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Newton Abbot West - 160 hour blockade - latest update

19/3/2014

The following pictures have been received from Network Rail - they are their Copyright. Our sincere appreciation to Network Rail and Tim Maddocks in particular for making these pictures of another of their work sites available to us. As can be seen from the pictures which follow this is another massive undertaking in which they are able to make use of the reduced traffic at this time of the Dawlish upheaval to close the lines between Newton Abbot and Totnes/Paignton.

With all four lines, that is the two to and from Paignton and the two to and from Totnes and beyond cut and removed, a massive trench has been excavated to facilitate the installation of the culvert. Signalling cables supported in flexible ducting above the site. 19th March 2014 Copyright Network Rail with their permission.

The first of the culvert castings is lowered into place.19th March 2014 Copyright Network Rail with their permission.

The second culvert casting is positioned ready for lowering. 19th March 2014 Copyright Network Rail with their permission.

With several culvert castings in position more follow. 19th March 2014 Copyright Network Rail with their permission.

The castings have now reached the far side of the embankment and the embankment is reinstated around and above the new culvert. Picture Copyright Network Rail with their permission. 19th March 2014

Looking through one of the culvert passages. Picture Copyright Network Rail with their permission.

Engineers gave scale to one of the portals of the new culvert. Picture Copyright Network Rail with their permission. 19th March 2014

Looking towards the former Aller Junction over a temporary roadway laid across the four tracks. Copyright Network Rail with their permission. 19th March 2014

The cut points of the rails marked on the sleeper. Copyright Network Rail with their permission. 19th March 2014

Reinstatement of the trackbed. Copyright Network Rail with their permission. 19th March 2014

A general view of the worksite. 19th March 2014 Copyright Network Rail with their permission.

Engineering Work Newton Abott - Paignton

18/3/2014

Keith, Here are a few pics of work going on I took these on my way home after a shift at Paignton Signal Box , the Intial work was to put a culvert under the line,here we see the embankment being reinstated Please feel free to use them on your site
Regards Graham Bowden Signaller Network Rail
Many thanks for your input Graham, it is much appreciated.

(1) 18th March 2014 Copyright Graham Bowden

(2) 18th March 2014 Copyright Graham Bowden

(3) 18th March 2014 Copyright Graham Bowden

Strangers in the camp - Class 70's visit Exeter and the sea wall. News and pictures from David Tozer

18/3/2014

Hi Keith, Suspect that you do not have any shots of the attached on your website.

Yes, Colas Rail Class 70’s top and tailed the late running 1120 6Z70 Westbury – Exeter (St Thomas). From here they went on to Dawlish with a train load of ballast. Dave
Well done David and many thanks

Against the familiar background of the once 'over roofed' station at Exeter St Thomas 70802 heads the train destined for the major works along the Dawlish sea wall. Tuesday 18th March 2014 Copyright David Tozer

With 70803 bringing up the rear the ballast proceeds towards the major works. Tuesday 18th March 2014 Copyright David Tozer

Something to visit on Saturday 22nd March 2014

17/3/2014

Falmouth Society of Railway Modellers

Open Day
Saturday 22nd March 2014

at

The Athaeneum Club
Kimberley Place
Falmouth

Free Admission

Open 10am - 4pm

Web: www.fsrm.weebly.com

Today on the Lynton & Barnstaple David Tozer

15/3/2014

Keith, A photograph taken today (15th April 2014) of Bagnall 0-4-2 ‘Isaac' working the first train of the day at 1100 from Killington Lane to Woody Bay with a pair of L & B Coaches.
These I have to say have been restored to a superb standard.
Regards Dave Many thanks David

Lynton & Barnstaple 'Isaac' approaching Woody Bay on a glorious day. 15th March 2014 Copyright David Tozer

L & B 'Isaac' at Woody Bay on a lovely day. 15th March 2014 Copyright David Tozer

Another problem at Dawlish from BBC News

15/3/2014

Fire crews are pumping sea water on to the cliff at Dawlish to bring down 350,000 tonnes of potentially unstable rock and soil in a controlled landslip.

Network Rail called in firefighters to prevent a "catastrophic" collapse that could have posed a risk to workers repairing the main Devon railway line.

A geologist is working with the fire crews and Network Rail's contractors.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFRS) said crews were brought in after a large area - about 30m (100ft) - of soil and rock directly above the main line at Teignmouth Road appeared to have "slumped" over the past 48 hours.

"Network Rail are now unable to work beneath this area due to the potential for catastrophic collapse posing a risk to workers and causing further damage to the railway infrastructure," DSFRS said.

Newton Abbot - Totnes and Paignton closure

15/3/2014

In addition to the engineering work taking place at Dawlish, engineering work is also taking place between Newton Abbot and Totnes / Paignton closing all lines. (Work on the Kingskerswell by-pass)

Buses replace trains between Exeter St Davids and Totnes / Paignton from 15th to 21st March 2014

Dawlish Sea Wall, Network Rail operations. Tim Maddocks

15/3/2014

We are most grateful to Tim Maddocks, Service Manager, Network Rail West Country who took and forwarded the following pictures of the massive repair operation going on on the sea wall at Dawlish. These are reproduced here with the permission of Network Rail.

At Dawlish station

Dawlish canopy refurbishment - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Down platform repairs - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Down platform repairs_‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Detail of the extensive work being carried out on the down platform. Down platform repairs_‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Dawlish, at the site of the breach

L sections at country-end of main breach site ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

London-end of the main breach site - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Main breach site - looking east. - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Moving inner L section into position_‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014 This view shows very clearly the method of reconstruction using pre-cast L sections both for the outer sea wall and inner retaining wall.

Moving inner L sections into position - _‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

New L sections in main breach - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Near Rockstone

New concrete parapet wall near Rockstone - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Parapet wall and walkway repairs near Rockstone - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Re-laid troughing and old cables ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Repairs to inner and outer wall near main breach - ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014

Track resumes at edge of main breach site - looking west ‘Network Rail, with their permission’ 13th March 2014.

With very many thanks to Network Rail for their permission to publish the above pictures taken from positions which we enthusiasts, for reasons of safety, cannot access. What a massive achievement in such a short time, Network Rail Engineers have to be congratulated on their ingenuity, great skills and perseverance.

Return to the Sea Wall in South Devon Thursday 13 April '14 Roger Winnen

14/3/2014

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.

Exeter Central Re-vamp David Tozer

12/3/2014

Keith, The forecourt at Exeter(Central) has under gone a £600,000 revamp in conjunction with Network Rail, First Great Western and Exeter City Council. Regards Dave Many thanks David.

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