More Powercars to Ely
Clive Smith, Martin Scane, Paul Barlow & Guy Vincent
On Tuesday 20th January, EPR Class 37 No. 37407 was used to take a further two ex-GWR HST Power Cars from Laira to Ely for storage, these being 43188 and 43189.
Guy Vincent writes:
By my reckoning this leaves 43088 43092 43093 43097 43098 43156 and 43198 to be removed from Laira plus some further coaching stock.
Castle class power cars so far saved for further main line use in the UK are 43094 and 43122 (Romic) and 43154 and 43155 (West Coast Railways). As yet none appear to be entering preservation.
Guy Vincent writes:
By my reckoning this leaves 43088 43092 43093 43097 43098 43156 and 43198 to be removed from Laira plus some further coaching stock.
Castle class power cars so far saved for further main line use in the UK are 43094 and 43122 (Romic) and 43154 and 43155 (West Coast Railways). As yet none appear to be entering preservation.
In dire light conditions Europhoenix 37407 'Blackpool Tower' heads de-named and de-branded ex-GWR power cars 43188 and 43189 through Ivybridge with 0E43 09.00 Laira - Ely Papworth Sidings. 20.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
43189 on the rear - passing Ivybridge for the final time? 20.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Here’s 37407 with power cars 43188/89 passing Teignmouth station this morning (20/1/26) on their way to Papworth sidings. 20.01.2026, copyright Martin Scane.
37407 with 43188 43189 working Laira to Ely 0E43 passes Exeter St Davids. 20.01.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
37407 with 43188 43189 working Laira to Ely 0E43 passes Exeter St Davids. 20.01.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
37407 Blackpool Tower leading redundant HST power cars 43188 and 43189 through Bristol Temple Meads at lunchtime today as 0E43 0900 Laira - Ely Papworth sidings. 43188 was formerly adorned with Welsh dragon bodyside vinyls and named Newport Castle while 43189 was named Launceston Castle. Both PCs now looking dull and neglected. Visible on 43189's bodyside was the MTU re-engineering plaque fitted in 2007. 20.01.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
43188 beneath the roof at Bristol Temple Meads. 20.01.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
43189 heads away at Bristol. 20.01.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
A lineup beneath the roof at Bristol TM. 20.01.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks all - rumours are circulating of another power car move this morning (21.01) - we shall see what leaves next.
Reading, this is Reading
Steve Clark
Growing up as a Teenager in Farnham, we often went to Reading as my Mum liked looking round the shops because they had an M&S. We made a day of it and if I was good then after lunch I would be allowed on the station for a couple of hours until it was time to go home. There was always something interesting passing the station although my rubbish Kodak 110 Camera didnt get many decent pictures. Once I got my Pentax A3 I was in business and paid numerous visits to the Berkshire Town to record trains passing the station. Reading was always synonemous with the station announcer barking out 'Reading, this is Reading' but if an HST was departing you wouldn't hear what he was saying due to the Valenta Scream!! I have vivid memories of once recording over 30 different 47s in a day along with 50s on the West Country Expresses and various classes on Freight. I enclose a few images
50040 by this time had been stripped of its 'Leviathan' nameplate and christened 'Centurion'. Copyright Steve Clark.
43068 tails a XC service heading towards Bournemouth. Copyright Steve Clark.
47547 'University of Oxford' departs with an Oxford to Paddington service. Copyright Steve Clark.
Stratford Silver roofed 47478 is seen on an Oxford service. Copyright Steve Clark.
47636 'Sir John de Graeme' pilots 47431 on a Paddington bound service. Copyright Steve Clark.
47727 'Duke of Edinburgh's Award' pauses with a parcels service. Copyright Steve Clark.
A great set of photos Steve, many thanks.
Another year gone!
Michael Forward
I managed to reach another birthday last week without any major problems and I am grateful I can still get out and about.
You can work out which birthday from this picture of a modified Hall at Oxford ,date and working not known.. (Photo sent to me by a friend John Driscoll, happy for me to share it with you)
You can work out which birthday from this picture of a modified Hall at Oxford ,date and working not known.. (Photo sent to me by a friend John Driscoll, happy for me to share it with you)
Modified Hall 7909 departing Oxford. Copyright Michael Forward.
A belated happy birthday to you, Michael - I could take a guess from your photo!
Class 66's to Europe
Karl Hewlett
For all class 66 followers, console your records for lcos not yet seen as DB have just sold 25 of the class to Romania and will be leaving soon, here is the link:
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2026/01/25-class-66-locomotives-sold-to-romania-in-multi-million-pound-deal.html
Loco's quoted to be moved so far are: 66006, 009, 014, 024, 027, 040, 047 (Maritime Two), 069, 075, 076, 080, 085, 086, 087, 089, 095, 110, 111 (Highland Stags), 115 and 197. 014 is prepped and ready to go by the end of the month.
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2026/01/25-class-66-locomotives-sold-to-romania-in-multi-million-pound-deal.html
Loco's quoted to be moved so far are: 66006, 009, 014, 024, 027, 040, 047 (Maritime Two), 069, 075, 076, 080, 085, 086, 087, 089, 095, 110, 111 (Highland Stags), 115 and 197. 014 is prepped and ready to go by the end of the month.
Many thanks Karl. Seems a pity when other FOC's are struggling for locomotives in our own country.
More Postal Memories
Paul Barlow
47793 at the head of the 2211 Plymouth to Willesden TPO at Exeter St Davids. 12.11.1999, copyright Paul Barlow.
47734's turn to lead the 2211 Plymouth to Willesden TPO again at Exeter St. Davids. 26.11.1999, copyright Paul Barlow.
47785 with the 1644 Warrington to Plymouth mail trail, 1V62, calls at Exeter St Davids. 26.11.1999, copyright Paul Barlow.
47746 leading the 1930 Penzance to Bristol TPO 1C83 at Exeter St. Davids. 17.01.2000, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul - feels like so long ago now.
Re: Postal Memories
Paul Negus
I found Paul Barlow's images of the Postal workings this morning very interesting.
It reminded me that I had photographed the attached notices on Platform 7 at Bristol Temple Meads as recently as June 2019, long after the postal trains had ceased running. I believe that these denoted the location of the relevant vehicle in the nightly postal trains for a given destination. Of course, the sorting office next to Temple Meads has now been demolished and the dedicated walkways from the Bath end of the platforms have also gone.
Does anyone know if these reminders of the postal traffic have survived the recent refurbishments at Temple Meads?
It reminded me that I had photographed the attached notices on Platform 7 at Bristol Temple Meads as recently as June 2019, long after the postal trains had ceased running. I believe that these denoted the location of the relevant vehicle in the nightly postal trains for a given destination. Of course, the sorting office next to Temple Meads has now been demolished and the dedicated walkways from the Bath end of the platforms have also gone.
Does anyone know if these reminders of the postal traffic have survived the recent refurbishments at Temple Meads?
Signs for the mail trains at Bristol Temple Meads in June 2019. Copyright Paul Negus.
Signs for the mail trains at Bristol Temple Meads in June 2019. Copyright Paul Negus.
Signs for the mail trains at Bristol Temple Meads in June 2019. Copyright Paul Negus.
What remarkable survivors. Many thanks Paul. I wonder if they do remain, if not, hopefully they have found good homes. Can anybody tell us?
Re: 31241
Guy Vincent
Regarding 31241 and the severely damaged front which led to its early withdrawal and scrapping at Swindon works in the spring of 1982.
The damage must have occurred in late 1981, probably in Devon. A quick online search turned up photos of the loco taken between April 1976 and mid 1981 with no damage present. I would suggest a heavy shunt was possibly the cause, class 31s seemed prone to drooping cabs as sister locos 31137 and 31221 suffered the same fate although both were repaired. The economic recession of the early 1980s led to many locos being stored and damage such as this would not have been authorised for repair, instead the loco would have been stripped of useful components and scrapped.
The damage must have occurred in late 1981, probably in Devon. A quick online search turned up photos of the loco taken between April 1976 and mid 1981 with no damage present. I would suggest a heavy shunt was possibly the cause, class 31s seemed prone to drooping cabs as sister locos 31137 and 31221 suffered the same fate although both were repaired. The economic recession of the early 1980s led to many locos being stored and damage such as this would not have been authorised for repair, instead the loco would have been stripped of useful components and scrapped.
31241 & 37299 with 31421 out of sight hauling the convoy at Newton Abbot in December 1981 on route from Laira to Exeter. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
The plot thickens, many thanks Guy. A very unlucky locomotive.
Swindon Scenes
Ken Mumford
A DB Class 66 heading through Swindon. 19.01.2026, copyright Ken Mumford.
66150 with a Suez waste train. 19.01.2026, copyright Ken Mumford.
Freightliner 59204 with an aggregates train at Swindon. 19.01.2026, copyright Ken Mumford.
59204 is passed by a Freightliner class 66. 19.01.2026, copyright Ken Mumford.
37407 approaches Swindon en route to Laira to work the next days power car move to Ely (see top of the page). 19.01.2026, copyright Ken Mumford.
Many thanks Ken, an interesting selection.