The Dawlish Sea Wall Welcome to the Dawlish Sea Wall Web Site. One of the most popular locations in the UK to watch and photograph trains is on the Dawlish Sea Wall, located between Exeter and Newton Abbot in Devon on the Great Western main line route to the West. The line is operated by Network Rail, with passenger services provided by First Great Western and Arriva Cross Country. Some freight traffic still remains but in much reduced amounts. DBS operates a limited freight service from and to Cornwall, mainly to serve the china clay industry, while Freightliner Heavy Haul operate on an 'as required' basis with cement traffic to Moorswater and aggregate traffic from Burngullow to the London Area. Direct Rail Services also operate from time to time powering flask traffic to and from Devonport Dockyard.     Passenger charter traffic is also a feature of the Dawlish Sea Wall with both steam and diesel powered specials frequently working over the line. In the summer months the 'Torbay Express' steam service operates between Bristol Temple Meads and Kingswear, while private steam charters operate from various starting places to Paignton, Kingswear, Plymouth and Cornwall.     Many diesel powered charters also operate over the line each year, working from various locations throughout the UK to Paignton, Kingswear, Plymouth and Penzance, often bringing rare and unusual traction to the area. The Dawlish Sea Wall website with try and publish prior information about these trains on our Special Trains page.     Each year the Dawlish Sea Wall usually sees a couple of workings of the UK Royal Train, carrying either HM The Queen or Prince Charles to Totnes or Plymouth or traversing the Sea Wall on route to Exeter after spending the night at Newton Abbot.     On some Fridays the New Measurement Train (NMT) can be seen traveling along the Sea Wall on a run from Paddington to Plymouth and return, the westbound working is around 08.20 and the eastbound return at 10.50.     In late 2011 the following classes of locos and multiple unis were seen on the Sea Wall. Classes 31*, 47*, 56* 57, 66/0, 66/4*, 66/5, 66/6, 66/7*, 67*, 143, 150/1, 150/2, 153, 158, 220, 221 and HST [FGW & XC] (* in restricted numbers).
The Forum and Guestbook features of this website have been removed due to continued abuse and the posting of non railway material.	Above: One of the 2012 Dawlish Sea Wall highlights was the operation of a GBRf staff and customer charter train from Cardiff to Paignton and return on 21 July. The five coach train was powered by Class 50 Alliance operated No. 50044 Exeter, with GBRf multi-coloured No. 66720 coupled to the rear to perform 'pull-back' moves. The westbound train, running as 1Z50, the 09.15 Cardiff Central to Paignton is seen rounding the curve at Langstone Rock, Dawlish Warren. Colin J. Marsden
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We welcome photographic contributions of trains on the Dawlish Sea Wall, please send as a .jpg e-mail attachment at no bigger than 1600pix wide. Please supply a caption and credit details. Providing these are of sufficient quality these will be posted in our Visitor Gallery page.
Latest site update – 1/09/2012 - Charters added
	Click the link right to see the Live FGW Dawlish Departure Board.
Our new 'The Railways of Dawlish' Calendar for 2013 is now available at £8-99 plus post and packing. Click HERE to visit the TRC Shop and order on line. Calendars will be shipped late-May. Or call our order hot line on 01626 862320.	The Dawlish Sea Wall Website is operated by TRC Publishing click the link right to visit the website.