The Dawlish Sea Wall, Nothing is impossible for an Engineer

[colliecandle]

The commentator  says "Global warming" Yet ANOTHER LIE swallowed by the 'greenies'

[logbasher]

@colliecandle So are you saying the term "Global Warming" is a lie or that there hasn't been a change in the weather in the past 30 years? I personally don't think Global Warming is completely a "man made" thing as the planet goes through heat cycles every several hundred thousand years. But with 300 years of burning coal for industry and 100 years of burn fuels in cars, planes and trains hasn't helped matters either. If we lose the ice caps then flooding will follow!

[60103Henry]

Great Video, 5 Stars! and Merry Christmas :)

[ShaurntheSheep]

lol peter key

[Markjuk]

Oakhampton to Bere Alston railway needs reopening as a matter of urgency as a secondary route to cornwall!

[logbasher]

@Markjuk Agreed but isn't there a road over part of that route? and how safe is the viaduct at Meldon? besides theres no money in the kitty now.....

[Markjuk]

@logbasher - 1) The Government wants us out of our cars, so money should be made available. Also i like the Lib Dem idea of diverting £3billion of road fund licence to reopen viable old rail routes. 2) i don't buy the arguement that a route cannot be reopened because it has been partly built over, a reopened line does not need to follow the old route to an exactly, if a slight diversion to the original path is possible it should be looked at.

[spoorus]

@logbasher Not to mention possible development over the tracks at Tavistock. It may not be clever to revive an old curvy railway while England is almost paved with remnants as such. Better argue for a Highspeed line from London to Bristol, extended to Exeter and maybe ending in St Austell, where local traffic takes over. You won't get customers for slow lines if the customer wants to go distance. Old railways though may be developed as scenic attractions but that's a different thing.

[logbasher]

@spoorus Not enough traffic to warrent a HS3 of the devon and cornwall route even if the summer levels were throught the winter! a diversionary route would make sense, But what about the Exe estuary they would need to build a lock gate on the scale of those in Holland between Exmouth and Dawlish Warren! because I doubt the line is more than 20 feet higher at St Davids but if Dawlish goes under so does St Davids...we all know how bad Cowley Bridge and Stafford bridge gets after a heavy rain.

[logbasher]

@spoorus Oh P.S London Bristol is High speed why would we need a second line? Brunel built it good enough apart from maybe extra tracks but the route is the flatest possible to Swindon.

[spoorus]

@logbasher You can't compare L- B to a french style LGV. You may compare to the classic Paris Brussels line that has the same features though electrified all over. Still P to B was doubled by a new LGV and the traffic has exploded into the 6 fold. Apart from Eurostar and Thalys beyond Brussels the LGV Gare du Nord sees 4 to 6 trains hourly non stop on the LGV branching into the north of France . The only LGV in GB is from Ebbsfleet to Dollands moor. A new LGV into the SW sure will gain traffic.

[logbasher]

@spoorus Im sorry you've lost me L-B? P to B? I don't get your comments in reference to Europe? What industry is there in Cornwall now that would expand Dollands Moor to Par or Penzance? most of the sidings have gone the lighting Factory at Bodmin stopped sending goods by rail the fertilser to Turo doesn't run anymore! How much longer will China Clay go by rail? Besides thers no money for this remember HS2 is set aside but West of England isn't a traffic hot spot chief!

[7FootballFreestyle7]

also, if there is a curved wave, then the sea wall just reflects it, snd the wave still remains powerful

[PAULWALLER70]

we love dawlish and the warren.love the wallers and the kids

[pwalpar]

Fantastic Video, The Sea wall seems like A benefit to the country side, in my opinion. You point out the cost of maintaining it, but wouldn,t there still be cost to the taxpayers instead to stop erosion, if the wall didn't exist.

[logbasher]

Without doubt they would need to do some sort of erodion or defence of the cost at Dawlish with or without the Railway, But if the Railway was never built there then Dawlish would have gone many years ago all 8 building of it.

[BIASpotter]

haha peter kay :)

[logbasher]

Yes but not the "Phoenix Nights and Garlic Bread" Peter Kay!

[BIASpotter]

i know

[logbasher]

Indeed just letting you know that I know who you mean.... Garlic Bread!

[SilsdenCougar]

This year is the 1st time for 5 years I havent been down. Always stay at the Channel View B&B in Dawlish and go for a drink with the locals in the marine tavern. Section of line from Exeter to Newton Abbot is one of my favorites.

[cattleman6420012000]

I lived in Sidmouth for ten years. I love this whole area of East Devon.I know Dawlish is heading towards the south and is incredibly beautiful.

[logbasher]

You may have noticed that I approve all comments before allowing them on the site please don't attempt a re post 5 times as it won't work......

[HeavensGremlin]

Mark Horton uses the dreadful, slovenly term 'train-line'...whatever was the matter with the correct term; 'Railway-line', and 'Railway-station'...? Every pleb now seems to call a railway-station a 'train-station'...eeesh.....

[zhivopisatel]

It should be a national monument. Why destroy it just because it costs money to maintain? It's so much more than just a means of transport. It would make a good subject for a charity, wouldn't it.

[logbasher]

I don't think anyone wishes to destroy it apart from the sea every winter? it's a case of what happens in 30-40 years with global warming? The claim is if the ice caps melt all coastal areas would be subject to higher tides and Dawlish could be swamped all year round? The is no current alternative but before WW2 the GWR thought about a route from Exminster to Newton Abbot via a large tunnel or now they could reopen the old route via Meldon to Plymouth?

[logbasher]

If they choose a new route, (unlikely) or reopen via Meldon or heathfield from 'city basin'? then Starcross to Newton Abbot would remain until the sea rises as either a summer route or a private steam railway but that's a big if... knowing how this country works! they would build a new route once the line succumbs to global warming and not before that time?

[zhivopisatel]

Well, I think that most structures deteriorate if not maintained, so if you don't maintain them you are instrumental in their destruction. The destruction of that railway line would be disastrous for Teignmouth and Dawlish. Firstly, many local people depend on the tourist industry to pay their bills. Secondly, the sea wall functions as a flood barrier for the houses immediately behind it, especially in Dawlish. I think we should get off our backsides and preserve it.

[logbasher]

Towards the latter part of the film, they say Network Rail have invested 4 million pounds in restructure work. so I think you need not worry for the moment!

[ay76]

Great stuff.

[WestCountryRail]

I have been on the Torbay Express a few times and it is just fantastic and breath taking!

[Steam1989]

6024 King Edward I looks fabulous from the air!

[ZooTV88]

I have travelled along this railway line many times (including May this year) and its probably one of my favourite parts of the long 5-hour journey to Paignton. The sea-wall line is truly awesome. One of many reasons why I love holidays in Devon.

[fiddleandcatz]

Mark Horton has a really annyoing Voice

[logbasher]

Yeah suprised nobody has said anything before?

I was expect a few gay comments? just a bit enthusiastic may be?

[gwrjake]

i went on that last sunday behind the king. what an experience!

[nikwestern]

I live in Dawlish, and have done since I was born. Its a lovely place, and I spent most of my youth on these beaches. Such a lovely place in the summer, a little desolate in the winter.

[ITW84]

ive only ever been down that line once

on a FGW125 at winter athigh tide - i was on the sea side of the train and it was amazing

[chamberlainJPM]

i live here..its not that great

[logbasher]

When you live somewhere it never is, Grass is always greener and all that! As from a railway point of view it's unusual to travel on a train and have red cliff's one side and sea on the other, for many this is the first time they see the ocean.

[stuntack]

jamie, how can you say that,dawlish is the best.long live the black swan!

[fisty430]

Good video. Dawlish is one of my favorite towns in the summer.

[bristolmidland]

I was on the train when they filmed this.

[bumff1]

very interesting i love dawlish

[johnsongbird]

I travelled on this line many a summer holiday on the way to Plymouth. It was exciting then to exit the tunnels and find yourself on the shore and to watch the waves breaking a few yards away from your window. Thanks for the video!

[gwrjake]

i watched this on the tele and finnaly i have found it on you tube. thanks.

[btvgmv6]

Great Video.Thanks for uploading

[jackparkes123]

cool