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FGW (Post 01 August 2017)
Same Company (First) just didn't know what to call itself for a few years!.Is the largest operator of HST's in the country.
HST-Combo 43165/43093 'Legends' power down the Frome Avoider at Styles Hill with '1C77' the 09:57 from Paddington going all the way to Paignton.I was actually waiting for the West Coast hauled 'Northern-Belle' running about 5 minutes behind this service.Naturally I was shafted by a not insignificant 'Floater' so that shot was not to be---a pity!
..15 july 2018..
43029 which incidentally was the final Power-Car to carry I/C colours whilst working for Virgin Trains speeds up past Styles Hill of the Frome Avoider partnered with 43091 operating '1A87' the 10:49 from Penzance to Paddington.
..2 july2018..
43025/43191 works '1C90' the 17:03 from Padd to Penzance through Berkley Marsh.Only a fortnight now to go before the 'plastic-fantastic' stumble into service on this line.Personally I think the passengers are getting a pretty shite deal as it stands.Service and comfort will certainly not improved when the jap-crap takes over that's for sure!
..29 june 2018..
With 43042 disappearing on '5J91' ECS from Frome to Bristol-St Phillips Marsh 43186 heads west on '1C91' the 17:33 from Paddington going down to Paignton.Seen at Berkley Marsh nr Frome.This shot shows what a dramatic difference in appearance can be made with subtle use of a paint brush!
..28 june 2018..
So there I was balanced precariously on top of my 9-ft telescopic ladder giving my a camera height of about 12ft or so whilst MF & MJ were behind me with 20ft + poles and all the crap that that entails shooting over the top of me! This is '1C90' the 17:03 from Paddington to Penzance powered by 43063/43193.Seen at Blatchbridge Junction west of Frome.
..26 june 2018..
Due to the very un-british excessive heat we are experiencing currently with temperatures of 30 degrees-C the railways are having a bit of a torrid time of it.This train '1C88' the 16:03 from Paddington to Penzance was unable to depart from Westbury westward due to a points failure at the west end of the station.Hence it was rerouted via Bristol instead.Here it is at Heywood shortly after departing Westbury having to reverse there. 43029 was leading with 43091 sandwiching this all-blue set.
..26 june 2018..
FGW-Blue HST combo 43094/43022 passes North Somerset Junction in Bristol with '1C18' the 14:30 from Paddington going to Weston-super-Mare.
..22 june 2018..
43186 heads '1C86' the 14:00 from Paddington to Bristol-TM.Viewed here on its final approach crossing over the 'Feeder' near to North Somerset Junction-Bristol.
..22 june 2018..
43023 'Sqn Ldr Harold Starr-One of the Few' leads '1J91' the evening stopper from Paddington (17:03) going only as far as Frome.43174 brought up the rear of this all-blue combo.
..21 june 2018..
43010 leads '1C84' the 14:03 from Paddington to Penzance through Woodborough on the B&H.43154 was somewhere in the rear under the bridge! This scene of dereliction used to once be a fully equipped GWR Station.Nothing remains these days apart from a few old GWR style railings on the now fenced off approach road.
..21 june 2018..
With less than a month to go before these HST's start to be replaced on the B&H route to Devon and Cornwall 43154/43010 continues to give sterling service as they have done now for 40 years.Viewed at Styles Hill in Frome in a brief period of nice sunshine.
..19 june 2018..
HST pairing 43136/43010 blasts through Berkley nr Frome working '1C60' the 17:03 from Paddington going only as far as Tiverton-Junction.Annoyingly yet another 'full-blue' set.Less than a month to go before the 800/3++ series of IEP's start to infest this route!
..14 june 2018..
Blatchbridge Junction just west of Frome now offers a nice view since the local NR-cutting crew ripped out most of the undergrowth a few months ago.This is the 43175/43196 passing there as '1C86' the 15:03 from Paddington to Penzance. Not long now before the retrograde IEP's ruin 40 years of rail travel progress on this route!
..14 june 2018..
Here is the mid-day rush-hour at Westbury Station.All platforms occupied with various workings.On the left is '7C31' having a short break after arriving from Theale. and bound for Whatley Quarry whilst the 10:33 HST service from Paddington to Tiverton Parkway is headed by 43161 with 43025 on the back end is just running into its booked station stop here.
..13 june 2018..
This HST '1J91' the 17:07 from Paddington going only as far as Frome runs past Pot Lane nr Frome nearly at journeys end.43175 leads with 43198 on the rear of this all-blue set.
..12 june 2018..
43197 leads '1C43' through Lostwithiel with 43189 on the rear somewhere.This being the 11:27 from Paddington going to Penzance. Only another 5-weeks to go before HST operation from Paddington through here begins its slide into history with the IEP phased introduction.
..6 june 2018..
43053/43078 rolls into Truro with '1L89' an STP due to engineering works near Reading.It departed Penzance at 12:04 and takes nearly 6 hours to reach Paddington.Note the nice array of lower quadrant finial equipped WR signals here still in everyday use.
..6 june 2018..
'1L85' an STP working due to disruption between Reading and Newbury stands ready to depart at 10:00. 43150 leads with43024 on the rear.Note the IEP 800201 in the distance.It was doing a test-run as '5X89/5X91 and soon to be in regular service replacing these venerable HST's.Viewed next to the famous Wall in Penzance Terminus.
..6 june 2018..
This month June-2018 is set to be the final month for passenger services through here via the B&H from Paddington to Plymouth and beyondas HST's.Next month the IEP's will be diagrammed initially on a couple of the diagrams thus bringing the beginning of the end of these iconic trains on this route. So here is FGW-Blue 43191/43189 working '1C92' the 17:57 from Paddington going all the way to Penzance.
..3 june 2018..
'1C92' the 17:03 from Paddington to Penzance via Swindon and Melksham works away from Westbury at Fairwood.43196 was leading with partner-43133 on the rear.
..14 may 2018..
With just 6-weeks to go now before the IEP's begin to replace these HST's on the Penzance route this combo 43191/43131 is seen with '1C86' the diverted via Swindon 14:34 from Paddington going all the way down to Penzance. Note how although this section of line received a megga bush/tree removal only last year some shrubs are already over 6ft high again!!!!!! Footnote----6 1/2 months later HST's still predominate on the B&H although the end is now getting near!
..14 may 2018..
This is '1J91' the tea-time commuter 'stopper' from Paddington to Frome.It takes nearly two hours to get here given it slow passage from the capital! 43154 was leading with 43165 on the back.The combination at a slowly setting sun and the vast expanse of Oil Seed Rape give the picture a somewhat yellowy feel to it!
..10 may 2018..
Nameless 43190 along with 43162 power this all-blue HST-set down through Berkley Marsh as '1C88' the 16:03 from Paddington to Penzance. Another couple of months and this working will probably be a 903xxx IEP.By then this 'set' could very well be transferred to Scotland to begin a new life in the far north!
..10 may 2018..
43151 & 43153 power this all-blue HST working '1A79' the 06:47 from Penzance going up to the Capital at Paddington.Seen at Berkley Marsh with the ever expanding Frome-Commerce Park industrial estate in the background.
..10 may 2019..
Another divert via Princes Risborough and Oxford because of engineering works around Maidenhead and Tywford was '1C06' the 07:27 from Paddington to Plymouth.43078 led with 43029 on the back.Note the total dereliction that was Thingley Railway Yard.Now just a dumping ground that the local gypsies who live next to it regularly scavange over!
..7 may 2018..
Due to Bank Holiday engineering works this train '1A10' the 06:49 from Plymouth to Paddington is taking a diversionary route via Oxford and Princes Risborough.Here pictured at Thingley Junction still nominally on its usual route (Until Didcot that is).FGW-Blue 43056 leads with 43198 on the rear.
..7 may 2018..
Due to weekend engineering this HST working amongst others over the weekend ran a somewhat shortened route just from Reading down to Exeter St Davids instead of Paddington to Plymouth.This is '1C74' the 09:25 from Reading going only as far as Exeter.43181 was leading with a GWR-Green version 43194 on the back.Seen at a now very leafy Clink Road Junction in Frome.
..5 may 2018..
'1C82' the 13:03 from Paddington to Plymouth passes a very colourful Fairwood nr Westbury with 43091 leading and 43133 on the rear.The entire train being FGW-Blue.The White Horse is still quite prominant,the Cement Works chimney is now long gone and in a few months so will these HST's from this route.Nothing ever remains the same.Change goes on all the time,like it or not!
..3 may 2018..
HST's continue to hold the monopoly on the Paddington to Cornwall services for at least another couple of months and probably won't be removed completely before the end of 2018 if then.Hence shots are being taken of these soon to be replaced 'Icons' at every opportunity! So here are 43160 'Sir Moir Lockhead OBE' along with 43197 slowing for its Westbury passenger halt working '1A79' the 06:47 from Penzance to Paddington.Seen at Fairwood-Westbury.
..3 may 2018..
Yet another HST at Berkley nr Frome.Another couple of months and the dreaded IEP's will take over from these venerable machines and then the chances of an HST shot here will be pretty much zero! So here is 43155/43174 combo working '1C88' the 15:27 from Paddington going all the way to the end of the line at Penzance.The bushes here have all turned green in just a week or so due to the warm recent weather.Next phase to look forward to here is the rampant blackthorn flowers.All the shrubs in the background will be covered in white!
..26 april 2018..
Service '1C86' the 14:34 from Paddington to Penzance arrives into Westbury off the Trowbridge line having been diverted via Swindon and Melksham due to the B&H being closed for engineering reasons. 43035 leads this all blue set with 43053 on the rear.
..26 april 2018..
Power-car 43155 with its nice red-backed traditional style nameplate 'The Red Arrows-50 seasons of Excellence' powers through Clink nr Frome working '1C88' the diverted 15:27 from Paddington to Penzance.The divert was between Reading and Westbury via Melksham as the B&H is closed of engineering works.Here of coarse it is back on the nornal route again.
..25 april 2018..
43009 leads with 43029 on the trailing end of '1C77' the 10:00 from Paddington to Plymouth was is passes a colourful Clink in Frome. The recent warm and occasionally wet weather over the last few days has brought all the lineside bushes to life.They have turn green literally in less than a week!
..22 april 2018..
With the mast installation creeping ever closer to ruining yet another location '1B15' the 08:45 from Paddington going to Swansea speeds past Duffryn west of Newport.P/C 43026 'Micheal Eavis' was leading with 43098 on the rear of this entirely 'Indigo Neon Blue' train set.
..19 april 2018..
One of GWR's band of HST's set sadly for replacement within the year drops down through Didcot North Junction with '1P26' the 12:01 from Oxford bound for Paddington.43035 leads the all-blue FGW-set with 43160 on the rear.
..5 april 2018..
The 08:51 from Paddington to Oxford '1D18' passes Didcot North Junction after its Didcot-Parkway Station stop.43197 leads with 43009 on the rear.Hard to believe that within 12 months all these services out of Paddington powered by the venerable HST's are planned to be totally replaced by 'IET's.Apparantly its called progress-------I call it something else!
..5 april 2018..
Even though the local fiercely fought 'dispute' at Steventon Village west of Didcot regarding the main road overbridge and its ruination despite it being a listed structure rumbles on preventing the OHLE wiring being installed Network Rail have now erected the 'god-awful' infrastructure either side of it currently without the wiring in place.Here is '1L32' the 06:59 from Swansea to Paddington passing the now virtually obscured level crossing there in the village.FGW-Blue 43189 leads with 43024 on the tail.
..5 april 2018..
My first shot since the BST-Clocks change and this location is now much more favourable for this working than before the change from Winter-Clocks. Here are FGW-Blue pairing 43139 & 43091 sandwiching a set of GWR-green coaches with '1A79' the 06:47 from Penzance going up to London's Paddington.
..26 march 2018..
43028 with '1C84' the 14:03 from Paddington to Truro pops out from under an occupation bridge nr Clink travelling at full line speed.Just a test really of a new EF-S 55-250 IS-STM telephoto I have recently obtained.The results certainly seen crisp and sharp enough.Given the inexpensive nature of this lens it appears to perform quite impressively!
..21 march 2018..
With the clock ticking on HST replacement on this route with IEP's any HST that passes in sunshine gets pictured! Here is 43087 partnered with 43162 running into Westbury with '1A79' the 07:28 from Truro to Paddington.Certainly more colourful than the dour GWR Class-800's thats for sure.
..21 march 2018..
Power-Car 43020 c/w its distinctive white backed nameplate 'MTU-Power,Passion,Partnership.' paired with 43071 powers away from Westbury with '1C84' the 14:01 from Paddington to Penzance. Not too long to go before these trains are being replaced by the dreaded IEP's on this route so if the sun is shining all HST's are being pictured currently!
..7 march 2018..
43160/43056 are seen on an ECS as '5Z70' at Fairwood nr Westbury heading for Paddington from Laira-T&R.S.M.D. The lead Power-Car 43160 'Sir Moir Lockhead OBE' was the one quite badly damaged at Plymouth when it collided with 150219 in the platform there on 3 april 2016.
..7 march 2018..
A full FGW-Blue set with 43156 leading and 43164 on the rear slows for its booked Bath Spa stop.This service being '1C12' the 11:33 from London-Paddington to Bristol-TM.Note the incredible number of bushes that are slowly turning into tree's growing on the viaduct.Just imaging the structural damage they have or will cause if not removed.Once such things were removed as a matter of coarse,however these days they are basically ignored!!!!!!!!
..16 february 2018..
FGW-Blue 'Micheal Eavis' 43026 accompanied by 43122 and sandwiching a set of GWR-Green coaches speeds down through Bunns Lane nr Witham Friary working '1C76' the 08:57 sunday service from Paddington to Plymouth.This shot had been lost to the overgrowth for many years now but recent vegetation clearing by the local 'cutting-crew' has restored this shot to its former usefulness.
..11 february 2018..
Some diagrams to S-Wales from Paddington are still worked by the venerable and for the passengers vastly more comfortable 'Old' HST-sets.Here is the 11:45 service from Paddington going to Swansea as '1B28' 43170 leads with 43141 on this mainly blue formation with just one GWR-Green coach inserted.Here seen at Undy against a back drop of a forest of Silver-Birch trees that used to be the arrival sidings for the once vast Severn Tunnel Junction Marshalling Yards.
..2 february 2018..
'1A79' today had 43010 leading with 'Celeb' 43002 on the back.Here running through Berkley Marsh nr Frome on a surprisingly sunny morning which lasted until well after noon!The duty being the 06:47 from Penzance up tp Paddington.This route to the West via the B&H is pretty much the only one left now that hasn't so far been infested with the dreaded 'IETs'.Sadly they will commence work coming this way all too soon sometime this year?
..30 january 2018..
This year 2018 will be the final year that HST's will have the complete monopoly on Paddington to Plymouth and beyond daily passenger services.With over 20 IET's now infesting the GWR network between Paddington and many destinations now this route is soon to get its first Class 800's as well.Apparantly it's called progress ??? Different that is for sure but progress---hardly! So here is 43162 partnered with 43030 speeding up through Berkley Marsh with '1A79' the 06:47 from Penzance going to Paddington.
..5 january 2018..
My main reason for coming here to Trowbridge Station was to picture one or possibly two engineering workings coming out of the possession east of Swindon but as I found out later they were running 2 hours behind their booked slots.Since the cloudline was rapidly approaching after a morning of reasonable light I gave up on that idea and settled for this diverted HST '1A16' the 12:05 from Bristol-TM to Paddington via the B&H instead. So here is 43176 leading with I/C 43185 on the rear passing Trowbridge heading (eventually) for the Capital.It was earlier reported that 43185 was on the 1st-Class end.Nobody mentioned that the set was in reverse formation!
..26 november 2017..
Here is another diverted service due to the fatality at Uffington east of Swindon.This one being '1L48' the 09:29 from Swansea to Paddington.Delay for this one upon arrival at Paddington was 90 minutes.43171 was leading with 43189 on the back as it sped through Great Cheverell on the B&H somewhat off-route giving the passengers something to think about during their extra hour and a half on board!
..23 november 2017..
Due to the line east of Swindon at Uffington being temporarity closed to all traffic whilst a fatal incident was being dealt with this line through Great Cheverell on the B&H was awash with workings,most being diverted from their normal routes via Bath and Swindon.10 movements were viewed in just 40 minutes of which 8 were HST's.Sadly every one was in FGW-Blue both ends including this pair,43128 leading with partner 43072 So here is the diverted '1A12' the 07:40 from Paignton to Paddington well off route but will regain its original booked path at Reading for the run into the capital but by then 2 hours late!
..23 november 2017..
43152/43009 roll through fairwood on the approach to its Westbury Station stop working '1A78' the 06:45 from Penzance to Paddington.No IET's on this route hopefully yet for 6 months at least So I will keep plugging away photographically at these trains until the bitter end!
..16 november 2017..
With the Westbury-White Horse overseeing the surrounding countryside '1C79' the 11:06' from Paddington to Plymouth gets away from its Westbury Station stop accelerating towards Fairwood-Junction.43130 leads the all-blue' set with 43162 on the rear.6 months ago views such as this were not possible but then the local 'cutting-crew' magically sorted it all out----- ------Thanks!
..8 november 2017..
Three walkers stand motionless on the public footpath that crosses the line here at Fairwood nr Westbury.Obviously savouring the delights of an HST before they are replaced by the Japo-Plastic 'things' sometime next year! 43182 partnered by an unseen 43153 were operating '1A78' the 06:45 from Penzance going up to the Capital at Paddington.
..8 november 2017..
43189 'Railway Heritage Trust' partnered with 43171 passes the sight of the Water Troughs that were located here back in the days of steam for expresses that didn't stop at Westbury.No trace whatsoever remains today.The working was '1C81' the 11:34 from Paddington going to Exeter-St-Davids.
..2 november 2017..
A soon to be 'surplus to requirements' HST-set 43031+43035 roll away from Bristol here at Malago-Vale working '1C09' the 10:00 from Paddington heading for Paignton.
1 november 2017..
'1C79' the 11:06 from Paddington to Plymouth gets away from Westbury seen here passing Fairwood.An all-blue combo this with 43018 leading with 43022 bringing up the rear.Note the friendly wave from the driver who obviously appreciates the train type he was in charge of !
..30 october 2017..
HST-pairing 43063/43176 speeds down through a superbly clear Berkley Marsh working '1C77' the 10:06 from Paddington to Penzance.Not too long now before this everyday sight gets consigned to history when the IEP's start running down this way probably in the new year(2018).
..28 october 2017..
43040/43088 operate '1B35' the 12:45 from Paddington to Swansea.With several Bimodel IET's now working this route the days of the HST's are now most definately numbered.Hence if the sun is shining I will record it.Just like the 'ad' on the tele says 'Once they are gone they are gone!' so why not?
..27 october 2017..
This pair of Power-cars 43183/43070 today worked up from Laira-T&R.S.M.D in Plymouth (departed at 10:48) to Old Oak Common-H.S.T.Depot as '0Z70'.Both obviously had been through some kind of overhaul.43070 particularly was pretty much ex-works and immaculate looking.Pictured rolling though Berkley Marsh nr Frome.
..25 october 2017..
43149 ably assisted by 'swallow' liveried 43185 speeds down through berkley marsh nr frome working '1C79' the 11:06 from Paddington going to Plymouth.Note the mast has been painted in green to allow it to blend into its surroundings----If you believe that you would believe anything!
..25 october 2017..
With the weather lately being virtually 100% cloudy this is my first picture in the sunshine in eight days! Now that the new IET's were introduced into passenger service a couple of days ago albeit disastrously the days of these 40+ year old HST's on this route are now numbered for sure.So here is 43159 & 43150 speeding through Somerset at Berkley Marsh nr Frome with the 11:06 from Paddington to Plymouth '1A79'.
..20 october 2017..
43174 gets away from Chippenham working one of the many shuttles that were operating today between Didcot and Bristol-Parkway.This view shows how much of the original GWR infrastructure here still survives nearly 70 years after that company ceased to exist in 1948.Sadly the HST's that have worked superbly on this route for 40 years are due to slip into history through here within the next year or so.I hope the customers are prepared for the IET culture shock! I though 3rd Class was abolished decades ago!
..14 october 2017..
'1J99' the 14:53 from Exeter St-Davids to Paddington actually calls at Frome! Here it is on the single line during the approach to that station.An out of view 43155 was leading whilst 43012 can be seen on the rear.
..12 october 2017..
Dire late afternoon lighting requiring 800-iso and the use of an F2 lens was needed for this fairly rare method of moving stock,sandwiching just one carriage between a pair of Power-Cars.The lead one being 43086 with 43078 on the back.Somewhere in the short train-set was an incredibly 'flat' wheel which was quite audibly banging away as it passed.The working is listed as '5Z77' the 14:00 from Old Oak Common-H.S.T.D to Laira T&R.S.M.D in Plymouth.Seen passing Berkley Marsh nr Frome.
..11 october 2017..
43053 'University of Worcester' along with 43024 powers '1A78' the 06:45 from Penzance to Paddington past North Brewham just east of Bruton.
..6 october 2017..
FGW-Blue 43196 & 43041in GWR-Green) get away from Westbury with '1C79' the 11:06 from Paddington to Plymouth. Note the driver has just given the windshield a go dose of cleansing in readiness for the blast down to its next stop at Taunton.Viewed at Fairwood nr Westbury.
..5 october 2017..
Here is an 'All-Blue' combo led by 43151 with 43017 on the rear working '1C79' the 11:06 from Paddington going down to Plymouth.Viewed at the lawn-like location of Berkley Marsh.
..3 october 2017..
The 14:30 from Bristol-Temple Meads to Paddington '1A21' approaches Twerton Tunnel on the outskirts of Bath Spa.43182 leads with 43193 is on the back.Yet another FGW full-blue set.Suddenly the 'Celebs' and GWR-green sets are become (for me) quite elusive again!
..19 september 2017..
Another FGW-'Blue-on-Blue' Set this time with 43035 leading and 43134 on the rear pass through Oldfield Park slowing for the Bath Spa Station stop working '1A18' the 13:00 from Bristol-TM to Paddington.
..19 september 2017..
With the summer of 2017 drawing to a close and in what will be in all probability the final year of 100% services operated by these iconic trains pairing 43151/43017 scoots up through Berkley Marsh nr Frome with '1A78' the 06:45 from Penzance to Paddington.
..19 september 2017..
Blue-43088 with GWR-Green 43198 tagged on the back passes the colourful red sandstone cliff faces alongside the tracks here at Dawlish at Rockstone Bridge..This is '1A20 from Penzance to Paddington but via Bristol-TM and not the B&H.
..16 september 2017..
HST-43024/43018 combo speeds along the seawall at Dawlish in sunny calm conditions.The train is '1C04' the 07:15 from Paddington going to Penzance.Over the last 40 years these train-sets have coped with this section of railway line with no difficulty whatever the weather could throw at them.The Class220/221 Voyagers however have been a completely different story with multiple failures if the seas were sufficiently rough enough the splash the tracks! I wonder how the new 'IET' type trains will cope? Given the authorities that run the railways record on the GWR-electrification so far they will probably be a disaster as well!
..16 september 2017..
HST-pairing 43122/43191 speed through Great Cheverell on the B&H with '1A81' the 08:44 from Penzance to Paddington.Its got to the stage now that if an HST passes me in sunshine I record it.Not much longer now before those IEP 'things' start to infest this route!
..12 september 2017..
Just last week the first GWR-HST's were taken off lease and moved to Scotland so the long awaited changeover programme to the IET's has finally started.So basically get your shots of the soon to be 'off lease' HST's while you can particularly if the sun is shining as it was for this shot of 43145 with 43172 'Harry Patch' passing Duffryn nr Ebbw-Junction working '1B20' the 09:30 from Padd to Swansea.Nice it was on the 'slow' which makes for a nicer shot me-thinks.
..3 september 2017..
Today the main passenger lines between Cardiff and Newport were closed for engineering works.Indeed Network Rail were saying there wasn't any passenger services operating whatsoever.That obviously was untrue! So here is '1L42' the 08:24 from Swansea to Paddington passing Marshfield with 43125 leading,43159 on the back.
..3 september 2017..
FGW-Blue HST led by 43142 (43028 on the rear) runs into Worcester Shrub Hill from Hereford (Departed at 15:14) and going to Paddington as '1P65'.This interesting scene is packed with vintage railway equipment from the last century.But for how much longer I wonder? A visit to this time-warp station albeit a quite quiet one is well worth it just to absorb the ambiance of it all before it gets swept away!
..28 august 2017..
'The National Trust' 43169 with 43190 passes the old closed Metal Box Factory at Perry Hill in Worcester.It is working '1P57' the 14:25 from Great Malvern to Paddington.With the train just a little further away from the semaphore signal the new 'led' type signal on its hinged pole (No access ladders required) can be seen apparantly almost ready to be brought into use.
..28 august 2017..
43018 passes the heavily wooded embankments at Shockerwick nr Bathampton-Junction working '1C19' the 15:00 from Paddington to Bristol-Temple Meads.A micro-second after the shutter was pressed on this shot another HST went the other way thus preventing the identity of the rear P/C being recorded....
..19 august 2017..
FGW-Blue pairing 43168/43034 speed up through North Brewham with '1A81' the 08:38 from Penzance to Paddington.Only another year or so approximately before these trains that have worked this line for over 40 years are consigned to the dustbin of history on this route to be replaced by cheap plastic japanese afterthoughts! Apparantly it is called progress-I call it something else?
..19 august 2017..
43032 & 43053,both in FGW-Blue sandwich Set-LA16 which is the second set of just two to get a GWR makeover as it passes through Berkley Marsh nr Frome working '1C92' the 18:03 from Paddington going all the way to Penzance.Just to the right of this working can be seen a rather heavy duty tree mulcher that a gang of contractors have been using in this area currently reducing the lineside vegetation to chippings.Apparantly the 'powers that be' are concerned that all these overhanging trees in close proximity to the line will possibly damage the pantographs on the soon to be introduced IEP's.Lets be fair being mainly 'plastic' they are liable to explode if they hit a fallen tree!!!!
..15 august 2017..
The passing of this working at Great Cheverell '1C89' the 13:05 from Paddington to Penzance was much anticipated because it was supposed to be 43185 the I/C liveried Power-Car.Annoyingly given the lighting when this service passed it turned out to be 43129/43156 wearing plain FGW-Blue.The 43185/43002 set had been re-allocated at Paddington and had gone to Bristol instead! Whoever said this pastime was easy ??
..15 august 2017..
43087/43022 combo speeds past the former location site of Box Station west of the exit from Middle Hill Tunnel.The train being '1C16' the 13:30 from Paddington to Bristol-Temple Meads.
..5 august 2017..
43037 'Penydarren 1804-2004 Rail Bicentenary' rolls into its station stop here at Chippenham with '1C13' the 12:00 from London Paddington to Bristol-TM.This full-blue set having 43127 on the rear.Note the footbridge and canopies are still original GWR fitments.I wonder how much will survive after the animals at NR come through here with their Poles/Girders and over engineered angle-iron?