European Railroad Discussion > Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.

Spent the day along the Great Western mainline in South Devon, between Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth, where yhe line hugs the coast. This short video illustrates most the types of train used by the two passenger operators, Great Western and Cross Country. The freight train I might have expected to see was rescheduled owing to yesterday, Monday, being a public holiday.

The still was taken at Exeter St David's where I changed trains. A Castle Class HST set bound for Cardiff pass a departing nine car IET.

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Wow! Thanks for the post. It's nice to see frequent passenger service looking so good. That setting really adds a final touch.

Smashing video sequences.  

My clubs turf ( PAFC ) promoted to Champions League

Marvelous video, Nick - thanks! So interesting to see so many trains (all looking good, too) at these locations - and at both high and low tides. This is an area I have long hoped to visit, and you've raised it more than a few notches on the list - well done.

It's easy to see while you do like to be beside the seaside.

MC

Great video, Nik. I too love that stretch of line. 

55002 Wrote:
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> Great video, Nik. I too love that stretch of
> line. 

It's a real treat to get so near to the railway without any fencing in the way, just a low wall. And on a day like yesterday.

Here's three more stills I took



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/23 05:20 by 86235.

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This brings back good memories, In the 1950's I used to ride these tracks round trip every summer to visit my grand parents.
Back then it was steam hauled and I remember putting my head out of the widow and getting cinders in my eyes.
The last time I rode it was in the early 70's behind a diesel Hydraulic I recall the  very smooth station stops..
ST2K
 

Beautiful location for train watching. Some really large passenger trains as well.

ST2K Wrote:
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> The last time I rode it was in the early 70's
> behind a diesel Hydraulic I recall the  very
> smooth station stops..
> ST2K

I rode the line with my family in 1964 on our way to Paignton on holiday. Diesel hauled from Paddington to Exeter St David's, steam hauled from Exeter to Paignton.

Just look at the things NOT THERE in this video. No junk. No trash. NO GRAFITTI!!! No weeds on the walks. No Noise Pollution. No grease from the trains. No urban sprawl with all of its garbage. No trash on the beach. No body selling crap on the beach. No gaurd rails up close to the trains because the people are all smart enough not to do anything stupid when the train goes by. Must be a scene out of Heaven. 

gandydancer4 Wrote:
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> Just look at the things NOT THERE in this video.
> No junk. No trash. NO GRAFITTI!!! No weeds on the
> walks. No Noise Pollution. No grease from the
> trains. No urban sprawl with all of its garbage.
> No trash on the beach. No body selling crap on the
> beach. No gaurd rails up close to the trains
> because the people are all smart enough not to do
> anything stupid when the train goes by. Must be a
> scene out of Heaven. 

Well, not quite Heaven. In fact, the linked article is titled "Hell-on-Sea".

The Dawlish Seawall is indeed delightful for railfans and it's a pleasant little town, but little did I know when I stayed there for a few nights back in 2010 what was lurking just beneath the surface. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/16/hell-on-sea-dawlish-drugs-gang-geordies
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/23 00:00 by railsmith.

A pure delight!   Trains and the ocean... two of my favorite things.    No mention of the country though... where are we?

 

Amazing video and photos.  I noticed some trains are pulled by locomotives and others appear not.  Are their diesel power units on individual cars?

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

Fabulous weather, scenery, photography, and videography. Thank you very much. 

webmaster Wrote:
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> Amazing video and photos.  I noticed some trains
> are pulled by locomotives and others appear not. 
> Are their diesel power units on individual cars?

Yes, some with electric transmission others with hydraulic transmission.

Fizzboy7 Wrote:
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> A pure delight!   Trains and the ocean... two of
> my favorite things.    No mention of the country
> though... where are we?
>
>  
The clues are there in the intro write up.

WrongWayMurphy Wrote:
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> Smashing video sequences.  
>
> My clubs turf ( PAFC ) promoted to Champions
> League

Err, not quite. I think you mean the Championship. The Champions League is the premier European club competition.

Really great video, love the wave action from 4:22 in the video. I did notice that several of the engines only had 1 of the 2headlights working. Is this common place. Thanks in advance.
Robert in Island City Oregon

Excellent!
Gordon

8notch Wrote:
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> I did notice that several of the
> engines only had 1 of the 2headlights working. Is
> this common place. Thanks in advance.
> Robert in Island City Oregon

Thanks, glad you liked it. Broadly speaking you are right. Many of the units I shot do run with two sidelights but only one headlight. I've noticed that the newer units, which come fitted with LED head lights, and some retro fitted freight locomotives now run with both sidelights and both headlights on.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/23 05:06 by 86235.