AFTER two years of getting things on track, Dartmoor Railway is hoping for a bumper tourist season this year but needs continuing local support to make it thrive.
With a planned re-opening of the station at Sampford Courtenay, a new platform at Meldon which forms an integral part of the railway and adjacent cycle route and nostalgic evening steam rides, the company is adding more strings to its bow.
Now the summer season is upon us, The Dartmoor Pony service from Okehampton to Meldon has been increased to five days a week and the Sunday Rover Okehampton to Exeter service on Sundays began last weekend with subsidies keeping the cost down to £3.50 return.
A Friends of Dartmoor Railway Association and Steering Group has been set up and volunteers are being sought to help out with things such as ticket collecting and painting.
The company owns 15 miles of track from Meldon to Culford Junction and the attractions at Okehampton Station and Meldon which include cafes, model museum and visitor centre.
The National Cycle Network runs alongside the Dartmoor Pony Train to the spectacular Meldon Viaduct and is considered to be one of the most beautiful sections of the cycleway with fantastic views to Dartmoor. Cyclists and walkers have the option of travelling on the train one way which is equipped to take cycles.
General manager of the Dartmoor Railway David Payne said the last two years had been spent tying up all the legal aspects and meeting the standards of the Railway Inspectorate. He said last season was a disaster because of foot and mouth.
'We are really hoping for a good year because things are now starting to come together but we really need that local support,' he said.
'A lot of local people are using the services and coming back again and again and that really pleases us but we need more,' he said.
The addition of the steam train last year has been a real draw and a third coach has been added due to demand.
At the end of July, it is planned to re-open Sampford Courtenay Station, which will boost the number of train passengers and bring people into the village.
A series of nostalgic evening steam train rides begin on Monday when passengers can travel from Okehampton to North Tawton, enjoy an aperitif on the train and return to the platform at Okehampton for a barbecue feast.
Tickets are priced at £12 and can be booked by phoning 01837 55637.
On top of the attractions for tourists, the railway has been upgraded to take heavier weights to encourage more freight.
l The filming of the cycle route from Okehampton to Tavistock by BBC Countryfile was cancelled this week because of the bad weather. It will be rescheduled to take place within the next couple of months and be screened sometime this summer. Watch this space.