15 January 2026 A Dawlish Adventure

Presenter: Phil Haines

Our speaker Phil Haines provided a four part presentation covering the route around Dawlish. Initially a short cab ride film to demonstrate the areas infrastructure. The early years from the late 1950s to the mid-1980s followed, brought to life by a series of photos.

In the early years steam prevailed, a variety of GWR locomotives, Halls, Granges and Castles a familiar memory, before moving on to the Diesel Hydraulic age, Westerns, Warships, Class 47s, HSTs and more. Video film brought the area to life in 1998 by a multitude of different loco and rolling stock liveries, in the age of privatisation, including from as far away as Anglia Railways. Finally the 2020s, the digital age film bringing crystal clear views of the modern era, the sights and sounds of the new Hitachi Class 800s, Castle Class HSTs and various DMUs.

Every conceivable vantage point had been used to produce an interesting and varied photo and film collection, which included the inevitable image of waves buffeting against the Dawlish sea wall. The long distance views in particular, demonstrating why this picturesque coastline is many people’s favourite area, bringing back memories of warm and sunny holidays on what was actually a very wet January afternoon.