May 2014

Severn Valley Railway 31 May 2014.

Oxford and Banbury area 29 May 2014.

Colas Rail freight Class 56 No. 56078 stabled in the former platform 9 at Newton Abbot on 28 May 2014. CJM

In far from South Devon summer conditions of light drizzle, Colas Rail freight Class 56 No. 56113 takes power through Dawlish on 28 May 2014 in charge of train 6V54, the 05.35 Chirk Kronospan to Teighgrace empty log wagons. CJM

One of the very rare workings of a single Class 43 HST power car took place on 27 May 2014, when FGW Class 43 No. 43003 Isambard Kingdom Brunel operated 0Z74, 13.28 Laira depot to Bristol St Philips Marsh depot. With even 'normals' turning to take a second look, the move is seen emerging from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish. CJM

Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56113 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 27 May 2014 powering the 189 minute late 6M51, 09.56 Teigngrace to Kronospan sidings, Chirk, loaded log train.

FGW Class 43 power cars Nos. 43002 and 43030 depart from platform 4 at Plymouth on 26 May 2014 forming service 1A85, 10.46 Penzance to Paddington. In the background another FGW HST set awaits departure with the 1Z85 14.33 relief Plymouth to Paddington led by power car No. 43125. While on the right CrossCountry No. 43285 awaits departure with train 1S53, 13.25 Plymouth to Edinburgh. Colin J Marsden

FGW Class 153 No. 153382 and 153372 after arrival at Plymouth on 26 May 2014 forming train 2C69, 09.00 Cardiff to Plymouth. The two car train shunts from the main station lines to the dock sidings before returning eastbound with a stopping train later in the day. CJM

FGW Class 153 No. 153382 and 153372 arrive at Plymouth on 26 May 2014 forming train 2C69, 09.00 Cardiff to Plymouth. The building in the background is the Plymouth Royal Eye Infirmary which closed as a hospital in 2013 and is scheduled to be converted into flats. CJM

Cross Country Trains power car No. 43303 leads train 1V46 06.40 York to Plymouth between Mutley Tunnel and Plymouth station on 26 May 2014. CJM

The first return of FGWs loco-hauled Summer Saturday service on 24 may 2014, was delayed 19mins at Exeter due to waiting a driver who was late arriving on an incoming service and required his PNB. Due to its late start, the train ran non-stop from Exeter to Newton Abbot and made up nine minutes. This is the view passing Dawlish, pity the sun was now out, but its a record. The storm clouds over Exeter look a little damp! Loco is 57602 with stock 17175, 17174, 12161 and 10232 the train is the 2C51 17.50 Exeter SD - Penzance. CJM

Now this is what I call a proper FGW local train. The summer Saturdays only 2E75, 11.25 Par to Exeter formed of Class 57 No. 57602 and four loco-hauled Mk3s. Seen passing Dawlish in full dull on 24 May 2014. Every window was full of cranks, at least in generates some revenue, assuming that not all are FGW staff!.

Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66/5 No. 66545 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 24 May 2014 forming a short term planning special 6Y27, 13.05 Newton Abbot Hackney yard to Westbury formed of an empty long welded rail set. It is understood that this train should have been collected on 23 May and moved to Westbury but got left at Hackney yard.

Colas Rail Freight seem to take over Sea Wall activity on 23 May 2014, as a couple of hours after the image below was recorded, a pair of Class 56s No.s 56113 and 56078 working in multiple powered westbound empty log train 6V54, the 05.34 Chirk Kronospan to Teigngrace. Again in rain, the train is seen between Dawlish station and Kennaway Tunnel. CJM

Emerging from Kennaway Tunnel in heavy rain on the morning of 23 May 2014, Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70806 hauls a part loaded long welded rail train as service 6C99, the 04.15 Long Rock to Westbury via Penzance. CJM

The Network Rail New Measurement Train operated its London to Plymouth and return duty on Friday 23 May 2014 and arrived in the usual rain. Led by power car no. 43013 and tailed by No. 43014 the train formed of vehicles 977995, 977994, 977993, 975814 and 975984 pass Dawlish forming train 1Q18, the 05.17 Old Oak Common to Plymouth. CJM

One of the up sides of the February storms at Dawlish which seriously damaged the line and Dawlish station, is the installation of new 'white' lighting and the replacement of the station roof, which now allows some good photographic conditions even at night. During the evening of 22 May 2014, Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70806 operated train 6C99, the 19.22 Westbury to Camborne via Bristol loaded rail train. Travelling at line speed through Dawlish station the train was captured at 22.11 using a 4000ISO recording speed and an exposure of 1/500 at f2.4 on a Nikon 50mm f1.4 lens. The image was recorded in raw and processed in Adobe Photoshop CC. CJM

Class 66 No. 66099 pulls out of Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 22 May 2014 powering train 6C53, 15.06 St Blazey to Exeter Riverside. This was a bit of a test, using a 17mm lens to see the result. Must have that lamp post removed! CJM

At dusk on 21 May 2014, Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70805 storms through Dawlish at line speed with a long rake of loaded rail flats operating as train 6C98, the 19.15 Westbury to Par.

332005 at Heathrow T5 awaiting departure with 10.40 to London Paddington. 21 May 2014. CJM

332011 Paddington after arrival with 1Y37, 08.57 Heathrow T5 - Paddington. 21 May 2014. CJM

Rail-fly.com FGW power car no. 43163 approaches Dawlish on 18 May 2014 leading train 1A78 08.40 Plymouth - Paddington. CJM

66614 + 66602 down Dawlish, 18/5/14, 6Y27 08.45 Didcot East to Hackney yard, Newton Abbot loaded rail set. CJM

Rail-fly.com FGW power car No. 43163 about to enter Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on rear of 1C84, 12.57 Paddington to Penzance on 8 May 2014.

Pocket size HST along Marine Parade. Running as 5Z77 11.00 Old Oak Common to Laira formed of 43150, car 40106 and 43138 17 May 2014.

Pocket size HST goes into Kennaway Tunnel. Running as 5Z77 11.00 Old Oak Common to Laira formed of 43150, car 40106 and 43138 17 May 2014.

Well during the last week we had a light Freightliner 66 en route to Hackney, perhaps it got frightened being all along in the yard with naughty trucks, today he brought his friend along for company, going at this rate by Christmas we might have a gaggle of 20 come down for one train. 66602 and 66614 0Y27, 14.03 Stoke Gifford - Hackney. can't resist taking them.

In the murk on 16 May 2014, Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70804 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel with train 6C65, the 04.30 St Erth to Westbury formed of five 'autoballast' wagons and sister loco No. 70807 on the rear. CJM

Immaculate in the 'revised' DRS livery, Class 37/4 No. 37423 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 16 May 2014 running as 0Z40, 09.30 Plymouth Park Sidings to Crewe Gresty Bridge. The loco, running 57 minutes late due to engine problems at Plymouth, was returning north after working two empty flask wagons to Devonport the previous day. CJM

Bombardier Derby Litchurch Lane Work, on 15 May 2014 the works Celebrated 175 years of locomotive and train building in Derby. A high-profile event was help to showcase the factory and show-off some Derby built products. Captions to each pic.

An hour at Stenson Junction - Between Derby and Burton on 15 May 2014, Stenson is always a good location to stop off and see what turns up.

Freightliner Class 66/5 No. 66549 passes Dawlish during the late afternoon of 14 May 2014 running as 0Y27, 15.02 Stoke Gifford Yard to Hackney Yard to collect an empty rail train and take it as train 6Y27, 19.10 Hackney Yard to Standish Junction.

In near perfect conditions, Western No. D1015 Western Champion traverses the Dawlish Sea Wall on Saturday 10 May 2014 powering westbound charter 'Western Lickeys The Banks', the 07.00 Solihull to Plymouth (1Z52). The train is seen just clearing the major worksite where the sea wall collapsed in February 2014 and shipping containers are still in position on the lower walkway. The walkway between Coastguards Bridge in Dawlish and Dawlish Warren is still closed due to serious damage. CJM

Western Class 52 No. D1015 Western Champion storms along the Dawlish Sea Wall between Kennaway Tunnel and Dawlish station on 10 May 2014 hauling just four coaches as train 1Z53, 'Western Lickeys The Banks' 14.30 Plymouth to Tyseley. CJM

The charter 'One Zulu Four Eight' emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish in rain during the afternoon of 10 May 2014. the train was running as 1Z48, 15.10 Plymouth to Solihull. Power was provided by 'Castle' No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Click the YouTube button right to see a short video. 5043 did the run from Plymouth to Bristol in just 129Min with Driver Ray Churchill at the controls. CJM

On Saturday 10 May 2014 a BLS/L&CI/FGW charter operated from Exeter to Penzance and return cisiting some of the more unusual branch lines and yards, starting off the Exeter depot and then running over the reversible line between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth. The train was formed of three-car Class 150/9 No. 150927 and the return working, the 2Z12, the 15.30 Penzance to Exeter St Davids is seen emerging from Kennaway Tunnel. CJM

Only one locoal train a day in the West Country is booked to be formed of three two-car sets, train 2T19, the 14.23 Exmouth to Paignton forward from Exeter St Davids. Led by Class 143 No. 143603 the train departs from Dawlish on 9 May 2014. CJM

Celebrity Class 43 power car No. 43163 in 'rail-fly.com branding pulls out of Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 8 May 2014 forming the 15.00 Plymouth to Paddington service. CJM

With a large number of people out to record the event. 'Castle' No. 5029 Nunney Castle pulls out of Kennaway Tunnel and towards Dawlish on 9 May 2014 powering 1Z48 'Z48' 16.34 Plymouth to Bristol, 'The Anniversary Limited' charter. CJM

GUV No. W96100 a water tank vehicle to reduce or stop steam locos having to keep stopping for water on charter services. Dawlish. 9 May 2014. CJM

In a positioning move, 'Castle' No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe passes Dawlish on 9 May 2014 running as train 5Z48, the 10.30 Tyseley to Laira. The train, running over 70 minutes early, is formed of water tank GUV No. W96100 and the locos support coach. As the water tank GUV was in the consist the train did not have to stop for water. CJM

No. 5029 Nunney Castle passes Dawlish on 9 May 2014 powering train 1Z48 of 'Z48', the 10.31 Westbury to Plymouth 'The Anniversary Limited' charter. CJM

Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66614 passes Dawlish on 9 May 2014 powering train 6Y27, the 04.55 Wotton Bassett Junction to Hackney Yard empty rail train. The loco later returned light to Stoke Gifford. CJM

'Singapore Sam' hits Dawlish. 43163 in Rail-fly.com promotion livery pulls out of Kennaway Tunnel leading train 1A18, 10.13 Plymouth - Paddington on Sunday 4 May 2014. Branded just prior to the Sea Wall collapse, this PC has not visited the west too much, so it was nice to get it in full sun. CJM

Dawlish Trains www.dawlishtrains.com

May 2014