Issue 2 - March 2020

The Dartmoor Pony Express

Chairman’s Report experience to the Association in practical ways. Whilst we cannot meet physically it (Originally prepared for the cancelled is important that we keep our members in March 24th DRSA committee meeting) touch with each other and the website and Due to the coronavirus outbreak the usual the occasional email or postal updates help pattern of working both for DRSA and for us with this. railway heritage sites across the country We will need to plan so that we can move has changed as Government restrictions quickly to get volunteers together again have been implemented. For DRSA it once the emergency is over. means that our volunteers and members cannot gather together for meetings or for Whether we can hold the AGM in June is working parties. uncertain at this stage and our options will become clearer in the coming weeks. We The National Rail Network has moved to a will keep this under review. Sunday service as passenger numbers continue to fall. The emergency situation Rev. Philip Wagstaff has had an impact on the timing of decisions around the future direction for the line between and Dartmoor Railway CIC asset sale as GWR and Aggregate Industries (AI) and administration staff have to deal with many unexpected issues in a changing landscape. The asset sale contains about 30 rail vehicles, including the Christmas Train As Geoff has reported (see membership stock, Thumper 1132, the vans and report), and other committee members sleepers in the Platform 1 siding, and a few have commented on, many members have other coaches. Possibly the only vehicle renewed their subscription as a mark of worth more than the cost of removing it their support for DRSA, supporting the from the railway is the class 31 locomotive association into the future. Our members 31452, but there is speculation that it see the challenges that we face and belongs to RMS, not DRCIC. The class 08 recognise the uncertainty for the future but diesel shunter 08937/D4167 is to be they also want to support the association retained by Aggregate Industries at through their membership. Meldon Quarry.

We are fortunate in having members who The disposal of the DRCIC assets by an support DRSA through their subscription online auction by the sales agents (Walker and advocacy. We also have a group of Singleton) for the Administrators (FRP volunteers who give their time and Advisory of Leeds) is now postponed until Reinstatement of Exeter service further notice. With the expiry of the GWR franchise at Any sales which eventually take place will the end of March, it was expected that require the rolling stock to be moved to there would be an announcement of a Meldon for disposal. This is currently direct award to GWR, which would problematic because of the lack of include formal confirmation of a regular operational management on the railway, weekday service between Okehampton and and the likely flat batteries in the Exeter. This of course has huge locomotives. ramifications for the future of the line, and it was hoped that it would lead to a DRSA may be interested in acquiring clarification of DRSA’s future options. On some of the assets. For example the CCT March 23rd, the coronavirus crisis led to or Ferry Van, currently located in the the Department for Transport announcing Platform 1 siding, would provide valuable the temporary suspension (could it become storage space, and improve the appearance permanent abandonment?) of the rail of the station once restored, subject to an franchising system, and our future became agreement to keep them in the siding. even less certain. Through contact with Aggregate Industries, Tony Hill has recently In the event of a public service operating confirmed that the inner part of this siding on the AI-owned (and until recently belongs to County Council. BARS-leased) line, responsibility for track maintenance is a dilemma. Work is needed The recently mothballed line between to bring it up to standard. Some light was Coleford and Meldon Quarry is now back shed on future plans on a day in early under direct Aggregate Industries March when several observers spotted jurisdiction. Meanwhile has Network Rail engineers surveying the line. placed a sleeper with stop board across the line at the NR/Aggregate Industries Coleford 189 mile 79 chain (mileage from Waterloo) boundary. Annual General Meeting 2020 & Committee News

The Annual General Meeting has been scheduled for June 10th, although this is provisional of course in view of coronavirus restrictions on meetings. A later AGM may allow more clarity on our future options. Sadly for DRSA, Philip Wagstaff is being moved to Kent and has indicated his intention to stand down as committee chairman, and Dave Clegg wishes to do likewise as long as it doesn’t Photographer: Graham Bowden leave the committee undermanned. Philip

2 and Dave are our two longest serving DRSA On-Line Shop committee members, and the only two traceable back to the early days of the The DRSA shop at Okehampton has Dartmoor Railway and the Friends proved very popular over the four years organisation. Losing both of them at once that it has been open and has made an is careless; we hope they will remain in important financial contribution to the touch and continue to provide valuable Association’s funds. With the railway input. closed for the foreseeable future this source of income is denied to us. We are C&W and SMT volunteer Paul Vodden therefore trialling an on-line ordering was co-opted on to the committee at the facility for members who may like to still last meeting on March 3rd. be able to purchase some of our souvenirs from the selection below. All prices include packing and postage. Membership DRSA book mark £1.65 Geoff Horner reports that membership is DRSA Note book (blue, red, mauve or now approaching 170, which is not far pink) £3.00 short of the number we were at this time DRSA pen (red, blue graphite or black) last year. This is an outstanding number in £3.00 the circumstances, and we are enormously Magnetic fridge totem sign (Okehampton, encouraged that so many members are or Dartmoor Railway) with us for the long haul. £3.50 DRSA fabric wallet (blue, red or mauve) £5.00 Volunteer Activity Dartmoor Railway Teddy bear £5.00 Between the announcement of the asset The DRSA Southern Withered Arm DVD sale and the start of the coronavirus £16.50 restrictions, some tentative volunteer activity took place. The C&W team gained access to the Meldon workshop, and did a Orders by telephone or email to Christine lot of necessary tidying before getting back Horner, 01363 82383 or to work on the SR brakevan LDS 55625. [email protected] Nature’s seasons don’t stop, and the Please make payment by cheque payable horticulture team got to work on the flower to Dartmoor Railway Supporters beds and grass banks. In anticipation of the Association or by bank transfer to Lloyds probable departure of the GUV, the SMT Bank, Dartmoor Railway Supporters has been clearing out its contents. Association, Sort code 30-96-23, Account DRSA has increased security measures at No. 01073660 Okehampton Station.

3 Raise funds for DRSA whilst shopping online

With the high street shops now out of bounds many of you will be shopping online. Before doing your online shopping please first visit: http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ At Yeoford . Photographer: Tony Hill drsa

There you will find many retailers who Purchased will make a donation to the DRSA based on the value of your purchase at no cost to Once a member of the BARS group of you. companies like the Dartmoor Railway, the Weardale Railway has been purchased by Nearly £2000 has been raised by members the Auckland Project. More details here: so far! https://www.aucklandproject.org/news/fut ure-secured-for-weardales-heritage- railway/ Railtour Visit

Interestingly a double headed, class 33 Thanks! worked Charity Charter train from London Victoria, organised by the Branch Line The committee thanks you all for Society, reached the NR/DR boundary at continuing your DRSA membership 1610 on Sun 8th March (having been during this difficult period and will keep 'Topped and Tailed' from and back to you updated of any developments as they Exeter Riverside yard ) before returning to occur. Waterloo. Some pictures of this 8 coach We enjoin our members to observe the special train are on the DRSA website: government’s coronavirus rules and https://www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org/phot keep themselves and their loved ones os&fid=58 safe in these difficult times.

DRSA Contact Details

Website: www.dartmoor-railway-sa.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dartmoorrailway.sa

DRSA Secretary: Jon Kelsey, Craig House, Western Rd, , EX17 3NB

Photographer: Paul Martin E-mail: [email protected]

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