Patrick Honey I am now 84 and lived in the area during and after WW2. When my Father came home from Army service in 1945, I was 10 years old and he was employed on the GWR as a plate layer. Following the war the Admiralty raised concerns at Govt level about the possibility of storm damage to the main line at Dawlish cutting off its main fleet base at Plymouth from re supply of ammunition / fuel and Stores etc. As a consequence in 1946 and 1947 my Father and other Staff were employed, in gangs of 12 men, every weekend for 2 years in bringing the Teign Valley line - from Newton Abbot to Exeter St Thomas, via Lustleigh and Trusham up to main line standards ! With the expectation of heavy ammunition trains the existing line - mostly single track with passing loops at Stations - was deemed to not be up to those specifications ! So every under bridge and drainage culvert and embankment was strengthened to be able to cope with extra weight plus passing loops were lengthened. The Teign Valley line was closed to traffic at the time of Beeching cuts but after then it was occasionally used for the Royal Train to be stabled at night when on tours of the West Country, until the track was finally lifted. Had it been kept ready on a care and maintenance basis - as many military bases were, the West Country could have had continuous traffic during the recent period of closure. I remember my Father and his mates cycling home after a gruelling days work with pick and shovel absolutely worn out and this went on for 2 years. It is a prime example of the folly of Government short sightedness when Beeching was brought in ! PGH
0:15 ...due to extreme wether.. Whether the weather Whether the weather be fine, Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold, Or whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not!
Patrick Honey
I am now 84 and lived in the area during and after WW2. When my Father came home from Army service in 1945, I was 10 years old and he was employed on the GWR as a plate layer. Following the war the Admiralty raised concerns at Govt level about the possibility of storm damage to the main line at Dawlish cutting off its main fleet base at Plymouth from re supply of ammunition / fuel and Stores etc. As a consequence in 1946 and 1947 my Father and other Staff were employed, in gangs of 12 men, every weekend for 2 years in bringing the Teign Valley line - from Newton Abbot to Exeter St Thomas, via Lustleigh and Trusham up to main line standards ! With the expectation of heavy ammunition trains the existing line - mostly single track with passing loops at Stations - was deemed to not be up to those specifications ! So every under bridge and drainage culvert and embankment was strengthened to be able to cope with extra weight plus passing loops were lengthened. The Teign Valley line was closed to traffic at the time of Beeching cuts but after then it was occasionally used for the Royal Train to be stabled at night when on tours of the West Country, until the track was finally lifted. Had it been kept ready on a care and maintenance basis - as many military bases were, the West Country could have had continuous traffic during the recent period of closure. I remember my Father and his mates cycling home after a gruelling days work with pick and shovel absolutely worn out and this went on for 2 years. It is a prime example of the folly of Government short sightedness when Beeching was brought in ! PGH
Can't get over how fast the sea wall was fixed!!! Everyone worked so hard!
Can't get out the house at the moment, so appreciated even more, you thought of every thing again, thanks for sharing.
Ah, nicely done....excellent coverage of the re-opening !! Liked the on-train footage, it made it just right. well done...Steve.
0:15 ...due to extreme wether..
Whether the weather
Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!
Lt's hope that it isn't' breached again.
Nice upload ...thanks for sharing
HOW DID U RECORD THAT- I LIVE IN DAWLISH AND YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO PUT YOUR HAND OUT OF THE WINDOW I TRIED IT OR FACE EITHER
"Wether" lol