Meldon

Marian's gone to visit her brother in Hampshire for a couple of days and once she had got away I went on a jaunt up to Meldon. It's on the other side of the moor from here and an interesting place. It has a quarry,  a reservoir and a spectacular viaduct constructed of cast and wrought iron, which used to carry the London and South West Railway across the West Okement valley. It was opened in 1874 and used for passenger trains until 1968 when it was deemed unsuitable for carrying the weight. It's now a scheduled monument.

The old railway is now owned by the quarry company and run as a preserved service by Dartmoor Railway who ran passenger services to the Meldon Visitor Centre which is just before the viaduct. Unfortunately the company announced that it had gone into administration last month.The viaduct now carries the Granite Way an 11 mile Cycle/Walkway between Okehampton and Lydford.

My blip is of the old station and visitor centre with a ballast laying machine.  The train that looks as if it's coming the other way is carriage which was used as the cafeteria. Further back it looks a bit like a graveyard for old rolling stock, many covered with graffiti. 

I've added an extra of the viaduct and there are a few more shots here if you'd like to see them.