2008-04-25 // 23:17:12
sulfiteman
A pleasure. Another useless but nostalgic piece of information - in the early 60s we had a family holiday in a camping coach at Dawlish Warren station. I believe there are still some of the old GWR coaches there! I have a photo my dear old dad took of a "Hall" (a class of GWR 4-6-0 steam loco) pulling an up train along the sea front section at Dawlish. The old Cornwall Railway section further west (including Truro) is almost unique in the UK in still having a semaphore signalling system

2008-04-25 // 17:58:03
sulfiteman
What a total contrast to the view l got from the carriage window between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth a week ago when on my way to Truro; grey skies and sea, huge crashing waves and spray flying over the breakwaters! In fact, the sort of conditions that showed up the design weaknesses in the Virgin Voyager units soon after they were introduced on this route a few years ago; spray and salt got into the electrical connections between the cars and caused a complete shut down, stranding the immobile units and stopping the job until something a bit more robust could come and tow them away. The 30 year old (albeit re-engined) HSTs seem to be able to cope with the conditions rather better!

^ i actually remember when that happened... luckily i was on one of those push me pull you two carriage jobs between truro and bristol temple meads so no problems what so ever! that line is absolutely stunning though whatever the weather! thank you for the comment :)