15th January 2019

50007 Hercules /Sir Edward Elgar at
Westbury Today
Guy Vincent

Class 50 no. 50007 was a surprise visitor at Westbury today when it passed through at 14.15 running light from Kidderminster (Severn Valley Railway) to the Arlington Paint facility at Eastleigh works. Note the large area of white filler below the driver's side window and other signs of recent bodywork repairs. It has been reported that the loco, formerly named Hercules and Sir Edward Elgar, is to be given a version of GB Railfreight livery along with another member of the class, 50049.  As usual, time will tell.  Regards Guy.                Many thanks Guy.

Westbury with 50007 passing through at 14.15 on the 15th January 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent (Note the immaculate trackwork of Westbury North Junction behind)

Also Today at
Bristol T Meads
Guy Vincent

High Speed Transition at Bristol Temple Meads 15th January 2019

PICTURE 1 Three trains at the eastern end of Bristol Temple Meads on the gloomy late morning of Tuesday 15th January 2019. Nearest - 1) 43165 standing in P9 on a 5Z83 0731 Penzance-St Phillips Marsh Empty Stock working. The formation was only five coaches (44034 42026 42024 40231 41018) with power car 43190 at the far end. It is reported that this set could be about to go on short-term hire to Hull Trains but only time will tell whether this is correct or not. 2) 800319 ready to form 1A16 1200 BTM-Paddington. 3) 43079 arriving in P15 with 1C09 1000 ex Paddington, tailed by 43180. Copyright Guy Vincent

PICTURE 2 Same location as picture (1). Nearest 1) 43165 (5Z83) ex Penzance 2) 800319 (1A16) 3) 43180 at the rear of the 1000 ex Paddington. 15th January 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent Guy V

Class 37 back in Bristol
37607 stabled on the High Level Siding to the east of Temple Meads station on 15th January.  This loco was sold by Direct Rail Services to the Harry Needle Railroad Co in 2017 and is now hired to Colas for Infrastructure Monitoring trains.   Class 37s often stable here on test trains and it is always good to see them as a reminder of the 'old days' when trains were trains; ie. pulled by locomotives!
Guy V  Many thanks again Guy - a bumper bundle today.

Bristol TM High Level Siding 37607 stabled with train 15th January 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Bristol Test Train powered by 37607 (Out of the picture) at BTM High Level Siding 15th January 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

It's that pair again!
Parsons Tunnel
Clive Smith

If it's Monday then it must be another thousand mile diagram again for the celebrity HST pairing of 43002 and 43185 starting once more with the up Golden Hind in a repeat of last  Monday's marathon. Coincidentally I found myself in Teignmouth again and could not pass up the opportunity for another sea wall photo albeit with a grey rather than blue sky. This time the 11.03 Paddington - Plymouth emerges from Parson's Tunnel between Dawlish and Teignmouth (14th January 2019).
Regards,  Clive Smith.  They are certainly getting value for money out of that pair - one wonders just how many miles in total they've knocked up?  Many thanks Clive.

Parsons Tunnel Celebrity Pair 14th January 2019 Copyright Clive Smith

Memories of a good day out.
Bugle
Roger Winnen

The 12.05 ex Newquay approaches Bugle. 29th September 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

Rushing to the other side of the bridge the Western continues east through Bugle. The society Mini Bus is pictured on the loading wharf. 29th September 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

In those days it was considered quite adventurous to explore the St Austell area!