NOT only is 16-years-old Tom Watts something of an amazing mathematician, he has also shown a very good artistic ability in designing a prize-winning roundel for the new Dartmoor Line.

Tom beat entries from across the South West and nationally and on Tuesday helped unveil the new sign at Okehampton Station.

Trains begin running on this, the first reopening of a railway station and line under the Government’s Restoring your Railway programme which is exploring ways to return old lines and stations to service across the country.

Tom lives in Okehampton and attended Okehampton College. He will be using the train to get to Exeter where he is studying at the Exeter Mathematics School.

He said he knew how he wanted to show the moor and found his inspiration at Great Staple Tor near Tavistock. “I wanted the most tor-y tor, one that was impressive,” he said. “It took me a few hours to do and a while to come up with the idea.”

Tom had done a fair bit of research and imagined he was taking art in the annual Ten Tors challenge, standing on top of the tor.

He had hoped to do that while a pupil at Okehampton but it has not taken place since 2019 because of Covid-19.

“When we get to a tor we always climb to stand on the top if we can, so I put someone on the top of it.”

The family does a lot of walking over the moor and Tom’s father, James is a member of the North Dartmoor Search and Rescue team.

As well as Tom’s family, the assistant head of Okehampton College, Craig Griffiths, was at the unveiling. He said that the College catchment area was one of the widest in the country. The new service widens the scope for more visits by pupils from the College.

He added that Tom was an amazing mathematician and to win this design competition was fantastic, showing a rounded ability.

Joe Rowing, deputy head of Exeter Maths School, said the new train service was fantastic and would open the moors more easily for more people and open another part of Devon.

Tom unveiled the new sign with Matt Barnes (GWR Head of Strategic Development), whipping off a large green sheet. That morning a crew was working outside putting up the new station signs.

GWR launched its “Design the Dartmoor Line logo” competition across the country in April and it was also promoted by Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and Network Rail.

The service, beginning on November 20 and stopping at Crediton, will give a journey time between Okehampton and Exeter St David’s of approximately 40 minutes.

A return costs £8 and tickets can be purchased from: gwr.com or other national ticketing retail sites.