‘Scene’ on the seawall at Dawlish

It is now a little over a year since we were watching the television news footage following the collapse of the sea wall at Dawlish which resulted in the cutting of the only rail link to Torbay and beyond to Plymouth and Cornwall.

 

Round the clock working restored the link and Prime Minister David Cameron was on hand to witness the re opening on April 4th 2014.

 

Further relatively minor damage was reported in November 2014.

 

As I was in the area recently, I thought I would take a look.

 

The proximity of the sea to the railway line is obvious.

 

Apart from the railway, the sea wall carries a footpath that runs from Dawlish (behind the camera in the first image) to Dawlish Warren (in front of the camera in the first image round the first headland).

 

At the time of my visit, the footpath was only partially open and a diversion over the cliff tops was necessary.

 

A working platform which resembles a small oil rig was stationed on the seaward side.

 

and plant was being moved along the beach to a further worksite close to Langston Rock.

 

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Of 'First Great Western' (FGW) Is seen working the service from Paignton which runs through Exeter to terminate at Exmouth.

 

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again from 'FGW' with the return working.

 

An unknown 'Cross Country' 8 car Class 220 heading North.

 

Dawlish station is the setting as a ‘FGW' HST whistles through on its way to Plymouth and beyond.

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Another Exmouth to Paignton service leaves after calling at Dawlish. 

 

Interesting that in a little over an hour three different types of unit have been seen on the service.

 

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A Northbound ‘FGW’ HST heading for Exeter.

 

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Finally, just up the line at Dawlish Warren is a collection of 7 former British Railways Mark 1 coach’s together with a former LMS vehicle.

 

These are Camping Coaches and are available to hire as holiday lets during the season.

 

Before the war and since there were many such coaches around the railway system. The only others that I know of are at Goathland on the 'North Yorkshire Moors Railway' and there are a couple of former 'Pullman's at Ravenglass on the 'Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway'.

 

I keep trying to persuade my wife that we should hire one for a week. Just walking and watching the trains go past.

So far, she remains unconvinced !!!

 

'Scene' at Nottingham Railway Station

The ‘blockade’ of Nottingham Railway Station during the re-modeling of the trackwork there and other associated building works has been well documented on television and in the press.

 

The massive operation undertaken to keep passengers moving using a multitude of buses has been an undoubted success and congratulations to all concerned are offered.

 

I have visited several times and I have been impressed with the organisation and good humour with which it has all been achieved.

 

My most recent visit took place now that the trains are running again.

 

A lot has been done but there is still much to do. 

 

The station frontage is still wrapped in polythene although the clock tower is now re emerging and there is still a bit of a trek down the side of the building to the temporary ticket office.

At the. start the ticket queue was only partially covered but I am pleased to see that with the arrival of the autumn weather that the level of cover has been improved.

 

 

All the platforms are readily accessible but there is still a lot of the blue shuttering in place whilst presumably building or cleaning work goes on behind it.

A lot of the trackwork re-modeling has taken place on the approaches to the station

 

This view to the East shows some of it. East Midland Trains (EMT) depot is visible through the first arch.

 

The view to the West.

 

 

So what else was on view ??

 

As might be expected Nottingham is EMT country and their fleet was well represented.

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HST power car 43043

 

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Visitors were from ‘Cross Country’ in the shape of Class 170’s in 2 and 4 coach formations. I think that of all the modern units these are the most attractive. 

 

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‘Northern Rail’ Class 158790 about to start its return journey back to Leeds.