
OKEHAMPTON STATION RE-OPENED
Blog by Susie Bedford
(Pen name, writing poetry and novels is Lynne Pearl)
Website https:lynnepearl.com
April 23
OLD TRACK
There always was this old piece of track left behind after the 60’s cuts. Somehow this little piece of track between Crediton and Okehampton was still there. The line to Barnstaple stayed in full service, but the piece going to Okehampton was only open on Sundays in the season for tourists and now it’s back, for all of us to use. Is it a sign of the times, that we need more public transport than ever, not less if we are to reduce our reliance on the motor car which will be eclipsed eventually. There is still a line between Plymouth and Gunnislake and it’s only a short piece of track necessary to join the Meldon quarry to Gunnislake and that would re -open an inland route across Devon that doesn’t involve Dawlish, the sea and storms in winter. It’s so close. There is a viaduct outside Tavistock that has become a cycle route but it would be grand to link up the communities by rail.

FROM STARCROSS TO COFTON
There is also a route between Starcross via Cofton but there is the matter of a hill in the way. This is the case with Devon, it’s amazing we got a railway when you consider hills that are everywhere and, the mass of Dartmoor, our centre and beating heart.
A LINE TO OKEHAMPTON
But we have a line opened full time for all from Exeter all the way through to Okehampton. It has a real station again, not a picture postcard but an active service line that takes people from the heart of Dartmoor and the beaches of North Cornwall back to the beating heart of civilisation via a train. It can take them home to jobs and all that entails in the South and South East of England. It’s doable now and the community must be glad.

CREDITON STATION
The new-old line goes through Crediton where the track is single line and the signal box ensures the line is safe for trains to proceed. There is a level crossing gate and beside the track there are horses in the field with may bushes in flower at this time of year.

FRIENDLY STAFF
The staff on this line are friendly. It’s almost as if they are chosen for their people skills, they are kind and patient, with time to make sure the journey is pleasant. This is wonderful, a truly social railway. This line seems to have more bridges than I have ever seen, magnificent stone bridges to carry lanes over the line that runs between farms.
FIELDS OF RAPESEED IN FLOWER
At this time of year there are fields of rapeseed in flower, a yellow so bright it looks painted on. Evidently the bees get drunk on the rapeseed it makes them dizzy there is an abundance. We pass blue tractors, a collection of them, and we are so close to the cowsheds you can see the cows waiting.
HOLSWORTHY VIADUCT
There’s a viaduct at Holsworthy that is now a bike track. This train reconnects Bude with the world. Imagine there used to be a train all the way to Bude, my parents took it on their honeymoon many years ago. A way of life nearly, not quite forgotten, Bude is the town that is the farthest away from a mainline station until the railway opened again in Okehampton.

GOODBYE AFTER A DAY ON THE RAILWAY
We hope this is the way forward for us all to connect and keep our communities alive.
PS I wrote a poem in the carriage en route…
THE NEW OLD LINE
Deep green,
Rolling wet hills
As we approach small town Crediton.
There’s nineteen thirties platform here…..
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7796332.Lynne_Pearl