Captain Kernow

Pete, I can assure you that this is simply the repair to get the trains running again. What is being done now is not part of any longer term planning, that will have to wait until the governmental-sponsored review is concluded.

How very sweet of those kind folk - and thanks for letting us know of the link (also thanks to Combe Barton for the link to the YouTube film). I'll make sure that the guys at work know of this (although I suspect most of 'em do already!).

I'd actually heard slightly more than that figure, but should be able to find out later on.

Thanks Phil - eloquently put. It is essentially down to salt contamination and the fact that the track circuits don't work correctly (you can tell I'm not an Engineer, can't you?! ). That means operations people like me have to institute Working by Pilotman over the single line section. Although we do have the axlecounter override section, it is unfortunately not the whole length of the single line, rather it covers the section closer to the station, which historically tends to get damp more often).

It's a pity they are charging so much, with the consequence that Amazon is cheaper for you. One of our local model shops down here in Devon - Expressway Models at the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh, charge £46.70.

Sounds like you might need to tweak the pick-ups? Might be easier if you remove the wheelsets - not too difficult if you remove the three screws holding the baseplate in situ, carefully remove the brake rigging and baseplate (should come out as one piece, just take care negotiating the steel sandpipes).

Expressway Models at the South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh, had the NCB blue one and the Tarmac weathered green one in their showcase this afternoon.

I believe that is correct, the track base is certainly done now.

The Captain does like his pasties, it's true, including the ones we serve at Taunton. It's not true to say that he feeds his cats on them, unless he's not looking and the cats are particularly quick...!

Correct. There are still problems with track circuit functionality between Long Rock and Penzance (ballast is contaminated with excess salt etc.). We are still gearing up to reopen at 1900 hrs on Saturday, but will have staff in place for pilot working over the single line to begin with, which I think will actually be required.

They are continuing to work 24/7 and will do so until the railway is handed back for normal operation. Don't forget that there are many more other sites of work, apart from those captured by webcams!

They are, but what you see in the footage is, I think, tidying up of the old panels that were cut a few weeks ago. The new track panels are being assembled with new concrete sleepers between the tunnels to the west of the main breach site. They can't be moved into position yet, due to the amount of further construction work required at the main breach site. What I mentioned in my previous posts about the pre-cast 'L' sections applies.

Yes, concrete pouring at main breach site is now finished. Next stage of works to start now, involving the pre-cast 'L' sections mentioned in one of my earlier posts.

Amco at main breach site Bam Nuttall on most of remainder of wall, Dawlish-side of tunnels Dyer & Butler on wall, Teignmouth-side of tunnels

Yes, this was at Calstock (as in the location served by the Gunnislake branch).

OK, these photos are all at Dawlish station and the main washout site. New coping stones in place on the Down platform, and the gang working to install more: The lorry has delivered another load of pre-cast concrete 'L' sections: The 'L' sections themselves: The 'L' sections will be secured in place along either side of the main concreted 'track bed' at the main breach site, and these will hold the 'bottom ballast' in place. More images of the Down platform and damage sustained: Walking further towards the main breach site. I looked for the camera for the new webcam (dawlishbeach.com) but couldn't find it! Scenes from the main breach site this afternoon. The concrete in the main 'track bed' area is now at it's 'completed' height, which is roughly in line with the tops of the containers. The 'L' sections will be secured on here and the outer and inner walls built up further. The inner wall is actually having more concrete poured and will be at a higher level than the 'track bed' area, this is to support the road and adjacent area.

OK, more photos. More damage to parapet wall (just to underline exactly how much of this kind of damage there is): Workers in safety harnesses: Looking back towards Teignmouth: Drilling vertical holes in the base of the parapet wall: Steel pins are anchored in these holes, and these in turn will secure the new portions of parapet wall, which will be made from reinforced concrete, with a stone masonry pattern moulded on the walkway-side: One of the steel reinforcement sections for a piece of new parapet wall, being fabricated, in a spare bit of space next to the up line. It is on it's side, and will be turned over to vertical and then attached to the vertical steel pins, then concrete will be poured to form the new section of parapet wall: Site of one of the bigger landslips, near Smugglers: Some vegetation management was also being done here: Another landslip: Pre-cast reinforced concrete units for parapet wall repairs: Parsons Tunnel: Smugglers Cove - notice all the debris washed up: And a sea of orange walks up Smugglers Lane to pick up the transport onwards to Dawlish: More photos in next post.

Okey dokey, here are some photos from my site visit today. I had planned to visit site today for some time, and coincidentally, it was the media visit day as well, so as it turned out, the colleague I was planning to visit was participating in the media event, so I just tagged along too... (actually, it was rather enjoyable). First of all, some images of the large compound now established in most of the big car park at Dawlish Warren - this reflects just how serious and big a project this is: How kind - they managed to spare me a complete Portacabin for myself!! The visiting media group were first conveyed to the Teignmouth end, and from there, we walked along the wall to Smugglers Cove, stopping many times for photos, briefings and filming opportunities. It was a superb day for it: Some of the group: Damage to the walkway, and the start of repairs, near Teignmouth: One of the many minor landslips (there are some larger ones, too), that need to be dealt with, this one is near Sprey Point: Serious damage to one of the main ramps at Sprey Point: Media taking an interest in said serious damage: View looking back towards Teignmouth from Sprey Point: Looking eastwards towards Smugglers Cove and Parsons Tunnel: More damage to the walkway: Some of the now missing parapet wall, that must be replaced before the line can reopen: Parsons Tunnel in the distance: More walkway and/or parapet damage (we are now part-way between Sprey Point and Smugglers): The BBC 'Spotlight' camerman and reporter in action: Cross-section of damaged parapet wall: More photos in next post.

No, not at all, I think you're referring to that house on Riviera Terrace. I was talking to someone who lives close by, and apparantly the insurance company of that poor family haven't even sent an assessor down yet, some 3 weeks after it happened... They also tried to get their car insurance to fund a hire car, whilst theirs was trapped on the wrong side of the hole, but that insurer apparently declined, on the grounds that their car wasn't actually damaged... Rich - the best I can recommend is to try overlaying the map at the back of the Peter Kay 'Exeter to Newton Abbot - a Railway History' book over an O/S map...

You might say that, I could not possibly comment...

Huh?? You mean I had weight to lose in the first place...?? You want me to give your Taunton pasty to the cat?!

The movement is 0Z47 1050 Barrow Hill to Okehampton. This will be 'heritage' diesel power for use on the Dartmoor Railway, absolutely nothing to do with Meldon Quarry etc. There is sadly little prospect now of Meldon ever producing railway ballast again, as I understand it. I believe that some of the equipment has indeed been removed from site.

As I understand it, the plan is for the houses in Riviera Terrace that were affected by the washout to remain stabilised, in terms of back-filling the hole created by the sea, with materials appropriate to the task at hand. After that, I suspect it will be down to the insurance companies of the individual householders to deal with any repairs to the fabric of the houses themselves (ie. on the assumption that by then, they will not be falling down). There is sufficient space to deal with any building works to the houses, once the railway has reopened. In fact, some of the detached houses right at the end of Riviera Terrace were built relatively recently, with the railway in normal operational status adjacent to them. As for reopening, the railway will reopen when the work is done and all is ready, which will be in line with the public estimates given by Network Rail. I really can't add any more to that, other than to remind everyone again, not to get too focussed on the work that is visible from the webcam, but also to remember that there are many other more minor structural repairs, plus a lot of work on the track and signalling to deal with too.

I can't believe I've allowed myself to give him an opening for that one....!