Boat trains carrying passengers from ocean liners calling at Stonehouse Pool, Plymouth and prestige services such as the Atlantic Coast Express and Devon Belle all used the route.

The line survived, however, for the purposes of freight thanks to the activities of the British Rail ballast quarry at Meldon, three miles from Okehampton, which had an output of 300,000 tons per year.

The Exeter to Okehampton service, known to many as the 'Sunday Rover', was operated by Great Western Railway, thanks to financial support from Devon County Council.

[citation needed] Since 2021 the railway has enjoyed a reinstated hourly service from Exeter to Okehampton operated by GWR, however the trains do not call at Sampford Courtenay.

The company intended to develop freight, passenger and tourist services on the railway,[7] however the line was put up for sale in January 2020 and purchased by Network Rail.