RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted July 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 5, 2023 GWR are extending the life of 4 Castle sets through next year. Phil 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 Me and Mrs Rivercider have returned from a long weekend stay down in Cornwall, we travelled throughout by train. Our four hour journey down from Weston to Hayle was in a 5-car IET, which now seems to be the diagrammed traction for that service. 5-car IETs having taken over a number of these long distance workings many of which are more than five and a half hours total duration. Our return through service back up from Hayle on Monday was in a Castle Class HST which was good. The services we most often use when travelling from Weston to and from Devon or Cornwall are normally the through GWR services from Cardiff/Bristol/Gloucester to/from Penzance. (Cross Country seldom service Weston, and seem to have largely given up on Cornwall). Sadly there is no catering on these domestic semi-fast services, but fortunately class 150s and 158s now seem to be rare on such lengthy journeys, cheers 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 2 hours ago, Siberian Snooper said: I saw a GW power car heading up the A38 this lunchtime, as heading home from Kingsteignton, I wondered if it was surplus to requirements at Laira. Did it take a wrong turn at Aller Jn? I'll get me coat... 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Siberian Snooper said: I saw a GW power car heading up the A38 this lunchtime, as heading home from Kingsteignton, I wondered if it was surplus to requirements at Laira. Yes, GWR have released 3 PCs for scrap and they’ll go to SIMS at Newport . The nominated locomotives are apparently 43005 43041 & 43171 from reports elsewhere, it was 041 moving by road today a couple of power door fitted MK3s made the same, final, journey last week Edited July 5, 2023 by black and decker boy 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halvarras Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 50 minutes ago, black and decker boy said: Yes, GWR have released 3 PCs for scrap and they’ll go to SIMS at Newport . The nominated locomotives are apparently 43005 43041 & 43171 from reports elsewhere, it was 041 moving by road today a couple of power door fitted MK3s made the same, final, journey last week From my observations over the past couple of years 43005 & 43041 had the large bodyside 'GWR' logos in raised cast alloy instead of the usual '3D-effect' vinyl stickers. I believe 43188 still in service (AFAIK) also has them - is, or was, there another one, to make up two pairs? Were these the 'Castle' launch PCs and was 43041 paired with 43188, as these two have (had) their running numbers unusually applied to the sliding rear doors instead of the cabsides? Just for the record...... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 Suggested elsewhere that the 4th fitted with cast GWR was 43187. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 43187 is still in the land of the living with the raised "GWR" and side door numbering; this shot was taken on 8th June. 7 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 2 hours ago, black and decker boy said: Yes, GWR have released 3 PCs for scrap and they’ll go to SIMS at Newport . The nominated locomotives are apparently 43005 43041 & 43171 from reports elsewhere, it was 041 moving by road today a couple of power door fitted MK3s made the same, final, journey last week From Facebook, the transporter hauling 43041 broke down on Haldon Hill east of Exeter, cheers 1 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 To summarise: 43187 and 43188 were the launch pair for the green livery and carry the cast logos. 43041 and 43005 were the next to go green and also got the cast logos. These 4 power cars also have the number on the sliding door. All subsequent green power cars gained stickers for the logo, and the number was applied to the cab side. 43005 subsequently had its number moved to the cabside, the other original 3 haven't. The 3 GWR green 57s also carry cast logos, 57604 carrying steam style livery so not fitted. So in theory there's 7 sets of cast logos that have been in service. Jo 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike_Walker Posted July 6, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6, 2023 I like to think I might have had a small part to play in moving the numbers back to the cabs. When the first four PCs appeared with the numbers on the sliding doors I pointed out to Mr H that it made it difficult to see the numbers in photos. His reply was that the scheme had been created by designers and was not done with "trainspotters" in mind. A bit rich coming from him I thought and said so. Shortly after, further repaints started appearing with the cabside numbers. One of the issues with the cast alloy monograms was that they needed a lot of TLC at terminals to keep them presentable. 🙂 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Mike_Walker said: One of the issues with the cast alloy monograms was that they needed a lot of TLC at terminals to keep them presentable. 🙂 Every driver issued with T-Cut and Mr Sheen? Jo 2 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 6, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6, 2023 15 hours ago, Rivercider said: From Facebook, the transporter hauling 43041 broke down on Haldon Hill east of Exeter, cheers Poetic justice - and it would have been heading downhill. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold rodent279 Posted July 10, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2023 On 05/07/2023 at 21:12, Rivercider said: From Facebook, the transporter hauling 43041 broke down on Haldon Hill east of Exeter, cheers Did they send out a banker? 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 Is the demise of the XC HSTs imminent, then? By chance, I happened to have the need to be in Derby today at a time that suited being on 1V50; currently enjoying the company of 43303/304. Clearly enthusiasts travelling plus photographers at stations. A bit appeared to fall off it north of York (either that or we hit something?), but doesn't seem to be impeding progress. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike_Walker Posted September 14, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 14, 2023 Sadly yes. There's a farewell special on 26th September using the two heritage livery power cars 43007/8. 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted September 14, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 14, 2023 4 minutes ago, LNER4479 said: Is the demise of the XC HSTs imminent, then? This very week end I believe! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) This is the last normal week of XC service. Had police and staff photographing them at Temple Meads a week or two back. Monday 18th is the last day in public service, diverting via Westbury. GWR now down to 3 diagrams as of this week, but predictably some days have seen more out to gap fill. Jo Edited September 14, 2023 by Steadfast 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 Did each Castle set power car carry a different name or was the single name applied to a set? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) 7 minutes ago, JeffP said: Did each Castle set power car carry a different name or was the single name applied to a set? Each power car has a name of its own https://www.lococarriage.org.uk/gwr_castles.html Jo Edited September 14, 2023 by Steadfast 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike_Walker Posted September 14, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 14, 2023 The GWR power cars are regularly swapped about for maintenance just as they always were. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) It only seems like yesterday that I watched the first NE/SW service (Cross-Country to you youngsters) worked by an HST arrive at Derby on a Bristol - Leeds service in October 1981. Radio Derby were on hand to record the scene., on a dull,grey morning. So almost 42 years service on that route - much longer than the Peaks and Jubilees before them. Now where did I put my glasses? Here's a shot from way back when. Edited September 14, 2023 by Peter Kazmierczak 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 2 hours ago, 31A said: This very week end I believe! Farewell then! Derby as dreary as ever ... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnofwessex Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 There is a 'Castle' set working over the WSR on the 23rd & 24th of September https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/timetables/view/202 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
black and decker boy Posted September 15, 2023 Share Posted September 15, 2023 (edited) 23 hours ago, LNER4479 said: Is the demise of the XC HSTs imminent, then? By chance, I happened to have the need to be in Derby today at a time that suited being on 1V50; currently enjoying the company of 43303/304. Clearly enthusiasts travelling plus photographers at stations. A bit appeared to fall off it north of York (either that or we hit something?), but doesn't seem to be impeding progress. Appears to have been serious enough that it’s been stopped on Neville Hill overnight and a 221 is working todays diagram. I happened to be at New yesterday when these came in. A lot of staff getting photos & video of the departure. various Castle sets now in warm store including 2 at the West Somerset Railway. Export to Mexico still appears likely for quite a few more sets (sliding doors stock) from what’s been written elsewhere. Edited September 15, 2023 by black and decker boy Extra info 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Post script. Derby 14.9.23 Derby c.1987. Quite a bit changed. Oh, hang on - that's a MML HST ... Here's a XC one from that era. Didn't photo them very much at that time. HSTs were boring; loco-haul was much more interesting. Funny how the passage of time changes one' perception. 7 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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