Скачать или смотреть Great Western Railway: Exeter St Davids - Paignton (Riviera Line) on August 17th 2019

2nd time filmed an onboard journey video on the Riviera Line

Onboard a 4 car comprised of 2 Two Car Class 150s on the 0837 service starting at Exeter St Davids departing Platform 6.

Between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot the Riviera Line shares with the South Devon Line until Newton Abbot where the 2 lines diverge with Riviera Line following the Torbay Line through Torre, Torquay and Paignton.

The Riviera Line was opened by the South Devon Railway Company to Teignmouth on May 30th 1846 although originally as single track however was doubled in sections in 1892.

The 1st stop to pass is Exeter St Thomas.

Just before Starcross the line comes alongside the Turf and Exe Estuary which on a clear day Exmouth located on the other side can be seen.

Dawlish Warren opened in 1905 originally as Warren Halt although today’s name dates from October 1st 1911. It’s the only section of line to having passing loops to enable fast services to overtake. The station has been unstaffed since 1971.

Dawlish opened on May 30th 1846 although strangely with just one platform with a 2nd platform added in 1858. However in 1873 the original station burnt down and was replaced by a new build built by the South Devon Railway which was merged into Great Western in 1876. Some fast services do call here although mostly from Paignton with CrossCountry services to Manchester Piccadilly or HSTs or new IEPs to London Paddington.

Between Dawlish and Teignmouth there are 5 Tunnels with the Kennaway Tunnel being first out of Dawlish which crosses under the Lea Mount. Next is the Coryton Tunnel which leads to a beach Shell Cove which is only accessible via Private Path from the Clifftop or when the sea is low tide via the shore. Next the railway passes through Phillot and Clerk Tunnels which are named after 2 stacks in the Sea off Hole Head. Before the final tunnel being Parson's Tunnel before emerging onto a viaduct which crosses over smugglers lane when the footpath resumes passing Sprey Point as far as the cutting of Teignmouth Eastcliff where the line diverts into Teignmouth Station.

Teignmouth was a temporary terminus for 7 months until the line was extended to Newton Abbot. The westbound platform was extended in 1938 however the eastbound platform wasn’t extended until 1981. The former signal box on the west end of the westbound platform closed in 1986 when the new panel signal box at Exeter took over control of the line.

Newton Abbot first opened on December 30th 1846 was once known as just Newton however was renamed in 1877 to Newton Abbot however was rebuilt in 1927, At one time there was a junction with the Moretonhampstead Line which originally opened in 1866 however closed to passenger services in 1959 and freight services continued until April 1964 when the line closed for good. Platform 4 was removed in 1987.

Most Paignton services can use either Platform 1 or 2 with return services using either Platform 1 or 3.

After Newton Abbot 3 lines then become 4 at Alier Junction where the South Devon Line diverges towards Totnes which our route heads under the Alier Tunnel which actually is the A380 which opened in 2015.

Torre opened in 1848 as Torquay however was in August 1859 was renamed Torre when the present Torquay station at Livermead opened. Although CrossCountry and GWR Services from Paddington don’t stop here.

Torquay’s station of today opened in 1859 is not far from the sea at Torre Abbey Sands is served by CrossCountry Services and Great Western Railway services from Paddington call here in particular in the busier summer months.

At Paignton we enter on Platform 2 where the station provides interchange with the Dartmouth Steam Railway where the line to Kingswear was sold in 1972 by BR.

The line from Torquay was doubled in 1910. The station building demolished in 1993 when the booking office was moved onto the site of the former goods shed.

South West Trains from December 2004 to December 2009 ran a pair of return services from London Waterloo however since then services were cut back to Exeter St Davids however now run by South Western Railway.

CrossCountry Trains provide services from Bristol Temple Meads, Birmingham New Street and Manchester Piccadilly

The services to London Paddington nowadays run by Class 800 or 802 IETs having taken over from the HSTs. Although occasional HSTs still operate however now known as Castle HSTs operate other services to Penzance, Taunton, Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central with the occasional weekday service from Paignton running direct to Cardiff Central

The Class 143 Pacers days in service on GWR are numbered with Class 150s and 158s mostly taking over the Devon Branches.

Filmed on Saturday August 17th 2019 on iPhone 8 and edited on iMovie