What Happens When a Train Breaks Down in a Storm?

[@johnharmar-smith2262]

If it's one of those Hitachi toy trains with the washboard seats, the best thing to do would be to dump it into the sea to bolster the Dawlish sea wall and get the wonderful and very comfortable HSTs out of retirement to replace them right now!

[@alextrainspotterhd6444]

We need our HSTs back they have no problem getting through a storm

[@chrismoore4423]

But can lack adhesion on the Devon banks on dark and stormy nights. I’ve been stuck on Dainton and then had to forego my stop at Totnes to take Rattery!

[@davidsnapebrcrosslane8782]

Agreed, bad move getting rid of them.

[@nickcowley5668]

My daughter was on the broken down train. She opted to go to the pub once everything has fallen apart. A choice of action that I was fully onboard with. 😊

[@leeroberts1192]

Did the train crew ever say what the actual fault was with the train?

[@CrispeeCrisps15]

@@leeroberts1192why would they

[@leeroberts1192]

@@CrispeeCrisps15 Sometimes on Realtime Trains it will list what part of the train the fault was with

[@demil3618]

@@CrispeeCrisps15 ...because people asked?

[@CrispeeCrisps15]

@@demil3618 no train operators wouldn’t, you would need to use the app or their social media

[@AcePCFiling]

In the midlands when a train fails we have "Thunderbird" locos to the rescue, usually consisting of modified Class 47s

[@martinbutler9999]

And how long was the line blocked for after the train broke down, theres no way round either, but had the former Southern route been re opened, the trains could have diverted via Oakhampton and Plymouth

[@tombo1984]

Should have kept the 43's for the poor weather seasons. They handle the sea air and waves much better.

[@mobilephil244]

NambyPamby Diesel/electric garbage. Should have stuck to STEAM. A few puffs of wind and a ripple or two doesn't stop steam.

[@tombo1984]

@@mobilephil244 Or we could have just built the trains in the UK. Foreign stuff doesn't seem to work as well as good old Derby built locos.

[@markwelsh3957]

Oddly enough I went past Laira depot a few weeks ago and there were quite a few HSTs sitting around in sidings doing nothing. The (S)Hitachi's are rubbish and not a single lesson was learned from the poor performances of the Voyager fleet on the seawall section a few years ago. Welcome to modern UK railways.

[@pamelawhite3709]

Thanks for the video Coast Cams amazing to see how a train is rescued ❤😊xx

[@christopherisherwood4967]

I thought that we were told that these trains were Dawlish-proof - looks like it, doesn't it! Moral - check the tide-tables before setting off on a GWR train journey!

[@southcalder]

Interesting that they used another 80x to rescue it. I was involved in an incident two weeks ago where a Pendolino came to a stand on the West Coast Main Line in southern Scotland and a 57 was summoned from Carlisle to haul it away. I became involved as the local S&T to reset a crossing that was being used in the wrong direction on a line not equipped for it. The last Avanti train that passed me going “wrong direction” on the Up was 7hrs late, and had standing passengers. I believe they even carried out a side by side evacuation of the failed Pendolino when they managed to get another one alongside in the correct direction. Not good from a passenger perspective, but always interesting to see it from an operational perspective. Adds a bit of variety to the job.

[@pipandkitty2004]

Just been on a cross country train from Edinburgh to Plymouth only four coaches Ram Jam packed standing room only cattle class service that’s probably why they got rid of the HST’s to see people suffer. I felt sorry for the elderly who had to stand all the way and this is on a regular basis

[@kristinajendesen7111]

I'm going up to Hinckley from Bournemouth soon. Ex railway I could go by XC but it's often horrendous. 4 hours + by train, change at Cov, or just under 2 in my car.

[@sugarbertie1143]

Those Cross Country Voyager units are horrendous things. Totally inadequate for the services they are on and which pass through so many towns and cities. In Europe those services would all be 10-12 coaches long and we have to suffer a 4 or 5 coach unit with one coach first class as well. Appalling service.

[@barrysergeant2438]

Cross Country should be stripped of their franchise,inadequate service,joke of a company and very expensive,especially first class!

[@hakanersoy7914]

We visited Dalwish few days before that video with our relatives on a sunny and calm day. We used GWR from Paddington to Torquay and back. Again calm and sunny days. Seeing this video I now understand what our English relatives were referring to with storms etc WOW!

[@louisajones3535]

Thats so good….thank you!

[@zarakhan3887]

Stay safe everyone 🌻

[@JSDENNETT]

Never stopped steam in the 60's , last I saw they had removed Brunel's curved out tops , that direct waves back on themselves and reduced the issue. Also a lot more ballast lifted the line ?

[@MervynPartin]

There is no resilience in this route to foul weather. One day, someone may finally realise this and reinstate the inland route.

[@antonysmith9173]

Not sure it happened so much in the good old diesel loco hauled trains. Progress ehh.😮

[@davidsnapebrcrosslane8782]

Never had this problem with loco hauled stock or the HSTs. Maybe Network Rail (etc) should think about reopening the central Devon route as a diversion as their new stock can't cope.

[@Keano8562]

Yeah I'm.sure they will spend billions just to divert a few trains

[@davidsnapebrcrosslane8782]

@@Keano8562 That said, is it worth the money spent on building HS2 to save 30 minutes journey time between Birmingham and London. Would money not be better spent on a route that would connect Cornwall in the event of bad weather causing line closure on the Devon Coast ? HS2 is another story as is the Woodhead route.

[@Keano8562]

@davidsnapebrcrosslane8782 which one is worth more for business. Plus West Coast is running well above capacity

[@simonbarnsley6281]

The irony is that the pre-1968 diversionary route via Okehampton was also blocked

[@TrenyCwm]

Crazy that they decided the best course of action would be to use a normal service train to be the rescuer.

[@lowestoftlad]

How’s that crazy?

[@TrenyCwm]

@@lowestoftlad It's much better to disrupt two passenger trains.

[@michaelemery5219]

I left Dawlish the day before and it was calm

[@robdlaidler]

These class 800’s just cannot hack the great British weather. Maybe it’s time they should dedicate the class 43 trains to the south coast lines, because they have lasted 40 years, and yet these new trains, the Azuma’s cannot even last a few years

[@machendave]

There was an earlier failure and rescue, ended up with a 19 coach train.

[@SionsTrainVideos]

that was a diffrent one which was in teignmouth this one is 10 carriages

[@machendave]

@@SionsTrainVideos Bad day for the IETs yesterday.

[@SionsTrainVideos]

@machendave when this happened to XC about few years ago with a voyager XC stopped but GWR hasn't learned there lesson yet that IETs dosnet like the salt

[@alanjewell9550]

I saw that go past at the Woodland Avenue residents crossing in Holcombe. Never seen such a long IET consist! Big waves were still crashing over the railway & I got a soaking whilst on the crossing. Way too dangerous to go beyond the crossing onto the sea wall path.

[@alangreenslade1685]

So really not very different to the normal pairing up of units?

[@annemaloney8273]

Well done! Hope all are safe.

[@colinbrooks228]

empty train

[@railfreightdrivergallagherGBRf]

GWR. ..Gone Wrong Rapidly! How embarrassing. JG.

[@markwebber662]

The new GWR units can't cope with the waves along the whole coastline , we desperately need an inland route as well, so trains can divert when weather is stormy

[@jonathanlake6053]

The Govt don't want to pay for the extra upgrading of the old route,they spend the money up north and around the home counties.

[@davecoz4227]

If the new trains can't cope then surely the lest expensive option is to use the old trains or build new trains using the plans of the old trains. Were the old trains immune to waves or something?

[@christopherisherwood4967]

The old trains (HSTs) are now running - problem-free - in Mexico and Nigeria!

[@stretchedits]

@@christopherisherwood4967 Those countries got a good bargain, don't you think?

[@tonys1636]

Some questions may be raised over how effective the new sea wall is. Thought it was supposed to keep the line open, they must have known that Easterly winds and storms are common.

[@MG63]

The wall protects the coast line and railway line itself from damage. You can't prevent any water going over unless they built a wall the height of a block off flats.

[@johnalborough3074]

They were told that those Hitachi trains were susceptible to salt water but they didn't listen.

[@alanjewell9550]

Guessing overhead electrification is a non - starter beyond Exeter, even if it does ever get this far. Via reopened Tavistock route would be a viable option.

[@splittieful]

It happened on the day where the class 323 farewell tour too 😭

[@christophermee5214]

Great rescue. Though I was expecting iron man and the MCU crew

[@nickedwards2904]

ridiculous that a fully sized train comes to retrieve a fail. This is why you need locos

[@alextrainspotterhd6444]

We need our HSTs back!

[@mobilephil244]

NambyPamby Diesel/electric garbage. Should have stuck to STEAM. A few puffs of wind and a ripple or two doesn't stop steam.

[@nickedwards2904]

@@mobilephil244 yes and a full team of cleaners/drivers/fireman to run a single loco, very cost effective

[@antonysmith9173]

Plenty of locos spare dotted around. Seems like some so called expert from the railway needs to get their a..e in gear.

[@Keano8562]

​@@antonysmith9173While the keyboard experts know everything 😂

[@jameskrell4392]

Steam engines never had a problem with this and neither did the diesel deltic loco. We are going backwards.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

Never had a problem with the 159s I drove down there nor did the HSTs

[@demil3618]

Does anyone understand the logic of this? They send a train down a route where the water comes sideways. The train breaks down because of water coming sideways. Is this what happened or was there a different reason for this?

[@kristinajendesen7111]

No detonators 300yds from the failed train? I've been retired for 5 years but it's still the rule surely especially in that visibility? Used to sign that route driving 159s from Salisbury until they took it away from us. Made the mistake of looking back one day on the Dn at Dawlish when the waves were coming over 🌊😮

[@DOCTORDROTT]

I thought the same , three lots of dets put down . Been on lots of recovery jobs like this.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

@@DOCTORDROTT I've done it as a guard and driver protecting my trains (Pigs at the time). You always leave the dets down and the assisting train explodes them as a further safety backup so there is no question that they weren't warned.

[@lowestoftlad]

Rules have now changed when it comes to assistance, no dets required anymore.

[@andrewbutler6477]

These iets are more at home on electric power they operate the Cardiff to Penzance service the trip is nearly all diesel except for the last leg of the journey from patchway to Cardiff where they switch over to run on the electric power

[@master_of_tesco9388]

of course it's dawlish again. doesnt surprise me at all

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Somebody bring back the HST. The IET's are ABSOLUTELY USELESS. And why use a whole train for the rescue? Couldn't they have borrowed a class 37 (best workhorse diesel) from somewhere? Good grief.

[@Keano8562]

Wrong coupler

[@2760ade]

@@Keano8562 I'm sure they have converters though for both couplings?

[@Keano8562]

@2760ade There are emergency couplers they can use but they are not carried on every IET. Plus resourcing an engine and driver was probably slower.

[@mikehsmith1]

Yep, another example of poor Hitachi train quality compared to the British made almost half a century old HST’s that arecatill vastly superior in every way. Then it was a labour govt that then cancels the railway opening your railways schemes . Didn’t see that one coming from a labour govt .

[@algernonblack]

It's the DOWN main line.

[@CharlieKrampitz]

Traction motors don't like salt water or water period.

[@tomcarr1358]

All lights on in the failure so I wonder what failed. Imported granite boulders to create off-shore reefs may have to be added to increase the resilliance of the recent new defences. Otherwise spend no more money and buy/protect a route via Chudleigh.Excellent work by an alert Coast Cams.

[@thomaspolice9400]

First sensible comment matey. Off shore Breakwater is the answer.

[@exmothian3798]

Should never have spent that ridiculous amount of money on the new seawall.

[@MG63]

Why not? The old sea wall was destroyed in a storm. The new wall protects the coast line.

[@tgm9991]

That is a rather idiotic thing to say

[@jameskrell4392]

You are right, the old sea wall served its pupose for around 150 years. The trouble is it wasn't checked and maintained like it used to be.

[@lordsplonge8147]

@@MG63 Only a short part of the wall was destroyed in 2014. The work that has been carried out on a longer section is designed to (hopefully) prevent it happening again.

[@MG63]

​@@lordsplonge8147Yes I saw it all the next day. Hopefully be good for another 100 or so years.

[@peterjaniceforan3080]

🫡

[@mobilephil244]

HAH. NambyPamby Diesel/electric garbage. Should have stuck to STEAM. A few puffs of wind and a ripple or two doesn't stop steam.

[@michaelfreeze2949]

Why would you run a train service when the weathers that bad.

[@darrenwilliams118]

The problem is these fancy super duper trains cannot cope with salt water landing on the rheostatic brake grids on the roof. Whoever thought these trains would be good for working on a railway line which regularly gets a deluge from the sea should be sacked.

[@2760ade]

@@darrenwilliams118 Wonder why they put them on the roof though! Worst place to be in that environment!