11th March 2020

Long Rock
Ian Morton

15 D822 Hercules or D832 Onslaught passing Long Rock. Copyright Ian Morton

Many Thanks Ian

DMU Hybrids
Guy Vincent

Time moves on and we soon forget everyday sights and happenings once they end.   During 2018 GWR dispensed with their West fleet of class 150-1 DMUs as more Turbos arrived from the Thames Valley.  Also sent on their way were vehicles 57209 and 57212.  These were non-toilet equipped and had survived two serious accidents in the 1980s that resulted in their respective partners 52209 and 52212 being written-off and scrapped.   57209/212 were inserted into sets 150121, 125 126 and 127 for various periods and these then ran as either 150921 925 926 and 927.  In early 2017 57212 found itself very briefly added to set 150108 but this lasted a matter of days before it joined 150216 that then became 150916.   All very confusing!      Eventually in May 2018 57209 and 57212 were paired up as 150209 and went to Northern in exchange for 150207 which is now a full time member of the GWR fleet.   150209 had briefly appeared in traffic in 2014 when both the 'floating' spares had needed a major exam.   Another hybrid was 150938, created using 150238 and 52219. This was  following an accident at Plymouth in April 2016 when 57219 ran into the rear of an HST (43160).  Finally, who remembers from 2011 hybrid set 153399 which comprised 57369 and 57221 following a fire that took place in partner 52221 that year.   

Anyone care to place a bet on when we will see a 166/158 combination running in traffic?  (I'm told all that's needed is a wiring modification to the Turbo coupling head). 

Cheers for now, Guy Vincent.

142336 seen at Bradford-on-Avon with 150916 and 57212 numbered 150908. 4th April 2017. Copyright G.Vincent

142336 Bradford-on-Avon 150916 57212 numbered 150908 4th April 2017 Copyright Guy .Vincentt

150938 (52238, 57238 & 52219) seen at Taunton on the 17th January 2017. Copyright Guy Vincent

153399 57369 57221 seen on the heights of Upton Scudamore on the 10th June .2011. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks indeed for the much detailed article and the accompanying photographs. Your detailed records are invaluable.

Plymouth as it is.
Clive Smith

Many thanks to Clive who takes a look at Plymouth station and give us an idea of how it may look in the future when quite massive changes take place. 

For official publicity please try this link.
/www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/grand-entrance-plymouths-futuristic-new-3739337

(1) The nine storey tower block is to remain but the exterior will look different following refurbishment and occupation by the University Of Plymouth medical sciences faculty. The station concourse at the front of the photo will receive a facelift too. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) This is the view from North Road East behind the three floor multi storey car park which will be demolished to make way for a four star hotel, a second university building and a new escalator access from the city centre to the station. Copyright Clive Smith

(3) This photo is taken from the multi storey car park and shows Inter City House and in the foreground the RISC (Rail Incident Safety Centre) building which contains driver training simulators. When this is demolished the new multi storey car park will be built here in 2021. Copyright Clive Smith.

(4) A view from the top floor of the multi storey car park of the side of Inter City House. The car park will be demolished and replaced by a 4-star hotel, second university building and escalator access to the city centre. Copyright Clive Smith.

(5) This view shows the end of the RISC building and platforms 2 through to 8 at the eastern end of the station. The new multi storey car park will be built here in 2021 but I don't know the complete plans for how far it will extend. High security gates restrict all access to the station here, a far cry from when it was the Royal Mail loading and unloading area and I used to bunk in to the station to avoid buying platform tickets in my early teen trainspotting era in the 1970s. The MOT and Tyre Centre was formerly called John Major's Garage. Didn't he used to be Prime Minister ? Copyright Clive Smith.

(6) This is the view from the multi storey car park of the western approach to Plymouth station with the offices between the concourse and signal box to be demolished. This houses the Transport Police and Rail Gourmet catering amongst others. The site will become The Brunel Plaza. Copyright Clive Smith.

(7) This is the view from North Road East which will become the 'gateway' to Plymouth station. These buildings will disappear and everything behind will be transformed.

Thank you Clive.