I really love this section of railway from Exeter to Newton Abbot, probably the main reason is when I used to work away deep sea on BP Tankers coming home after being away for 4 or 6 it wasn't until I was on this last stretch of the journey from Heathrow airport that I really felt I was coming home. It's not very long only around 15 miles and takes about 25 minutes but it is still one of my favorites.
The route was originally developed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as an Atmospheric railway part of the Exeter to Plymouth line of the Great Western Railway in 1847. This system has no locomotives but consisted of a large tube about 1/2 a meter in diameter in the center of the tracks and the carriages are pulled along when the air is sucked out by steam-driven pumping houses positioned along the line. For this reason, the flatter coastal route was chosen but that is not without issues as we will see later. More efficient than regular steam locos of the time but the technology wasn't up to the task and issues with the leather seals on the tube caused the idea to be abandoned a few years later. When it worked speeds of 60mph were achieved when it didn't 3rd class passengers had to get out and push.
Anyway back to the present day. Pulling out of Exeter St Davids station the line initially runs close to the River Exe with views of the city and Exeter cathedral.
After that, it passes a few 100 meters from the Exeter Canal and two famous pubs at Double Locks at the city end.
And Turf Locks at the Topsham end where it enters the River Exe estuary and across to Exmouth.
Running close to the river where there are great views of the hundreds of boats moored there.
And the foot ferry across to Exmouth at Starcross. At 6 quid return, it's a nice little boat ride and they also take bicycles for a small fee. If your on the stopping train you can get off at Starcross station to use the ferry.
Not all the boats are in great condition and it's worth looking out for some of the wrecks as you speed along the estuary.
As you hit the coast at Dawlish Warren the track hangs a right past the permanent funfair. There are many campsites and holiday parks that keep it busy during the summer particularly now with so many people staying in the UK and it's good to see people out enjoying themselves.
From here the line runs a few meters from the sea through Dawlish where in 2014 the line was washed out in a winter storm. It took an army of 1000 railway workers and 15 million Pounds 2 months to repair the line. Photo courtesy of the Dawlish Webcam.
Work is still ongoing now as part of an 80 million pound project to reinforce the sea wall to try and prevent it from happening again.
Just after leaving Dawlish station, you catch a glimpse of the Parson and Clerk rock formation another photo from the Dawlish Webcam. An old Devon legend of a Parson and his Clerk who were making their way back to Dawlish in the fog when the Parson uttered "I wish the Devil, I wish the Devil would put me on the short road to Dawlish" suddenly a guide appeared out of nowhere. You would think they would know better. Following the guide/Devil, they were eventually stranded on the beach at Dawlish with an incoming tide. and in the morning the Parson and Clark had disappeared and the sandstone pillar was there. Another victim of the winter storms is slowly eroding the soft red sandstone of thisnbit of the Jurassic coast.
A few more miles along the coast the train turns inland at Teignmouth another small victorian holiday town popular for its beach pier and promenade. It's also a working port but the dredger is working full time to keep it open.
There are great views of the bridge across to Shaldon as the track is only a few meters away from the estuary.
Well, Hivers I hope you enjoyed the train ride with me. I do apologize for the quality of some of the photos but it's not so easy at 60mph from a speeding train.