- 28 mile (45km) Riviera Line route from Exeter to Paignton.
- Seaside running along the South Devon Railway sea wall.
- First Great Western Class 143 ‘Pacer’ DMU.
- First Great Western HST (Quick Drive only).
- Scenarios for the route.
- Quick Drive compatible.
Product Description
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Set in the area of the south west coast of England known as the
English Riviera, due to its mild climate and sandy beaches, this
picturesque line opened in May 1846 with a single track broad
gauge line transporting holidaymakers from the city of Exeter to
the Torbay resorts of Devon. By the end of the same year the line
had been extended to Newton Abbot and two years later to Torquay,
the current Torre station. It was not until 1859 that the
Dartmouth and Torbay Railway linked the line from Torre to
Paignton. The 28 mile (45km) line was originally built to
Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s broad gauge structure (2,140mm / 7ft
1/4in), a familiar on the Great Western Railway network at
the time, and was designed for atmospheric power although this
lasted for less than a year from September 1847 and several pump
houses can still be seen along the line, acting as reminders of
this ill-ed system. The line was eventually converted to
standard gauge in May 1892 and later widened to double tracks
over the subsequent years. The non-electrified line is probably
best known for its seaside running, rocky coastal scenery and
winding tracks, with several miles running along the South Devon
sea wall. A picturesque scene during summer months but battered
by strong northerly winds and high waves during winter months.
Unusually for a UK route palm trees can also be seen at several
stations along the route. On leaving Exeter St Davids Station,
built by Brunel and opened on 1 May 1844, the line crosses the
River Exe and passes through the suburbs of the City before
heading into the Devon countryside. From Powderham Castle, the
railway runs alongside the river and heads into Starcross, where
the line first runs along the English Channel. Shortly after,
Dawlish Warren comes into and for the next 1.5 miles
(2.4km), the line runs along the famous South Devon Railway sea
wall. After Dawlish, the line ducks and dives through a series of
tunnels cut into the rocky coves, making for a favourite spot of
photographers. From Teignmouth to Hackney, the line runs along
the River Teign, before heading inland once again to Newton
Abbot. Leaving Newton Abbot, the railway widens out to four
tracks; the two for Penzance diverge to the right at Aller
Junction while the Riviera Line trains climb and then slowly
descend towards the sea at Torquay. Fast passenger services along
the line are handled by modern high speed DMUs, including
Voyagers and HSTs; stopping services are served by Class 142s,
143s, 150s and 159s. Freight operations are not a major feature
of the line but can be seen occasionally. Included with the route
is a First Great Western Class 143, recreating the ‘Pacer’
two-car DMU that is a stalwart of the line. Based on a Walter
Alexander bus body, the ‘Nodding Donkey’ was introduced to the
rail network in the mid-1980s and is well known for its
unsophisticated bouncy ride and meagre seating, faithfully
recreated in this model. Also included is a Quick Drive
compatible High Speed Train (HST) in First Great Western livery.
Box Contains
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PC CD Rom