Five weeks have now passed since the series of storms destroyed parts of the sea wall at Dawlish together with the station platform.
Leaving home at 08.28 the Voyager service ran to Newton Abbot, where on arrival familiar faces greeted me as buses and drivers from Camborne depot were at the station on rail replacement duties. At Teignmouth repairs were being carried out to the track and to the sea wall, the footpath was completely closed off to Dawlish. At Dawlish work was being carried out on the station, rebuilding the down platform together with work on the canopies.
Moving onto Dawlish Warren and Starcross using the Rail Replacement buses, work was in hand on repairs to points, everything else was very quiet and the rails very rusty after five weeks lack of use. At Dawlish Warren the restored footbridge was inaccessable as fences closed off the bridge together with sea wall path from that point. Returning home by a Torridge Travel Coach from Exeter to Plymouth and then an unusual six car h.s.t. set to Penzance made an enjoyable day.
Newton Abbot
From First at Camborne. This bus is on the former through line at Newton Abbot as a Bus Replacement. 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Teignmouth
Teignmouth Station. The last train called here on 4th February, 2014. P{hotograph on 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Teignmouth station forecourt on a lovely sunny day. 13th March 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen
The footpath from this point at Teignmouth is closed to allow repairs to the sea wall. (And wil probably remain so until September) 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
The rusty track at Teignmouth station. Teignmouth station has an extremely long platform much of it fenced off as it is no longer needed. 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Dawlish
Rebuilding the down platform at Dawlish on the 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
The vast amount of the reconstruction at Dawlish is evident in this picture taken on 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen.
Come and join us! This is the waiting room for Dawlish Station. 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Dawlish Warren
The rusty rails at Dawlish Warren where trains should be running within 3 weeks. This picture on the 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Total Rail Solutions Road Rail Equipment at Dawlish Warren. The sea wakk is completely closed off between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth. 13th Marxh 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Working on the points at the Teignmouth end of the Dawlish Warren loop. In the background are the marooned Camping Coaches in the former goods yard. N.B. The goods yard had its main line connection removed some years ago. 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Starcross
Starcross Station with Brunels Atmospheric Pumping Station in the background. 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Deserted Starcross, Everyone is travelling by bus, will they return to trains? 13th March 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Rail replacement buses galore at Starcross 13th March 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen
We are most grateful to Roger Winnen for bringing us these pictures as the time when rail services along the stretch will once again resume grows ever closer and Cornwall will be re-connected to the outside world by rail. Network Rail are to be congratulated on the speed with which they have tackled this massive task.