26th May 1986

A three-car BRCW Class 118 DMU formed of cars W51314, W59481 & W51329 was stood at Starcross with an Exmouth to Paignton service on May 26th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.

29th May 1986

In the bright & breezy British Telecom livery and reduced to two cars, Class 118 set B460 formed of driving cars 51302 & 51317 was coupled to a blue/grey liveried Class 122 single unit whilst stood at Starcross with an Exeter St Davids to Paignton stopping service on May 29th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.

28th May 1987

A three-car Pressed Steel Class 117 DMU formed of cars W51373, W59486 & W51415 (B435), was stood at Starcross with a Paignton to Exmouth service on May 28th 1987. Martyn Hilbert.

31st May 1988

A worn looking Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars 52054 & presumably 51933 (Plymouth Laira Set P955), was stood at Starcross with the 16.45 Exmouth to Paignton service on May 31st 1988. With the transfer of the Devon & Cornwall Class 142 'Skipper' fleet North, a number of first generation DMU sets went as replacements. Many of the sets were past their best with cars cobbled together from serviceable examples around the country, and were a stop-gap until Class 150/2 & Class 155 Sprinters were constructed in enough quantities to allow the ageing DMU fleet to be finally retired in the period 1989-1990. Martyn Hilbert.

10th February 1989

Class 108 DMU set P956 (51939 closest) in Paignton station with an Exmouth service on 10 February 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.

29th May 1989

In the low evening light, Class 122 W55003 arrives at Starcross with the 17.22 Paignton to Exmouth on May 29th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.

31st May 1989

A Plymouth Laira allocated Class 101 formed of cars 51530 & 51181 was departing from Starcross with the 16.45 Exmouth to Paignton service on May 31st 1989. The unit was one of several first generation sets drafted into the West Country following the transfer of the Class 142 'Skipper' fleet to the North the previous year. Martyn Hilbert.

1st June 1989

With a heavy rain shower coming inland off the Exe Estuary, Plymouth Laira Class 108 set 956 formed of cars 52063 + 51939, was stood at Starcross with an Exmouth to Paignton service on June 1st 1989. The unit was one of several first generation DMU's sent to work in the West Country following the transfer of the Class 142 'Skipper' fleet North, and before the arrival of Class 150/2 Sprinter units. Martyn Hilbert.

2nd June 1989

Once a resident of Newton Heath Depot, A Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars W51939 & W52063 had found a new home in the West Country, as Plymouth Laira set 956. The unit was getting underway from Dawlish with a well patronised Exmouth to Paignton service on June 2nd 1989. The unit along with other first generation sets had been transferred to the West Country for use in Devon & Cornwall following the banishment of the Class 142 'Skipper' fleet to the North. Martyn Hilbert.

30th May 1990

With the blue waters of the Exe Estuary as a backdrop, a two-car Derby Lightweight DMU formed of cars 52063 & 51939, was departing from Starcross with the 15.45 Exmouth to Paignton service on May 30th 1990. The unit was one of several first generation DMU's cobbled together and sent to Plymouth Laira Depot in 1987/88 following various issues and the eventual migration of the Class 142 'Skippers' to the North. Martyn Hilbert.

31st July 1990

Class 101/108 DMU set P870 (53200 + 53638) departs Torquay with the 15:45 Exmouth - Paignton on 31 July 1990. Stuart Mackay Collection.

24th November 1990

Class 101 set No.861 with 51512 leading forms an evening Paignton-Exmouth service at Exeter St David’s. On the left is Class 122 55003 which had failed in the platform and behind the 101 is 50001 waiting to depart with the 1822 to Waterloo. Jay Hartley.

30th May 1991

With the East Devon town of Exmouth visible across the blue waters of the Exe Estuary, a well-filled Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second, 51246 was stood at Starcross whilst working the 16.45 Exmouth to Paignton service on May 30th 1991. Martyn Hilbert.

20th July 1991

Hybrid Class 101/108 DMU set 825 (53165 + 59118 + 51417) approaching Exeter St Davids station on 20 July 1991. Keith Miller.

26th May 1992

The buildings on The Strand (A379) form a backdrop to a Class 108 DMU formed of cars 53633 & 53947, departing from Starcross with the 06.58 Paignton to Exmouth service on May 26th 1992. Above the rear car is the 'Atomospheric Railway Inn', a reminder that this stretch of railway was part of Brunels atmospheric system that was in operation between 1847-1849. Martyn Hilbert.