Incredible Job Done At Dawlish

[mikey4444]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/10/rush-repair-hole-dawlish-train-line-network-rail

Saw this in today's Guardian. After all that damage to the rail line at Dawlish, it should open again in about 2 weeks time. Haven't these engineers done marvelous job ?

[gness]

Marvelous indeed, Mikey.....I think a lot of good and hard work was done following the storms but this is splendid and in harsh conditions.

[LazyGun]

That is a pretty impressive turnaround.

[ChillDoubt]

Fantastic job, congrats to all concerned.
Shame we have to have such a disaster befall this country in order to show off our skills at engineering.

[mikey4444]

There is an interesting quote from one of the contractors ::

"Brunel's work has lasted for 150 years. We just hope ours lasts another 150 years"

[RATTER15]

Well I tell you, us Dawlish (my home town) folk know how to do a job :-)

That section of railway was right outside my old front door, I'm glad I no longer live in that house, it was bloody cold!!

[DTCwordfan]

Given the various incidents and repairs necessary post storms over the decades, that's a daft statement to make. It was a bloody stupid route that Brunel chose, albeit scenic.

Well done though to the engineers of Railtrack for getting it back up - think that the Army were involved too; they did volunteer resources for it.

[DTCwordfan]

1846/1853/1855/1869/1872/1873/1885/1911/1930 and 1974 - incidents involving storm damage or cliff collapse.

[RATTER15]

I agree TDC, I think I am correct in saying that the stretch of railway that runs through Dawlish is the most expensive piece of railway to to maintain in the UK. I think it a little harsh saying Brunel was stupid, he didnt have a lot of choices when it came to choosing the route for the railway considering the landscape of the surrounding areas.

[DTCwordfan]

Well, true in part, Ratter, as what it involved was the politics of the then railway companies that divvied up Devon and that wasn't his fault - however he could have gone inland to Dartington and around. GWR (his contractor) was forced to the coast, LWR etc having the inland routes, the ones that they are now thinking of reopening i.e. Exeter to Okehampton to Tavistock and then Plymouth.....apparently the original railway embankments and track are all but there, some 17 miles only to shape, though plenty of land purchasing would be needed.

[mikey4444]

DTC...I wouldn't mind betting that the old route you have mentioned will never get put back in service. Where is the money going to come from to do it ? I have walked some of that route and the work involved to make it the main line from Paddington to Penzance would, in my opinion, be just not practicle.