29th October 2023

29/10/2023

Oldest GW
Power car
Neil Phillips

Hello Roger and Keith,

I've been hoping to catch GWR's recently reinstated and oldest HST power car 43004, which originally powered set 253002 with recently scrapped 43005, and noted that it was due to work this afternoon's 2M72 15.50 Penzance - Bristol with 43153 leading, due off Par at 16.53 so I set off to meet it with one eye on the showery weather! The train had departed Penzance 16 minutes late and was still 16 late when it reached Par. As the sun had disappeared behind a cloud bank just after the time it should have arrived and light rain set in as the light failed I thought I was out of luck, but the rain stopped and the setting sun reappeared below the cloud in the nick of time - and provided an unexpected opportunity. Sometimes the weather can be so helpful one wonders why we complain about it so much!

43004 is now the oldest GWR power car but not the oldest in service, as 43003 is still active in Scotland - its partner 43002 is preserved, as is 43000 from the prototype set (43001 was scrapped).

Best regards,
Neil Phillips

2M72 15.50 Penzance - Bristol with 43153 leading arrived at Par 16 late 28th October 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips.

43004 on the rear of 2M72 at Par - with rainbow! 28th October 2023

Nameplate of 43003 at Par 28th October 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips.

Rainbow over Par station at 17.10 on 28th October 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips.

Many thanks for the text and the photographs Neil - I hope that you collected the justifed 'Crock of Gold' at the end of the rainbow?

Blue Survivors

There are two Class 150 Sprinters in the area still in the old GWR blue livery - 150219 and 150238. I noticed that the latter was due to work the 2P19 14.50 Penzance - Plymouth this afternoon (Wednesday) with green 150246 and, since I was going to be out and about anyway, I made sure to intercept it at Par. I wouldn't usually go out of my way to photograph Sprinters but when an obsolete livery survives this long it's worth recording. I wonder if GWR regards it as a 'heritage' livery now, since they appear to be in no rush to get the green paint out for these two!

Best regards,
Neil Phillips

Many Thanks Neil

Before and after
Exeter Good Shed
Paul Barlow/Roger Geach

South Devon Railway shed Exeter demolition. Copyright Paul Barlow

40084 40081 Paddington to Kingswear approach Exeter St Davids. 9th October 1977. Copyright Roger Geach.

You have some views of this railtour 9th November1977 but here is a distant view of 40084 /40081 approaching St Davids .

It shows the former South West sidings being ripped up and is very open.

Cheers, Roger Geach.

Paul sends us a picture from his archive - as you say Roger, an impossible view now and also a record of when those sidings were being removed. Many thanks indeed to you both.

Bodmin Railway - seasons
Last Diesel Day
Jon Hird