Washout at Dawlish

[Granitechops]

Yes, I noted to my slight surprise when I passed on the train this morning, that the web cam was still there on the balcony.

its one of NWR's working tools., isn't it.

 

was told by a resident that, the terraces were closed to all traffic including residents cars,

 

someone drove down when security were not on duty, within a short time an "enforcement?" unit arrived

 

complete with camera to rectify the situation

 

I understand that some one at NWR ( or delegated contractor)

 

 is on monitor duty 24/12 or similar

 

in order to facilitate such action

 

there was an incident last year picked up on the Dawlish Beach webcam

 

of an adult & child walking late at night along the works on the seawall

 

& then climbing over the wall & proceeding along the trackside

 

a webcam is a brilliant security tool

 

I recon that it will be there at least the official opening aug 15th

 

and maybe even longer as an observation window as to conditions at Dawlish

 

( but that may not be considered  cost effective, the long term, that is) 

[Captain Kernow]

Did FGW lay on a special then ?

Well, I did ask nicely.

[Granitechops]

Sign at entrance to Sealawn & Riviera Terraces

 

 

road marked out for trench work & utility relaying

 

 

first wood facing in place  (edge on towards us)

 

 

next piece awaiting placement

 

 

meanwhile down at Coryton cove caught Simon & Charlie at "Love at first bite"

 

 

it appears he loves his food & shares that passion with his customers

 

 

 

[Granitechops]

North end steps, formwork removed, at the moment,

 

the new steps only go down to the top terrace of toe platforms

 

there is an old handrail visible down to the sand, so maybe an older set of steps existed there.

 

 

and back of same steps, no permanent handrail as yet visible on new step section

 

 

South end

 

more formwork being placed

 

 

 

precast step sections at beach compound at Red rock, Dawlish Warren

 

 

complete with hefty turnbuckle type lifting gear

 

 

steel reinforcing cages for use under the precast step units at Red Rock 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2015 by Granitechops

[Granitechops]

Had the pleasure this morning

 

of meeting Tim, Capn Kernow, with his colleague Dave, on the sea wall at Dawlish

 

it would appear that the walkway could be open unofficially on the 12th August

 

Later on, from a different source, I got sight of a working drawing of the steps at the south end

 

entitled "High mileage Stairs"

 

 

a landing will jut out from the walkway of about 6 ft, a flight of 16 steps

 

(2 sections of 8 as seen at the Red Rock compound above)

 

will lead down parallel to the walkway to another landing (12 ft x 6 ft )

 

and a lower flight of 16 steps will lead down back the other way

 

(parallel to the first flight,  down on to the concrete toe area

 

all with safety railings

 

digger lifting rebar fabrication from off top of wall to be positioned

 

 

[Captain Kernow]

Well, I did make an official site visit today, together with my colleague, so here are some of my photos:

 

General view:

 

Digger building up an earth ramp to allow same digger to reach higher:

 

Getting ready for another concrete pour later in the day, note the angled shuttering to match what is already there. This section is on the area that used to be the country-end sloping ramp:

 

Another view of the digger on the beach:

 

 

 

The steel reinforced caging and shuttering for the country-end steps to the beach, this will form a 'landing' arrangement:

 

Another general view:

 

And last but not least, on the way back we met Don (Granitechops) and had a good chat:

 

 

 

[Granitechops]

thank you Tim for those photos, particularly those taken almost at right angles to the work

 

photos I could not take, unless I persuaded a friend to take me out in his boat

 

That is very unlikely , as boats & me do not blend well!!

 

And

 

    

 

 

for those travelling the rails last sat/sun,

 

you may have noticed an event, right beside the track at Powderham Castle, just north of Starcross

 

The Devon Crash box Club annual show, vintage, veteran, classic cars steam etc

 

well worth a visit saw an 1928 Lagonda similar to one I once drove in the early 1960s 

 

 

the only car I remember to carry a set of spare spark plugs readily to hand!

 

 

 

but my favourite car, not very practical, but just love the style, a Ford Capri

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 16, 2015 by Granitechops

[Keith George]

Fully agree about the original Capri, a handsome car indeed.!

 

Keith.

[trisonic]

 

And last but not least, on the way back we met Don (Granitechops) and had a good chat:

 

Did Don have half a pound of sausages? It looks like his vehicle is “loaded for bear” - as they say over here...

 

Splendid photos, el Capitan, thanks.

 

Best, Pete.

Edited July 17, 2015 by trisonic

[Granitechops]

Did Don have half a pound of sausages? It looks like his vehicle is “loaded for bear” - as they say over here...

 

Splendid photos, el Capitan, thanks.

 

Best, Pete.

Oh Yes, prepared for anything, fleeccies, waterproof trousers & jacket, extra leg insulation for bad circulation, camera,

 

tablet for notes, bottled water,  cooler bag for goats milk ( react to cows milk) ready for the mornings coffee, etc.!! etc

 

I do have the advantage over the able bodied in that I can carry for any eventuallity.  

 

very little chance of getting hypothermia if I were to get stuck somewhere!!!

 

even been known to carry a yard brush to ease the way when the seawall has been deep in shingle

 

though that has not been neccessary the last 4/5 months as the council beach staff have started to do some clearing!

 

Edit

 

and of course, it will also pull the tanden chair behind,  as my wife is also disabled

 

as seen at the weekend do at Powderham

 

 

Edited July 17, 2015 by Granitechops

[Granitechops]

from NWR,s cam 

 

https://www.lobstervision.tv/home

 

Works in progress at 5 am this Sun morning

 

Pouring concrete? possibly

 

 

earlier this week one of the 8 step precast sections was lying on the slip at The Old Lifeboat House

 

 

Saturday it was gone

 

So

 

probably it is now in situ on the wall with concrete around it

 

dont know if that is the first or second 8 step section

 

as I have not been to the Warren compound for a few days

Edited July 26, 2015 by Granitechops

[Granitechops]

Thurs 30th July 2015

 

NWR units??  going north at 12.08

 

 

it was proceeded by a tamper? going south, but didnt get my camera out quick enough

 

fettling/snaging / joints being given attention

 

 

large piece of shuttering being moved into position by Doosan swing arm 

 

 

smaller detail shuttering panels being moved into site by shanks's pony

 

 

precast 16 step section being transported, chippy recons it only weights 3.5 tons

 

 

then of course they had to re-sling it to the correct angle to land it gently on its mountings

 

several adjustments, were needed

 

 

moving SLOWLY into place

 

 

snug fit against the wall

 

 

but the top needed adjustment on the support jacks

 

 

so swing away while that was done

 

 

5 hours later, precast steps in place, first shuttering panel fixed, tide rising,  so break in progress

 

 

view from Rockstone bridge showing completion of top flight.

 

and shuttering still to be fixed to back of middle landing ( 6ft x 12 ft )

 

 

Information was received, that rest of shuttering will be done tomorrow,  friday

 

and concrete will be poured sat night which probably means early sun morning as in 1 - 2 am onwards

 

and shuttering will begin to be removed on Monday through wednesday

 

leaving snagging and fixing of the handrails around & down the new steps

 

some gangs will be working their final day tomorow

Edited July 30, 2015 by Granitechops

[Captain Kernow]

The yellow train was a track recording unit, which had only just run up the Heathfield branch, prior to returning towards Exeter.

[Granitechops]

2 fishermen at Dawlish Warren at 7.15 this morning

 

 

formwork mostly under water at high tide

 

 

the Doosan has been lodging at the Old Lifeboat House slip during high tides

 

So it can get on site quicker than if it returned to Red rock each tide

 

 

a rash of blue blobs appeared on the sea wall

 

 

they are on closer inspection, drain outlets, with hinged covers to keep wave surge out of the drains,

 

and still allow storm water to escape

 

 

the temporary wall lights have been disconnected & unscrewed from the wall prior to removal

 

 

interesting vessel sighted off Coryton today

 

looks like a (short)  Tall Ship, anyone any ideas as to identity?

 

 

the red rusty stanchions at each end of site will probably get removed towards next weekend

 

Edited July 31, 2015 by Granitechops

[The Stationmaster]

The ship looks like the 'Stavros S Niarchos' which is owned and operated by the Tall Ships Youth Trust (which was originally the Sail Training Association) - she was off Dawlish this morning originally heading north east but turning and then heading back towards Torbay, currently at Salcombe

[Granitechops]

teams were working overnight, even had auxilliary services parked in Sealawn & Riviera Terr,

 

but more later

 

Edit 

Sun 2 Aug  3am

 

from

 

https://www.lobstervision.tv/home#

 

roadrailer at work on wall most likely pouring concrete into steps & support vehicles in Riviera Terrace

 

 

still in possesion at 5.30 am

 

Edited August 2, 2015 by Granitechops

[Granitechops]

Spring tides, very low

 

3 sets of people observed walking past work site

 

Has security gone home/finished?

 

not been down there today myself

 

 

 

 

[roundhouse]

The yellow train was a track recording unit, which had only just run up the Heathfield branch, prior to returning towards Exeter.

It passed through Banbury a few times over the weekend.

 

The N gauge one that is

[Captain Kernow]

Another site visit today saw me meet with Don and his good lady once again. I do believe that I did my Good Deed for the Day this afternoon, by retrieving Don's hat when it blew off his head and landed in the 'forbidden territory' beyond the public barrier. I then repeated the Good Deed a few minutes later!

 

Good to catch up again, Don (and don't forget about that curry evening on 14th August at Buckfastleigh!).

 

Here's a view from the top of the wall, looking towards the work site:

 

 

Some of the guys were dismantling the steel barriers on the edge of the wall:

 

Notice how the new concrete sections have been 'cut into' the former ramp section:

 

The new concrete steps at the country-end of the site:

 

 

 

 

The view across to Exmouth and beyond:

 

 

The new steps at the London-end of the site, where work has started on the new handrails at the top:

 

 

View towards Langstone Rock:

 

Pointing and other work going on at the base of the wall:

 

 

Looking for lunch:

 

 

 

 

 

Note the tops of the deep toe protection adjacent to the ramp:

 

 

 

 

[Siberian Snooper]

It's good to see that you have made a start on weathering the concrete.

[Granitechops]

Another site visit today saw me meet with Don and his good lady once again. I do believe that I did my Good Deed for the Day this afternoon, by retrieving Don's hat when it blew off his head and landed in the 'forbidden territory' beyond the public barrier. I then repeated the Good Deed a few minutes late

Good job it was only me hat, not me head, thanks Tim. 

 

BTW, why does the big landing on the "High mileage steps" have an inclined edge on the north side.

 

Cant seen any practical design advantage?

 

Interestingly talking to one of the guys, the original wall was not a smooth curve

 

but is "wiggly" to break up the waves when they swept at an angle ALONG the wall.

 

so they have had to follow the original profile as they have built up the walkway

 

you can actually see this looking along the BASE of the wall towards the tunnels from the Viaduct,

 

not acentuated, but probably only about a 10 -15 inches 'wiggle'

 

Sandcastles left as digger goes off duty 5pm yesterday Tues.

 

Edited August 5, 2015 by Granitechops

[Captain Kernow]

BTW, why does the big landing on the "High mileage steps" have an inclined edge on the north side.

 

Cant seen any practical design advantage?

 

 

I was wondering that myself, Don. I think it may be to do with breaking the waves up, but I can ask the actual reason why.

[trisonic]

I saw that and assumed it was to drain off to one side any water coming out of the drain pipe just above.

 

I’ve seen it done over here here (where there was awkward geometry) and it was  to prevent the steps from becoming slippery from algae (or ice in Winter).

Of course I’m probably totally wrong.....

 

Best, Pete.

[Alister_G]

2 fishermen at Dawlish Warren at 7.15 this morning

 

111-03499 (9) (Large).JPG

 

formwork mostly under water at high tide

 

111-03499 (21) (Large).JPG

 

the Doosan has been lodging at the Old Lifeboat House slip during high tides

 

So it can get on site quicker than if it returned to Red rock each tide

 

111-03499 (22) (Large).JPG

 

a rash of blue blobs appeared on the sea wall

 

111-03499 (38) (Large).JPG

 

they are on closer inspection, drain outlets, with hinged covers to keep wave surge out of the drains,

 

and still allow storm water to escape

 

111-03499 (24)C.JPG

 

the temporary wall lights have been disconnected & unscrewed from the wall prior to removal

 

111-03499 (26) (Large).JPG

 

interesting vessel sighted off Coryton today

 

looks like a (short)  Tall Ship, anyone any ideas as to identity?

 

111-03499 (33) (Large).JPG

 

the red rusty stanchions at each end of site will probably get removed towards next weekend

 

111-03499 (40) (Large).JPG

 

Sorry to go back on the thread a bit, but it struck me that the steel formwork for the steps has been immersed in nice salty water for some time, and has now been encased in concrete. Does this not mean that it will happily keep rusting away inside the concrete - or does it need oxygen to do that, which it can no longer get?

 

Cheers,

 

Al.

[melmerby]

Sorry to go back on the thread a bit, but it struck me that the steel formwork for the steps has been immersed in nice salty water for some time, and has now been encased in concrete. Does this not mean that it will happily keep rusting away inside the concrete - or does it need oxygen to do that, which it can no longer get?

 

Cheers,

 

Al.

Considering there has been problem in the past with internal re-inforcing steel corroding and "blowing" concrete due to water ingress, I would be more than a lttle concerned.

Think Spaghetti junction and other places on the motorway network

 

Keith