Dawlish Trains www.dawlishtrains.com
September 2020
Yet another view of LSLs visit to the west on 25-27 September 2020. 1960s green-liveries No. 47805 crosses Cockwood Harbour with train 1Z82 16.23 Kingswear to Penzance via Exeter 'The Torbay Riviera Statesman'.
Another view of LSLs visit to the west on 25-27 September 2020. Large Logo 47593 approaches Cockwood with train 1Z82 16.23 Kingswear to Penzance via Exeter 'The Torbay Riviera Statesman'.
LSL Class 47 No. 47805 (D1935) 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013' climbs upgrade from Goodrington towards Churston on the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway with train 1Z80, the 09.25 Penzance to Kingswear 'Torbay Riviera Statesman' on 26 September 2020. Although the headboard claims its the 'Cornish Riviera Express'.
A little defused light at Totnes for Loco Services Ltd Class 47 No. 47593 powering 1Z80, the 09.25 Penzance to Kingswear 'Torbay Riviera Statesman' on 26 September 2020. The nice bright loco lifted the colour.
Always nice to get a pair! LSL Nos. 47593 and 47805 pass along the side of the Rive Exe at Starcross on 25 September 2020 in charge of train 1Z70, the 06.08 York to Penzance 'The Cornishman' charter.
25 September 2020 saw the official opening of phase 1 of the new Dawlish Sea Wall, Kings Walk. Hosted by the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Great Western and CrossCountry. The wall was officially opened by Transport Minister Chris Heaton Harris at the invitation of Network Rail Western Route Director Mike Gallop. Also in attendance was Newton Abbot MP Ann Marie Morris, GW Managing Director Matt Golton and CrossCountry Managing Director Tom Joyner. The new plaque is to be displayed locally.
Well, when I got up this morning (22 September 2020) I never thought before the day was out, I would be able to record a Regional Railways liveried Class 37 passing Dawlish. DRS-operated No. 37425 approaches Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish with working 0Z60, 09.07 Crewe Gresty Bridge to Plymouth.
You could likely count on one hand how many times we have had an eight-car second generation DMU formation on the sea wall, except for one or two odd empty stock moves. However, today 20 September 2020 the 17.58 Exeter St Davids to Plymouth, 2C57, was formed of two Class 158s and two Class 150/2 - 158769 + 158749 + 150243 + 150244. Seen in fading light approaching Kennaway Tunnel.
One of the most outrageous train formations seen on the Sea Wall for some time was recorded this morning, 15 September 2020, when train 5E23, the 10.47 Laira depot to Wabtec Doncaster was formed (from the front) 43029, 43027, 43022, coaches 42087 and 42580, barrier 6340 and Class 47 No. 47815 'Lost Boys 68-88' hanging on the rear. The power cars and stock are part of the expanded GW 2+4 'Castle' project. The train is seen passing Rockstone Bridge, Dawlish.
With ex-works Rail Operations Group-liveried barrier No. 6340 behind, ROG '47' No. 47815 'Lost Boys 68-88' approaches Starcross on 14 September 2020 with train 5V84, 10.14 Derby RTC to Laira, in readiness for a three power car and stock move on 15 September to Wabtec Doncaster.
The red team came out to play as well on Sunday 13 September 2020, with No. 66175 'Rail Riders Express', seen passing the hamlet of Eastdon, near Cockwood, powering train 6W01, 15.00 Lostwithiel to Westbury. No. 66085 was on the rear out of view.
The blue and orange crew obliged with this offering today, 13 September 2020, with No. 66752 and 66761 'top and tai'l of 10 autoballasters forming train 6G73, the 12.08 Westbury to Lostwithiel. The train is seen approaching Kennaway Tunnel.
My priority with the returning West Coast charter on 12 September 2020, was to get a decent pic of 57601 which was on the rear of the train. No. 57601 is seen on the back of train 1Z76, the 16.38 Paignton to Birmingham International, as it heads towards Dawlish station from Kennaway Tunnel.
Class 57/6 No. 57601, 'top and tail' with No. 57316 passes Dawlish on 12 September 2020 with train 1Z75, 07.56 Birmingham International to Paignton.
It is always rare to get GBRf Class 66s on the Dawlish Sea Wall. However overnight on 10/11 September 2020, GBRf were contracted to operate a ballast drop in west Cornwall, when No. 66761 operated train 6G70, the 17.26 Westbury to Truro via Penzance and 02.45 Truro to Westbury. With the shorter days, it was almost dark when the train emerged from Kennaway Tunnel at 06.50 this morning, but I did manage to capture this using a high ISO to record the rare working. In the background Queen Mary 2 looks on.
701002 up Hook, 5Q30 09.00 Eastleigh Depot to Waterloo (GBRf-operated testrun). 10 September 2020.
701002 arrive into Guildford, 5Q31 10.55 Waterloo - Guildford (GBRf-operated) test run. 10 September 2020.
701002 arrive into Guildford, 5Q31 10.55 Waterloo - Guildford (GBRf-operated) test run. 10 September 2020.
701002 departs from Guildford, 5Q32 11.59 Guildford - Waterloo (GBRf-operated) test run. 10 September 2020.
701002 departs from Guildford, 5Q32 11.59 Guildford - Waterloo (GBRf-operated) test run. 10 September 2020.
A Desiro / Aventra meet. On 10 September 2020, Class 701 Bombardier Aventra set No. 701002, devoid of any branding, passes Weybridge on the down slow line with test train 5Q33, the 13.55 Waterloo to Woking. The train was scheduld to operate to Guildford, but a problem between Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge, which saw the train stationary for 15minutes, required the set to return directly to Eastleigh. On the left, Siemens 'Desiro' No. 450096 brings up the rear of train 2P46, the 13.15 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo.
701002 down passing Weybridge, 5Q33 13.55 Waterloo - Woking test special (GBRf-operated).
66782 up Hook, 6Y48 08.59 Eastleigh Yard to Hoo Junction (engineers). 10 September 2020.
66556 down St Johns Cutting, south of Woking, 7V12 15.38 Woking - Merehead via Westburyempty aggregate train. 10 September 2020.
66761 down Berkley Marsh, 6G70, 17.26 Wetsbury - Truro via Penzance ballast. 10 September 2020.
59101 up Berkley Marsh, 6A15 17.05 Merehead - Acton. Train loaded to 3,767 tonnes, with 38 wagons. 10 September 2020.
59001 down Berkley Marsh, 6C76 14.39 Acton - Whatley Quarr. 10 September 2020.
66621 up Berkely Marsh, 7C28 15.52 Exeter Riverside - Whatey via Westbury empty stone. 10 September 2020.
66556 down Berkley Marsh, 7V12 15.38 Woking - Merehead via Westbury. 10 September 2020.
66565 down Berkley Marsh, 6C64 15.25 Acton - Merehead, empty stone. 10 September 2020.
Passing the 205 and a half milepost on the Dawlish Sea Wall at Rockstone (Black) Bridge, DRS Class 66/3s 'top and tail' Escort Coach 9506 on a sunny 9 September 2020 as train 5Z69, 07.59 Devonport Dockyard (Keyham) to Crewe via St Budeaux Victoria Road.
For those interested in the wagons this is No. 95771 a 16 wheel flask carrier.
Always nice to get the MoD flask train when it makes one of its infrequent trips to and from the west. On 8 September 2020, train 6Z68, 05.39 Crewe Coal Yard to MoD Devonport (Keyham) operated, formed of DRS Class 66/3s Nos. 66304 and 66303 'top and tail' of flask wagons 95770 and 95771 with escort vehicle 9506. The train is seen passing around Langstone Rock, Dawlish Warren.
Just catching the first rays of sun along the Sea Wall in Dawlish at 07.17 after a cloudy start to the day on 8 September 2020, Colas Rail Freight Class 66 No. 66849 heads a part discharged rail delivery train, running as 6C98, 05.10 St Austell to Westbury, some 43mins ahead of schedule. Nice light.
We never get a lot of Colas Rail Freight Class 66s on the Dawlish Sea Wall, but on 7 September 2020 one was turned out for a Cornish rail drop train. No. 66849 heads west through Dawlish station and towards Kennaway Tunnel with train 6C98, the 15.10 Westbury to Burngullow via Penzance.
'Windsor Castle' - 57601 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish with 1Z29, 16.28 Paignton to Swansea, 5 September 2020. In the background is Queen Mary 2, basking in Torbay.
As the old boat house along the sea wall by Coastguards Bridge could be demolished anytime from next Monday, I thought I best include it in todays (5 September 2020) picture of the down Northern Belle charter. WCRC Class 57/3 No. 57316 leads train 1Z27 07.15 Swansea - Paignton, with No. 57601 on the rear, as they approach Dawlish.
Dawlish station. 5 September 2020. On the left 143603 and 150244 form train 2T13 09.55 Exmouth - Paignton, while on the right 150216 and 150202 await to depart with 2F14, 10.20 Paignton to Exmouth.
I think I'm right in saying this is the first time we have had a London Transport liveried loco leading on the Dawlish sea wall. On 4 September 2020, Loram Rail Operations operated 0Z17, 09.15 Plymouth North Road station to Derby RTC passes under the about to be closed Coastguards footbridge, formed of Class 20s Nos. 20142 in London Transport maroon and 20007 in green.
Class 20s Nos. 20007 in green and No. 20142 in London Transport maroon approach Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 3 September 2020 with working 0Z16, 09.45 Derby RTC to Plymouth (route training).
66122 and 66425 pass Dawlish on 1 September 2020 running as 0Z69, 05.39 Crewe Coal yard to Devonport Dockyard, Keyham.