JLUK144 Posted June 1, 2019 Share Posted June 1, 2019 (edited) Hello there. I’m currently in the process of collating information for an idea I’ve had for a layout set in South Devon between 1987 and 1992. I have a few questions regarding the train services around that period. Question 1 - Which locos and DMUs operated in South Devon? Question 2 - What were the formations of the HST sets and the loco hauled trains that served the area? Question 3 - What were the freight services back then? in addition to those questions, is there any other information that could be relevant in any other parts of this forum? I’d be most grateful for any information that would help answer my questions. Edited June 3, 2019 by JLUK144 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted June 1, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 1, 2019 The only information I have is in this handful of my Dad's photos - if they are of any help to you. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLUK144 Posted June 1, 2019 Author Share Posted June 1, 2019 8 minutes ago, phil_sutters said: The only information I have is in this handful of my Dad's photos - if they are of any help to you. Your father’s photographs, which are very good may I add, have helped. I didn’t realise the 155s did some work down there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted June 2, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 2, 2019 HST formations were London 8 +2 and cross country tended to be 7 +2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdvle Posted June 2, 2019 Share Posted June 2, 2019 Not sure about the dates, there a lot of photos and videos online though - specifically search on the Dawlish sea wall. I think the 142's were gone by then so there was a short period where they used class 155's until something else could be sorted, eventually returning to older DMUs (class 101/108 primarily I think). Don't know the exact time frame (I was in south Devon 86-89) but the BT painted 118 was used in the area. Fair bit of Class 50, which some stuff painted NSE either for stock movements or for Summer Saturday. Abundance of HST, and a fair number of Class 47. As the previously mentioned Summer Saturday was still sort of a thing a lot of other unusual traction could be found, don't know how accurate but the ColourRail website shows 45107 at Paignton on May 30 1987. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLUK144 Posted June 2, 2019 Author Share Posted June 2, 2019 (edited) 6 hours ago, mdvle said: Not sure about the dates, there a lot of photos and videos online though - specifically search on the Dawlish sea wall. I think the 142's were gone by then so there was a short period where they used class 155's until something else could be sorted, eventually returning to older DMUs (class 101/108 primarily I think). Don't know the exact time frame (I was in south Devon 86-89) but the BT painted 118 was used in the area. Fair bit of Class 50, which some stuff painted NSE either for stock movements or for Summer Saturday. Abundance of HST, and a fair number of Class 47. As the previously mentioned Summer Saturday was still sort of a thing a lot of other unusual traction could be found, don't know how accurate but the ColourRail website shows 45107 at Paignton on May 30 1987. Cheers for that. I remember Video 125’s HST West video going to Laira Depot and I’m sure that 118 you mentioned was there. Edited June 2, 2019 by JLUK144 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wirey33 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 A copy of “Loco Hauled Travel” for your chosen year would be a great help. A similar book called “Class One” for later years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium alexross42 Posted June 8, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 8, 2019 This and other videos by the same user on YT are a great resource for viewing traction and rolling stock of the era you mention: https://youtu.be/4f70k6W0c5Y Variety was still very much in abundance which makes the number of consists you could create almost endless! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray M Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 15 hours ago, alexross42 said: This and other videos by the same user on YT are a great resource for viewing traction and rolling stock of the era you mention: https://youtu.be/4f70k6W0c5Y Variety was still very much in abundance which makes the number of consists you could create almost endless! And a train spotting dog. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Have a look at the website 'The Bashing Years' Year by year, month by month, day by day, it lists locos observed on various workings. According to that for instance 45107 on 30 May 1987 worked 1V49 08.40 Liverpool Lime St to Paignton, then returned on 1M65 15.50 Paignton - Liverpool Lime St, cheers 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil R Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 (edited) As previous posters have said, there was a great variety of traction. Class 45s, 47s, 50s. Pairs of class 31s on services from the NW, very often hauling WCML sets - Mk 2 aircons with a Mk3a catering car and in later years a DVT. Network SouthEast Mk1s/2s on services from London as well as loco hauled Intercity stock. Tatty mixed rakes of Mk1s put together for Friday or Saturday Only services. Regarding freight services, off the top of my head, china clay was prevalent, the most well known service probably being the "Silver Bullets" from Burngullow to Irvine double-headed by Class 37s. Also Polybulks, Tiger Rail PBAs. Speedlink services to Exeter and Tavistock Jcn, oil to Heathfield. Bound to be more than this. Also Parcels and TPO workings I've been reading "Devon Railways: The Area Manager's Diary" by John Heaton which covers the author's career around the Exeter area in the mid-late 80s. Whilst describing his role as a manager the South West, operational problems, local politics etc there are quite extensive references to locomotives throughout the text. There are 2 books, also on Kindle and I would recommend them as an engaging, honest and often humorous read. My late father worked for BR for 37 years and we holidayed in Devon when I was a child so the books hold a special interest for me. some great shots here, illustrating the variety to be had over the years http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/teignmouth-to-exminster.html Hope this helps Regards Phil Edited June 10, 2019 by Phil R Spelling 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted June 11, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 11, 2019 Your time period would see the end of the hoods and the start of the CDA's on china clay traffic, especially the Heathfield to Fowey ball clay workings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 At the beginning of your period, you would have quite a variation in passenger stock, and the changeover from blue/grey to inter-city livery. (Apologies for the horizontal line; it is a fault on my scanner). 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 You're start year of 1987 might be a fraction late to have 45/46s on Speedlink services, but they did have quite a selection of freight vehicles (as seen passing Teignmouth station). However, 47s worked them as well. Later in your period, pairs of 37s in various liveries worked the Silver Bullets china clay working. There was also an occasional oil train, worked by a single 37. I do not know where this originated, or its destination; but I am sure other here will fill in the gaps. A class 31 on a short pw train would be ideal for a prototypical model in a small space. And, not forgetting the occasional 33 on Mk1s. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 Parcels trains on that line contained an assortment of vehicles, but mainly BGs and GUVs. However, all GUVs were not unknown. And later, would be some RES liveried vehicles. There was also a train of bogie freight vans (which I like to call a fertiliser train - although whether they conveyed fertiliser, I don't know). 47s were the main loco for these. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Pilotman Posted June 11, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2019 Some cracking shots there, Jonny! The 37-hauled bogie tanks would have been the empties from Heathfield going back to Waterston, whilst the last picture shows the United Kingdom Fertiliser empties from Truro to Ince and Elton. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 Oh my goodness, I forgot class 50s. I'll have to make up for that. Here's a nice long shot, as it shows the complete make-up of a typical freight train at that time. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted June 11, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 11, 2019 10 hours ago, jonny777 said: Parcels trains on that line contained an assortment of vehicles, but mainly BGs and GUVs. However, all GUVs were not unknown. And later, would be some RES liveried vehicles. There was also a train of bogie freight vans (which I like to call a fertiliser train - although whether they conveyed fertiliser, I don't know). 47s were the main loco for these. The first pic shows what i think was one of the NCV 'Newspapers' BG conversions (2nd vehicle) - notice how the guard's door and one set of double doors have been sealed up. They were originally in plain blue (partly to denote they had no guard's accomodation), but i dont know what had happened to them by the time of the pic. Also like the 'crossed-out' colour light signal waiting to be commissioned, behind the semaphore (and the fact they're both on the right). Would love to have been there with the locos opening up as they come through the station, bet it sounded great! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Pilotman Posted June 11, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2019 (edited) 13 minutes ago, keefer said: Also like the 'crossed-out' colour light signal waiting to be commissioned, behind the semaphore (and the fact they're both on the right). The colour light signal would have been part of the new bi-directional signalling over the up line from Dawlish Warren to Teignmouth, whereas the semaphore related to the down line but was placed on the up side for sighting reasons. In the photo with the double-headed 50s it is off for a down train. Edited June 11, 2019 by Western Aviator 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 Modelling this line is almost heaven when it comes to the variety of locos, liveries and rolling stock in the mid-80s to early 90s. In fact, you could even buy an assortment of old steam era wagons and get away with using them in small quantities - as this photo of 50041 at Plymouth illustrates. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted June 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 12, 2019 11 hours ago, jonny777 said: Modelling this line is almost heaven when it comes to the variety of locos, liveries and rolling stock in the mid-80s to early 90s. In fact, you could even buy an assortment of old steam era wagons and get away with using them in small quantities - as this photo of 50041 at Plymouth illustrates. I don't go much on the GW livery of those wagons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Pilotman Posted June 12, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 12, 2019 So that’s what a clay hood looks like when it’s clean. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted June 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 12, 2019 4 hours ago, Western Aviator said: So that’s what a clay hood looks like when it’s clean. Not sure about the black iron work, probably not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted June 12, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 12, 2019 Would the oil train be the empties for/from Long Rock ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Pilotman Posted June 12, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 12, 2019 3 hours ago, Stubby47 said: Would the oil train be the empties for/from Long Rock ? Very, very unlikely. At the time of this photo, that train was formed of a handful of TTAs rather than TEAs shown here. I’ve never seen pictures of this type of TEA in Cornwall. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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