DMU Operations: Western Region
Paignton - Exeter
Plymouth-allocated DMUs were used on these services.
Sample Timetables
14 May 1979 to 30 September 1979
2 7/8" x 4 1/8"
Images
3rd January 1975
Trains waiting at Paignton Great Western station on 3rd January 1975. The DMU (50090 closest?) is headed for Exeter St Davids and the Class 50 diesel 50038 for London (Paddington). Pete LG99.
24th July 1979
A Swindon Cross-Country 3-Car Class 120 DMU formed of cars W51578, W59580 & W51587 was stood at Teignmouth with a Paignton to Exeter St Davids 'all stations' service on July 24th 1979. When this image was recorded the set was allocated to Plymouth Laira depot. The unit would move briefly to Cardiff Canton in 1980, but by 1982 was working in the North West working from Newton Heath. It remained there until 1986, when the set was transferred North of the Border to Ayr for its final stint of operation. The unit was scrapped in 1988. Martyn Hilbert.
24th July 1979
A three-car Swindon Cross-Country DMU was leading a six-car DMU formation at Teignmouth on an Exeter St Davids to Paignton service on July 24th 1979. Set No. P555 was formed of cars W51590, W59582 & W51576. The set was one of the Western Region 120's transferred to Newton Heath Depot in the early 1980's. The second set appears to be a DMBS/centre car from a 3-car with a bubble car on the rear. Martyn Hilbert.
6th August 1979
Class 120 DMU set formation P552, consisting of cars 51582 59285 51573 is seen with 1546 Paignton-Exeter at Dawlish, 06/08/1979. Graeme Phillips Collection.
7th April 1980
Coming out of the haze on a warm afternoon, A Swindon Class 120 three-car DMU was approaching Dawlish Warren with a Paignton to Exeter St Davids all-stations service on April 7th 1980. Martyn Hilbert.
29th May 1981
In refurbished white with blue stripe livery, a three-car Class 101 DMU with Driving Motor Brake Second W51446 leading presumably with 59547 + 51517, was passing alongside Dawlish Warren Road on one side, and the Exe Estuary on the other side, as it approached the footcrossing at Cockwood whilst working an Exeter St Davids to Paignton all-stations service on May 29th 1981. Martyn Hilbert.
5th June 1981
Class 118 set P463 (presumably 51320 + 59472 + 51305) is seen at Aller with the 15:45 Paignton - Exeter service on June 5, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
29th May 1984
On a fine Spring afternoon, a three-car Class 118 DMU with Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) W51313 leading (presumably with 59478 + 51328), was exiting the Down Loop at Dawlish Warren as it got underway with an Exeter St Davids to Paignton service on May 29th 1984. Martyn Hilbert.
29th July 1985
A Class 118 DMU with the 15.50 Paignton - Exmouth runs along the sea wall between Teignmouth and Dawlish, approaching Parsons Tunnel, on 29 July 1985. Robert28194.
30th July 1985
Class 118 no P471 (presumably 51314 + 59481 + 51329) pauses at Newton Abbot with the 17.35 Paignton - Exeter on 30 July 1985. Robert28194.
1st November 1985
The 14.27 Exeter – Paignton approaches Teignmouth on 1 November 1985 formed of class 118 set no P461 with DMBS 51303 leading (presumably with 59470 + 51318). Robert28194.
1st March 1986
W51329 W59479 and W51314 arriving at Torquay with the 0930 Exeter to Paignton 1st March 1986. Keith Long.
1st March 1986
W51329 W59479 and W51314 at Paignton after terminating with the 0930 from Exeter on 1st March 1986. Keith Long.
2nd March 1986
Class 118 numbers W51329 W59481 W51314 arriving at Torquay with the 1325 Exeter St Davids to Paignton on 2 March 1986. Keith Long.
28th May 1986
A well filled Class 117 3-Car DMU with 51382 trailing and presumably with 59492 + 51339, departs from Starcross with the 17.20 Exeter St Davids to Paignton stopping service on May 28th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.
28th May 1987
A three-car Pressed Steel Suburban DMU formed of cars W51373, W59486 & W51415, was stood at Dawlish station with an 'all-stations' Paignton to Exeter St Davids service on May 28th 1987. Martyn Hilbert.
3rd July 1987
While on holiday in South Devon in 1987 we noted this Class 118 DMU with set number P460 several times. Here it is departing Dawlish on 3 July 1987 working the 11.06 Paignton-Exeter St Davids. The unit was very distinctive in its yellow livery advertising British Telecom. The individual cars were 51317 / 59469 / 51302. Lewis Bevan.
13th December 1987
The 15:42 Exeter St Davids - Paignton seen at Dawlish Warren on 13 December 1987. The photographer left it a tad too late to take the shot resulting in some blurring on the cab so the set number is not clear but the marks on the cab front match 52063 in set P956. Unusually it is running with a Met-Camm centre car inserted. Stuart Mackay Collection.
6th February 1988
Two-car Class 108 DMU set P956 with the 16:03 Paignton-Exeter service at Starcross on 6 February 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.
5th March 1988
A Class 101 DMU formed of two DMBSs seen at Dawlish Warren with the 16:03 Paignton-Exmouth service on 5 March 1988. Although no set number is visible the slide notes it as P861 and the closest vehicle does seem to be 51205 which fits. Stuart Mackay Collection.