Clay Country

Hitachi has the luxury of being able to put AT300s together in three countries so production capacity isn't likely to be an issue if the winning WCP bidder wants a few Hitachi bi-modes.

The DRS-liveried 68s have visited Cornwall on several occasions since early 2016: https://flic.kr/p/Hqn5UA As far as I know no Scotrail or Chiltern 68s have run as far west as Devon or Cornwall.

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A first look at the new livery on a 444: https://flic.kr/p/X9gL7o

The problem with single car trains is that each set must have an accessible toilet to comply with passenger with reduced mobility (PRM) regulations that come into effect in 2020. That would mean taking out seats, further reducing seating capacity. And many of the services 153s are used on are busy enough to warrant a two-car train. Passenger numbers on the Railway have grown to such an extent over the last 2 decades that the need for single car trains is not what it was when the 153 conversions were done. I think the sensible way forward if the units are to be retained is to rebuild them as two-car sets with one PRM-compliant toilet. That's assuming a business case can be made for such extensive work on a 30-year-old train.

Looking good Kris, great to see the layout at the weekend - thanks for the tour!

Really impressed with the calibre of layouts this year (particularly St Ruth), the show is a real credit to the organisers. Well worth a look if you're in the area.

Intercity liveried 43185 was leading 1A83 to Paddington this morning.

Production of class 802s for services to Devon and Cornwall underway in Italy: http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/hitachi-rail-italy-begins-production-of-bi-mode-trains-for-gwr.html?channel=529

28 new Alstom trains to replace 20 Acela sets on the Northeast Corridor from 2021: http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/north-america/amtrak-orders-alstom-trains-for-northeast-corridor.html?channel=535

About a third of the trains are Swiss, not Spanish. Just how much spare capacity will there be on British rolling stock production lines in 2018-2020? Derby will be busy building Aventras for Crossrail, Overground and Anglia. Hitachi has more 800s/801s/802s on order than it can put together at Newton Aycliffe, which will also be busy assembling 385s for Scotland. Even if franchisees wanted all of their trains to be built in the UK, the demand for new rolling stock over the next four years is so high that it can only be met by a combination of domestic and overseas production. Of course, loss of train building capacity is a symptom of the feast-and-famine pattern of rolling stock procurement in the UK. The most important thing is maintaining a consistent level of demand to keep the plants we have now busy in the future.

Crossing the viaduct this morning I noticed some welding is being done on the line into Moorswater. Presumably the test run highlighted some infrastructure issues.

Wires on this section (just the fast lines) are due to be energised tonight.

Unlike the Virgin launch, the press were invited to travel on the train this time. The train ran in test mode which meant there was a short safety briefing, everyone had to be seated for the duration of the journey, and we all had to sign in to say we'd been on board so it wasn't a typical passenger journey, but GWR, Hitachi and GB Railfreight (which is operating the test trains on behalf of Hitachi) deserve credit for getting the media onto the train at this stage of testing. Here's another photo of the train at Paddington.

Here's another view of train shortly before departure from Reading. I was lucky enough to be on the train, and the ride was certainly much better than a Voyager, and much quieter with less vibration. The interior hasn't been finalised yet so I'll reserve judgement until we see the final version.

There's a path for an Aberthaw - Moorswater working in the system for June 28, arrives at Lostwithiel late morning to run round at heads down the branch about noon: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H39069/2016/06/28/advanced

Yes, took me a while to find the best spot!

Last Monday I left the house at 5am and drove 48 miles across Cornwall for a shot I've been eager to attempt for quite some time. 57604 passes Trerulefoot between St Germans and Menheniot with the down Night Riviera.

My understanding is that Liverpool - Newcastle will be loco-hauled from 2018 with the Hitachi bi-modes taking over from December 2019, enabling the 68s and CAF coaches to move to Liverpool - Scarborough and Manchester Airport - Middlesbrough services.

43002 reached Penzance for the first time since its retro repaint this afternoon, leading 1C81, the 12.00 from Paddington. Unfortunately the light was rubbish by the time it reached Scorrier, but at least the rain held off!

88001 is now at the Velim test track in the Czech Republic: http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/locomotives/first-drs-class-88-electro-diesel-ready-for-testing.html?channel=528

A couple of DMU shots from March 31. A GWR class 153 skirts the River Looe at Terras forming 2L84, the 1353 Looe - Liskeard service. 2P85, the 1046 Penzance - Plymouth GWR service, scuttles across St Pinnock viaduct.

A glorious Good Friday and my first opportunity this year to get out with the camera. 150123 and an unidentified class 150/2 form 2A09, the 09.40 St Erth - St Ives GWR service at Carbis Bay on 25 March 2016.

Bachmann previously did a model of 672 with Transrail markings (mine went back to RfD).

One EWS-liveried class 60 will be in service into 2016, though possibly not for long. 60065 passes Attenborough with today's 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury tanks. I understand this one is likely to go back into store by January 6.