20th December 2019

The 1Q18 at Penzance
Andrew Triggs

All photographs are Copyright Andrew Triggs

Hello Roger/Keith
4 shots of todays visit by Colas 67023 with 67027 vice the NMT again for CRS, working 06.09 Reading Triangle Sidings-Paignton. To be honest, I got lucky while out walking our dog, having forgotten about it coming down and not checking Realtime trains. Arrival was at 11.25 departing again at 12.03 Have a great Christmas and New Year to all involved with C.R.S 
All the Best
Andrew 

Many Thanks Andrew we wish you also a
Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

The Last HST Cross Country Slam Door ? - 19th December 2019
Plymouth
​Clive Smith

  Could this be the red light signalling no more Cross Country HST slam door sets? On a thoroughly miserable wet day the 1S49 09.25 Penzance - Dundee Cross Country service arrives at platform 6 at Plymouth. This is normally a Voyager except on Fridays when it is an HST. It was an HST either because it was busy or more likely it is a reliable soundly built train that doesn't fail when hit by saltwater waves at Dawlish. This train is reportedly the last ever Cross Country slam door service. The penultimate XC HST set fitted with sliding doors was returned to Laira from Doncaster the previous evening thus paving the way for this last set "XC05" to be converted as slam doors are supposed to be gone by the end of 2019.  Here are a few scenes that were once everyday but have rapidly disappeared from regular services on the national network during 2019 and are now coming to an end. 

Regards, Clive.  
​Many thanks Clive - thanks for witnessing the likely end of an era familiar to us all.   AND also many thanks to you for your support over the past and previous years.

Last X Country Slam Door set arrives at Plymouth. 19th December 2019. Copyright Clive Smith

Last X Country Slam Door set at Plymouth. People and doors, a familiar scene - has it gone forever? 19th December 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

Last X Country Slam Door set at Plymouth. 19th December 2019. Copyright Clive Smith

Ore Train at Cardiff
Michael Forward

More great pictures on the site and Ron’s excellent shots of class 56 s encouraged me to send my offering.
We see 56001 ‘Whatley’ and 56034 ‘Ogmore Castle with one of the regular Port Talbot to Llanwern workings at a sunny Cardiff on 17 February 1988.Thanks for dealing with this and Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New year,best wishes,Michael

Many Thanks Michael
Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous
New Year

Stone for Wotten Basset
Staverton Junction
Ron Kosys

 The Foster Yeoman aggregates depot at Wootton Bassett was regularly taking two trains of stone each weekday in 1988.
An early start on the 22nd April 1988 got me to the village of Staverton, Wiltshire, just slightly north of Bradford Junction. As it happened, it was only with a few minutes to spare and my first target of the day, the morning Merehead to Wootton Bassett loaded aggregate train could be heard negotiating Bradford Junction.
56040 is seen here emerging from the mist and passing Staverton Junior School with the first of the two daily trains.
 
By the time the empties returned later in the day, I had moved to the Westbury area and it was a mainly sunny day.
The morning empties from Wootton Bassett were photographed passing Hawkeridge Junction, heading once again for the massive Foster Yeoman quarry at Merehead.

56040 Bradford Jn Staverton 22nd Aptil 1988. with the Merehead to Wootton Bassett stone train. Copyright Ron Kosys.

56040 returns with the empties seen here at Hawkeridge Junction 22nd April 1988. The train is from Wootten Bassett and heading for Merehead. Copyright Ron Kosys.