43063 - Plym Valley Railway Resident
Clive Smith
Today, between 1000 and 1700, is the HST Enthusiast Day at the Plym Valley Railway, where repainted Intercity Swallow liveried 43063 will be officially on display for the first time. Here are five photos showing it in action during its working life.
43063 at Paddington with the 1C82 13.03 to Plymouth on the 10th May 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.
4th May 2019. The final fortnight before GWR ended their operation of 2+8 HSTs to London. 43063 arrives at Totnes with the 1A85 10.00 Penzance - Paddington via Bath. The rear power car was 43162. Copyright Clive Smith.
43063 heads the 1A79 06.47 Penzance - Paddington through the site of Brent station South Devon in wintry light on the 10th December 2018. The rear car may be 43020 which was paired up with 43063 at the time. Copyright Clive Smith.
GWR 2+8 set with power cars 43093 (front) & 43063 (rear) passes Rockstone Flats between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish with the 1C78 11.03 Paddington - Plymouth. Photographed from Lea Mount on the 31st August 2018. Copyright Clive Smith.
The 1A82 09.00 Penzance - Paddington 'Cornish Riviera' reaches Hemerdon summit with 43004 leading and 43063 on the rear. 5th April 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks for the photos and for the reminder of the PVR event today Clive - we'll see you there!
Saturday Empties
Clive Smith & Jon Hird
66098 passes the site of Brent station with the 6V76 10.35 Westbury - Goonbarrow Junction empty clay JIAs. This was once a really good spot for photos but the buddleja is now rampant on both of the disused platforms. I had to use a telephoto as the overgrowing branches in the foreground are across the up line and ruin images on the down line. Yet another drizzly dull day. Thankfully the bright red DB shed sets off nicely against the almost monochrome background. Just over six weeks to capture these colourful locos before the Imerys clay traffic will change from DB to GBRf after 31/03/26. So expect blue to be the new colour unless we are lucky enough to get some of the company's colour variations. The Ukrainian flag 66708 would be nice down here. 07.02.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Near to journeys end, 66098 roars up the bank towards Luxulyan Tunnel. 07.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
A drone shot showing more of the scene near Luxulyan. 07.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Many thanks Clive. Should the GBRf talk turn out to be true, we'll certainly miss the bright red locos on these trains. I hope the existing Cornish freight crews are well looked after, should it happen.
Peaks in the west
Part 2
Ian Thomas
45130 calls at Taunton on the 1615 Bristol-Taunton stopper. 17.01.1983, copyright Ian Thomas.
We've no exact date for this one other than 1982. 45131 at Bristol TM with a van train for Manchester. Copyright Ian Thomas.
45128 is on another F & W tour in early 1983, the 'Turkey Trot'. I was on this tour and it started off with 45062 from Bristol T/M to Birmingham New Street via Camp Hill and back, with 45128 now up front via Worcester down to the south-west. 45051 banked the train up from Exeter St. Davids to Central... awesome stuff!!! On to Eastleigh for 73`s to Southampton East and West docks, then back to Eastleigh for 45128 back to Bristol. A brilliant tour indeed.. 43 years ago! I then had 45128 out of Paddington the following July, on the 18th to be precise, on the 13.07 Paddington - Liverpool 1M14 after a weekend with my new girlfriend in Buckinghamshire. She is now my wife (Jill) of 41 years. 08.01.1983, copyright Ian Thomas.
45137 calls at Newton Abbot working the 1136 Manchester-Plymouth, 1V84. 05.02.1983, copyright Ian Thomas.
45128 again, this time at Goodrington preparing to work the 1000 Paignton - Liverpool 1M86. 16.06.1984, copyright Ian Thomas.
Another sunny day in the English Riviera sees 45121 arriving at Paignton with the 0759 Ex Notts 1V67. 06.07.1985, copyright Ian Thomas.
Excellent photographs and memories Ian, many thanks indeed for sharing them with us.
Class 60 Power
Roger Geach
60020 with a Port Talbot - Llanwern train crossing the Usk at Newport . A very heavy train. 15.05.1992 , copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks Roger, a smashing location.
Old Oak Archives
Steve Clark
A 56 is flanked by 2 Class 50s in the fuelling shed during one of my visits with RESL. Copyright Steve Clark.
31110 and 47484 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' sit on the turntable during the same RESL visit. Copyright Steve Clark.
On one of my visits when I moved to London, an ex works 60003 'Christopher Wren' sparkles in the evening sun having been allocated to the Depot for Crew training. Copyright Steve Clark.
Many thanks Steve - still hard to believe that it's all gone!
February 1976
Part 8
Roger Winnen
Weight Restriction at Hayle. 20.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Copperhouse Pool, Hayle. 20.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The first bridge for locomotives built at Hayle 1835. 20.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The first bridge for locomotives built at Hayle 1835. 20.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The 1835 Bridge at Hayle. 20.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The 14.00 Penzance to Birmingham climbs out of Hayle behind D1056 and D1053. 21.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Matthew Bradley writes:
Regarding the photograph of double headed Class 52’s on the 14.00 Penzance to Birmingham (20/02/76). I think the leading loco isn't D1021, but either D1056 ‘Western Sultan’ or D1071 ‘Western Renown’, owing to the front-end square ventilation panels, which were fitted to D1012/D1028/D1039/D1056/D1071.
However, by February 1976 only D1028 ‘Western Hussar’, D1056 and D1071 remained in service; and D1028 was built without headboard clips on the top of the cab fronts. D1071 was also missing these headboard clips, but at one end only. These were removed when the cab was rebuilt at Swindon Works during the 1960’s as a result of accident damage.
And Roger Geach writes:
The western on 1M74 on the front has a vent, and looking at my notes I think the pics were taken on saturday 21.02.1976, as when I look at Friday 20th nothing matches.
On sat 21.02.1976, 1056 (had a vent on front ) plus 1053 were on 1M74.
And from Guy Vincent:
D1056 Western Sultan (square vent on cab front) and D1053 Western Patriarch double-heading the 1M74 1400 Penzance - Birmingham New Street leaving Hayle. Date Saturday 21st February 1976. Note the large white stain on D1056’s roof around the boiler water filling port. The position of this feature indicates the loco’s A end is leading. Both ‘Westerns’ were removed at Plymouth.
Regarding the photograph of double headed Class 52’s on the 14.00 Penzance to Birmingham (20/02/76). I think the leading loco isn't D1021, but either D1056 ‘Western Sultan’ or D1071 ‘Western Renown’, owing to the front-end square ventilation panels, which were fitted to D1012/D1028/D1039/D1056/D1071.
However, by February 1976 only D1028 ‘Western Hussar’, D1056 and D1071 remained in service; and D1028 was built without headboard clips on the top of the cab fronts. D1071 was also missing these headboard clips, but at one end only. These were removed when the cab was rebuilt at Swindon Works during the 1960’s as a result of accident damage.
And Roger Geach writes:
The western on 1M74 on the front has a vent, and looking at my notes I think the pics were taken on saturday 21.02.1976, as when I look at Friday 20th nothing matches.
On sat 21.02.1976, 1056 (had a vent on front ) plus 1053 were on 1M74.
And from Guy Vincent:
D1056 Western Sultan (square vent on cab front) and D1053 Western Patriarch double-heading the 1M74 1400 Penzance - Birmingham New Street leaving Hayle. Date Saturday 21st February 1976. Note the large white stain on D1056’s roof around the boiler water filling port. The position of this feature indicates the loco’s A end is leading. Both ‘Westerns’ were removed at Plymouth.
A Western on the parcels at Hayle. 21.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Roger Geach writes:
I'm not certain about the Western on the vans, I did see 1021 on 4A13 1445 pz - pd but I missed the more early 4B17 1250 pz - bristol vans, not certain which train this is.
Guy Vincent writes:
D1021 Western Cavalier with the 4A13 1445 Penzance - Paddington parcels and mail train at Hayle on Saturday 21st February 1976. The 0O00 headcode display now becoming more common.
I'm not certain about the Western on the vans, I did see 1021 on 4A13 1445 pz - pd but I missed the more early 4B17 1250 pz - bristol vans, not certain which train this is.
Guy Vincent writes:
D1021 Western Cavalier with the 4A13 1445 Penzance - Paddington parcels and mail train at Hayle on Saturday 21st February 1976. The 0O00 headcode display now becoming more common.
The 09.30 Paddington to Penzance at Hayle. 21.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen. This engine was identified as D400 later renumbred 50050 - Many thanks to Matthew Bradley.
Matthew Bradley writes:
I think the unidentified Class 50 in part 8 is pioneer 50050 (formerly D400 and later named Fearless). The reason being it was built without the horizontal handrails under the cab windows at both ends, which set this loco apart from other Class 50’s; and the Class 50 in Roger’s photo appears not to have these.
I think the unidentified Class 50 in part 8 is pioneer 50050 (formerly D400 and later named Fearless). The reason being it was built without the horizontal handrails under the cab windows at both ends, which set this loco apart from other Class 50’s; and the Class 50 in Roger’s photo appears not to have these.
Single Car Unit on the St Ives Branch. 20.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The same Single Car DMU 55026 at St Erth with Milk Tanks. 20.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.