Dawlish Trains www.dawlishtrains.com
May 2019
North London
I think I'm right in saying this is a first for the sea wall, a ROG 47, barriers and a XC power car. On Bank Holiday Monday 27 May 2019, they finally managed to get CrossCountry power car 43303 to Laira depot from Leeds Neville Hill depot. It operated as 5V84 with ROG 47 No. 47813 'Jack Frost' two barrier coaches 6330 ad 6344 with 43303 hanging on the back. Interesting train. This rear view is even more interesting than the front view. I just love the battery tail lamp thrown half obstructed in the back cab window.
I think I'm right in saying this is a first for the sea wall, a ROG 47, barriers and a XC power car. On Bank Holiday Monday 27 May 2019, they finally managed to get CrossCountry power car 43303 to Laira depot from Leeds Neville Hill depot. It operated as 5V84 with ROG 47 No. 47813 'Jack Frost' two barrier coaches 6330 ad 6344 with 43303 hanging on the back. Interesting train. The formation is seen approaching Kennaway Tunnel.
37059 + 37407 up Kennaway Tunnel, 1Z45, 16.00 Paignton - Huddersfield 'Return Retro Seaside Express'. 25 May 2019.
Providing the sea wall building works starts the week after next as booked, this will be the last ever down charter to be photographed traversing the old wall face with no engineering plant in the way. On 25 May 2019, 'The Retro Devon Seasider', 1Z44, 05.50 Huddersfield to Paignton, powered by DRS Nos. 37407 and 37059 approaches Kennaway Tunnel in a nice show of sun.
Good bye old friend. One of the Great Western 'celebrity' power cars No. 43185, now with its Great Western name removed, passes Dawlish on 24 May 2019 on its final journey from the west on the rear of stock move 5L46, 09.35 Laira depot to Ely Papworth Sidings. On the front is No. 43018. No. 43185 was the power car which 'launched' the Great Western privatisation back in February 1996.
172002 departs from Leamington Spa, 2G81, 13.01 Leamington Spa - Nuneaton, 21 May 2019, second day of new through service.
Class 172 'Turbostar' No. 172341 approaches Stourbridge Junction, 2W80 14.03 Stratford-upon-Avon - Stourbridge Junction, 21 May 2019.
170635 approaches Bromsgrove, 1M58, 08.45 Hereford - Birmingham New Street, 21 May 2019.
DB Class 66 No. 66142 Matitime Intermodal Three pass Kenilworth, 4O21 09.15 Trafford Park - Southampton W Docks, 21 May 2019.
How many more westbound cement trains will pass along the Dawlish Sea Wall before work starts in un-clear. However, on 22 May 2019, down cement 6C35 05.49 Aberthaw - Moorswater powered by No. 70813 managed to head west in glorious sun and thus had to be captured.
Well, the story is almost complete. The last day of full length HST workings on Great Western, 18 May 2019. Immaculate 43002 leads train 1A76, the 06.57 Plymouth to Paddington, with No. 43198 on the rear [the first and last production power cars]. In a wonderful gesture, Great Western have renamed No. 43198 in honour of two fallen drivers, killed in the line of duty in HST accidents. On the left side the plate Driver Stan Martin 25 June 1950 - 6 November 2004 (killed in the Ufton Nervet accident) and on the right side Driver Brian Cooper 15 June 1947 - 5 October 1999 (killed in the Ladbroke Grove accident).
Return of the Lost Boy! Rail Operations Group Class 47 No. 47815 'Lost Boys 68-88' emerges from Kennaway Tunnel and skirts King's Walk, Dawlish on 15 May 2019. The loco is powering an off-lease rake of HST trailers, running as train 5L46, 09.35 Laira depot to Ely Papworth Sidings.
Come back again soon, the stunning restored Class 47 No. 47593 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 15 May 2019, forming drivers route training special 0Z14 09.25 Goodrington to Crewe.
Lost Boy found on Sea Wall. 47815 'Lost Boys 68-88' storms west along the sea wall at Dawlish on 14 May 2019, forming move 5V84, 09.25 Ely Papworth Sidings to Laira depot, hauling two barrier coaches 6340 and 6344.
Always nice to see Great Western Railway's daytime sleeper service! After last evenings up Penzance to Paddington sleeper service was formed of an IET after the Class 57 failed, the stock had to be taken to Reading then London for tonights westbound train. Great Western-liveried No. 57604 powers the train past Rockstone Bridge, Dawlish with dead No. 57603 on the rear. The train operated as 5A40, 09.14 Long Rock depot to Reading Depot. 14 May 2019
Loco Services Class 47 No. 47593 passes Dawlish on 14 May 2019 running as 0Z12, 14.06 Bristol Barton Hill - Saltash via Westbury.
Years ago we would not have even bothered wth a light 47, how times have changed. The immaculate Loco Services Ltd No. 47593 passes below Rockstone Bridge, Dawlish on 14 May 2019 working as 0Z11 09.25 Goodrington Sidings to Barton Hill.
After Network Rail have destroyed the Dawlish Sea Wall, at least this view will (hopefully) remain [as long as Lea Mount does not fall down]. On 13 May 2019, all blue HST set with No. 43071 on the front and 43162 on the rear heads west in stunning afternoon light forming train 1C84, the 14.03 Paddington to Penzance.
May not be many more full length sets in good light on the wall. 43063 turns towards Kennaway Tunnel on 13 May 2019 leading train 1C82, the 13.03 Paddington to Plymouth.
What whas likely to be the last ever full-length 2+8 GW HST to stop at Dawlish. On Saturday 11 May 2019, 1A15 the 09.18 Paignton to Paddington slows the station call with power car Nos. 43198 on the front and 43063 on the rear.
The Vivarail rebuilt former London Underground D Stock is now working on the West Midlands Trains 'Marston Vale Line'. These two-car sets have my seal of approval, very impressed. 230003 passes Woburn Sands on 9 May 2019 forming test run 5T54, the 13.26 Bedford to Bletchley.
Brand new out the box 802114 makes its first ever run along the Dawlish sea wall on 5 May 2019, forming train 1C05 08.00 Paddington to Penzance, its first ever revenue earning duty. Sadly the train failed with defective engines at Newton Abbot and then totally failed at Totnes having to be rescued by two five-car sets, seeing the first 19-car 802 train in the west between Totnes and Laira.
For me personally, far better that a ruddy LMS steam loco on the sea wall is a nice Class 47. On Saturday 4 May 2019, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland was stopped from powering a Paddington to Kingswear charter due to wheel issues. The WCRC operated train was thus 'top and tailed' by Class 47s Ns. 47245 and 47746. With 47245 leading, the train heads west through Dawlish staton operating as train 1Z54, 07.09 Paddington to Kingswear. I wonder how many more '47s' will be photographable from this view point before the scene is destroyed by the new sea wall.