Washout at Dawlish

[Captain Kernow]

Another site visit today... Spells of bright sunshine were occasionally interrupted by squally showers of rain and/or hail.

 

As I drove down the B3192 into Teignmouth, en-route to site, I spotted what appeared to be a container ship out in the bay, which seemed to be a bit 'down in the bows'...

 

When I looked at it again later, from the Sea Wall, I thought that maybe it was just the way it was loaded (still worried it might have my AC Cars railbus and Garratt on board..!).

 

Next stop - Teignmouth station - to use the Gentlemen's Facilities, of course! Quite by chance, this road/rail landrover (working for the local S&T) was just about to leave the Up platform, en-route to one of the worksites:

 

 

Due to the sheer amount of traffic and deliveries affecting the normal station car park, which is now the Works Compound, the council had agreed to close Marine Parade off to normal traffic, so that we could park there, so that's where I headed.

 

Work was being carried out restoring the ballast and GRP protective panels to the running lines alongside Marine Parade. With so much focus on the main wash-out site, it's important not to forget that there was a huge amount of other, lesser (and not so lesser) damage all the way along the length of the wall, at both the Dawlish and Teignmouth ends, and that this also needs to be fixed, most of it before trains can run again:

 

 

 

 

 

A walk from Marine Parade to the main Works Compound access took me past this huge mound of sand and other debris under the metal girders of Dawlish Viaduct:

 

Up on the platforms, work was taking place on the damaged Down platform:

 

After a quick meeting, I then walked through the Works Compound to access the track further along, and came across what can only be described as a most pleasant surprise! (it wasn't here the last time I visited!). Others clearly felt the same way as I did!

 

The current view at the London-end of the platforms:

 

 

 

 

Walking on towards the site of the main wash-out:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scaffolding bridge is almost complete, enabling construction staff to quickly and safely get from one side of the void to the other. I believe it will also carry cables:

 

 

View down onto the top of some of the earlier spraycrete:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking further on towards Rockstone footbridge:

 

Here's the plaque to Bernard Staite (formerly of SLOA), that we put up for his family a few years ago:

 

There is concern about further damage, that has happened since the most recent storm this week, to the walkway and outer wall, so the plan is to get some reinforcement materials on it before the next storm tomorrow:

 

 

 

Interestingly, when it came to walking beyond the main wash-out site, it was suggested that I would need a life jacket, so in response to those reprobates on here who have asked me for a 'selfie' - this is the only one you're likely to get!!

 

And so, the walk back to the burger van:

 

 

 

On the way out, I noticed that a replacement 'waiting room' had been provided for rail passengers, waiting for the rail-replacement bus service - rather ingenious, I thought:

 

 

Edited February 14, 2014 by Captain Kernow

[Andy Y]

Wow, I'm massively impressed by the progress over a week. There's many hours of planning and hard work evident. Keep up the good work!

[Pannier Tank]

CK many thanks for taking the time to compile such a comprehensive report complete with photographs, well done.

[gwrrob]

Is the Dawlish station cafe still open CK or does it close for the winter months anyway.Just wondered with seeing the burger van.Great photos too.

[Kenton]

There is something rather reassuring about workers just getting on with a task at hand despite of (or blissfully unaware) all the fuss from outsiders.

 

Stay safe and batten everything down for the forecast winds tomorrow.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Kenton

[Captain Kernow]

I hope that angle-steel welded to the containers (it seems only top side?) will hold for the next 24 hrs...

There are more welds, Vincent, and the containers are being roped into place with steel cable as well.

 

 

Is the Dawlish station cafe still open CK or does it close for the winter months anyway.Just wondered with seeing the burger van.Great photos too.

No, 'Geronimo's' is open for business as usual, I'm happy to say!

[Danemouth]

Thanks for the pictures CK

 

I was interested to see in the first picture how quickly the rail tops have rusted over!

 

Thanks again,

 

Dave

[jamie92208]

That's a fabulous set of pictures Captain.  Keep up the good work.

 

Jamie

[brushman47544]

Thanks for the pics. That "new" damage does look potentially serious - you can't really tell from your photos whether the track bed has been undermined. Not being sufficiently familiar with the geography, it's years since I've used the line, can I ask how far along towards Dawlish Warren the damage extends.

 

Edit to remove verbal diarrhoea

Edited February 13, 2014 by brushman47544

[Captain Kernow]

Thanks for the pics. That "new" damage does look potentially serious - you can't really tell - from your photos at least - whether the track bed has been undermined. Not being sufficiently familiar with the geography, it's years since I've used the line, can I ask how far along towards Dawlish Warren the damage extends.

It's not a huge section of damage fortunately, it's about one third of the way towards the Warren, from Rockstone footbridge. We're taking steps to ensure that it doesn't get any bigger tomorrow night, either... There was no track undermining at that point, the inner wall (which is normally buried but the top 4' or so now exposed) hasn't yet been breached.

[eastwestdivide]

Do you know if the debris on top of the containers was deposited by more high seas, or was it placed there deliberately?

[johnb]

That's huge progress CK. Bearing in mind that you must be restricted in hours of work due to tides and storms. Also in getting concrete to 'set' between the various soakings of salt water. Many thanks for your efforts in taking time to show us all this and the Somerset Levels too. Much appreeciated.

 

John

[Captain Kernow]

Do you know if the debris on top of the containers was deposited by more high seas, or was it placed there deliberately?

Could be a bit of both, but given the focus on making those containers really secure, I'd say more of the latter.

[Debs.]

How marvellous to see such a 'can-do' approach and progress.......`.it`s very reassuring.

[Gary H]

Dam, I missed you again Tim!! I was there briefly from about 11 to 12 delivering more ballast but had to make a hasty retreat back in the Teignmouth direction after holding up a refuse collection vehicle on the promenade! It was just to hectic for a truck in between 2 dozen vans and every man and his dog today.

Il be back next week to recover 70 slave rails back to the Warren to be made up into panels apparently in readiness for the new track..

Hopefully catch up then mate.

Il buy you a free burger and a brew!

[Ashcombe]

Some archive material from the BBC which shows problems with the weather at Dawlish over many years:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And right up to date:-

 

 

 

[PhilJ W]

Are the people able to access their houses now?

[Kris]

That scaffolding bridge is impressive (as is the amount of work that has been done elsewhere).

 

That selfie shows that your H&S bods have failed, they obviously gave you a defective PFD, one with a broken zip. (It does seem a little on the side of over kill having to wear one of those looking at the water levels when you were there).

[lmsforever]

Amazing how quickly the work is progressing how many tons of material is going into that hole? Will the new wall there be built of concrete and faced with stone obviously it will be underpinned and will the track section intombed in concrete be removed?Network R ail are showing a can do attitude thanks for the posts.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

The February issue of "The Railway Magazine" has, rather prophetically, a photo on page 56 of a pair of Voyagers passing through Dawlish exactly where the seawall was later to be damaged.

 

The magazine was produced before all the problems there, but the column by Lord Berkeley also refers to concerns about the seawall.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Western Sunset

[Gary H]

Wow, I'm massively impressed by the progress over a week.

Aye, we don't mess about down ere me 'andsome!

[Oldddudders]

What a marvellous record of human defiance against the pesky elements! TVM to CK for his bothering - yet again - to let a bunch of enthusiasts know what hard work is going into this critical exercise. Positively uplifting to look at this.

[Ramblin Rich]

Tim (CK) - I can only add my thanks for the updates & admiration for all the workers in very difficult  circumstances, trying to reopen the line in the face of ongoing weather problems. I only hope the work can be completed without further setback, the forecast still sees set against you though.... Those pics Debs found show how vulnerable the line has always been....,

I keep hearing convoys of lorries heading towards Dawlish; finally saw one them this morning when the bus I was on met them (ie stopped suddenly!) at the narrow bit of road leading out of Kenton - 3 flatbed lorries with semi trailers, loaded with about 30 big bags of aggregate. There's a lot of material heading that way, all vying for space with the additional local traffic due to the loss of trains. It's no wonder Gary H had to beat a retreat!

[Captain Kernow]

Are the people able to access their houses now?

I think all of Sea Lawn Terrace and a small part of Riviera Terrace can at the moment.

 

how many tons of material is going into that hole? Will the new wall there be built of concrete and faced with stone obviously it will be underpinned and will the track section intombed in concrete be removed?

I believe that almost 2000t is needed to infill the hole. Concrete will feature strongly in the new construction, using the existing foundations, which were not damaged. The section of track that has been sprayed will indeed be entombed, giving Tony Robinson's descendants something to mull over in a few hundred years time, no doubt!

[Shedmaster]

Good Evening,

 

I'd just like to take the opportunity to say 'Thankyou' Mr C.K.

 

Your info and pictures on this and the Somerset Levels threads are absolutely fascinating.

 

Despite being familiar with 'normal' T3 possessions in my day to day work, these, as you will know, are planned many months in advance and still manage to go t**s up for many reasons. However, what is unfolding here is fascinating because it seems to an extent, be very much made up as you go along in realtime ?

 

Most impressive stuff, so Thankyou once again,

 

Kindest Regards,

 

Shed.