Sleepless on the Sleeper
Andrew Triggs, Jon Hird & Clive Smith
The 'Up' Penzance - Paddington GWR Sleeper service was replaced by a Hitachi unit on the evening of Sunday 11th January. With the down train still operating as loco and sleeper stock, a Long Rock - Reading ECS move had to be run the following day in order to balance the sets of sleeper stock at either end of the route.
57602 with 57604 working the late running 5Z50 10.00 Longrock T&RMD-Reading Traincare Depot Night Riviera ECS passing Marazion. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
57604 on the rear as the train heads towards Marazion Marshes. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
57602 leads 5Z50 past Dowgas. 12.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
57604 on the rear as the train curves round and presses on towards Crugwallins. 12.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
57602 top and tails with 57604 at Tavistock Junction in Plymouth with the 5Z50 10.00 Penzance - Reading Traincare Depot sleeper ECS following the failure of 57602 on the previous night's Penzance - Paddington sleeper and replacement with 802012. 12.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Andrew & Clive - a shame for the passengers on Sunday evening that they had to endure Hitachi-transportation rather than their beds, but a rare treat for we photographers.
Cornish Engineers Trains
Andrew Triggs, Clive Smith & Jon Hird
The St. Ives line relay job brought two Freightliner-worked trains of Autoballasters to Cornwall on 12.01.2026.
Freightliner 66547 with 66561 at Marazion working 6Y42 04.55 Westbury Down T.C-St Erth Load 10 Autoballasters for the relaid section on the St Ives branch. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
After reversing at Penzance, 66561 leads on towards St. Erth and the St. Ives branch. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
66651 bringing up the rear. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Freightliner 66547 draws 6Y42 away from Carbis Bay, with 66561 now on the rear, heading for the ballast drop near and on Porthkidney Bank. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
66561 on the rear as the train skirts the coastline on the St. Ives branch. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
The formation stabled on Porthkidney Bank awaiting further movement following the completion of today's drop. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
The sun is shining at Laira Embankment as 66563 top tail 66952, the 6Y43 11.24 Westbury - St Erth via Penzance ballast hoppers. 12.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
66563 powers through St. Austell with another train of Autoballasters from Westbury. 12.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
66952 on the rear of 6Y43 at St. Austell. 12.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Penzance by night, with the unusual sight of 4x Freightliner Class 66's. A Freightliner takeover with 66547 and 66561 (6Y42) joined by 66952 and 66563 (6Y43). 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Penzance by night, with the unusual sight of 4x Freightliner Class 66's. A Freightliner takeover with 66547 and 66561 (6Y42) joined by 66952 and 66563 (6Y43). 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
66563 beneath the station roof at Penzance. 12.01.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Many thanks all, a great record of the day.
Last goodbyes at Laira
Clive Smith
A last look at the remaining HSTs on Laira before they head off to pastures new very soon.
While the sun was shining I thought I would walk down Embankment Road and see what was visible through the fence and the trees and bushes. Remarkably three power cars and some coaches were perfectly positioned for pictures. Fan favourite 43093 still carries its 'Legends Of Great Western' vinyls and 'Berkeley Castle' name plates. 12.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
43198 and 43092 cab to cab at Laira Depot. 12.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
43198 with 'Driver Brian Cooper' name plate and GWR branding. 43092 also still carries its 'Cromwell's Castle' name plate. 12.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
The recently turned 43097 stands at the front of the depot to the left while the spare parts donor 43088 is on the right. 12.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive. It'll be an unusual sight soon, to see Laira without any class 43's present.