The sale of Meldon quarry , at the date of this view in the hands of the Southern Region and the long standing source of railway ballast and situated just to the west of Okehampton , had been under consideration in the early 'sixties but in the event a transfer of ownership to the Western Region saved the day with that Region making full use of the material available from Meldon.
DS682 was condemned two months following this picture , being replaced by USA class 30062 , which , as DS 234 lasted until 1966 , and was destined the last steam locomotive in use at the quarry