10th December 2018

Last Down HST Riviera
Clive Smith

​Saturday December 8th 2018 may have seen the passing of an era with the last HST worked down Cornish Riviera Express. The 10.03 Paddington - Penzance passes Three Arches Bridge near Follaton west of Totnes in atrocious weather on the climb up Rattery Bank. With IET changeovers never a 100% certainty it was only today  (Monday 10th December) when an IET produced that another footnote can be added to the history of the  legendary named train..It is an incredible thirty nine years that HSTs have worked 'The Riv' with the last loco hauled 'Down' being on 5th August 1979. For the record it arrived at Penzance on time. The 'Up' gave way to HSTs in May 1980 and still soldiers on with these stalwarts of modern engineering. With changeovers to IETs gathering pace it is only a matter of months before this too will go. Alas I was unable to note the power car numbers. If anyone can contact the website with this information it can be added to the record.
      Regards, Clive Smith 
   Many thanks Clive for the remarkable picture and your information.

The last down HST worked Cornish Riviera seen on the climb from Totnes at Three Arches bridge at Follaton about three miles west of Totnes Saturday 8th December 2018 Copyright Clive Smith

For the record Guy Vincent adds :-   Clive Smith's historic posting of  what could possibly have been the "final" HST-worked 1C76 1003 Paddington-Penzance 'Cornish Riviera Express' was indeed most welcome and worth recording.  What a pity the weather was not better for him!    I have managed to find out the identity of the HST that worked the train, it was: 

Set OC47 comprising 43079 44060 42067 42381 42308 42509 42319 40710 41108 43180

How long before 1C76 'drops' and another HST turns up on it?  I guess we will have to wait and see.

                 Best wishes, Guy Vincent  Many thanks Guy.

Newport 1998
Michael Forward

 

 The attached picture from Newport taken on a busy 17 December 1998, this time of 59102 on a loaded ore train for Llanwern. Copyright Michael Forward

 In the background of the previous picture you may see various locos. on Godfrey Road stabling point. One of them moved off later,this being 37077 in rather grubby Mainline livery. Copyright Michael Forward

Many Thanks Michael

Plymouth Peak
Andrew Thompson

Peak at Plymouth 17th July 1971 Copyright Andrew Thompson

Winnen's Westerns
Penzance
​Roger Winnen

D 1058 passes Penzance Signalbox  10th October 1976  Copyright Roger Winnen