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South Devon Main Line (1987 to 1992)


JLUK144
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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 by JLUK144
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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.

43128 Teignmouth 30 9 1988.jpg

43151 Blue Peter Teignmouth 25 9 1988.jpg

43184 Teignmouth 29 9 1988.jpg

47468 Teignmouth 27 9 1988.jpg

47587 Dawlish 30 9 1988.jpg

47653 Teignmouth 30 9 1988.jpg

50064 St Vincent Teignmouth 29 9 1988.jpg

155320 Dawlish 30 9 1988.jpg

Down Cornish Riviera Express Starcross 29 9 1988.jpg

Your father’s photographs, which are very good may I add, have helped. I didn’t realise the 155s did some work down there.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 

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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

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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). 

 

1921492376_478icteignmouth1988.jpg.46096129c06dc7385a6bfaedf871825a.jpg 

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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).  

 

1844004058_45xxxspeedlinkteignmouth1985.jpg.cfdf30d21ee51f4ad85de0f02050a72c.jpg

 

 

 

However, 47s worked them as well. 

 

 

74232800_47xxxspeedlinkpassteignmth1986.jpg.134aaaef123df00cea820493b41f7283.jpg

 

 

 

Later in your period, pairs of 37s in various liveries worked the Silver Bullets china clay working. 

 

1694489893_3741237xxxteignmouth1991.jpg.b1c5911d20c85ec56994670ab699fae9.jpg

 

 

 

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. 

 

935570410_37xxxoilteignmouth1991.jpg.cf66da759c64bc85f293dad24abe6bef.jpg

 

 

 

A class 31 on a short pw train would be ideal for a prototypical model in a small space. 

 

436698025_31xxxpwteignmouth1990.jpg.ae554e06aca58b1d3b2a7e9d2fb45643.jpg

 

 

 

And, not forgetting the occasional 33 on Mk1s. 

 

766359492_33xxxpassteignmouth1988.jpg.fab121a6e7bd09831c62224db0a9bcda.jpg

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Parcels trains on that line contained an assortment of vehicles, but mainly BGs and GUVs. 

 

310426532_47xxxblueparcelsteignmouth1988.jpg.d000f42e13804e4080fdb5714b9b3a2d.jpg

 

 

 

However, all GUVs were not unknown. 

 

186848004_47xxxpclsvansteignmouth1986.jpg.4e505dc6cacc930dba76ce157360c506.jpg

 

 

 

And later, would be some RES liveried vehicles. 

 

1264549922_47xxxresatteignmouth1991.jpg.3073bad4f3b2d4e88dfa4808a652a3e8.jpg

 

 

 

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). 

 

13077361_47xxxfertiliserteignmouth1986.jpg.6f708d81d0bd051c91dec0e426d5e7da.jpg

 

47s were the main loco for these. 

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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. 

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Oh my goodness, I forgot class 50s. 

 

I'll have to make up for that. 

 

 

1068297101_50xxxmk1steignmouth1986.jpg.b32bbf5272a02e9008d8b62ada519d1f.jpg

 

 

992156103_5000950022teignmouth1986.jpg.dbc22698f6aecb6038f3a77ea57a8039.jpg

 

 

 

 

Here's a nice long shot, as it shows the complete make-up of a typical freight train at that time. 

 

1150940983_3767137xxxspeedlinkteignmouth1994.jpg.5d9be63215cc970d492907e9ac7f2cea.jpg

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10 hours ago, jonny777 said:

Parcels trains on that line contained an assortment of vehicles, but mainly BGs and GUVs. 

 

310426532_47xxxblueparcelsteignmouth1988.jpg.d000f42e13804e4080fdb5714b9b3a2d.jpg

 

 

 

However, all GUVs were not unknown. 

 

186848004_47xxxpclsvansteignmouth1986.jpg.4e505dc6cacc930dba76ce157360c506.jpg

 

 

 

And later, would be some RES liveried vehicles. 

 

1264549922_47xxxresatteignmouth1991.jpg.3073bad4f3b2d4e88dfa4808a652a3e8.jpg

 

 

 

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). 

 

13077361_47xxxfertiliserteignmouth1986.jpg.6f708d81d0bd051c91dec0e426d5e7da.jpg

 

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!

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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 by Western Aviator
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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. 

 

 

822993809_50041plymouth1985.jpg.9cab411c60dcea45da3992dd49fc406a.jpg

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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. 

 

 

822993809_50041plymouth1985.jpg.9cab411c60dcea45da3992dd49fc406a.jpg

 

I don't go much on the GW livery of those wagons.

 

 

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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. 

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