The Southern Railway's Dartmoor Mainline between Yeoford and Meldon following closure to passenger services in 1972 remained open for freight to Okehampton and Meldon Quarry. Eventually the line and quarry were sold to Aggregate Industries which leased the line first to Ealing Community Transport and later to Iowa Pacific Holdings. Heritage services were operated until 2019 along with a summer Sunday only service provided to Exeter by Great Western Railway.

Iowa Pacific entered insolvency early in 2020. In Spring 2021 the line was purchased by Network Rail with refurbishment having been going on since January with a review to reopening to full services by the end of the year as Okehampton once again rejoins the national rail network.