1st January 2019 New Years Day

Shut that door!
A change for the better?
Clive Smith

GWR full HST sets will be phased out in 2019, possibly May or earlier being the latest forecast. Cross Country's five HST sets will have slam doors replaced with sliding doors by the 1st January 2020. One XC set has definitely been converted, possibly two. Other than charter trains using 'heritage' stock, it is hard to believe that slam doors will disappear this year on front-line rail services in our area.
Regards Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive - I think all rail enthusiasts regret the passing of 'Slam door stock'  with drop down windows with the photographic opportunities they provided.  I think we all also regret the introduction of cramped high backed seats and consequent reduction in visibility. I suppose it is progress??

(1) Platform 4 at Plymouth 19th December 2018. Boarding is underway for the 16.57 to Paddington. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) Short platforms at un-staffed Ivybridge require the train manager to ensure that all GWR HST slam doors are physically checked and closed properly before activating the Central Door Locking. Only four carriages have doors unlocked at this station. The train manager on the HST usually controls this from D or E coach. The 06.47 Penzance - Paddington is now readied for departure with the photographer on board on the 20th December 2018. Copyright Clive Smith.

(3) The Christmas rush is underway at Newton Abbot. The doors of the same train have been opened by the travelling public in time-honoured fashion. Copyright Clive Smith.

(4) The advice above the door of the HST will soon be a thing of the past. Copyright Clive Smith.

(5) Now between Teignmouth and Dawlish, the HST approaches Parsons Tunnel on what was a gloriously sunny morning. A view from a timetabled train that will shortly be impossible to capture. Copyright Clive Smith

N.B.  One can only hope that soon with central locking on all doors of all trains that FGW will see fit to considerably reduce dwell times at stations and thus reduce journey times. Five minute station stops aren't really acceptable.
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Leaving Devon
Royal Albert Bridge
Ron Kosys

1026 Western Centurian creeps up to pass Royal Albert Bridge Signalbox on the 10th August 1972. Token working over the bridge ended in 1961. After that date, the interlocking was electrical between Saltash and RAB box. The box closed on the 2nd July 1973 when the line was singled back to just beyond Bow String bridge. Copyright Ron Kosys

Westbury Renewals Day 9
Guy Vincent

Two bonus shots of the Westbury North work site early on December 31st.  Guy Vincent  31st December 2018 
  Many thanks Guy - all please note just how early these were taken!!!

1) Engineers are preparing to 'de-stress' the rails on the down reception line to the left of the station platforms. 05.21 31st December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

2) Road-rail vehicles still in use on the opposite side of the bridge with the well-lit panel box in the background. Much of the on-site lighting was powered by large solar panels and these appear to have worked most effectively. 05.23 31st December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Goodrington
David Tozer

The scene at Goodrington sidings in 1975. Copyright David Tozer Additional valuable comment from Guy Vincent - David Tozer's 1975 picture of the DMU at Goodrington shows not a Southern 4-TC unit but a class 123 'Inter City' DMU set built at Swindon Works in 1963. These were fine units and saw use on the Portsmouth-Cardiff route in the 1960s, the Cardiff-Crewe route in the 70s and later on Paddington to Oxford and Newbury services. In 1977 they transferred to Hull Botanic Gardens and were all withdrawn by 1984. I guess they had worked a special from either South Wales or Bristol to Torbay and consider this to be a rare event. W52086 seems to be the leading vehicle number. A good job David got a picture!