The Hoover is waiting to bank a class 33 hauled ballast train from Meldon Quarry. Note the camping coach temporarily in the yard and the signal box is undergoing a repaint.

The responsibility of the Western Region , the ballast from Meldon quarry could now be used on that Region's network and this view at Red Cow crossing , at the eastern approach to Exeter St. David's , shows another load coming down from the quarries .
The load would have run down the former Southern Region line from Meldon , just to the west of Okehampton , joining the Barnstaple to Exeter line just north of Yeoford before coming on to the Western Region main line at Cowley Bridge Junction a mile or so to the east from here.
If this working is going to take the former Southern Region line eastwards there is the formidable climb up to Exeter Central ahead , when a banker will most certainly be required.