OKEHAMPTON Railway Station hosted a ceremony last Saturday to mark the official opening of the Arthur Westlake Museum and bring together community representatives and Dartmoor Railway volunteers with some of the men who worked on the railway during the days of steam.

The museum is being dedicated to former railwayman Arthur Westlake, who helped ensure that Okehampton kept its railway station and connection to the national rail network.

Arthur Westlake was born in 1918 and began his career with the Southern Railway aged just 15. He worked his way up to become a driver, and used to drive steam locomotives over the North Cornwall line through Okehampton to places including Bude and Padstow.

Later he became an area manager at Okehampton station, and worked hard to keep the line to Okehampton open when it was threatened with closure. Sadly Arthur passed away in 2011, but his efforts helped ensure that the line and station are still here today.

Arthur Westlake’s son, Councillor Richard Westlake MBE, attended the ceremony.  Richard followed his father onto the railways and became a train driver himself, eventually driving high speed trains on the line between London and the South West. Other former staff who worked on the line participated in the event.

Dartmoor Railway Supporters’ Association volunteers help to maintain Okehampton Station and have refurbished the museum with the assistance of various local organisations.

The event also celebrated the restoration of Laboratory 11, a unique railway carriage formerly used for technical research, which has completed a three year restoration by volunteers to carry passengers over the Dartmoor Railway.