14th October 2023

14/10/2023

Rail Adventures
David Tozer

A Saturday afternoon visit to Silverton for the 1318 5Z25 Laira to Chaddeston Sidings.

RailAdventure 43480 & 43468 + 9 former XC Mk3s - 42378, 42373, 42376, 45004, 42372, 42368, 45001, 42371, 44072.

Many Thanks David

Rail Adventures HST Move
Martin Duff

At Cockwood Harbour and Powderham Estate

Many Thanks Martin

Views of the Rail Adventure Power Cars at Teignmouth yesterday
Barbara and Trevor Tremethick

Hello Keith and Roger

I am sending these knowing you have a meeting tonight, but hopefully you will look at them tomorrow.

Apart from a couple of rain showers, and a half-hour in the road works approaching the town centre, a perfect Autumn day. 5Z25 came through Teignmouth 9 minutes early. I have given you both ends, but don’t ask what the numbers were, I couldn’t see any, and neither could Barbara who was waiting with a notebook and pen. The driver of 5Z26 (whose cool shades you may be able to see in the photograph) gave two or three toots to announce his appearance (slightly early), which were appreciated by me!

You ask whether there will still be ‘Laira Depot’ post-HST. My answer is I don’t know, but I hope so. I keep hearing mutterings of closure but, if it were to happen, my questions are these:

Where would they put the trains on a Sunday, when Laira is full (not with HSTs but mainly IETs)?
Where would they put the trains that start and finish at Plymouth?
During rail strikes, Laira is full. The current ones haven’t even finished yet! What will they do?
Suppose there is another pandemic?

As the Yanks would say (and I have quoted them before) “Go figure”.....

Happy Halloween

Trevor

5Z25 1358 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Chaddesden Sdgs, Teignmouth 14.10.23. Copyright Trevor Tremethick (rear loco)

5Z25 1358 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Chaddesden Sdgs, Teignmouth 14.10.23. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

5Z26 1436 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Chaddesden Sdgs. Teignmouth 14.10.23. Copyright Trevor Tremethick (rear loco)

5Z26 1436 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Chaddesden Sdgs. Teignmouth 14.10.23. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

Many Thanks to you both
Best Wishes Keith and Roger

End of an era at Totnes
Andrew Triggs

Evening Keith/Roger
A trip to Devon to capture the Rail Adventure Power Cars removing the remaining Cross Country Mk3s from Laira T&RSMD to Cheddesden Sidings, running as 5Z25/5Z26 in 2+9 formations, with the Sun bright above affecting the 'Up' shots available, it wasn't the easiest of subjects to capture to be honest, but History was recorded
All the Best
Andrew

43480 with 43468 working 5Z25 13.58 Laira T&RSMD-Chaddesden Sdgs with the 1st load of 9 redundant XC Mk3's passing Totnes at 14.13 Copyright Andrew Triggs

43465 leading 5Z26 through Totnes at 15.01 Copyright Andrew Triggs

43484 trailing (with 43465 leading) working 5Z26 14.36 Laira T&RSMD-Chaddesden Sdgs with the 2nd Load 9 of redundant XC Mk3's viewed from the A385 road overbridge. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Thanks Andrew

Stock Moves from Laira to Chaddesdon
Sidings photo at Dawlish Warren etc
1Z63 5726 1436 Laira T&RSMD -Chaddesden Sdgs
5Z 25 1358 Laira T&RSMD - Chaddesdon Sdgs

Roger Salter

Many Thanks Roger

The Cross Country
Clear Out Continues
Clive Smith

Clive reports in great detail the removal of Cross Country sets and Power Cars. What ever will there be at Laira after this - will there be a Laira?

(1) De-branded former XC power car 43285 now leased by Colas goes solo and starts the big Cross Country clear out of Laira on the 10th. The working is 0Z30 11.50 Laira TRSMD - Derby RTC. So strange to see an HST power car operating solo.,

(2) So it's farewell to celebrity 43007 and also 43378 on the rear of the 5Q46 07.16 Laira - Ely Papworth Sidings ECS formed of ex - Cross Country stock as they pass through the site of Brent station at 07.34 on the 13th. A poor quality photo in the rain two minutes before sunrise but one for posterity.

(3) With 43008 having left Laira on a low loader in the small hours and four XC power cars going light to Exeter Riverside, the next stage begins with Rail Adventure's power cars 43484, 43465, 43468 and 43480 on the 0Z82 12.47 Wembley Yard - Laira at Daveys Cross Ivybridge. This is the first appearance in the west country of these power cars in preparation for a double stock transfer from Laira to Chaddesden on the 14th.

(4) Looking like a ghostly apparition the 0Z82 12.47 Wembley Yard - Laira power car movement drifts through the dusk at Daveys Cross at 18.32, five minutes after sunset.

Many thanks Clive for your detailed coverage of the sad procession of HST's from Laira.

Unusual HST Working
13th October
Guy and Cathy Vincent

A rare working passing through Somerset on the afternoon of Friday 13th. Four buffer-equipped HST power cars en route to Laira as 0Z82 1247 ex Wembley, ready to remove two further sets of off lease Cross Country stock today (Saturday 14th). These PCs were previously used by Grand Central between London Kings Cross and Humberside but are now operated by Rail Adventure UK for spot hire work. The working was around 30 minutes late so got routed through Frome station to allow two following West Country services to pass via the Frome avoiding line. Here the quartet, numbered in order 43484, 43465, 43468 & 43480 slowly head away from Blatchbridge Jcn after 1C86 had cleared. Readers should check Real Time Trains for details of today’s 5Z25 & 5Z26 stock movements from Laira to Chaddesden Sidings (Derby). Guy V (text only) Photos by Cathy Vincent

Heading away from Blatchbridge Junction 13th October 2023. Copyright Cathy Vincent.

13th October 2023. Copyright Cathy Vincent.

With very many thanks to both Guy and Cathy Vincent.

Ghosts at Cowley Bridge
Keith Turley

Making their Westcountry debut rail adventure class 43 power cars Nos,43465-43484-43468-43480 at Cowley Boking the OZ82 13:47ridge Junc. on 13th October 2023, working the 13:47 Wembley Reception No.7 to Plymouth Laira.
Regards Keith Turley,

Cowley Bridge Jct. 43465-43484 and 43468-43480 13th October 2023 . Wembley to Plymouth Laira. Copyright Keith Turley

Many thanks Keith for turning out to capture this working, most unusual in a good setting.

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14th October 2023

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