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Washout at Dawlish


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  • RMweb Gold

Folks, listen, please..... it is very unlikely that the line will reopen earlier than the 4th April date.

 

There is absolutely no whisper from the steam charter operators about a steam special in connection with this, and there normally would be.

 

I'm not convinced that a steam train is the most appropriate type of train to be first over the reopened line, I personally think it should be a conventional, modern train carrying the usual passengers that use the line, in a low-key, 'let's get on with it' kind of way...

Any news on the rumoured SLW Cap'n or was that just 'press talk'?  Presumably a 'polishing train' will be required on the track circuited sections although that could just as easily be dealt with by any engineering trains plus Special Instructions for the first few trains in each direction?  

 

The axle counters will of course have been replaced/reset etc anyway so there should be no need for anything special with them although there could well be an 'specially observe passage and operation of ... etc' Instruction for the first couple of trains - all so much more convenient, and reliable, than the original track circuiting from the MAS scheme which was a bundle of trouble until finally replaced by axle counters.

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Hi Light Engine,

 

I was in Teignmouth station car park, yesterday morning, briefly (parked the car there to make a site visit further up), but not at lunchtime. 

 

Don't take any notice about rumours or whispers about where trains will or will not stop when the line reopens. Dawlish station has just had a major make-over, new canopy coverings and a complete re-paint amongst other things. What with the volume of school traffic there as well, rest assured that trains will stop there from the time the line reopens!

CK,

I wondered if it was you and a colleague poring over paperwork with a guy with a car yesterday. (or maybe just showing him your latest modelling)

Have the controlled landslips worked?

LE

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Thanks for the pics CK. Hope you are refreshed after your toil.

Those 70s; I must be getting old, as I quite like the livery and smartness, but........ they look like Lego Loco's or some sort of Playmobil stuff for a child's toy train set. Weird machines; not quite as aesthetic as a King or Castle IMO.

I do hope the local Library or museum (if they are still open) have an exhibition showing the work being completed, including 'before and after' pics. I think there should be a 'dedication' plaque or similar to mention the work that was done; on the refurbished station perhaps?

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I can't quite bring myself to "Like" CK's Class 70 post. Nice photos, but if ever a loco needed a bag over it's head before appearing in public, the Colas Class 70 has to be it... I know it's all objective (beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc etc) and there's no denying the er... brightness of it but... ugh!

Edit: Apologies to RMWeb's Big Jim - I gather he rather likes it!

Edited by Pete 75C
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  • RMweb Gold

CK,

I wondered if it was you and a colleague poring over paperwork with a guy with a car yesterday. (or maybe just showing him your latest modelling)

Have the controlled landslips worked?

LE

No, that wasn't me. I was watching someone else pour me a cup of tea a bit later, mind... ;)

 

Work is continuing at the landslip site.

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....looks like they are being concreted over as well as being bolted down too - this is going to be one very sturdy structure!

 

There's a much clearer view from the webcam at the other end....

 

 

 

 

30e4364e_832x468.jpg

 

 

.

Edited by Ron Ron Ron
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  • RMweb Gold

Did you provide the company with this photo?

 

ca46e779-c2e3-49e7-a545-9e74a2c20b05.jpg

 

..or this?

 

 

8d497419-b09f-4d9e-9ed4-432440a667d2.jpg

.

I can neither confirm nor deny that these may or may not be photos taken by me, or not......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh alright then, yes, they are mine! I'm hoping to upload a whole series of yesterdays photos from my home PC this evening...

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The big red spider is now in action and appears to have deposited quite a bit of concrete this morning.

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Just hope that it isn't really called 'Shelob' and that nobody sticks a sword in its belly.

 

Jamie

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  • RMweb Gold

The big red spider is now in action and appears to have deposited quite a bit of concrete this morning.

attachicon.gifSpider.jpg

Just hope that it isn't really called 'Shelob' and that nobody sticks a sword in its belly.

 

Jamie

That should be for the remaining portion of the main deck area, to bring it up to the level that the eastern-end is now at. The ballast should soon start to go on top of all that.

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  • RMweb Gold

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-26641828

 

Latest from the BBC on the controlled landslip operation.

From that report they seem to have involved, or have a line to, everybody except the navy (who could no doubt very accurately place explosive in precisely the right places - without even coming ashore).  But it is clear that NR and their various helpers have a nasty problem on their hands.

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From that report they seem to have involved, or have a line to, everybody except the navy (who could no doubt very accurately place explosive in precisely the right places - without even coming ashore).  But it is clear that NR and their various helpers have a nasty problem on their hands.

Following their recent adventure of lobbing a torpedo onto the wharf at Devonport I'd say don't let the navy anywhere near it, they'd probably manage to blast a dirty great hole in the sea wall....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-26577109

 

Andi

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Il be there tomorrow delivering two stores full of tools, stressing gear and other track laying related paraphernalia.

The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight.

I remarked to a signalling manager today that it was nice to see all the signals lit and working again instead of being black for the last few weeks!

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Dagworth, on 19 Mar 2014 - 17:15, said:

Following their recent adventure of lobbing a torpedo onto the wharf at Devonport I'd say don't let the navy anywhere near it, they'd probably manage to blast a dirty great hole in the sea wall....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-26577109

 

Andi

Next stop for the Orange Army, Devonport Dockyard?

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Following their recent adventure of lobbing a torpedo onto the wharf at Devonport I'd say don't let the navy anywhere near it, they'd probably manage to blast a dirty great hole in the sea wall....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-26577109

 

Andi

 

The army's recent record isn't that hot either! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-26586271

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  • RMweb Gold

Here are some more photos from my site visit yesterday. I visited the main slip site between Sprey Point and Smugglers Cove, as well as the main wash-out site at Dawlish etc.

 

First of all, the earth slip site. This has featured on BBC Spotlight this evening, using aerial footage shot by a drone.

 

First of all, accessing the track via the authorised location near the esplanade in Teignmouth, and starting to walk out towards Sprey Point:

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Concrete blocks at a lesser slip site:

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More photos of the lesser slip site between Teignmouth station and Sprey Point:

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A view out to sea showed an ominous change in colour in the bay, and foretold what was to come:

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This is the favoured mode of transport on this section of Sea Wall currently:

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This excellent conveyance took us right up to the main slip site:

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Some concrete repairs to the parapet wall was still taking place close to the slip site (but not too close..):

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Here are some views of the main slip site as of mid-morning yesterday. A Licence is in place to allow the spoil to be dumped on the beach for the tide to take away, there is really no practical alternative to this.

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As of yesterday, the Fire Brigade were still pumping sea water up to the top of the cliff and spraying it down on top of the loose material, but today they have finished installing a long hose connection from a hydrant in the main road, via a new trench and through gardens at the top of the cliffs, to the same position:

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More photos in next post.

 

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  • RMweb Gold

After visiting the slip site, I then visited Dawlish station, the main wash-out site and Rockstone footbridge area:

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More photos in next post.

 

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