18th May 2005

Freightliner Class 66 no. 66613, one of the low-geared heavy haulers, has paused in the station at Okehampton for a few minutes at 10.15. It will proceed shortly on the 6F95 TWThO 09.06 Meldon Quarry to Hinksey Yard (Oxford) ballast train, made up of a rake of new Network Rail JNA ballast opens. The train will run to Exeter Riverside Yard, reverse, and head up the GWR main line to Bristol, Swindon and Didcot.

Having grown up on the LSWR main line in East Devon, regular Meldon Quarry ballast trains were a common sight, so common in fact I didn't consider it necessary to photograph or record their passing! What a fool!! Oh, to be taken back in time to witness a brace of "Crompton" Class 33s and a rickety rake of "Grampus" open wagons loaded with Dartmoor's finest granite rolling noisily up the Axe Valley again. Sadly this photo was my last of a loaded ballast train from Meldon.