9. A day in Devon-26.07.80

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 9. A day in Devon-26.07.80
Yet another trip to the West Country! This time we travelled in the newly acquired beige Austin 1100 (UVJ 129J) that behaved itself apart from the delamination of one of the remould tyres whilst descending from Whiteball on the A38. There was a car full with Graham (driving), David Brush, Bill Jupp and myself crammed in with all our kit. The weather was a little better than during recent trips that raised the mood!
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Images 1-17 of 17 displayed.

47477, 11.20 Paignton-London Paddington (1A71), Exminster With the remains of Exminster station to the right (closed 30.06.64) 47477 rushes past with the 11.20 Paignton to Paddington service. According to contemporary records (The Rail Gen Archive), the Class 47 took over the 1A71 at Newton Abbot. Exminster signal box is seen to the left of the down loop. The station building survives today with the land beyond it occupied by various units including a large reclamation yard. Keywords: 47477 11.20 Paignton-London Paddington 1A71 Exminster
47089, 08.50 Swansea-Paignton (1B80), Exminster 47089 'Amazon' gets its head as it passes Exminster with the 1B80 08.50 Swansea to Paignton. This photograph was rescued from the reject's box due to it being too underexposed so I have had to do a fair bit of work to make it presentable. 47089 had another seven years in service until ignominiously meeting its end at Chinley after hitting 31440. Both locomotives were never repaired with Amazon being taken to Cooper's metals at Sheffield for final disposal. Notice the M5 viaduct in the background crossing the Exe estuary. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see....https://youtu.be/Pai0I7YwPXs Keywords: 47089 08.50 Swansea-Paignton 1B80 Exminster Amazon
Ex GWR notice, Starcross The font is right, the colours are right but is this a GWR notice? This rather ancient looking sign was located in a car park adjacent to Brunel's pumping station at Starcross with the west of England mainline in the background. Keywords: Ex GWR notice Starcross
Brunel Atmospheric Pumping House, Starcross Even the great Brunel had some failures! One of his inventions that was ultimately flawed was the atmospheric railway that he developed between Exeter and Newton Abbot with plans to extend it to Torquay, Totnes and beyond. Of the eight engine houses built to power the atmospheric railway two remain intact. The Starcross engine house is located next to the station sandwiched between the railway and the A379 road through the village. Back in 1980 it was derelict and looking a bit sorry for itself but it has since been renovated and is now in use by the Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club. The chimney of this engine house was shortened at some time in the past and is about one half the height of what it was. Keywords: Brunel Atmospheric Pumping House Starcross
Wartime ARP enamel, Starcross Whilst not railway associated I have included this photograph in the archive due to its interest. It shows a wartime ARP enamel sign at Starcross on the side of a building. Rather than remove or re-locate it the wooden notice board box has simply been placed over part of the sign! Keywords: Wartime ARP enamel Starcross
Dawlish Warren Signal Box (GW, date not known) I have no date for the construction of Dawlish Warren signal box but I suspect that it would be early twentieth century. It is a classic GW design and looks smart in the afternoon sunshine. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the wooden platform that has been partially removed and is in the process of shortened. Keywords: Dawlish Warren Signal Box
Former BR(W) sign, Dawlish Warren I am not sure of the vintage of this particular sign but it appears to be a rather crude British Railways (W) cast with timber edging parking sign. It was pictured on the road to the side of Dawlish Warren station. The wording strikes as being rather antiquated, 'by order' of whom one may ask! Keywords: Former BR(W) sign Dawlish Warren
Frontage, Dawlish station The starting point and end for many a holidaymaker over the years is Dawlish station! The station is a lovely building that looks very similar to this today except that there is another café closer to the entrance doors in the shade next to the post box. The original station was built with one platform on the leeward side serving a single broad gauge line. In 1875 this grand new station was opened that included a lift to get customers and their luggage to and from the platforms. Ever since the station was opened it has been a constant battle to maintain it and protect it from the ravages of the sea and no more so that disaster struck in February 2014 with the passage of a major Atlantic depression. Since then, Network Rail and its contractors have been rebuilding the sea wall in this area and have grand plans for improving the resilience of the station itself; let's hope that this does not spoil the aesthetics of the building. Keywords: Frontage Dawlish Station
31255 & 31273, 09.25 Birmingham New Street-Paignton (1V68), Dawlish station A service typical of what good old BR could lay on for a summer Saturday was the 1V68 Birmingham New Street to Paignton service seen here passing through Dawlish station in this case hauled by 31255 and 31273. However, another contemporary source has this down as the 1B56 10.25 Paddington to Paignton. Now, far be it from me to challenge the latter assumption but double-headed Class 31s and a long rake of Mk. 1s were far less common from London as they would have been from Birmingham. If any of my readers can corroborate any of this information please do contact me. It's a shame that I am the wrong side for the sun but double-headed Class 31s on the sea wall at Dawlish is pretty special either way! Keywords: 31255 31273 09.25 Birmingham New Street-Paignton 1V68 Dawlish Station
Ex GWR, sign, Dawlish station A former GWR running in sign at Dawlish station that is still extant today. The hotel in the background is now a charity shop and the MoT facility behind that is now flats. Strangely, the oddly designed building next to the archway is still virtually identical now named Bay View Cottage. Keywords: Ex GWR, sign Dawlish station
Dawlish signal box (GWR, 1918) On summer Saturdays and other busy times, Dawlish signal box was manned, but at other times, it was switched out. This led to a very long block section along the entire South Devon Coast from Dawlish Warren to Teignmouth. The unusually designed box with its narrow base was to give room for passengers and their luggage on the up platform of the station. The bow, opened by the GWR in 1918, must have been a smashing place to do a shift on a balmy day like this one but on a stormy night in February with the sea spray blowing over the box it must have been a somewhat different experience! After closure came in September 1986 the box was boarded up and the access steps removed. There were many attempts to find a use for the unique structure but none found so it was eventually demolished over a weekend in July 2013. Keywords: Dawlish signal box GWR 1918
Ex GWR sign, Dawlish station A second GWR running in board at Dawlish station on the up platform. The car park in the background was once the goods sidings where a small shed once also existed. Of particular interest is the collection of 1970s cars. With a number of Ford Cortinas, there are at least two Japanese interlopers in the form of Datsun, a Morris Minor Traveller, a smart looking Vovo 240 and a VW Camper. Keywords: Ex GWR sign Dawlish station
Bill Jupp, Dave Brush & Graham brew up, Staverton Bridge station car park In the station car park at Staverton Bridge on the South Devon Railway (formally the Dart Valley Railway), we are no doubt breaking some by-law or another but lighting up the primus stove to have a brew! In this view, Graham is pouring the water into the pan while David sets up the cups with Bill looking on. Notice the small table on which the flask is placed. Amazingly, I still have this table in the family camping kit that is used to house the gas stove! Keywords: Bill Jupp Dave Brush Graham brew up Staverton Bridge station car park.
1450, 15.30 Buckfastleigh-Totnes Riverside, Staverton Bridge station The Dart Valley Railway's 15.30 Buckfastleigh to Totnes Riverside service pauses at Staverton Bridge. It is being led by preserved Collett 1450 that was a regular performer on the line for many years. It is hauling a smark rake of stock including a 'Devon Belle' observation car marshalled behind the locomotive. After spending many years on the SDR 1450 moved to the Dean Forest Railway where it spent ten years. Then it moved to the Severn Valley Railway where it remains today as a member of their home fleet seeing regular use. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see...https://youtu.be/o8RoG6aePTU Keywords: 1450 15.30 Buckfastleigh-Totnes Riverside Staverton Bridge station Collett 4800 Class
1450, 16.10 Totnes-Buckfastleigh, Staverton Bridge SX781636 The 16.10 Totnes Riverside to Buckfastleigh service leaves Staverton Bridge station on the Dart Valley Railway (now operating as the South Devon Railway) led by Collett 1450. I am not a fan of tender-first photographs with this one clearly illustrating why! The photograph is taken from an occupation crossing. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see....https://youtu.be/C8Z8rqUNViM Keywords: 1450 16.10 Totnes-Buckfastleigh Staverton Bridge SX781636
45016, 08.20 Newcastle-Penzance (1V22), Tigley SX759604 A rather head-on photograph but it is from an era now long gone so has made the final cut! Peak 45016 leads the 08.20 Newcastle to Penzance 1V22 as it climbs the western side of Rattery bank passing the village of Tigley. At this point, the rising gradient will be 1:52 with the train having been climbing for the last three miles or so with another eight miles to the summit at Wrangaton between Brent and Ivybridge. 45016 looks very smart due to it being released from a works visit in the last two weeks where its centre headcode box was replaced by the marker lights seen here. The Peak remained in service for another five years until the summer of 1985. Keywords: 45016 08.20 Newcastle-Penzance 1V22 Tigley SX759604 Peak rattery Bank
50029, 16.15 St. Austell-Kensington Olympia Motorail (1M01), Wrigwell Bridge Dainton 50029 'Renown' approaches the summit of Dainton bank from Wigwell bridge. It is leading the 16.15 St. Austell to Kensington Olympia Motorail service. Unfortunately, due to the curvature of the line, I have not been able to capture the Motorail flats marshalled, as always, at the rear of the train. With the weather having completely clouded over again and being early evening it was time to turn the Morris 1100 home! Keywords: 50029 16.15 St. Austell-Kensington Olympia Motorail 1M01 Wrigwell Bridge Dainton Renown

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