I've not logged in for a while, but want to wish Grahame and all others involved, congratulations on helping to achieve this much improved service. Well done to all involved!

I've recently learnt Bristol to Cardiff and was given 13 days. Bristol to Westbury, I was given 8 days. Depends on distance and complexity of lines.

Wikipedia.....the place where anyone can post anything they like.

Lapford is also south of Eggesford. All the stations you mention are north of Eggesford!

On the units I drive, you can shut down engines with the direction controller in any position, though it is generally done in Neutral or Off.
The 2 minutes of revving is probably the compressor speed up being used to build up enough air to get a brake release( amongst other things).

Hmmmm. I wonder if 12 cyclists will try to put their bikes on it, like they do with the Exmouth to Topsham cycle path. The clue's in the name. Cycle.

In theory the guard should not have let this man off at Eggesford as it is not an advertised stop on this service. The train only stops there for token exchange. My personal opinion on this is that if you've had a long day and feel you may fall asleep, set an alarm on your phone for 5 minutes before arrival time, or perhaps ask the guard to check you get off on arrival, not just assume it's everyones' responsibility but your own.

That was my point!

I worked all weekend, and have to say the trains to the seaside resorts from Exeter on Saturday were absolutely rammed, so I can't imagine what it will be like in July/August. Guess how many trains ran from Exeter to either Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torquay, Paignton, or Exmouth from Exeter on Sunday? I reckon there would have been a lot of confused locals at St Thomas and Polsloe Bridge, coated in suncream, frantically jabbing the buttons on the help points on Sunday morning.

I seem to remember in Wessex days, of a manager that lived at Newton St Cyres on the Barnstaple branch. It may be my failing memory, but I'm sure a lot more trains stopped there then, than they do now!

I have had a couple of Cat B SPADS, and believe me it is not a pleasant experience, even though you know (or at least are pretty sure), it's not your fault.

I believe there were two people, and the police, on the line between Polsloe Bridge, and Digby, which caused the delays. The train terminated at Topsham due to it almost being in the pathway of the following train to Exmouth, and thus enabling the service to get back to normal.

Not insurmountable, but for a couple of months each year, we do get problems caused by low rail adhesion. Leaf fall has been discussed elsewhere on this forum I believe, perhaps someone can point you in the right direction.

A through train from barnstaple to exmouth runs as an up service as far as St Davids, then changes to a down service to exmouth, even though it will cover some of the journey on the up waterloo. Though it could start from St Davids on the down waterloo (platform 3) and change back to the up waterloo at the crossover between Exeter Central and SJP, though remain a down service. Simple isn't it?!

I realised that, but as a driver myself, was not going to admit that we make mistakes!