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Trains along the Dawlish Seawall - NetworkRail, a modern day King Canute in a battle to stop the sea

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Rating: 4.0; Vote: 1

The section of the Great Western Main-line between London Paddington and Penzance along the notorious seawall at Dawlish is probably the most photographed railway location in Britain. The choice of route was not one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel-s better decisions, leaving a legacy of never ending headaches for those charged with maintaining the line. The seawall carrying the railway at Dawlish takes the full force of the open sea, it has been breached on numerous occasions since its construction, most recently in 2014 when the line was closed between February 4th and April 3rd due to a washout at Dawlish (Riveira Terrace) and a rock fall at Holcombe. Generations of children including myself have enjoyed playing on the sandy beaches as a succession of trains passed along the seawall ranging from famous named expresses to humble pickup freights. The route featured in this video between Exeter and Teignmouth was opened by the South Devon Railway company on the 30th May 1846 as a broad gauge line 7 feet - inch (2, 140 mm) utilising a novel form of propulsion whereby the train was attached to a piston pulled through a tube set between the tracks. A vacuum was created in the central tube by pumping stations spaced along the route, this vacuum in effect pulled the piston through the tube, unfortunately the technology was ahead of the materials available at the time, the leather used to seal the slot in the tube required to connect the piston with the underside of the train was simply not up to the job. Atmospheric trains as they were known only ran from 13th September 1847 until 9th September 1848 after which they were replaced by conventional steam locomotives. Standard Gauge rails (4 feet 8- inches) replaced the original broad gauge tracks after 20th May 1892. The London and South Western Railway operated their trains via Oakhampton between Exeter and Plymouth, the line was occasionally used by GWR trains as an alternative route to Cornwall whenever the coastal line was closed due to storm damage. Over the years a local inland route was considered, avoiding the vulnerable coastal section between Exeter and Teignmouth, the idea never got past the talking stage. On Sunday, May 5, 1968 the Southern Railway Railway-s route to Plymouth was closed by the government of the day, leaving only the disaster prone coastal line to serve stations beyond Exeter to Plymouth and Penzance. We take a look at some of the stations along the old Southern Railway route still served by modern DMU-s today, indeed the route to Oakhampton has just reopened to passenger trains. Only a 20-mile (32 km) section between Meldon Quarry and Bere Alston was lifted, the seawall will be washed away again, MP-s West of Exeter will call for the old Southern Railway route to be re-instated, noises will be made in the Houses of Parliament and nothing will happen. Our forefathers must be holding their heads in utter despair as they look down on the pathetic decision makers of today as they prattle on about saving the planet whilst leaving people with no alternative to driving by road
Date: 2022-11-28

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Comments and reviews: 12

Aussie
In the video HST West Anton Rogers said -hardly a season goes by without the incursion of the sea upon the line. Defences are strengthened only to be washed away. Often only one line is open and at worst shut altogether-. That video was when I first saw Dawlish in colour and from the cab of an HST. Dad of course had photos in books of Dawlish with Stars, Castle's and King's but they were in B&W. He also had books where there were photos of locos by Dean but that was in single line days before it was doubled. If they make the wall too high then carry a small set of steps to spot trains from the new wall. But maybe there's not too much to worry about as the next big storm will soon wash all that concrete away. Mother nature will not be beaten.
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Anthony
Brilliant footage - one of my favourite places - not only for trains, but the location and of cause the black swans they have there. Sadly I think the sea wall works are going to make it tougher for us train geeks - if the remainder of the wall and promenade is like the first section then it-ll become very tough to spot there indeed. I enjoyed seeing the pacers - it-s a shame the MHR haven-t tried to get a set - I know they weren-t used in the area but I think a pacer to go with their thumper would be quite nice! Anyhow I digress - wonderful video - so many great shots and angles. Lovely to see some HSTs (the shots from the 80s were all amazing) and the voyager crossover looking down from above I really liked.
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Nigel
Thanks for this. When my brother and I were kids in the late 1950s and early 1960s, we'd spend summer holidays with our grandparents and cousins who lived in Exeter. We'd be taken on day trips by steam train to either Exmouth, Dawlish, or Teignmouth and spend the days on the beach or playing in the sea. At Dawlish, we'd wade around in the sea until we saw steam come round the headland in either direction, then make our way back to the beach and up to the wall just in time to catch the name or number of the locomotive. -
There used to be black swans in the park by the station. (Edit) I see from others' comments that there still are. -
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Peter
Tim, thank you - well up to your usual high quality, atmospheric -, amalgam of content over time. The action: even from the -animated- stills, was palpable, especially with the added sound track.
I-ve just realised that at Starcross station there was a glimpse of part of IK Brunel-s ill-starred - -Atmospheric Railway- - viz. the building that used to contain the pumping machinery.
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Bev's
What a stunning film! The definition is brilliant and you are obviously a professional cameraman. The composition is perfect and you must have some fantastic equipment for the long shots. I spent many a holiday in the 50s and 60s at Dawlish Warren, with Kings and Castles hammering through the Warren. Excellent stuff, Tim!
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Robert
Hi tim, This rail corridor is a engineering masterpiece i hope they never reroute the line this would have to be one of the most scenic lines in the world, Is the line sometimes closed in bad weather & how big are the tides they look enormous once again beautiful pictures thanks tim cheer's bob.
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Robin
Tim, the 1987 BBC series -A Perfect Spy- was partially filmed at Dawlish. It was a great series and was repeated on BBC4 some years ago. Seeing your great film reminded me of it again.
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George
I've been watching a lot of your videos recently really well produced. It was quite a surprise when I saw my son and I on your video cycling home through Cockwood.
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Christopher
Thanks for the video Tim, absolutely beautiful place to watch trains. A great collection of these here. Such beautiful scenery and a kind look sea! ----------
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Paul
Guessing that you live (have lived) near this area in Cornwall? My wife's Great-greats are from Cornwall (but almost to the tip, hope to visit someday.
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Neil
30: 46 Somehow I don't see Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Grainger setting off for Hogwarts from Platform 2 & 9 Eighths! LOL
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Goodford
What an interesting and well put together video, always had a soft spot for this part of the GWR! Thanks for sharing -
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