilarious to have the synopsis discuss a 'blazing sun' that in the English view is 28 degrees. Try a 40 plus summer or even autumnal day in Melbourne (we didn't have any in the summer just gone), but today (Easter Sunday) it was predicted to climb higher but only reached 24: cool for us, warm for you. Pass me the water! Love the Pommy-style boom barriers at Crediton. I assume that signal box remains attended?
They'd have to build a new viaduct and re-route the now cycle route. Reopening the line from Tavistock to Plymouth could work even better than the Exeter to Okehampton. Though with the Okehampton line going to Central Station in Queen Street Exeter it is great for college students who pack the train each end of the day. There is an argument for reopening the line out to Holsworthy and Bude on the North Cornwall coast but much of it has been built on.
That is the Tarka Line which runs towards Barnstaple - part of the Southern Region’s so called ‘Withered Arm’, and the Dartmoor Line runs parallel with the Traka until the divergence at 23:30 which used to be a junction called Coleford Junction. The Tarka has remained open while the Dartmoor connection was under heritage operation until 2019 when it was transferred to the ownership of Network Rail
True, just some long spells of disuse. Coleford Jn was removed and the parallel single lines arrangement from Crediton came into use in October 1971 while BR's Okehampton service was still running; the latter was withdrawn in June 1972. In 1997 R*******k sold the freight-only line west of the Coleford divergence to quarry owners Camas since when Dartmoor Rly/ BARS acquired it. For many years prior to the reopening project the single line was split into two Train Staff sections either side of 'Stop' boards at the ownership boundary, mainly to avoid any difficulties when NR needed to do engineering work.
They can't okehampton viaduct is to weak to carry trains a survey has been done on the trackbed no problems,there is talk the line from savernake could be put back to tavistock,
@@martyn6792 with this government there's no telling what will happen have you heard of East West rail which is Oxford to Milton Keynes then on to Bedford then to Cambridge,well it seems before to Cambridge may not happen,it's the same old story everyone wants it but not near my home so there's talk that the government may stop the funding the last I heard it was going to join north of Cambridge then there's the problem at Woburn where the barriers will close every ten minutes, Woburn was offered a bypass but the locals said it would kill the tourist trade ,so there we have it it's now a wait and see game,
@@joginns778 I was aware of the project but not the latest you have just given me. A real shame they didn't allow lines to be closed but trackbed etc had to be kept intact in its intirety. Be interesting to see if they re-open the Mark Wisbeach line for passenger traffic
Beautiful journey, and so good to see Okehampton back on the network. If only a feasible solution could be found for Meldon viaduct.. There seems to be a large amount of spare rail in the four-foot for most of the journey- are there further plans for re-doubling?
The track has been surveyed no problems there ,there is talk of track laying from gunnislake to tavistock, there's no reason why network rail can't build a concrete viaduct next to the old one at okehampton,we can all live and your it will happen,
@@Phaaschh don't go on the okehampton to Exeter for the next two weeks it's being up graded two take hourly train's I understand there's tampers working there now,
@@Phaaschh mark just think all the money that went into the dawlish sea wall could have been better spent putting the okehampton to gunnislake double track and a new viaduct back into use , have you ever been to dawlish in the winter it's dead, there's more life in a grave yard than down there,
I personally liked the music. Very relaxing and suitable to the country branchline ambience. No need for the rough and tumble noisy city nonsense; just sit back and enjoy the ride. Unfortunately too many of us in this rush rush instant gratification world have forgotten what was like to simply enjoy the journey. Cheers.
Beautifully done. What is beyond Okehampton? BTW I laughed in the remarks, about enjoying the trip in the "blazing English sun" I live in Australia, I will swap ours for yours🤣🤣
There's continuing discussion about extending this line on to Plymouth eventually. If so, it will probably be done in two stages. Firstly, a 5.5 mile extension of the Tamar Valley Line from Bere Alston to Tavistock (already assessed) and then the rest of the line from Okehampton to Meldon (used by a heritage railway until recently) and by a track extension Lydford to Tavistock. Fortunately, much of this part of the route, approximately 14 miles long, has not been built on, but extensive work may be needed to restore Meldon Viaduct for train use.
Why the Northern Ireland wasn't reopening all railway lines i.e. from Londonderry to Donegal and Fermanagh, Belfast to Armagh and Tyrone, and Downshire (County Down) to Monaghan and Cavan. Translink N.I Railways to prepared member with Network Rail and National Rail from Britain.
Very nice countryside and beautiful ride. Great to see reopened lines ! A question : speed limits signals showing mph or kph ? Thanks. Greetings and sun from southeast France.
00:00 - Exeter St.Davids: Departure. 07:28 - Newton St.Cyres 12:32 - Crediton 22:13 - Station unidentifiable(Blurred destination sign). Train passes through. 27:55 - Station unidentifiable(Blurred destination sign). Train passes through. 33:42 - Station unidentifiable(Blurred destination sign). Train passes through. 39:35 - Okehampton(Termination of trip). Three stations unidentifiable because the train passed through at speed so freeze-framing resulted in blurred station destination signs. Were those three stations disused?
@@AQUAFONIC I live in Okehampton. As part of the campaign to get this line reopened HST's were privately rented to do day trips out from the town once to London and also elsewhere, so yes HST's have run down this line.
30:40 - North Tawton | "The original platforms at North Tawton station are several feet below track level, as the line through the former station site was raised some years ago, to increase the height of the adjacent road bridge when the road was upgraded." Wikipedia 39:50 - Site of future Okehampton Interchange (West Devon Transport Hub / Okehampton Parkway until May 2024).
There last week. Great pity that there was no-one at Okehampton station in the way of staff, no atmosphere, no nothing. Exeter Central was like a mucky tip - rubbish everywhere, dirty station signs, and once again no staff - apart from a rude and mouthy young girl at the ticket barrier. All a great shame - do GWR not have a marketing department that works? No announcements on the train, no history of the line, no nothing - all such a wasted opportunity.
@@AQUAFONIC Tha k you for your message. Yes, my company could do far better than the present incumbents, if British Rail would let us - so without moaing we tried to broker a deal with them earlier this year. Pointed out the flaws in their organisation, deconstructed their management, and tried to investigate their future staff structures (they had none). We do this all the time, for Universities and businesses throughout the land, helping them to improve - but having 'called out' British Rail's uselessness and failings they told us to just go away, embarrassed to the last. No problem at all improving things from day one, with the help of Jesus Christ or not - and if you really cannot differentiate between moaning and structured dissasemblement you only embarrass yourself as well.
What a ridiculous comment. Things take time to build. Like many stations, it's an unmanned station. For your information the buffet will be open in the summer, that will completely change the place.
@@leplessis8179 Yes - this gets to the heart of the problem. There are so many people and organisations taking a slice of the cake, that just crumbs are left for Great British Railways to flourish. It is so easy to "demolish cathedrals" but what are is going to be put in there place. Actually with the pandemic Network rail have been able to accelerate projects and with new techniques and reduced box tickers and form fillers a lot is happening. 60 years of neglect and "rape and pillage"', with poor industrial relations along with new initiatives and agencies, set up to ingratiate the already rich and get hold of cheap property and land for road building and construction ( the most powerful lobbies and possibly even corrupt with their dealings (shock Horror), have made renewals and re-opening far harder and with insane costs (WIN, WIN for construction and design along with their mates in local authorities and central government of course. Climate change has stopped the rot, there is however a massive and costly catch up to be made. Exeter station has a group of volunteers I am sure, you truly need to do some charitable work there.
@@davedave6404 Do you actually feel that the High Speed Rail will get built beyond Birmingham? Like everything in the U.K. it will be over budget, and years late. Once the Southern part is built, they will say we have no more money, sorry.
Music is distracting, should have been the sounds of the railway, a true spatial experience, watched it for just a few minutes, almost like National Rail have produced it as a commercial venture and not has a railway fan video, I have disliked it as I honestly couldn’t say I liked it, Shame because it has the making of a fine video with the proper recording made on the day, Don Coffey does the best videos by far,
I wanted to know why don’t they dig a tunnel and do an extension for the main line Train so they extend the unused abandoned underground stations. Why couldn’t they use the part D78 Stock train doors on the sides and also restructure the front face of the A60 and A62 stock and remix and make them all together and also redesign them overhead line and also make them into 5 cars per unit and also having 2 Disabled Toilets on those 5 cars per unit A60 and A62 stock trains and also convert the A60 and A62 stock trains into a Scania N112, Volvo TD102KF, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Engines and also put the Loud 7-Speed Voith Gearboxes in the A60 and A62 stock and also modernise the A60 and A62 stock and make it into a 11 car per unit so it could have less doors, more tables, computers and mobile phone chargers. A Stock Trains and also having 8 Disabled Toilets on those A stock trains. why couldn’t we refurbish and modernise the waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel and make it more bigger and extend it to bank station, making it into a Triple-Track Railway Line so those 4 European countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden to convert the waterloo and city line Triple-Track Train tunnel into an High Speed train. The Third Euro tunnel Triple-Track Train line to make it 8 times better for passengers so they could go from A to B. then put the modernised 11 car per unit A Stock and put them on a bigger modernised waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel so it could go to bank station to those 4 European countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. The modernised refurbish 11 cars per unit A stock could be a High Speed The Third Triple-Track Euro Tunnel Train So it is promising and 37 times a lot more possible to do this kind of project that is OK for London Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. oh by the way, could they also tunnel the Triple-Track Railway Line so it will stop from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex so that the Passengers will go to Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden and also extend the Triple-Track Railway Line from Bank to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex Stations so that more people from there could go to Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden Easily. Why couldn't they extend the Piccadilly line and also build a brand-new underground train stations so it could go even further right up to Clapton, Wood Street and also make another brand new tunnel train stations in Chingford and could they extend the DLR. All of the classes 150, 155, 154, 117, 114, 105, 106, will be replaced by all of the Scania N112, Volvo TD102KF, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel five carriages to disabled toilets are air conditioning trains including Highams Park for extend doing roots which is the Piccadilly line and the DLR trains. Could you also convert all of the 1973 stock trains into an air-conditioned maximum speed 78 km/hours (48 MPH) re-refurbished and make it into a 8 cars per unit if that will be alright, and also extend all of the Piccadilly train stations to make more space for all of the extended 8 car per unit 1973 stock air condition trains and can you also build another Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive Companies and they can order Every 17 Octagon and Hexagon shape LNER diagram and unique small no.11 Boilers from those Countries such as Greece, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, can they make Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive speeds by up to 117MPH so you can try and test it on the Original Mainline so it will be much more safer for the Passengers to enjoy the 117MPH speed Limit only for HS2 and Channel Tunnel mainline services, if they needed 16 Carriages Per units can they use those class 55’s, class 40’s and class 43HST Diesel Locomotive’s right at the Back of those 16 Carriages Per Units so they can take over at the Back to let those Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s have a rest for those interesting Journeys Please!!, oh can you make all of those Coal Boxes’s 16 Tonnes for all of the 117MPH Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s so the Companies will Understand us PASSENGER’S!! so Please make sure that the Builders can do as they are Told!! And Please do something about these very important Professional ideas Please Prime Minister of England, Prime Minister of Sweden, Prime Minister of Germany, Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister of Poland and that Includes the Mayor of London.😉😅😅😀😀😅😀😀😅😅😀😀😀😀😀😉😉
At the end of the day, if not enough people use the lines we can't afford to run them. Railways don't maintain themselves, it's harsh but true. Dr Beeching was right to recommend many of the closures. They were losing money hand over fist and to keep them open would have bankrupted the country. Harsh but true.
@@simonpitt8145 but we didn't need to sell off the track bed.. if any was to be reinstated it in many cases is impossible..continual short sightedness from government
@@buzx1313 Good point. I believe in France when they had rail closures ( though far fewer than we have had ) they intentionally kept the track bed clear to cover any such eventuality. However, land is much more at a premium in this country as we have approximately the same population in a country only half the size, and so we can't afford to have land just sitting around doing nothing. This was the excuse used by the local authorities anyway, but it seems a bit lame to me.
In my opinion you should change camera settings. Yellow-red-orange-warm colors are in front which makes video looking not natural. Line is beautiful, full of nature. It would be a pleasure to enjoy it. But than video should be filmed differently. As it is, it does not attract me enough to watch it all. As they are all filmed this way than I will simply go for another channel. Sorry.
Good to see lines re-opening once more. Many should never have been closed!
Yes they should have been. Next to no passengers. Cut steam locos for scrap, demolish buildings and bridges, lift the track, build housing on the land.
@@PreservationEnthusiast And how are we going to provide acces to that housing, yes the railway line that we just scrapped.
A big part of city planning isn't building housing and the building accses it's building a railway first and then the housing so that people are used to it from day one. That's the big problem in America and why it's so car centric.
Now I do agree that some railway lines were close to completely useless but Beeching did close way more lines that actually needed
beautiful video, music takes away from the enjoyment of the ride
Excellent journey, this part of the World is what makes our Country so appealing. I am a former Royal Marine and know this area very well, Dartmoor was my second home., I travelled from Plymouth to Exeter many times on the old line. In the early sixties I was stationed at Bickliegh and to say it was Beautiful is an understatement. Who wouldn't want to be wakened in the morning by a wild Dartmoor pony sticking its head through the window wanting some bread. I thought the clarity of this video was spot on and the music matched the vid. Well done, keep them coming
Thank you!
Very glad it's back ,and hope it's a successful service . Well done to all that played a part in it's restoration ...
Living in Exmouth in the early 1940s, I travelled to and from Kelly College, Tavistock via this line for each term. Double tracks in those days, and steam traction. In Tavistock the line ran just behind the school, and as we lay in the dormitory we could hear the engines working hard to pull the trains up the steep incline.
Great memories. We used to play rugby and cricket against you.
Thank you very much for this. I grew up in these parts but now live overseas. It was very peaceful and nostalgic to see this.
Although a colorful and nicely shot video, the overlaid music got on my nerves. Much better would be straight track noise and the usual power, braking and station sounds. Streaming some accompanying subtitles describing the route, stations along with some history and the insertion of video clips would make this video much more interesting. At the beginning a map, showing the route north of Dartmoor would help the viewer get the context of the trip.
Hmm I see your point, how about a cup of tea and maybe a cake and a newspaper to read too, not asking too much
Great to see this line reopened to passengers service and as for the music, if viewers don't like it, they can alway muted it and put heavy metal on, i found the music relaxing whilst looking at the scenery.
Lovely video. For those who don't know the line, the first station the train called at is Newton St Cyres, the larger two platform station is Crediton, the train passes through Yeoford with the operational Tarka Line platform on the right. The two lines separate at what was Coleford Junction - the right hand line is the Tarka Line to Barnstaple. The actual junction is now at Crediton. The train passes through three closed stations before arriving at Okehampton - Bow, North Tawton and Sampford Courtenay (this is more mothballed than actually closed). Hourly service starts on May 15.
Are they planning to re-open the second platform at Yeoford? Probably not I suppose, half a result is better than none.
@@geoffbarry9540 Not in the short term Geoff. The priority is adding a parkway station on the eastern side of Okehampton.
When I was a boy we used to travel the Plymouth -Okehampton- Exeter line and return on the Exeter - Teignmouth - Newton Abbot -Plymouth line. It was lovely.Glad to see some of the old lines re-opening.
I fear that Plymouth - Okehampton has been built over now
Not all of it. They would only need to demolish a few houses in Tavistock to open it up to Bere Alston and onto Plymouth.
Nice to see the Okehampton line reopened. Next is the Portishead line to reopen from Bristol Temple Meads to Portishead with new stations being built including Pill and Portishead.
Is that official? That place really does need a fast way into Bristol. I live in Plymouth and the line from the nearby village of Bere Alston (which serves trains into Plymouth) to the town of Tavistock really needs to be brought back. The only road from Tavistock to Plymouth is closed a lot due to landslides and always has traffic jams.
@@Thedevonrainrailwayguy Totally agree
@@AH-dj8mi OH BEHAVE !! 🙄🙄🙄Moan moan
@@Thedevonrainrailwayguy Landslides? From Tavistock to Plymouth?
Love how people complain 😂
Now they need to open the line Okehampton to Tavistock
Maybe one day carry on to Plymouth
Devon County Council Council [1] has an explicit three-stage plan.
Stage 1: Crediton - Okehampton. Open.
Stage 2: Bere Alston - Tavistock. Reinstatement is progressing. Station will be located adjacent to Kings Tor Drive, The Tors, off Callington Road. There is an active campaign group, TavyRAIL, chaired by Richard Searight.
Stage 3: Tavistock - Okehampton. We won't hear much about this until Stage 2 is complete, operational and successful. There are several significant impediments, notably Meldon Viaduct (a parallel structure may be necessary), Granite Way (can this and railway co-exist?) and the former Tavistock North station, in private ownership and where at least one Quant Park house will need to be demolished.
[1] Led by Andrea Davis, Councillor and Jamie Hulland. Deputy Director - Planning. What an outstanding team.
I went to School in Crediton and this had lots of lovely memories for me.
Remember catching the train everyday for an activities week. 1975 and seeing the Westerns at work.
Our School bus crossed the line in 2 places and I always looked out on the lines. Yes the line to Exeter was once double. I saw them lift it. David and Lily Plymouth and Reading.
I understand there has been a survey of the trackbed no problems there the only problem is okehampton viaduct it's to weak to carry trains, but there is talk that the line from savernake may well be put back towards tavistock is in the pipeline,
Nice scenery, but for those that don't know the line - not very informative. The station boards are too oblique to read on a forward-facing camera. The orchestral noise - I turned the sound off!
See comment by @jake.foodiepig above.
Much better with sun behind you, well done, lovely branch line scenery.
What a delightful journey. Sampford Courtenay looks as if it was made ready to re-open. It's time it was.
Yes, I spotted that too at 33:40. They've done a good job, right down to the green fence. Site of future Okehampton Interchange (West Devon Transport Hub / Okehampton Parkway until May 2024) at 39:50.
Glad to see the route to Okehampton reopened to passengers again - judging by the curvature of the line - looks like it has potential for accelerating the service at some point. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Whilst I appreciate and understand all the comments about not liking the music and wanting raw cab audio, I have to say I rather enjoyed the music on this occasion, and my girlfriend who normally walks out after 5 mins when I'm watching other cab filmed runs, stayed to the end and really enjoyed it.
Perhaps the audience for this isn't the rail enthusiast, but the average person in the street to attract interest in the far flung outposts of national rail. ie - marketing.
Can't please all of the people all of the time eh? 🙂
Perhaps in the future they could provide a version with the original audio for the rail enthusiasts?
In any case, well done national rail for a well filmed and presented video. Please do many more.
Great to see this line reopened, hoping to travel from Topsham to Okehamton later in the year
Have fun!
Loved the music. Along with tea and biscuits it made for a lovely trip. ;-)
Salmon Pool (aka Salmonhutch locally) at 16:52 is a very rare example of a 'locally monitored' automatic level crossing having more than one track over it. Because each train driver has to observe this type of crossing to be clear, plus the potential to confuse road users when two trains approach in the same direction, the controls allow only one train over at a time.
Travelled the 'Barmy' line hundreds of times. Saw the Meldon Quarry gravel trains since the early seventies. Been hauled by locos to Barnstaple, 1st and 2nd generation DMU's. Really nice to see the Okey line open for passenger. I note the continued use of parallel bi-directional lines between Crediton and Coleford. Would be nice to see Yeoford platform reinstated... perhaps even the old turntable for some steam one day...?
Great videos and nice relaxing music. Makes me want to be a train driver with views like that.
Great scenery shot in high quality, but as others have pointed out the music is extremely distracting. Real sound and also some route information would be far better than the music. Agree about Don Coffey s videos, right mix of information in them.
Music can be good. Check out ‘Pilgrim’s Paean’ on the Kayenne54 channel. 🐨🇦🇺
@@Bigbro28 Not when you want to hear the sounds of the engine. You wouldn't find a video of a class 66, for example, spoiled by music, except for the music of the diesel engine powering along, so why spoil this video? I got fed up after the first piece of music and turned the sound off.
@@chrsrwlns : Okay, fair enough. To each his ownI guess. For ‘proper’ videos I’m subscribed to Don Coffey. 🐨🇦🇺
@@Bigbro28 That is what I'm saying. I am subscribed to the Don Coffey site as well. They are much better with the sounds of the engine and other normal rail sounds. It's the video here, with music instead that I'm objecting to. Like I said, I switched the sound off completely when I realised that the music was going to accompany the video all the way through, and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
@@chrsrwlns : If you enjoy scenery, may I suggest the Swiss videos of the ‘lorirocks777’ channel? Also there is an excellent Japanese video cab ride posted by AUNZ RAILFAN - ‘4K Cab View; Minobu Line; Full Trip, Fuji …’ (Love the views of Mt Fuji.)
Whilst I really enjoy your videos, and have watched many, I would prefer it if there was a little more detail; for example, some 'on-screen' information like which station we are approaching, any points of interest on the journey etc. and maybe some shots of the train you are on at the start and end? Thanks and regards, Eric.
Great video, good color saturation, crisp clear, and great music, though would have liked a bit of the original track sounds in the background. Thanks for the share!
I have great memories of discovering the Beer Engine at Newton St Cyres back in the mid 90's. It brewed its own beer and had the most wonderful homemade sausages. I do hope that it's still the same today. 🤞🏻😋🍻
Great video but lacking in any information on the line and its stations. Also I would much prefer to hear the acvural sounds of the train rather than someone's dubious taste in 'music'. Perhaps National Rail should take a look at Don Coffrey's excellent videos to see what I mean...
Agreed.
Nothing dubious about that music chum! It even has Pink Floyd overtones! Try relaxing and embrace the serenity of the journey with the harmonious ambience of the music that combines to provide an overwhelming package of fulfillment. Its enhancing combination exudes endorphins like a fine red wine. Sit back and just simply... enjoy the journey. Cheers.
Usually in situations like this the musak has been dubbed over because the people in the cab are talking and don't want their conversations to be part of the final vid, or because company policy or the conditions imposed on the recorders require it. In-transit info, yes, I agree - although you can clearly see the second stop is Crediton...
@@GaryNumeroUno it's widely appreciated that real sounds of the journey are much better than music. Music is down to personal taste anyway and not everyone likes pink Floyd.
Completely agree.
Superb
Very nice...
Terrific video: from Australia, I have done all these southwest branchlines including Barnstaple (but not, of course, Okehampton). A visit is possible before the end of 2022, as UK has the best heritage steam and diesel scene worldwide by a country kilometre.
Just great to see a line reopened. What would DR Beeching think? And even better to observe travellers using the train. Well done to all, including your local MPs.
Hilarious to have the synopsis discuss a 'blazing sun' that in the English view is 28 degrees. Try a 40 plus summer or even autumnal day in Melbourne (we didn't have any in the summer just gone), but today (Easter Sunday) it was predicted to climb higher but only reached 24: cool for us, warm for you. Pass me the water!
Love the Pommy-style boom barriers at Crediton. I assume that signal box remains attended?
We use miles not km.
But what about Okehampton to Plymouth via the Meldon viaduct?!
They'd have to build a new viaduct and re-route the now cycle route. Reopening the line from Tavistock to Plymouth could work even better than the Exeter to Okehampton. Though with the Okehampton line going to Central Station in Queen Street Exeter it is great for college students who pack the train each end of the day. There is an argument for reopening the line out to Holsworthy and Bude on the North Cornwall coast but much of it has been built on.
Just wonderful!
Thanks for a great video
The line from Crediton to Yeoford should allow for double track operations think how many more trains the line could serve!
Excellent professional video, with perfect background sound track. Well done National
Rail.
Perfect background.........your havin a laugh..why cant we listen to the natural sound.👇
Really? Check out this by CountryHouseGent: ruclips.net/video/zJEoJOUOtcY/видео.html
Congratulations...shame the Fareham to Gosport line in Hampshire was never restored
It would be great for the line to reopen down to Tavistock from Okehampton and then onto Plymouth.
Would be nice to see the station name captioned on the screen or on view at the station. (And no music please)
Good stuff, but should point out that up until the divergence at 23:30 the line wasn't reopened; it never closed!
That is the Tarka Line which runs towards Barnstaple - part of the Southern Region’s so called ‘Withered Arm’, and the Dartmoor Line runs parallel with the Traka until the divergence at 23:30 which used to be a junction called Coleford Junction. The Tarka has remained open while the Dartmoor connection was under heritage operation until 2019 when it was transferred to the ownership of Network Rail
True, just some long spells of disuse. Coleford Jn was removed and the parallel single lines arrangement from Crediton came into use in October 1971 while BR's Okehampton service was still running; the latter was withdrawn in June 1972. In 1997 R*******k sold the freight-only line west of the Coleford divergence to quarry owners Camas since when Dartmoor Rly/ BARS acquired it.
For many years prior to the reopening project the single line was split into two Train Staff sections either side of 'Stop' boards at the ownership boundary, mainly to avoid any difficulties when NR needed to do engineering work.
Who on earth thought this needed music?
What a lovely video, I wonder if they'll carry on a bit further
They can't okehampton viaduct is to weak to carry trains a survey has been done on the trackbed no problems,there is talk the line from savernake could be put back to tavistock,
@@joginns778 Thanks for the update, what a shame. Re-opening closed lines seems to be gaining momentum
@@martyn6792 with this government there's no telling what will happen have you heard of East West rail which is Oxford to Milton Keynes then on to Bedford then to Cambridge,well it seems before to Cambridge may not happen,it's the same old story everyone wants it but not near my home so there's talk that the government may stop the funding the last I heard it was going to join north of Cambridge then there's the problem at Woburn where the barriers will close every ten minutes, Woburn was offered a bypass but the locals said it would kill the tourist trade ,so there we have it it's now a wait and see game,
@@joginns778 I was aware of the project but not the latest you have just given me. A real shame they didn't allow lines to be closed but trackbed etc had to be kept intact in its intirety. Be interesting to see if they re-open the Mark Wisbeach line for passenger traffic
@@martyn6792 my husband an ex rail man he was a shunter at Corby Northamptonshire the Corby line goes to oke
Beautiful journey, and so good to see Okehampton back on the network. If only a feasible solution could be found for Meldon viaduct..
There seems to be a large amount of spare rail in the four-foot for most of the journey- are there further plans for re-doubling?
The track has been surveyed no problems there ,there is talk of track laying from gunnislake to tavistock, there's no reason why network rail can't build a concrete viaduct next to the old one at okehampton,we can all live and your it will happen,
@@joginns778 Good to hear. Roll on the Dawlish bypass. It will all come down to bridging the gap in an "acceptable" form.
@@Phaaschh don't go on the okehampton to Exeter for the next two weeks it's being up graded two take hourly train's I understand there's tampers working there now,
@@joginns778 Cheers for the heads-up, Jo. It'll probably be awhile before I can get down there, anyhow.
@@Phaaschh mark just think all the money that went into the dawlish sea wall could have been better spent putting the okehampton to gunnislake double track and a new viaduct back into use , have you ever been to dawlish in the winter it's dead, there's more life in a grave yard than down there,
Delightful (except for those accursed wind turbines.) I prefer the single track lines, so much more peaceful than the main, double track routes. 🇦🇺
Hermoso el tren el paisaje la musica
Desde Argentina❤
I only watched the first nine minutes as the overlaid muzak spoilt it for me. Yes, I did mute the sound, but then thought no.
I personally liked the music. Very relaxing and suitable to the country branchline ambience. No need for the rough and tumble noisy city nonsense; just sit back and enjoy the ride. Unfortunately too many of us in this rush rush instant gratification world have forgotten what was like to simply enjoy the journey. Cheers.
Beautifully done. What is beyond Okehampton? BTW I laughed in the remarks, about enjoying the trip in the "blazing English sun" I live in Australia, I will swap ours for yours🤣🤣
Meldon quarry
There's continuing discussion about extending this line on to Plymouth eventually. If so, it will probably be done in two stages. Firstly, a 5.5 mile extension of the Tamar Valley Line from Bere Alston to Tavistock (already assessed) and then the rest of the line from Okehampton to Meldon (used by a heritage railway until recently) and by a track extension Lydford to Tavistock. Fortunately, much of this part of the route, approximately 14 miles long, has not been built on, but extensive work may be needed to restore Meldon Viaduct for train use.
@@frglee There's no doubt it will happen before to long.
See the New Adlestrop Railway Atlas - gives you a complete picture of what used to be there and what still exists.
It goes up as far as Meldon quarry; Meldon viaduct is still there but is now a footpath.
Why the Northern Ireland wasn't reopening all railway lines i.e. from Londonderry to Donegal and Fermanagh, Belfast to Armagh and Tyrone, and Downshire (County Down) to Monaghan and Cavan. Translink N.I Railways to prepared member with Network Rail and National Rail from Britain.
Very nice countryside and beautiful ride.
Great to see reopened lines !
A question : speed limits signals showing mph or kph ? Thanks.
Greetings and sun from southeast France.
In the UK speed limits are miles per hour,
@@joginns778
Thank you !
@@robertgenin8086 your wellcome anytime ,have a nice bank holiday weekend,
00:00 - Exeter St.Davids: Departure.
07:28 - Newton St.Cyres
12:32 - Crediton
22:13 - Station unidentifiable(Blurred destination sign). Train passes through.
27:55 - Station unidentifiable(Blurred destination sign). Train passes through.
33:42 - Station unidentifiable(Blurred destination sign). Train passes through.
39:35 - Okehampton(Termination of trip).
Three stations unidentifiable because the train passed through at speed so freeze-framing resulted in blurred station destination signs. Were those three stations disused?
According to the New Adlestrop Atlas of railway lines, the intermediate stations are Bow, North Tawton and Sampford Courtenay. Shown as closed.
@@paulkennedy8701 That fills in some blanks. Thank you for that info.
@Neil Forbes doing someone a favour i see
@@travelingman2664 Sort of....
@@neilforbes416 some do put station names in but some dont if your'e a regular traveler you would know them back to front
Much prefer to hear the sounds of the train.
Probably not possible due to too many people yacking in the cab!
@@brrob8108 Thank you. that makes sense.
Beautiful Fall colours; when was this filmed?
I bet it would have been awesome to see the HST's running down that section :-)
NO HST they gone what century are you in ?
@@AQUAFONIC I live in Okehampton. As part of the campaign to get this line reopened HST's were privately rented to do day trips out from the town once to London and also elsewhere, so yes HST's have run down this line.
@@AQUAFONIC No they haven't. Still used in 2+4 formation from Penzance to Cardiff / Bristol. Called "Castle Class".
What a lovely, idyllic scenic route, why on earth they decided to close the line in the first place.
Thanks for the relaxing journey... Nicely done..especially the music?
0:00 - Exeter St. Davids
07:28 - Newton St. Cyres
12:32 - Crediton
22:13 - Yeoford
27:55 - Bow
??:?? - North Tawton
33:42 - Sampford Courtenay
39:35 - Okehampton
30:40 - North Tawton | "The original platforms at North Tawton station are several feet below track level, as the line through the former station site was raised some years ago, to increase the height of the adjacent road bridge when the road was upgraded." Wikipedia
39:50 - Site of future Okehampton Interchange (West Devon Transport Hub / Okehampton Parkway until May 2024).
There last week. Great pity that there was no-one at Okehampton station in the way of staff, no atmosphere, no nothing. Exeter Central was like a mucky tip - rubbish everywhere, dirty station signs, and once again no staff - apart from a rude and mouthy young girl at the ticket barrier. All a great shame - do GWR not have a marketing department that works? No announcements on the train, no history of the line, no nothing - all such a wasted opportunity.
STOP MOANING !!! Go work there yourself if you think you could do better !! Jesus Christ!
@@AQUAFONIC Tha k you for your message. Yes, my company could do far better than the present incumbents, if British Rail would let us - so without moaing we tried to broker a deal with them earlier this year. Pointed out the flaws in their organisation, deconstructed their management, and tried to investigate their future staff structures (they had none). We do this all the time, for Universities and businesses throughout the land, helping them to improve - but having 'called out' British Rail's uselessness and failings they told us to just go away, embarrassed to the last. No problem at all improving things from day one, with the help of Jesus Christ or not - and if you really cannot differentiate between moaning and structured dissasemblement you only embarrass yourself as well.
What a ridiculous comment. Things take time to build. Like many stations, it's an unmanned station. For your information the buffet will be open in the summer, that will completely change the place.
@@leplessis8179 Yes - this gets to the heart of the problem. There are so many people and organisations taking a slice of the cake, that just crumbs are left for Great British Railways to flourish. It is so easy to "demolish cathedrals" but what are is going to be put in there place. Actually with the pandemic Network rail have been able to accelerate projects and with new techniques and reduced box tickers and form fillers a lot is happening. 60 years of neglect and "rape and pillage"', with poor industrial relations along with new initiatives and agencies, set up to ingratiate the already rich and get hold of cheap property and land for road building and construction ( the most powerful lobbies and possibly even corrupt with their dealings (shock Horror), have made renewals and re-opening far harder and with insane costs (WIN, WIN for construction and design along with their mates in local authorities and central government of course. Climate change has stopped the rot, there is however a massive and costly catch up to be made. Exeter station has a group of volunteers I am sure, you truly need to do some charitable work there.
@@davedave6404 Do you actually feel that the High Speed Rail will get built beyond Birmingham? Like everything in the U.K. it will be over budget, and years late. Once the Southern part is built, they will say we have no more money, sorry.
Lovely video thank you. Nice to see rail lines being reestablished. One little niggle, the music was a tad boring.
It is quite clear from the comments that notwithstanding the excellent video quality, the soundtrack is a big NO NO.
Music is distracting, keep original sound please.
Music is distracting, should have been the sounds of the railway, a true spatial experience, watched it for just a few minutes, almost like National Rail have produced it as a commercial venture and not has a railway fan video, I have disliked it as I honestly couldn’t say I liked it, Shame because it has the making of a fine video with the proper recording made on the day, Don Coffey does the best videos by far,
Waarom die muziek ?
Very glad it's running again, look forward to going on it. Dreadful music though!
I want to hear cab noise, or nothing. Why the dreadful music, the video does not need it. Even so, a marvellous celebratory video.
I wanted to know why don’t they dig a tunnel and do an extension for the main line Train so they extend the unused abandoned underground stations.
Why couldn’t they use the part D78 Stock train doors on the sides and also restructure the front face of the A60 and A62 stock and remix and make them all together and also redesign them overhead line and also make them into 5 cars per unit and also having 2 Disabled Toilets on those 5 cars per unit A60 and A62 stock trains and also convert the A60 and A62 stock trains into a Scania N112, Volvo TD102KF, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Engines and also put the Loud 7-Speed Voith Gearboxes in the A60 and A62 stock and also modernise the A60 and A62 stock and make it into a 11 car per unit so it could have less doors, more tables, computers and mobile phone chargers.
A Stock Trains and also having 8 Disabled Toilets on those A stock trains. why couldn’t we refurbish and modernise the waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel and make it more bigger and extend it to bank station, making it into a Triple-Track Railway Line so those 4 European countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden to convert the waterloo and city line Triple-Track Train tunnel into an High Speed train.
The Third Euro tunnel Triple-Track Train line to make it 8 times better for passengers so they could go from A to B. then put the modernised 11 car per unit A Stock and put them on a bigger modernised waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel so it could go to bank station to those 4 European countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. The modernised refurbish 11 cars per unit A stock could be a High Speed The Third Triple-Track Euro Tunnel Train So it is promising and 37 times a lot more possible to do this kind of project that is OK for London Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden.
oh by the way, could they also tunnel the Triple-Track Railway Line so it will stop from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex so that the Passengers will go to Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden and also extend the Triple-Track Railway Line from Bank to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex Stations so that more people from there could go to Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden Easily.
Why couldn't they extend the Piccadilly line and also build a brand-new underground train stations so it could go even further right up to Clapton, Wood Street and also make another brand new tunnel train stations in Chingford and could they extend the DLR.
All of the classes 150, 155, 154, 117, 114, 105, 106, will be replaced by all of the Scania N112, Volvo TD102KF, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel five carriages to disabled toilets are air conditioning trains including Highams Park for extend doing roots which is the Piccadilly line and the DLR trains.
Could you also convert all of the 1973 stock trains into an air-conditioned maximum speed 78 km/hours (48 MPH) re-refurbished and make it into a 8 cars per unit if that will be alright, and also extend all of the Piccadilly train stations to make more space for all of the extended 8 car per unit 1973 stock air condition trains and can you also build another Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive Companies and they can order Every 17 Octagon and Hexagon shape LNER diagram and unique small no.11 Boilers from those Countries such as Greece, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, can they make Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive speeds by up to 117MPH so you can try and test it on the Original Mainline so it will be much more safer for the Passengers to enjoy the 117MPH speed Limit only for HS2 and Channel Tunnel mainline services, if they needed 16 Carriages Per units can they use those class 55’s, class 40’s and class 43HST Diesel Locomotive’s right at the Back of those 16 Carriages Per Units so they can take over at the Back to let those Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s have a rest for those interesting Journeys Please!!, oh can you make all of those Coal Boxes’s 16 Tonnes for all of the 117MPH Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s so the Companies will Understand us PASSENGER’S!! so Please make sure that the Builders can do as they are Told!! And Please do something about these very important Professional ideas Please Prime Minister of England, Prime Minister of Sweden, Prime Minister of Germany, Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister of Poland and that Includes the Mayor of London.😉😅😅😀😀😅😀😀😅😅😀😀😀😀😀😉😉
whhy the music .........
why oh why did we let the government close our railway infrastructure?
At the end of the day, if not enough people use the lines we can't afford to run them. Railways don't maintain themselves, it's harsh but true. Dr Beeching was right to recommend many of the closures. They were losing money hand over fist and to keep them open would have bankrupted the country. Harsh but true.
@@simonpitt8145 but we didn't need to sell off the track bed.. if any was to be reinstated it in many cases is impossible..continual short sightedness from government
@@buzx1313 Good point. I believe in France when they had rail closures ( though far fewer than we have had ) they intentionally kept the track bed clear to cover any such eventuality. However, land is much more at a premium in this country as we have approximately the same population in a country only half the size, and so we can't afford to have land just sitting around doing nothing. This was the excuse used by the local authorities anyway, but it seems a bit lame to me.
@@simonpitt8145 yes i agree because when they start to rebuild the railways they will of course take more land..
Short sighted ,and Ernst Marple, made a fortune building roads ,not everybody drives ..
Why music ? I want to hear engine noise.
Music ruins it. Just does not go with the footage whatsoever, its not some trendy video.
Another vid RUINED by unnecessary 'music' Grrrr !!
In my opinion you should change camera settings. Yellow-red-orange-warm colors are in front which makes video looking not natural.
Line is beautiful, full of nature. It would be a pleasure to enjoy it. But than video should be filmed differently.
As it is, it does not attract me enough to watch it all.
As they are all filmed this way than I will simply go for another channel.
Sorry.
The music in this video is totally unrelated to the train journey, and really irritating.
Why does everything have to have this terrible music,same with television programs and sometimes it's that bad you cannot hear what people are saying.
British tv these days thinks that everyone is deaf.
A good video but awful music, now continue on to Bere Alston
The video is unwatchable because of the music. Thumbs down.