20th March 2022

The Dawlish Sea Defences
Roger Winnen

220317c The 15.38 SWR Train arrival from London Waterloo at Exeter St David's. Copyright Roger Winnen

220317d The 11.53 Cross Country service from Plymouth passes Dawlish Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

220317e Passing 150 sprinters at Dawlish viewed from the footbridge. Copyright Roger Winnen

220317f Engineering work at Dawlish building a new culvert to takeaway the water from the lake and river at Dawlish. Copyright Roger Winnen

220317g This landing craft is all a part of the Dawlish upgrade work now taking place.. Copyright Roger Winnen

A real gem - an aerial view.
St Blazey
Nicholas Trudgian

An aerial view of St Blazey depot with its turntable- the station at Par and the double track connecting curve plus three signalboxes. Copyright Nicholas Trudgian.

Dear Keith,
Thank you for such a prompt and positive response to my photos. That is so kind.
About four years after I bought a slide scanner, I eventually began scanning about this time last year, starting with my earliest colour images from 1978. I am currently only at July 1985. It’s a slow but utterly rewarding business - reliving each of those cherished moments….even the bad photos of which there are plenty!
I lived at Perranwell from 1980 to 1985 but grew up in Plymouth, then we moved to the Cotswolds where we still are. But my railway passion has always been for Devon and Cornwall. Having said that, most of my slides are of foreign steam from my trips to South Africa, Zimbabwe and India and then other places after 1985, so although I have a selection of Cornwall and Devon scenes I wish so much that I had taken more.  
I do have some interesting black and whites as well though, having taken quite a few photos on three Cornish ‘Runabout’ weeks in 1974, 76 and 77. I focussed mostly on signal boxes rather than the trains. I am not sure why given that in 1974 the Western class diesels were a far more threatened species than the signalling.  
In answer to your question, my photo of St Blazey was taken from a ‘Castle Air’ Long Ranger helicopter that was giving rides from the beach at Carlyon Bay. I asked the pilot to fly over the site so I could take photos. My fellow passengers didn’t seem to mind where we went so that suited me. It’s an interesting photo showing no fewer than three signal boxes - Par, St Blazey and Middleway Crossing. This was the very same helicopter the Anneka Rice flew in for the TV program 'Treasure Hunt’.

Quite an amazing photograph Nick - of great interest.
Very many thanks.
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The resitting of 
Ivybridge
Geoffrey Hurrell

Geoffery writes -  I have attached a photograph of the site of Ivybridge (new) station that may be of interest to someone. My late father, S V F Hurrell was part of the users' group who suggested this site that had previously been a coal yard when consideration was given to re-opening after the rapid growth of the village in the 1970s.
 
Kind regards, Geoff Hurrell

Work commences at the Ivybridge new station building site - Copyright Geoffrey Hurrell.

There are more historic and present day pictures of the two station's which have served the Ivybridge community. Please click on the following link and scroll as necessary.  Main line Plymouth to Newton Abbot incl Totnes Quay 

It's only a building site but it is most important in the history of the railway development in the area. Many thanks Geoff for sending in the photograph of the site and a mention of your Fathers name in connection with the user group.
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Views from
Shaldon Bridge 1
Paul Barlow

Spied from Shaldon bridge - 47078 Sir Daniel Gooch with the 12.00 Paddington to Penzance. 28th September 1986

Many thanks Paul
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