17th January 2020

Last Night at Penzance
Mark Lynam

37421 at Penzance before working the 3Q53 2048 Penzance to Exeter Riverside N.Y. Test train. Copyright Mark Lynam

A full house. With the test train in the sidings, 221130 (1V58 1139 Newcastle to Penzance) arriving in platform 4, along side 43170 (ex 2C36 1832 Plymouth to Penzance), 802103 (ex 1C86 1504 London Paddington to Penzance), and 57605 (1A50 2145 Penzance to London Paddington). Copyright Mark Lynam

Later on Colas 66849 on Platform 2 after running around at Slopers with five Autoballasters on 6C42 1640 Westbury Down T.C. to Westbury Down T.C. (via Ponsandane). Copyright Mark Lynam

Many Thanks Mark

Todays post
The last movement the FGW Pacers
Guy Vincent

Bristol Temple Meads this afternoon witnessed three of the Pacers formerly operated by Great Western Railway pass through non-stop at 1419 on their last but one journey from Exeter  to Swansea Landore Depot where they will presumably be stripped of any useful components prior to final disposal as scrap. According to Real Time Trains the working was 5Z40 1225 Exeter St Davids Fuel Point (actual departure was at 1122 with a long stop-over at Taunton) - Landore Traction Maintenance Depot where arrival was at 1544, 58 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Transport for Wales still operate a large fleet of both class 142 and 143 Pacers although I don't know for how much longer they are to stay in service. 

Photos of today's movement kindly courtesy of Adrian Watts.   Photos of Welsh 142s are mine.

Regards,  Guy Vincent

Bristol TM 5Z40 1225 Exeter St Davids SP-Landore 143620 143611 143621 17th December 2020 Copyright A P Watts

Bristol TM 5Z40 1225 Exeter St Davids-Landore 143621 143611 143620 17th December 2020 (1880x1173) Copyright Adrian Watts.

Cardiff Central 142002 22nd January 2020. Copyright Guy Vincent

Cardiff Central 142002 6th February 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent.

Cardiff Central 142074 12th February .2020 Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks to you Guy and also to Adrian Watts
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The very last Pacer movement from Exeter.
Just missed!
David Tozer

As all enthusiastic enthusiasts would do David left home in good time to witness the Pacer movement at Silverton. David was none too pleased when the working turned out from Exeter an hour early and consequently David only heard them passing by - no time to get the camera out. This was very frustrating as the Pacers then stopped for 80 minutes at Taunton.

Many thanks for trying your very best David.
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Out of course Pacers
Guy Vincent

Just a few years ago for a couple of timetable periods FGW ran a useful Fridays-Only afternoon stopping train from Westbury to Exeter St Davids.      During 2015-16 this was the 2J93 1520 Westbury-Exeter and called at Frome, Bruton, Castle Cary, Taunton and Tiverton Parkway.     It was formed from a DMU that had received heavy maintenance during the week at St Phillips Marsh depot and was a useful way of returning the set to Devon.   On at least 3 occasions a class 143 'Pacer' turned up but as the train was crewed by Exeter staff this was not a problem.  There were also occasions when for whatever reason there was no unit needing to return to Devon so Exeter would send something up to Westbury and again this produced a 143 on a couple of occasions.   The train didn't run from 2017 and nowadays units to and from the South West and St Phillips Marsh tend to be added on to late evening services that use the main line via Weston super Mare.

1) 143611  5J93  1352 BTM-WSB  passing Trowbridge  19.02.2016.

2) 143611 2J93   1520 WSB-EXD   at Castle Cary   19.02.2016.  

3) 143619  5J93  1302 EXD-WSB  at Berkley Marsh  11.12.2015

4) 143619  2J93  1520 WSB-EXD  at Westbury  11.12.2015

5) 143620  at Bristol Temple Meads on the late evening of December 12th 2017 prior to forming the 2157 stopping service to Exeter St Davids.  The unit had been receiving maintenance at St Phillips Marsh.  

The class 143 units, 25 in total, were built in 1985-86 and based in the North East before moving south circa 1990. Prior to 2011 the 143s were based in Bristol and saw daily use on the Severn Beach line, between Taunton and Cardiff / Bristol Parkway,   Bristol and Warminster / Castle Cary and between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham.  On departure of the class 142s from Exeter the 143s moved en-masse to Devon and have stayed there ever since.


I heard today on 'the railway grapevine' that there is the POSSIBILITY of three of the recently withdrawn 143 units moving on either Thursday 17th or Friday 18th direct from Exeter Depot to Newport Docks for disposal.  Best to check Real Time Trains nearer the time.   I understand there are already a couple of sets at Bristol St Phillips Marsh but whether they are for scrap or further use I am not sure.

Guy Vincent

1) 143611 Castle Cary 2J93 1520 Westbury-Exeter St Davids 19th February 2016. Copyright Guy Vincent.

2) 143611 Trowbridge 5J93 1352 Bristol TM-Westbury 19th February 2016. Copyright Guy Vincent

3) 143619 seen here at Berkley Marsh on the 5J93 13.02 Exeter St Davids-Westbury 11th December 2015. Copyright Guy Vincent.

4) 143619 2J93 g#the 15.20 Westbury to Eeter St Davids at Westbury 11th December 2015. Copyright Guy Vincent

5) 143620 at Bristol Temple Meads on the late evening of December 12th 2017 prior to forming the 2157 stopping service to Exeter St Davids. The unit had been receiving maintenance at St Phillips Marsh. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks Guy. 
Watch out for those funereal journeys.
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Swindon
Roger Geach

A nice uncluttered Swindon station - before the wires went up. It's the 28th October 2008. Copyright Roger Geach.

Many thanks Roger

A sad end
Keith Jenkin

In our columns recently we have seen several pictures of trains on route for scrapping at Newport yet we don't seem to see any of the scrapping operations. This takes me back to my childhood in 1952 when I was saddened to see the London Trams being scrapped.  They were simply run into yard at Penhall Road pulled over onto their side and set fire to. I cannot believe that such funeral pyres would be allowed these days.
To see what used to happen in London.   ​https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9EFfD-5VHIk