1 January 2016 A couple of photos (courtesy Dave Tozer) of the Swedish Vacuum Cleaner at work near Blackboy Tunnel, to the east of Exeter Central. This machine excavates and cleans out wet beds and removes dirty ballast which is then replaced by new.

Blackboy Tunnel. The machine is working on the down line with wagons containing the fresh ballast on the up line. Note the overgrown area on the left which still contain some of the Exmouth Junction sidings (latterly Coal Concentration depot and Engineering trains). Will this area ever be restored to railway use? There are rumours!

Exeter Central. The spent ballast was dumped here ready for collection by an Engineering train. Part of the disconnected sidings on the right had been cleared of trees etc and a stockpile of clean ballast is behind the camera.

After working at Whiteball, Class 37 37025 'Inverness TMD' worked an 0800 to Exmouth Junction with the RailVac. Running very early at 0747 the ensemble is passing Exeter Central after climbing the bank from St Davids. (Photo courtesy Dave Tozer)

With no runround facility available within the sidings (very overgrown) the Class 37 reversed the RailVac back onto the main line and drew forward on the up main. It then uncoupled and ran to Pinhoe, thence back to Exmouth Junction and eventually onto the other end of the machine. After drawing forward onto the down main, the RailVac was reversed into the sidings! (Photo courtesy Dave Tozer)

First loco to visit the sidings since 66027 called on 12 December 2011. 37025 then ran light to Westbury. (Photo courtesy Dave Tozer)

29 April 2016. The Railvac is delivered once again to Exmouth Junction, this time top and tailed by 70804 and 70802. (Photo courtesy Dave Tozer)

Coupled together the locos pass Exmouth Junction signalbox. (Photo courtesy Dave Tozer)

3 May 2016. After working locally 70804 collects the Railvac. (Photo courtesy Dave Tozer)

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