Dartmoor ‘clear out’
TWO DIESEL-ELECTRIC Thumper units are amongst a large quantity of rolling stock that is being offered for sale by industrial railway contractors RMS Locotec, following the closure of the Dartmoor Railway. Class 205 unit 1132 is in recent working condition, although Driving Motor 60150 was in the workshops for a repaint at the time of closure. Driving Trailer 60831 and centre car 60673 make up the set, which was in service until a couple of years ago.
Similar unit 1128, which has been stored outside at Meldon Quarry for a number of years, is in a heavily vandalised condition but was complete when purchased. Driving Motor 60146, centre car 60677 and Driving Trailer 60827 have all suffered graffiti damage and broken windows while in store.
Three EMU vehicles are also up for grabs, including CEP Driving Motor Seconds 61742 and 61743 along with 4-BIG buffet coach 69332. All of these are stored at Meldon Quarry. It is thought that anyone purchasing the vehicles will have to remove them by road, as none of those offered for sale has been on the main line for many years.
RMS Locotec, which owns the stock, was part of the British American Railways Services Group, the former owners of the Dartmoor and Weardale Railways. When the company was split up last year, the Dartmoor rolling stock stayed with RMS, which has recently been sold to new owners, while the Dartmoor itself was placed into administration.