May 2016

57605 departs from Dawlish on 28 May 2016 forming train 2C51 17.50 Exeter SD - Penzance.

GWR green Class 57, No. 57605 pulls into Dawlish on 28 May 2016 powering the 2E75 13.35 Plymouth to Exeter St Davids.

The first Class 68 to venture west of Bridgewater was on 26/27 May 2016, when DRS operated a light loco route training run from Crewe to Penzance via an overnight stop at Exeter. The loco used was No. 67017 Hornet, which became the first of the class to traverse the Sea Wall on 27 May 2016 working 0Z68, 10.22 Exeter to Penzance and 0Z69, 14.27 Penzance to Exeter. The return working, running one hour early, is seen passing below the footbridge at the old Warren Halt station site, Dawlish Warren.

The green machine 43188/-/43187 departs from Dawlish on 27 May 2016 with a pre-bank Holiday weekend 14.34 Paddington to Plymouth 1C85.

History in the making. First ever Class 68 to traverse the Sea Wall was today, 27 May 2016 when DRS No. 68017 'Hornet' operated service 0Z68, the 10.22 Exeter station to Penzance DRS route training run. The historic event is recorded approaching Kennaway Tunnel.

The early morning 'pure' light these summer mornings gives some good illumination for up trains of the good old Sea Wall, especially with the train angle on the Dawlish section. With Colas Rail Freight obliging this morning (26 May 2016) with a nice long welded rail set running as 6C99, the 05.00 Lostwithiel to Westbury, No. 70807 runs adjacent to King's Walk, Dawlish.

43187/-/43188 in Great Western Railway green livery, up Dawlish, 1A74 05.53 Plymouth - Paddington, 26 May 2016.

153325 + 1533xx down Dawlish, 2T03 06.11 Exeter St Davids - Paignton, 26 May 2016.

43041/-/43004 up Dawlish, 3A09, 04.55 Laira to Taunton ECS, 26 May 2016.

43189/-/43147 up Dawlish, 1A75, 05.30 Plymouth - Paddington, 26 May 2016.

These Colas Rail Freight men seem to provide almost daily entertainment on the Sea Wall. On 22 May 2016, this little gem operated, 47739 powering RailVac 4 as train 6Z54, the 08.35 Aish Crossovers to Westbury, after a night of sucking on the Devon Hills.

On 21 May 2016 the RailVac 4 vehicle was hauled from Westbury to Hemerdon for work in the Hemerdon-Aish area. The move, 6X54 20.41 Westbury to Hemerdon was powered by Colas Rail Freight Class 47 No. 47739. This is a view of the train passing Dawlish at 22.25.

Well what the hell could I do with the return working on 22 May 2016, it was raining, dull and not worth going out, so i tried an almost broadside at 19mm just for fun. 57603, Dawlish 2C51, 17.50 Exeter SD to Penzance. Lets hope for some improvement in light for other weeks.

The first GW loco-hauled of the year and guess what? its in pissing rain! The first time the train has been powered by a GWR green 57, No. 57603 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 21 May 2016 powering the 2E75 13.35 Plymouth to Exeter St Davids.

On 19 May 2016, Colas Rail freight Class 70 No. 70807 pulls out of Kennaway Tunnel and towards Dawlish station with train 6C97, the 05.10 Par to Westbury long welded rail train.

On 19 May 2016 Colas Rail Freight Class 66s Nos. 66848 and 66847 'top and tail' train 6C38 05.45 Penwithers Junction to Westbury return ballast train out of Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish.

On 18 May 2016, Colas Rail Freight Class 66s Nos. 66847 and 66848 'top and tail' train 6C38 17.32 Westbury to Penwithers Junction towards Powderham Crossing.

Some pictures turn out more pleasing than others, this one i was especially pleased with. after cursing the clouds for about half an hour, NW and I were blessed with near perfect light for Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70807 powering train 6C97, the 16.41 Westbury to St Austell via Penzance, seen approaching Powderham crossing, 18 May 2016.

Under rather stormy skye, 1970s liveried Class 43 No. 43002 (253001) heads west through Dawlish on 18 May 2016 leading train 1C76, the late running 09.06 Paddington to Plymouth, which started from Reading due to a problem involving a Class 180 between Reading and Paddington. I can't help but try and get this every time its about in good light.

Ruddy sun went in but its still an interesting train. DBSO 9703 leads Network Rail cars 62384, 6264, 72616, 9519 with Colas Rail Freight Class 37 No. 37219 on the rear heads west through Dawlish on 18 May 2016 forming train 5Z03, the 12.15 Exeter Fuel Point to Exeter Riverside via Par.

Still no sun in Dawlish for the return run of the Colas Class 37, but the brightness of the loco and train helped. Nice bit of 37 thrash and tones as well. 37219 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel with the return leg of 5Z03, 12.15 Exeter Fuel point to Exeter Riverside via Par. 18 May 2016.

I see GWR have branded Class 153 No. 153377 with a Exeter-Okehampton sticker, to mark the 2016 summer service. Pity the sticker is green on a blue unit!. 17 May 2016.

A classic livery at a classic location. 43002 'Sir Kenneth Grange' approaches Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 16 May 2016 leading train 1C76, the 09.06 Paddington to Plymouth.

Direct Rail Services Class 66 No. 66425, hired in to Rail Operations Group to cover for a failed Class 47, passes Cockwood Harbour on 15 May 2016 powering train 5Z47, the 18.45 Laira to Bristol SPM, GW HST stock move en route to Kilmarnock.

Direct Rail Services Class 66 No. 66425, hired in to Rail Operations Group to cover for a failed Class 47, passes Dawlish on 15 May 2016 powering train 5V47 09.55 Derby to Laira formed of refurbished GW HST stock en route from Kilmarnock.

On a glorious South Devon Sunday morning on 15 May 2016, the first train of the day was 6X54 the 08.35 Aish Crossovers to Westbury formed of Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No. 70808 hauling Railvac 4, following overnight work in the Ivybridge-Aish area. The train is seen just after emerging from Kennaway Tunnel.

43002 down Cockwood Harbour, 18.00 Paddington to Penzance, 14 May 2016.

Yellow/blue 1970s liveried power car No. 43002 'Sir Kenneth Grange' passes Dawlish on 14 May 2016 on the rear of 1A77, the 07.47 Plymouth to Paddington. Starting to get nicely weathered now.

66151 up Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish 6C53 14.52 St Blazey - Exeter Riverside. 13 May 2016.

43002 approaches Kennaway Tunnel on 13 May 2016 leading the 17.33 Paddington to Paignton.

The only main line certified Class 52 'Western' No. D1015 visited the West Country on 7 May 2016. It operated 'The Western Challenger' charter 1Z52, the 07.37 Paddington to Plymouth, operating non-stop in a time of 3hr 16min. From Plymouth, the train returned as 1Z52, the 12.35 Plymouth to Okehampton, before returning to London Waterloo. Officially running as the 07.37 Paddington to Okehampton via Plymouth, the train is seen on its return run from Plymouth, passing under the Skew Bridge at Teignmouth. For this tour, the loco adopted the identity of No. D1010 Western Campaigner on one side and No. D1058 Western Nobleman on the other.

The one thing i wanted more than anything this past week was to get the yellow/blue power car No. 43002 leading westbound on the Sea Wall, bringing back even more memories of the 1970s. With a big thank you to GWR for turning the set! My wish came true this afternoon, 7 May 2016 when 43002 led 1C81, the 12.00 Paddington to Penzance, captured approaching Shaldon Bridge and passing the Port of Teignmouth. Firstly a maroon '1000' and then this, i need to have a sit down.

This beats any of your diesel gala events. Hell fire thrash of D1015 (D1010) on the main line, passing Langstone Rock, powering 1Z52 the 07.37 Paddington to Okehampton via Plymouth "The Western Challenger" tour on 7 May 2016. Just a pity about the weather.

GWR green-liveried 43187 rounds the curve at Skew Bridge, Teignmouth on 7 May 2016 leading train 1A83, the 10.00 Penzance to Paddington.

150127 up Teignmouth, 2E31 12.43 Paignton to Exeter St Davids, 7 May 2016.

43053 and 43063 emerge from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 5 May 2016 running as 0Z74 18.33 Laira to Bristol SPM.

66101 passes Dawlish on 5 May 2016 running 0C53, 18.50 Exeter Riverside to St Blazey to collect second portion of up clay freight.

The one and only daytime booked freight to traverse the Dawlish Sea Wall is the Thursday only 6C53, 14.50 St Blazey to Exeter Riverside. Seen here on 5 May 2016 skirting Marine Parade, Dawlish powered by DB-Schenker red/grey liveried Class 66 No. 66101. How long will it be before the word 'Cargo' replaces 'Schenker'?

What a difference a little bit of early morning sun does to a picture. On 5 May 2016, Network Rail Class 950 No. 950001 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish forming test train 2Q08, the 05.15 Truro to Cardiff Canton.

Well, although the sun was out for the return of 6C20, 04.59 Par to Westbury on 4 May 2016, 'top and tailed' by 'orange' 66849 and 'red' 66098, a layer of cloud was between the light source and subject, taking away the light for just 10mins.

A nice westbound engineers on the Sea Wall on 3 May 2016, 6C20, 18.25 Westbury-Par formed of a five-autoballaster set 'top and tailed' by red camp No. 66093 and orange camp 66849, nice combination. Train seen approaching Kennaway Tunnel.

Always nice to see a bit of yellow on the Sea Wall. Network Rail 950001 heads west towards Kennaway Tunnel on 3 May 2016 forming test special 2Q08, the 05.07 Bristol to Laira via Merehead.

What has exactly happened to the fence and its base on the Dawlish Sea Wall along King's Walk, close to Kennaway Tunnel - 3 May 2016. The entire original base block work has been pushed inwards by over 12in, taking the steel fence towards the down line. As far as I know, and I look at this almost every day, this was not caused by the storms on 10 April. Ive been informed by another resident that a road vehicle/driver obtained the keys to the gate near the viaduct and drove along King's Walk to Boat Cove, colliding with the fence and block work, causing damage which i doubt was reported.

As booked on a Bank Holiday, Great Western Railway use a South West Trains Class 158 on its 2T25 17.46 Exeter Central to Paignton and 18.52 Paignton to Bristol service. On May Day Holiday, 2 May 2016, the set used was No.158882, seen departing from Dawlish station and heading towards Kennaway Tunnel.

Dawlish Trains www.dawlishtrains.com

May 2016