Items added on 3rd July 2017 Those added most recently come first

Multiple matters -
in the GWR Central region
Guy Vincent

​Keith,
        Six fairly recent shots to illustrate the changing traction scene in GWR's 'Central' region.

1) Taken today, Monday July 3rd at Bristol Temple Meads, Class 166 3 car 'Turbo' 166205 in freshly applied GWR green on it's first day in service on the Severn Beach line. Awaiting departure on the 1203 to Avonmouth via Clifton Down.

2) Thursday last (29th), Bristol again at around 2200 hours. New IEP sets 800003 & 800004 were in platform 3 for a while, en route to Stoke Gifford depot.  Before long these will take over most if not all the Paddington services from this station.

3) Ex 'East' from the Reading-Basingstoke line 150002 at Westbury on the 1050 Great Malvern-Brighton through train last Wednesday, June 28th. Built in 1984 but now fully refreshed in GWR green with digital passenger displays, auto-announcer and disabled toilet facility.

4) Reportedly soon to go off-lease 153305 at Swindon on the 0849 Trans-Wilts shuttle to Westbury on May 22nd. All subsequent class 153 repaints have been in GWR green so this one is worth photographing wherever possible. Note the recently erected passenger waiting room on platform 3.

5) Once common but now only occasionally seen at Temple Meads 143620 paused briefly on the morning of July 3rd en-route from Exeter to Barton Hill depot.

6) Two HST power cars pass at Westbury on June 13th. 43053 'University of Worcester', one of the first batch that was delivered for BR Western Region in 1976-7 (in set 253026); and 43198 'Oxfordshire 2007', the very last '125' PC dating from 1982. This latter one will be staying with GWR hence it's green livery while 43053 could end up working out its final years in Scotland. From 1982-2007 it was part of the Midland mainline and later East Coast fleets so has covered much of the country in it's 40 years plus career. It has previously carried the names 'County of Humberside' and 'Leeds United'.

Guy Vincent  What a mass of information - very many thanks indeed,

1) Taken today, Monday July 3rd at Bristol Temple Meads, Class 166 3 car 'Turbo' 166205 in freshly applied GWR green on it's first day in service on the Severn Beach line. Awaiting departure on the 1203 to Avonmouth via Clifton Down. Copyright Guy Vincent

2) Thursday last (29th), Bristol again at around 2200 hours. New IEP sets 800003 & 800004 were in platform 3 for a while, en route to Stoke Gifford depot. Before long these will take over most if not all the Paddington services from this station. Copyright Guy Vincent

3) Ex 'East' from the Reading-Basingstoke line 150002 at Westbury on the 1050 Great Malvern-Brighton through train last Wednesday, June 28th. Built in 1984 but now fully refreshed in GWR green with digital passenger displays, auto-announcer and disabled toilet facility. Copyright Guy Vincent

4) Reportedly soon to go off-lease 153305 at Swindon on the 0849 Trans-Wilts shuttle to Westbury on May 22nd. All subsequent class 153 repaints have been in GWR green so this one is worth photographing wherever possible. Note the recently erected passenger waiting room on platform 3. Copyright Guy Vincent

5) Once common but now only occasionally seen at Temple Meads 143620 paused briefly on the morning of July 3rd en-route from Exeter to Barton Hill depot. Copyright Guy Vincent

6) Two HST power cars pass at Westbury on June 13th. 43053 'University of Worcester', one of the first batch that was delivered for BR Western Region in 1976-7 (in set 253026); and 43198 'Oxfordshire 2007', the very last '125' PC dating from 1982. This latter one will be staying with GWR hence it's green livery while 43053 could end up working out its final years in Scotland. From 1982-2007 it was part of the Midland mainline and later East Coast fleets so has covered much of the country in it's 40 years plus career. It has previously carried the names 'County of Humberside' and 'Leeds United'. Copyright Guy Vincent

Railtours this coming weekend ???
Karl Hewlett

Dear Keith. This Saturday would of seen two tours to Devon, the first was with 8F 48151 to Kingswear which included a trip to Cornwall and return, this tour has new been cancelled.  The second tour would of seen the return of two class 50's from 'Class 50 Alliance Group' 50007 and 50049, taking a tour from Burton Upon Trent to Kingswear and return with the class 50's on to/from Worcester Shrub Hill.  This tour now seems to be cancelled as well with issues on both loco's effecting main line running.  The midnight oil has been burnt to get the loco's ready for this weekend but it seems that time has beaten their engineers, although the down times are in the system.  Whether a loco change to 50009 and 50017 (which I am not sure if they still own this loco?), is been explored I not sure, but I have added the times just in case although note it is 'highly unlikely':
Burton Upon Trent To Kingswear
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55402/2017/07/08/advanced
Kind Regards  Karl (Friends Of Penmere Station).    Many thanks Karl.

Saltburn Pilgrim
​Today
Roger Aston

Saltburn Pilgrim at Wheal Busy Crossing 57315 leading at 07.30 3rd July 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

The Saltburn Pilgrim at Wheal Busy Crossing with 57313 tailing. 07.30 3rd July 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

Saltburn Pilgrim
Roger Aston

This morning the return working of the Saltburn  Pilgrim  leaves Slopers Siding at 06.55 and runs back into Penzance station. It will depart from there at 07.10

The attached photos are of the empty stock of Friday's West Coast Railways charter train from Saltburn to Plymouth top & tailed with 57315 & 57313.  The train was stabled in Slopers siding, Penzance over the weekend due to leave ECS to Plymouth early Monday morning for return to Saltburn.

P1090147A 57315 at Plymouth end.
P1090157A 57313 at Penzance end
P1090168A The complete train in Slopers siding on Saturday

Train formation of train starting from the Plymouth end,

Loco 57315
3313 First Open
3352 First Open
WINDERMERE, Pullman
3350 First Open
AMBER, Pullman
99680 Mk 1 Brake Second Support Coach. Probably in use as Crew Rest and Pantry
ULLSWATER, Pullman
3392 First Open
3395 First Open
3326 First Open
Loco 57313

Best regards, Roger.               Many thanks Roger

Saltburn Express in Slopers Siding 1st July 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

57313 at the Penzance end of the Saltburn Express in Slopers Siding 1st July 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

57315 at the Plymouth end of the Saltburn Express in Slopers Siding 1st July 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

Fascinating Reading
Maurice Dart

Maurice Dart has very kindly given us his memories of life in Plymouth and elsewhere during those dreadful years of World War Two.  Read all about it in our Features Mid May to December 2017

Copyright Roger Winnen

Bournemouth
Mike Morant

BR Standard 7MT No. 70014 Iron Duke in an undated view at Bournemouth Central. It's well known that 70014 was 'the other' Britannia allocated to Stewarts Lane in the 1950's but it's often forgotten that it was initially allocated to Nine Elms from June to October 1951 before moving down the road to 73A. [Mike Morant collection]

Torbay Express - Athelney
John Cornelius

This is the third day running we have featured  Thunderer on this page.

Copyright John Cornelius