Captain Kernow

It's approx 4 miles, that's the length of the section of line immediately next to the sea. As regards the parallel 'structure' just off shore, I now realise what some of you have been talking about! I've seen it many times before, but I'm not totally sure what it's purpose was. One thing I am sure of, though, is that it's nothing to do with (i) earlier sea walls or (ii) protection for the Brunellian work force when initially constructing the wall. I'd put my money on the old sewage pipe theory, although there's a possibility, I guess, that it might have been an addition to do with 'sand retention on the beach'. Glad to see the various photos of the engineering trains, looks like the plan is proceeding well. I'm hoping to make another site visit tomorrow morning to check on the relaying near Smugglers Cove. As regards Sea Lawn Terrace, when I spoke to someone I know slightly, who lives the other side of the breach in Riviera Terrace, he was saying that some of the services had been restored, but not everything, so he was spending some of the day at home, but sleeping most (but not all) nights in temporary accommodation, so I guess that electricity was one of the missing services. What I do know, however, is that NR have been meeting with the residents on a planned basis, several times a week, to keep them in the picture regarding restoration of the road and their services, this also in conjunction with the local Highways Dept and other relevant organisations. As regards the point about route learning, I doubt that any traincrew who already signs the Sea Wall section will need to refresh. As Big Jim rightly points out, an Operations Briefing document has been sent to all train operators by ourselves. It was put together by FGW in conjunction with NR. The temporary signalling solution will not last for long, but the final decisions regarding configuration and duration haven't been taken yet, that's something that will be finalised early next week.

No connection to ARC Models, David, but I don't understand what specifically it is that's putting you off?

Don't take any notice of him - he's completely quackers...! Oh, I rather thought they were a bit too ancient for that, I meant in the Great War...

I can see that I'm going to have to make those further enquiries, although the full answer may not yet be known, all effort is rightly going into getting the railway itself open asap, also restoring the road surface to Sea Lawn Terrace. Non-rail critical works to repair storm damage will continue in parallel throughout next week and after the railway reopens.

I think that's likely to be just their opinion. I don't think that any official decisions have been taken on this yet, it will depend on how the remaining repairs go (ie. the ones that can be done with the railway running). I doubt very much that the beach and public walkway would be closed for that length of time, given that everyone is very sensitive to the effect of the February storms on this summers tourist season. Talk of 'possible outer sea defence works' is really still just that - 'talk', although there are 'official' discussions taking place now on how to defend the Sea Wall in the future, this forming part of the governmental review that was announced previously. I'll have to have a look at that, hadn't spotted it before. Apart from a few known stone structures, I'm not aware of anything running in parallel to the main wall, that distance out. Archive sources (the Peter Kay book) don't really say anything about that, from memory, but I can make enquiries at work...

These are known as autohoppers, and they use powered equipment to discharge the ballast via the chutes you see. They are marshalled into semi-permanent rakes of 5, and each rake of 5 has its own power unit, which is what you see in your photo.

Hi Granitechops, The official documentation for this worksite conforms with what I know of the site limits, which is 20 chains of relaying on the Up and 14 chains on the down, so this is what it will be. Cheers.

The whole possession is now back to traditional 'railway environment', including the forthcoming Smugglers Cove relaying site.

Jolly good - probably what I sent to your Guv'nor earlier today?

What did the Finching sisters do during the war, then, Robin?

I suspect this is in connection with the planned relaying and reballasting of the earthslip site between Sprey Point and Smugglers Cove this weekend. All the spoil has now been removed from the track and the high fence posts for the catchment fences have been restored. The site is virtually ready for Amey Colas to move in there tonight to do the relaying. I can confirm the 5 engineering trains that Martyn mentioned above, they are due into the possession between 0030 Saturday and 0230 Saturday, and will exit between 1700 Saturday and 0900 Monday.

I am very grateful for the offer of promotion, of course, Honoured Sirs and Ladies, but I most regretfully have to decline this kind offer, one can 'access more areas' as a Captain than even a Commodore or even Admiral...!

I do like that, some nice scenes, especially that long view along the platforms. Looks like a lot of fun, too!

Hi all - 'Tormouth Quay' will be appearing at the RMWeb Members Day event at Taunton on Sunday 27th April next, more details here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/83750-rmweb-members-day-at-taunton-2014-full-line-up-announced/ I really like the look of this new 'Tormouth' layout, though, and if the owner was willing, I'd be more than happy to see it at a future Taunton Members Day event - just PM me! Thanks.

Actually, this was probably the second train, as there was a previous ballast train (the one with the two Colas Class 70s). My photos taken on the afternoon of 25/3/14 show the up line in need of more ballast - that ballast train (autohoppers) was waiting at Dawlish Warren when I was on site.

I've just caught up with the last 2 months worth of postings on this thread - took quite a while!! I think that the trees won't really be in leaf sufficiently until late April or early May, Robin, but I can pop back up there any time and check, if you like?

I thought I was going to sleep soundly tonight for once.... until I read that!!

I meant to add yesterday, that this red crawly thing - the 'spider', is actually known as a Spidermax: So now that we know his name is Max, it would be rude to address him by any other name...

Definitely the right move to change it to stone, Al. It looks superb.

Vincent - as I understand it, some kind of fence will be added to the top of the concrete sections, so that on the reinstated road side, you will have a low wall, and then a fence... Well, I came within a whisker of getting diluted PVA mixed with Johnsons Klear on my boots yesterday, but managed to get away with it!... It should all have set solid overnight by now.

Final few photos now: The ballast glueing had reached the London-end of the Down platform:

I think there was contamination before this. Certainly the track a little further ahead has remained contaminated (with a speed restriction) since the last one in Dec 2012, and the whole lot should now be relaid this coming weekend.

The fencing has been there for some time, and is being replaced again once the current round of earth removals have finished. It's role is to hold back any cliff falls sufficiently to give warning of said cliff fall, something that works well, as evidenced by the small fall we had in December 2012.