The Dawlish Diary - the following pictures were collected within hours after the disaster.
However since then Network Rail have set up an excellent website giving daily progress reports and phototographs. These can be obtained using this link http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Dawlish/
However since then Network Rail have set up an excellent website giving daily progress reports and phototographs. These can be obtained using this link http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Dawlish/
Overnight on Wednesday 5th February 2014 the sea wall which supports Network Rails line along the sea front between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth was seriously damaged at a point just to the east of Dawlish station. A large gap was opened up in the wall and the largely sand infill was washed out leaving both main line tracks hanging over the gap and seriously threatening new houses which have been built against the cliff face in this location.
Whilst newspaper and TV coverage of this disaster have been excellent the idea of this page is to collect together pictures of the damage that could be seen from various locations. Unfortunately in the interests of safety access to the site has been restricted to Network Rail staff and government officials and the professional press.
However through the kindness of Steve Widdowson was have his permission to publish his 'once in a lifetime' pictures of the event. Many thanks to Steve.
Whilst newspaper and TV coverage of this disaster have been excellent the idea of this page is to collect together pictures of the damage that could be seen from various locations. Unfortunately in the interests of safety access to the site has been restricted to Network Rail staff and government officials and the professional press.
However through the kindness of Steve Widdowson was have his permission to publish his 'once in a lifetime' pictures of the event. Many thanks to Steve.
The morning after. Picture taken at 11.49 on the 7th February 2014. The track west of Dawlish has been covered by pebbles and sand thrown up by the sea.
Copyright Steve Widdowson
Looking east past Dawlish station it can be seen that the breach lies between Dawlish station footbridge and next foot bridge east. Copyright Steve Widdowson.
The length and depth of the breach become more apparent in this view. The sand infill beneath the track has completely gone, washed away right up to the front door of the house behind. Copyright Steve Widowson
Back in Dawlish one ton bags of stones have been placed in readiness for infill work and are also providing some protection for the properties behind. Copyright Steve Widdowson.
Taking a closer look at the station barriers have been erected across the track whilst no far ahead waves can be seen breaking well beyond the line of the original sea wall throwing spray high in the air.
Copyright Steve Widdowson.
Looking west from east of the station it can be seen that the damage was not limited to just the major breach but also to the wall at this location. Copyright Steve Widdowson
The force of the storm is demonstrated not only by the damage in the foreground but also by the heavy debris on the track under and beyond the footbridge. Copyright Steve Widdowson.
This picture clearly illustrates the depth of the 'washout' beyond the rail tracks. Once the 'washout' had occurred both of the main line tracks hung swinging in the gale force winds. By the time this photograph was taken the track had been cut into short sections and lay partly on the beach. Copyright Steve Widdowson.
Meanwhile back at the Teignmouth end of the sea wall just where the line pluges into a deep cutting prior to Teignmouth station evidence of serious damage to the footpath is there for all to see. Copyright Steve Widdowson.
Looking east out towards the sea wall the figures seen standing by the wall are at the point seen in close up above. Steve Widdowson.
And finally Steve takes a shot of the rusty rails at Teignmouth station, one wonders how long it will be before these rails are polished once more by regular trains. This picture as all above were taken on the 7th February 2014.
A very sincere thank you to Steve Widdowson for allowing us to use his pictures on the Cornwall Railway Society Website.
Now follow three privileged view pictures taken by Nick Madden. More 'once in a lifetime pictures'! We are most grateful to Nick and WNXX for permission to share his material with you.
Dawlish - the view from the adjacent houses Several pictures of the scene at Dawlish on the 7th after the sea wall had been breached by severe gales and high tides. The selection of pictures below were taken from one of the houses overlooking the worst breached part of the sea wall where the GWML between Exeter and Plymouth *used* to be. "Have been helping a friend today to save some of his personal stuff from his property at Dawlish. The pictures had to be taken through the windows as we were not allowed to open them. A very sad day for many families at this location as they are not sure if their houses may end up in the sea!"
7th February 2014 Copyright Nick Madden
7th February 2014 Copyright Nick Madden
7th February 2014 Copyright Nick Madden
Note It now looks as if thanks to the brilliant idea of keeping the seas out by placing containers on the walkway will have saved the properties. The containers, with their tops cut open, were filled with sand.
Roger Winnen took a trip to Newton Abbot today (Monday 10th February 2014) - here is his report
Visiting Dawlish today one was struck by the massive undertaking needed to rebuild the railway line. Unfortunately all access to the beach and the sea wall was sealed off from Dawlish Warren to Coryton Cove. The best views available were from Lea Mount which is high up on the Teignmouth side of Dawlish where I used a telephoto lens.
Containers were visible, hopefully holding back the seas so rebuilding work can take place at the breach together with numerous sub contractors on site to manage the large undertaking, there were also army personnel. It has been said that Dawlish platform had moved several feet during the storm so no doubt a large reconstruction has to take place.
Trains today from Penzance were running through to Newton Abbot, but passengers for London were advised to change at Plymouth, and passengers to the north were bused to Bristol.
Visiting Dawlish today one was struck by the massive undertaking needed to rebuild the railway line. Unfortunately all access to the beach and the sea wall was sealed off from Dawlish Warren to Coryton Cove. The best views available were from Lea Mount which is high up on the Teignmouth side of Dawlish where I used a telephoto lens.
Containers were visible, hopefully holding back the seas so rebuilding work can take place at the breach together with numerous sub contractors on site to manage the large undertaking, there were also army personnel. It has been said that Dawlish platform had moved several feet during the storm so no doubt a large reconstruction has to take place.
Trains today from Penzance were running through to Newton Abbot, but passengers for London were advised to change at Plymouth, and passengers to the north were bused to Bristol.
Dawlish station Notice the track stacked up, no doubt it came from the breach in the sea wall. 10th February 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Dawlish down platform has been badly damaged as can be seen. 10th February 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen.
Dawlish Station, the usual pedestrain route to the beach has been closed. 10th February 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
The up track is being inspected. 10th February 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Telephoto views from Lea Mount.
Dawlish station with the damaged platform clearly visible. 10th February 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Redundant containers weighted down with sand used to plug the gap. 10th February 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen.
In this view it can be seen that the wall is damaged elsewhere in addition to the breach. 10th February 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen
As can be seen the trackbed to the west of the station has been largely cleared of the debries seen on 7th February. This view 10th February 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
However, please don't be put off by the pictures of damage and destruction at the station and sea wall. Dawlish town is keen to emphasise that it is open for business as usual. 10th February 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen
Derek Buttivant visited on the 22nd February 2014. Here are his pictures from Lea Mount - you can see definte signs of progress. His report follows.
Hello Keith.
You may feel that there's no need for any more photos of Dawlish - and, if so, just ignore the three attached which I took yesterday when the weather was bright and clear enough to see what's going on.
There are several other areas of damage to the sea wall between Dawlish station and Langstone Rock, in addition to the major breach. NR are working on all the sites. The use of old shipping containers filled with rubble was a very effective way of sealing the breach quickly, between storms, and obviously prevented even more devastating erosion. There are available engineering solutions to deal with the ongoing problem of storm damage but these would involve substantially replacing the existing wall with a reinforced concrete structure higher and deeper than the old wall and with a wave-return profile. The railway itself could be raised and laid with slab track on a concrete base (except through the five tunnels) and it seems likely that such measures would be effective for the foreseeable future. However, any suggestion of alterations to the appearance of the wall are always met with fierce opposition. An example was the idea that some kind of additional barrier is needed on top of the low wall separating the railway from the pedestrian path along the sea wall to deter trespass. One wonders what approach Brunel himself would favour, given what we now know about increasingly severe weather, rising sea levels and the availability of materials and techniques that were not available to him when he first engineered the line.
It is clear that, whatever the long-term decision about providing a diversion route, the existing line must be protected and maintained in the meantime.
Best wishes,
Derek
Hello Keith.
You may feel that there's no need for any more photos of Dawlish - and, if so, just ignore the three attached which I took yesterday when the weather was bright and clear enough to see what's going on.
There are several other areas of damage to the sea wall between Dawlish station and Langstone Rock, in addition to the major breach. NR are working on all the sites. The use of old shipping containers filled with rubble was a very effective way of sealing the breach quickly, between storms, and obviously prevented even more devastating erosion. There are available engineering solutions to deal with the ongoing problem of storm damage but these would involve substantially replacing the existing wall with a reinforced concrete structure higher and deeper than the old wall and with a wave-return profile. The railway itself could be raised and laid with slab track on a concrete base (except through the five tunnels) and it seems likely that such measures would be effective for the foreseeable future. However, any suggestion of alterations to the appearance of the wall are always met with fierce opposition. An example was the idea that some kind of additional barrier is needed on top of the low wall separating the railway from the pedestrian path along the sea wall to deter trespass. One wonders what approach Brunel himself would favour, given what we now know about increasingly severe weather, rising sea levels and the availability of materials and techniques that were not available to him when he first engineered the line.
It is clear that, whatever the long-term decision about providing a diversion route, the existing line must be protected and maintained in the meantime.
Best wishes,
Derek
Dawlish station approach from Lea Mount. 22nd February 2014 Copyright Derek Buttivant
A close up of the row of containers placed to keep the sea at bay. Note temporary road put in to provide access to the more distant houses. 22nd February 2014 Copyright Derek Buttivant
The station viewed from Lea Mount. Copyright Derek Buttivant. 22nd February 2014
With news that the breach at Dawlish would soon be rectified Roger Winnen made a special trip to Newton Abbot on the 13th March 2014 and then using the Rail Replacement bus service visited the three stations towards Exeter.
A selection of pictures taken by Tim Maddocks Customer Service Manager,
Network Rail, West Country Area and published with the permission of Network Rail
Network Rail, West Country Area and published with the permission of Network Rail
Saturday 29th March 2014.
A train recorded past the Dawlish Breach by Martin Duff
A train recorded past the Dawlish Breach by Martin Duff
On Saturday 29th March 2014. Martin Duff photographed this ballast train headed by Class 70 801 at Bishopsteinton.. Copyright Martin Duff
Class 70 801 makes a very colourful and welcome sight beyond the Dawlish Breach at Bishopsteinton. 29th March 2014 Copyright Martin Duff
Another shot of 70 801 with Shaldon bridge in the background. 29th March 2014 Copyright Martin Duff.
On Friday 4th April 2014 the repaired Dawlsh Line was re-opened much to the joy of the local populace. During a visit the Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated the 'Orange Army' the name bestowed upon the valiant workers who strove 24/7 over the last two months. A job very well done . Congratulations Network Rail.
and Finally to close our session on the Dawlish Sea Wall incident February - March 2014 we conclude with a sequence of pictures taken by our premier photographer Roger Winnen on the 10th February 2014.
The site of the controlled earth slip near Teignmouth. 10th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
140410b Repairs to the seawall at Teignmouth. 10th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
The reinstated seawall at the Dawlish Breach. Copyright Roger Winnen 10th April 2014
The affected houses at the Dawlish breach. Copyright Roger Winnen 10th April 2014
Work ongoing at Dawlish. 10th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Views from Lea Mount. 10th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
The Torbay Express arriving at Dawlish. 10th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
We are back in business at Dawlish with Class 150 153 & 158 departing in both directions. 10th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Heading for the series of five tunnels to Teignmouth as the A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley leaves Dawlish. Copyright Roger Winnen.
In 2019 it was announced that remedial work would start to improve the resilience of the sea wall to heavy storms - the sea wall between Dawlish station and Kennaway tunnel was to be raised and the widened. The work started before the school holidays, ceased during the holidays and resumed afterwards.
Many thanks to Steve Widdowson for his views on the 4th October seen below.
66160 ~ 66168 Dawlish { RHTT 0850 Westbury ~ St Blazey} 4th October 2019 Copyright Steve Widdowson
150243 ~ 150266 Dawlish at 12.37 on the 4th October 1019. Copyright Steve Widdowson
802011 & 802009 Dawlish at 16.24 on the 4th October 2019 Copyright Steve Widdowson
802011 & 802009 Dawlish 16.24 4th October 2019 Copyright Steve Widdowson
143620 & 143606 passing the worksite at Dawlish. 4th October 2019 Copyright Steve Widdowson
150261 passes close by the footbridge near Kennaway tunnel at Dawlish 4th October 2019 Copyright Steve Widdowson
Work in progress at Dawlish 4th October 2019 Copyright Steve Widdowson
One hopes the driver can swim!!! Dawlish 4th October 2019 Copyright Steve Widdowson
A view from Dawlish station end. A A view from the Dawlish station end of the worksite with 143618 & 150261 with a service heading for Exeter. 4th October 2019. Copyright Steve Widdowson
Rebuilding the Dawlish Sea Wall Sunday 19th September 2021
Roger Salter
Roger Salter
210919a The reconstruction of the Dawlish Sea Wall from the Railway station to the Coastguard lookout. Copyright Roger Salter
210919b The reconstruction of the Dawlish Sea Wall from the Railway station to the Coastguard lookout. Copyright Roger Salter
210919c Adjacent to the down platform at Dawlish Station. Copyright Roger Salter
210919d Closing the gap. Copyright Roger Salter
210919e First Great Western at Dawlish Station. Copyright Roger Salter
210919f Work on the forshore at Dawlish. Copyright Roger Salter