Starcross to Rewe-02.08.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 15. West of England Bike Tour-29.07-04.08.79 > Starcross to Rewe-02.08.79
After packing up my bike after a night camping at Starcross I rode westwards on to the sea wall as far as I felt I could before turning for home. I then headed back to the other side of Exeter and enjoyed a night at a 'proper' campsite in the village of Rewe that included a much-needed shower!
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Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.

50042, 08.30 London Paddington-Penzance (1B34), Dawlish Warren 50042 'Triumph' passes Dawlish Warren station with the 1B34 08.30 London Paddington to Plymouth. Note the signal box at the far end of the station. This has obviously now gone but a modern style replacement has been built as a private residence on the other platform. The ex GWR camping coaches can be seen to the left that has always been a notable feature on this piece of land just west of the station. Keywords: 50042 08.30 London Paddington-Penzance 1B34 Dawlish Warren
31256, down ECS, Dawlish SX971773 With the famous Langstone Rock in the distance, 31256 brings an empty coaching stock working along the sea wall composed of a short rake of Mk.1s. The characteristic red Dawlish Sandstone that has caused so many problems with erosion can be seen clearly in the cliff on the left. The sun has decided to come out and as a result, the visitor walking the pushchair along the sea wall has his shirt off but has kept his very 1970's flared jeans on! Keywords: 31256 ECS Dawlish SX971773
50012, 09.50 Penzance-London Paddington, Parson`s Tunnel Looking very smart in the summer sunshine, 50012 'Benbow' brings the 09.50 Penzance to London Paddington along the seawall. It is just approaching Parson’s Tunnel. The base of the old Parson’s Tunnel signal box, that closed in 1964, can be seen at the base of the cliff. What a smashing spot this must have been to be a signalman. When I visited this spot nearly forty years later, the scene was remarkably similar but the subject matter was very different with an entire generation of motive power, the HSTs, having been jumped!...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/24745332404/x800003-800004-12-47-penzance-north Keywords: 50012 09.50 Penzance-London Paddington Parson`s Tunnel
50045, 10.30 London Paddington-Plymouth (1B56), Parson`s Tunnel 50045 'Achilles' emerges from Parson’s Tunnel with the 1B56 10.30 London Paddington to Plymouth. With no view up the 'line, being ready for a picture was tricky. The only warning of a train’s arrival was when the welded track began to 'sing', giving just enough time to get the camera to the eye and to fire hoping the shutter speed and aperture settings were correctly set up! Keywords: 50045 10.30 London Paddington-Penzance 1B56 Parson`s Tunnel
50039, 10.56 Penzance-London Paddington, The Cornish Riviera (1A81), Parson`s Tunnel Looking west from Parson’s Tunnel, a very tatty 50039 'Implacable' takes the 1A81 10.56 Penzance to London Paddington, the up ‘Cornish Riviera’ along the sea wall. The condition of many class 50s by this time led a lot to be desired. They were becoming increasingly unreliable and unloved by the drivers and maintenance staff alike so BR set about a programme of refurbishment. The first to be out-shopped from Doncaster was 50006 'Neptune' in November 1979. It was in standard BR blue with the hole for the centre headlight plated over, allegedly due to a shortage of parts. Keywords: 50039 10.56 Penzance-London Paddington The Cornish Riviera Parson`s Tunnel
50013, 11.30 London Paddington-Penzance, the Cornish Riviera (1C77), Parson`s Tunnel Halfway between Parson’s Tunnel and Sprey Point, 50013 'Agincourt' is seen heading the down 1C77 ‘Cornish Riviera’ that left Paddington for Penzance at 11.30. It is just passing the Teignmouth distant colour light. The properties above in the village of Holcome not only afforded a superb view of the coast but also of the IK Brunel built railway along the sea wall, perfect! Keywords: 50013 11.30 London Paddington-Penzance the Cornish Riviera 1C77 Parson`s Tunnel
50011, 13.48 Plymouth-London Paddington (1A03), Sprey Point I am not at all sure, over the annals of time, if I had planned to take this photograph as it is here or if it was a failure to cock the shutter on the Zenith camera? Either way, a dramatic action picture of 50011 leading the 1A03 13.48 Plymouth to London Paddington has resulted. The previous evening, it was seen on another up train leaving Exeter so it will have worked a balancing down working in between. 50011 is still unnamed at this stage of its life; this taking place some six weeks after this picture was taken. Keywords: 50011 13.48 Plymouth-London Paddington 1A03 Sprey Point
50043, 12.23 London Paddington-Penzance (1B74), Dawlish Memories of long and hot summer holidays! 50043 'Eagle' passes Dawlish on the 1B74 12.23 Paddington to Penzance working. This classic location shows clearly the site of the February 2014 sea wall collapse. The most badly damaged area affected the properties in the mid-distance just beyond the rear coach of the train on Sea Lawn Terrace. This is also the point where the infamous photographs of the track swinging in mid-air were taken. Keywords: 50043 12.23 London Paddington-Penzance 1B74 Dawlish
50002, 12.30 London Paddington-Paignton (1B76), Dawlish Warren A grab shot of 50002 'Superb' passing Dawlish Warren on the 12.30 London Paddington to Paignton. Not a great picture, but I like the context of the image with the Mk.4 Ford Zodiac and various 50cc mopeds in the foreground. I suspect that as I was riding my bike through Dawlish Warren I noticed the signal pulled off and on hearing a class 50, I just had time to grab my camera from my saddle bag. Keywords: 50002 12.30 London Paddington-Paignton 1B76 Dawlish Warren
50047, 13.30 London Paddington-Penzance (1B52), Powderham SX972848 Not actually a trespass shot but, in hindsight not an ideal location unless I had eyes in the back of my head! Taken from a public footpath crossing near Powderham, 50047 'Swiftsure' speeds westward with the 13.30 London Paddington to Penzance. I wonder if the family out for their walk appreciated the scene as much as I did? This public crossing has now been replaced by a gargantuan bridge for walkers, cyclists and horse riders using the Exe Valley Way. On the hill behind 50047, the city of Exeter can be seen. Keywords: 50047 13.30 London Paddington-Penzance 1B52 Powderham SX972848
Class 50, up parcel working, Heazille Barton Farm campsite, Rewe SX954004 A glint shot that has a certain atmospheric air about it. In the dying evening sun, an unidentified class 50 heads past my campsite at Rewe between Stoke Canon and Hele and Bradninch. It is heading up and unidentified parcels working. In the consist appears to be a Southern Van, a GUV and an LMS van and that’s just the first 3! Any help with the working or identification on the 50 would be appreciated. If it helps it was taken at about 20.30. The tape recording that I still have is equally as atmospheric complete with a menagerie of farm animals all do their best to compete with the throbbing class 50! Keywords: Class 50 up parcel working Heazille Barton Farm campsite Rewe SX954004

Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.