Took a trip to Okehampton on Monday.
The mid morning train from Exeter Central was well loaded and it was noticeable once we branched off from the parallel line to Barnstaple north of Yeoford how smooth the new continuous rail was compared to my last journey to Okehampton. Also no more scraping of trains by passing trees. Some have been felled and others cut back to cut down the number of scratches inflicted on passing rolling stock.
For the first few days of the service two class 150s have been providing a four car service on the line and have been given appropriate logos
The station is much as I remember it - although now with a mix of new and period signage. At present there are no refreshment facilities but work is in hand to re-open the cafe which existed there previously.
The big plus for me is the new bus service which links the station with both the town of Okehampton and Tavistock. If you have been there you will know the hike back to the station is a good 10 minutes uphill!
I took the bus into Okehampton and was dropped off by the Museum of Dartmoor life which is well worth a visit and currently has an exhibition dedicated to the history of the railway in the town. Like a lot of stations Okehampton was a large employer going back with up to 70 people working there at one stage.
Also conveniently placed next to the museum is Wetherspoons, this one not only a pub but also one of their hotels.
The bus is timed to connect with the trains arriving and departing and around a dozen made use of it.
One thing you won't get on the journey are views of Dartmoor. Almost all the route is surrounded by trees with only the briefest of glimpses of the landscape.
