January-April 2014

The returning VSOE Pullman pulls out of Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 27 April 2014 powered by Class 67s Nos. 67006 and 67024. The train was operating as 1Z83, 12.20 Truro to London Victoria. CJM

In the rain, the return Great Britain railtour pulls out of Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish powered by 5029 and 34046 running as train 1Z85, the 09.01 St Austell to Bristol Temple Meads via Falmouth Docks. CJM

D1017 Western Warrior (D1015 in reality) departs from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 26 April 2014 leading Class 47 No. 47773 on train 1Z52, 17.00 Kingswear to Tyseley 'The Devonian' charter operated by Vintage Trains. Pity the light was not a tad kinder. CJM

The first visit of the 'Western' to the Dawlish Sea Wall in 2014 was on Saturday 26 April, when No. D1015 Western Champion (as No. D1017 Western Warrior on the landside) powered 'The Devonian' Vintage Trains charter, 1Z15, 06.25 Tyseley to Kingswear. To provide train heat, Class 47 No. 47773 was coupled inside the train loco. The train is seen passing Dawlish, as FGWs 1A81, the 08.45 Penzance to Paddington passes on the up line with power car No. 43189 on the rear. CJM

On Saturday 26 April 2014 a positioning move took place to move 34046 Braunton from Exeter to St Blazey prior to powering the GB7 tour from Cornwall to Bristol the following day. The loco, plus its support coach No. 35451 operated as train 5Z83, the 14.38 Exeter to St Blazey and is seen passing Marine Parade, Dawlish. CJM

Colas Class 70 No. 70801 departs from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 25 April 2014 powering train 6C29, the 13.20 Newton Abbot Hackney Yard to Westbury. This train was formed of 25 MRA wagons which had been placed in Hackney yard for use in the Whiteball Tunnel project back in January/February 2014 and became trapped in Hackney Yard following the collapse of the Sea Wall. A video of this train can be viewed here.

The annual VSOE trip to the West Country took place between 25-27 April 2014. The westbound working on 25 April 2014, train 1Z78, the 09.44 London Victoria to Truro is seen passing Dawlish powered by Class 67s Nos. 67024 and 67006. CJM

A couple of days visiting Knottingley, Selby, Doncaster, Barnetby and Marholm.

DB-S liveried Class 66 No. 66097 passes Barnetby on 23 April 2014 powering the 11.40 Humber Oil Refinery to Kingsbury loaded oil.

Grand Central HST, led by power car No. 43467 passes Doncaster on 23 April 2014 forming train 1N90, 07.52 King's Cross to Sunderland.

First Hull Trains Class 180 No. 180113 stops at Selby on 22 April 2014 forming train 1H04, 13.48 London King's Cross to Hull.

On 21 April 2014 (Easter Monday), South West Trains 158 No. 158884 coupled to First Great Western Class 153 No. 153380 formed train 2T25, the 17.45 Exeter Central to Paignton, seen departing from Dawlish in the pleasing low-evening light. This is reported to only be the 5th time a SWT Class 158/8 has operated along the Sea Wall.
Colin J Marsden

The two different First Great Western Class 153 liveries together. Nos. 153329 (right) in standard blue FGW colours leads 153380 in local lines FGW livery past Dawlish on 18 April 2014 forming the 15.53 Exmouth to Paignton. CJM

A4 Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley approaches Dawlish station from Kennaway Tunnel on Saturday 19 April 2014 powering train 1Z33, the 16.45 Kingswear to Guildford. CJM

A4 Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley passes Dawlish on Saturday 19 April 2014 powering train 1Z32, the 07.51 Guildford to Kingswear. The steam came on this train at Taunton. CJM

Colas Class 70 No. 70802 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 16 April 2014 running as 0C29, 13.20 Newton Abbot Hackney Yard to Westbury driver training run. CJM

Colas Rail freight Class 70 No. 70802 pass Dawlish on 16 April 2014, running as OZ28, 08.30 Westbury to Newton Abbot Hackney yard driver training run. CJM

Class 220 'Voyager' No. 220005 passes Dawlish on 16 April 2014 forming train 1V42, 06.10 Derby to Plymouth. CJM

Hythe Pier Tramway 9 April 2014

Eastleigh 9 April 2014

Poor weather but an interesting train. On Sunday 6 April 2014 West Coast Railway Co operated train 5Z00, the 10.50 Laira to Southall formed of Class 57/3 No. 57313, barrier vehicles 6330 and 80204 with Class 47 No. 47746 on the rear. The train is seen emerging from Kennaway Tunnel. CJM

The Dawlish Sea Wall is sure back in action, with unusual trains running after just 24 hours of opening. On 5 April 2014 West Coast Railway operated a stock move from Wabtec Kilmarnock to Laira formed of vehicles 44036, 42285, 42202, 42003, 42284, 41138, 41137 and 42259 formed between barrier cars 80204 and 6330. The train was powered by WCRC Class 57/3 No. 57313 and Class 47 No. 47746. The train is seen passing over the speed restriction between Dawlish station and Kennaway Tunnel, while a Class 153 traveles in the opposite direction with an empty stock duty from Plymouth to Exeter depot. CJM

The first ever daylight passing of a Class 70 along the now world famous Dawlish Sea Wall was on 1 April 2014, when Colas Rail Freight Nos. 70801 and 70803 'top and tailed' train 6C71 from the Teignmouth cliff fall worksite to Westbury. The train arrived on the sea wall during the early hours of Saturday 29 March and was stabled in the Shaldon Bridge, Teignmouth area working towards Dawlish on 30/31 March. During the final few minutes of the last day of March the train started to work towards Exeter and after over four hours of waiting between Kennaway Tunnel and Dawlish station, returned west and was 'parked up' until 09.00 on 1 April when it again slowly proceeded through Dawlish on the up line to Dawlish Warren and Exeter St Thomas to exit the site. With No. 70801 nearest the camera the train travels at walking pace out of Kennaway Tunnel. CJM

The first ever daylight passing of a Class 70 along the now world famous Dawlish Sea Wall was on 1 April 2014, when Colas Rail Freight Nos. 70801 and 70803 'top and tailed' train 6C71 from the Teignmouth cliff fall worksite to Westbury. The train arrived on the sea wall during the early hours of Saturday 29 March and was stabled in the Shaldon Bridge, Teignmouth area working towards Dawlish on 30/31 March. During the final few minutes of the last day of March the train started to work towards Exeter and after over four hours of waiting between Kennaway Tunnel and Dawlish station, returned west and was 'parked up' until 09.00 on 1 April when it again slowly proceeded through Dawlish on the up line to Dawlish Warren and Exeter St Thomas to exit the site. With No. 70803 nearest the camera the train travels at walking pace adjacent to Marine Parade. Note the new black fence being erected and the ongoing repairs to the sea walkway. CJM

A picture ive been waiting to take since the Dawlish Sea Wall was washed away on the night of 4/5 February 2014. It shows the very first 'train; to traverse the down line, although heading in the up direction, when Freightliner Class 66/5 No. 66555 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel at 17.25 on 29 March 2014 leading train 6Y75, a late running 17.03 Exeter St Thomas to Westbury. The train was loaded at the cliff slip at Teignmouth and consisted of damaged track sections and spoil. This was one of five trains operated from Westbury to the Dawlish Sea Wall in the early hours of 29 March 2014 as part of the final stage of restoring the line to passenger use from Friday 4 April 2014. Power for these trains consisted of Freightliner Class 66s and two Colas Rail Freight Class 70s Nos. 70801 and 70803.
CJM

Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70803 stands adjacent to Teignmouth Docks on 29 March 2014 with train 6C71, 21.26 Westbury (of 28/3) to Exeter St Thomas (entry into block) ballast train involved in the restoration of the Sea Wall route. On the down line facing in the up direction is Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66606 with a loaded ballast train. CJM

Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70801 stands with a ballast train on the down line between Teignmouth and Bishopsteignton on 29 March 2014 which involved with restoring services over the Sea Wall section. The loco is powering train 6C72, 22.50 Westbury (of 28/3) to Exeter St Thomas (entry into block). CJM

The first ever Class 70s to operate into Devon, and indeed the first 70 west of Taunton was on 18 March 2014 when in conjunction with the repairs to the Sea Wall between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish Colas Rail Freight were contracted to operate train 6Z70, the 11.20 Westbury to Exeter St Thomas (the entry to the engineering block). Here the train is seen at Easton with No. 70803 on the rear. The train was formed of 10 ballast 'Falcon' wagons.

The first ever Class 70s to operate into Devon, and indeed the first 70 west of Taunton was on 18 March 2014 when in conjunction with the repairs to the Sea Wall between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish Colas Rail Freight were contracted to operate train 6Z70, the 11.20 Westbury to Exeter St Thomas (the entry to the engineering block). Here the train is seen at Dawlish Warren tailed by No. 70803. The train was formed of 10 ballast 'Falcon' wagons.

The first ever Class 70s to operate into Devon, and indeed the first 70 west of Taunton was on 18 March 2014 when in conjunction with the repairs to the Sea Wall between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish Colas Rail Freight were contracted to operate train 6Z70, the 11.20 Westbury to Exeter St Thomas (the entry to the engineering block). Here the train is seen at Dawlish Warren led by No. 70802 and tailed by No. 70803. The train was formed of 10 ballast 'Falcon' wagons.

The first ever Class 70s to operate into Devon, and indeed the first 70 west of Taunton was on 18 March 2014 when in conjunction with the repairs to the Sea Wall between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish Colas Rail Freight were contracted to operate train 6Z70, the 11.20 Westbury to Exeter St Thomas (the entry to the engineering block). Here the train is seen near Cockwood harbour led by No. 70802 and tailed by No. 70803. The train was formed of 10 ballast 'Falcon' wagons.

The first ever Class 70s to operate into Devon, and indeed the first 70 west of Taunton was on 18 March 2014 when in conjunction with the repairs to the Sea Wall between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish Colas Rail Freight were contracted to operate train 6Z70, the 11.20 Westbury to Exeter St Thomas (the entry to the engineering block). Here the train is seen crossing Cockwood harbour led by No. 70802 and tailed by No. 70803. The train was formed of 10 ballast 'Falcon' wagons.

The first ever Class 70s to operate into Devon, and indeed the first 70 west of Taunton was on 18 March 2014 when in conjunction with the repairs to the Sea Wall between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish Colas Rail Freight were contracted to operate train 6Z70, the 11.20 Westbury to Exeter St Thomas (the entry to the engineering block). Here the train is seen crossing arriving at Dawlish Warren led by No. 70802 and tailed by No. 70803. The train was formed of 10 ballast 'Falcon' wagons. CJM

During the evening of 12 January 2014, Aggregate Industries Class 59/0 No. 59005 Kennith J. Painter powered train 6Z26, the 18.16 Westbury Yard to Burngullow empty sand wagons. The train is recorded passing Dawlish at 21.00, just illuminated by the station lights and recorded on a Nikon D800 camera fitted with a 50mm f1.4 standard lens with an ISO setting of 5000. This allowed an exposure of 1/350 @f2.5 to be used. The raw image was then processed in Nikon Capture NX2. CJM

Due to problems holding the St Blazey-Bescot clay train in Exeter Riverside yard due to engineering work, train 6M60 operated daytime on Saturday 11 January 2014, departing from St Blazey at 07.06 and passing along the Dawlish Sea Wall in superb winter light. Powered by DB-S No. 66192 the train is seen skirting Marine Parade and approaching Dawlish station with a rake of eight JIA wagons. CJM

Colas Rail Freight seem to be getting a firm 'foot in the door' powering infrastructure trains in the West Country. On 8 January 2014, Class 56 No. 56113 was sent light loco to Newton Abbot Hackney Yard, after arriving with an engineers train at Exeter, to collect an empty Network Rail rail transporting train and return it to Westbury as train 6Z29, the 13.14 Hackney Yard to Westbury, which is seen emerging from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish running some 40 minutes late. CJM

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