The HST Finale
As you may imagine, we have rather a lot of photographs to share from yesterday’s HST farewell. A small selection are shown below, more will follow soon by means of a ‘feature’.
The 08.00 Exeter - Penzance waits to depart Exeter St. David’s with 43004/43186. The train stopped at Dawlish and Teignmouth as the sun came up. 13.12.2025, copyright Martin Duff.
43004 prior to departing with the 0800 service to Penzance. 13.12.2025, copyright Martin Duff.
43004 alongside the power signal box at Exeter St. David’s. 13.12.2025, copyright Martin Duff.
43004"Caerphilly castle" rests under the moon at Exeter St David's after coming in on the rear of 3E42 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Exeter St Davids. 13/12/25, copyright Jack Burchill.
43004"Caerphilly castle" gets ready to head back into Cornwall for its last day of passenger service. 13/12/25, copyright Jack Burchill.
So here it is. The last one on the sea wall on Saturday morning passing Sprey Point, Teignmouth at about 08-17. Nice to hear the driver sounding the horn and waving to photographers. 13.12.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
The 0800 EXD-PNZ crosses St. Pinnock viaduct, shrouded in morning mist. 13.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
43186 on the rear of the 0800 EXD-PNZ at Truro. 13.12.2025, copyright Martin Duff.
43189 and 43156 made a surprise visit to Newquay, working the days diagrams after the rostered class 150 failed. 13.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird
The final two booked GWR HST’s from Penzance prepare to depart. Permission was granted by Penzance heliport to make this drone flight. 13.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The view from the opposite side of Penzance Station. 13.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Today I went out to see the “last” stopping HST, with 43 004 and 43 186. Apologies for the picture not being of the best quality, but it was asking a lot of the camera, and it meant a lot to me to see it from the bridge. 13.12.2025, copyright Jack Burchill.
The grand finale - 3x ‘Castles’ lined up at Plymouth after arriving from Penzance. NR air ops were notified of this drone flight. 13.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The actual final (albeit unscheduled/not booked) GWR HST working of 13.12. 43156 and 43189 call at Bodmin Parkway working 2P97, the 2122 Newquay - Plymouth. 13.12.20205, copyright Jon Hird.
Many thanks to all who have sent in photographs of this special day. We will get a ‘feature’ put together as soon as we can.
Clay empties
Martin Scane
You probably won’t have room for this one today but here’s this afternoon’s down clay empties (Westbury to Goonbarrow) approaching Teignmouth. 13.12.2025, copyright Martin Scane
Many thanks Martin - nice to see a blue one down again.