Welcome to The Dawlish Sea Wall website. News and illustrations of the section of line between Exeter and Newton Abbot is posted on a near daily basis.

Without any doubt, this section of railway which runs through the county of Devon, alongside the River Exe between Exminster to Starcross and then skirts Lyme Bay through Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth, before paralleling the River Teign towards Newton Abbot, is one of the most photographed sections of railway in the world. The route offers some superb photographic vantage points from where to capture trains at most times of the day. The scenery is excellent, and within a few short miles the ability to capture trains running through lush farm lands and the Powderham Castle estate, along the rugged sea wall section past the red sandstone cliffs which abound in the area or running along the river estuary.

Although today the diversity of train types is much reduced, a good variety is still available. All main line passenger trains are now formed of either Arriva Trains Class 220 or 221 stock or HST formations, local services are formed of Class 142, 150, 153, 158 and 159 DMUs. In terms of locomotive activity, examples of Classes 47, 57, 66 and 67 are seen. The Class 57s are in charge of First Great Western overnight sleeper trains on the Paddington-Penzance corridor. EWS and Freightliner Heavy Haul operated Class 66s are the mainstay of power for the few remaining freight services which traverse the Sea Wall.

A sizable number of charter trains frequently traverse the Sea Wall, mainly taking passengers to and from the Eden Project in Cornwall, or visiting Penzance, Paignton or Kingswear. These trains can be operated by virtually any class of motive power owned by any company. Details of these will be given in our special trains pages.Frequent steam powered specials also traverse the Sea Wall, with the regular summer 'Torbay Express' service between Bristol and Kingswear operating in the peak season, full details are given in the special trains section.

This guide provides information on where to take pictures of trains on the Sea Wall route, all areas mentioned are open to the public, however, could visitors to the area have a little respect for private property which surrounds the railway for most of its route. If you do use any of the gated crossings over the line please make sure the gates are closed behind you.