Devon Sea Wall Section part I

An up Virgin Cross Country working passes by the camping coaches at Dawlish Warren. 43080 is the rear powercar on 1E31 0821 Paignton to Newcastle.

The familiar landmark of Langstone Rock lies near to Dawlish Warren. A First Great Western HST passes with an up service to London Paddington. 43150 leads 1A39 0634 off Penzance.

Langstone Rock is the viewpoint for 47741 curving round with a rake of mkII coaches forming 1V35 0605 Derby to Plymouth.

Looking west from the Rock along the famous Sea Wall towards Dawlish and another Virgin working comes by. 43063 and 43193 power Cross Country 1S71 0719 Penzance to Glasgow Central.

Back at track level and 43031 approaches coming off the Dawlish Sea Wall section. Its train is 1A45 1000 off Paignton to Paddington via Bristol.

This almost caught me out as it crept up behind me. 43019 heads for Plymouth Laira with a mkIII coach and barrier vehicle in tow.

The rock in this part of Devon is bright red sandstone. Here it leads the eye to the red of the Virgin HST powercar. 43098 is at the head of a west bound set working 1V38 0605 Leeds to Plymouth.

An eastbound Virgin loco hauled working gives a comparison of reds with 47818 powering 1M56 0846 Penzance to Manchester Piccadilly.

The green of the foliage on the red sandstone blends with the green of the FGW livery on 43192 which followed 47818. This is 1A46 0818 Penzance to Paddington.

Further along the Sea Wall towards Dawlish and a footbridge over the line provides a great vantage point to watch and photograph the passing trains. SWT 159014 and 159016 heads for Paignton having left Exeter at 1139. This is a continuation of a Waterloo to Exeter SWT working. On arrival back at Exeter, the SWT crew will take the train on to London Waterloo.

Holiday makers stroll along the sea wall on this hot August day. Several of them turn and watch Virgin 43091 and 43101 passes with 1S35 0922 Penzance to Edinburgh, "The Cornishman".

Looking east back towards Langstone Rock and 43124 with 43126 comes by working 1C23 0933 Paddington to Plymouth.

After walking back to Dawlish Warren to collect the car, a call was made to the station to record 47741again working away from Plymouth bound for Liverpool. It left Plymouth at 1150, 1M40 is the headcode. Note the up and down through lines here.

A down working speeds on the down through road with 43121 leading 1V41 0645 Newcastle to Plymouth cross country service.

A move to Dawlish and the section of line near the station. An unknown FGW HST set heads west with 1C28 1045 Paddington to Paignton via Bristol. Many of the people of the footpath seem oblivious to the passing trains.

Under a cloudless blue sky, 43197 and 43098 charge of the level grades towards Dawlish station where it will not stop. The train is 1E36 1300 Plymouth to Newcastle.

This stretch of line is known as the "Dawlish Carriage Wash" because in stormy weather the waves break against the wall and sends water right over any passing train. Not so today as 47812 comes by in perfect conditions with 1V46 0913 Liverpool Lime Street to Plymouth.

Slightly to the west of Dawlish and the line carves its way through numerous sandstone outcrops right on the waters edge. 43171 brings its train out of the 209 yard long Kennaway Tunnel with 1C32 1133 Paddington to Penzance. Several people are enjoying the beach and the sunshine.

An up HST set speeds beside the sea bound for Paddington, leaving Plymouth at 1325 as 1A61. A pleasant scene is recorded here.

Another move to another sea wall section, this time at Teignmouth further west along the coast. 43125 passes a life bouy and lifeline mounted on the boundary wall. The train is 1A63 1417 Paignton to Paddington.

An up mail train comes by with 67006 at the head of just four vans, this is 1C06 1353 Plymouth to Bristol Parkway. On arrival it will join 1M06 1425 off Swansea for Willesden Railnet.

Another loco hauled passenger working approaches with First Great Western liveried 47811 on 1C53 1203 Paddington to Plymouth. The first two vehicles are Motorail vans with no cars on board.

The massive sandstone cliff that Parson's Tunnel is bored through dwarfes the Virgin HST set with powercars 43154 and 43121 just entering the tunnel portal. The tunnel is 513 yards long, the train is 1S41 1411 Plymouth to Edinburgh.

The beach is filling up as 43100 and 43196 passes above them with 1V47 0710 Edinburgh to Plymouth. The driver will be cool in his air conditioned cab.

An east bound freight rumbles by the teignmouth sea wall section with two tone grey 60094 working 6C43 1330 FO St Blazey to Exeter Riverside Yard loaded china clay.

A classic shot at a classic location. Countless photos of Kings, Castles and all manner of GWR steam locos have been photographed here. Today 67004 emerges from Teignmouth station with 1E43 1509 Plymouth to Newcastle Low Fell mail train.

Cockwood Harbour is argueably the most photographed location in the country. Here in absolute perfect conditions 47832 comes by with 1C44 1403 Paddington to Plymouth. The sun is out, the tide is in and a loco hauled passenger train crosses the bridge, plenty of small boats are tied up, the low bridge means nothing too big can access the inlet.

A down freight working crosses the embankment with 60066 at the head of 6V70 0857 Cliffe Vale to St Blazey empty china clay tanks and vans.

A Virgin loco hauled cross country working creates a colourful scene with the red train against the blue sky and water with the boats moored up. The train is 1V50 0840 Glasgow Central to Penzance. This is diesel hauled from Preston via Manchester and Bristol with 47849 coming on at Preston replacing the electric loco that brought the train in from Glasgow. A great end to a great day.