October 2016
Class 172 No. 172334 pulls into Birmingham Snow Hill on 25 October 2016, 2S26, 09.52 Worcester Shrub Hill - Whitlocks End.
Midland Metro
Looked rather nice on the Sea Wall on the morning of 22 October 2016. DRS Class 68 No. 68003 leading 'The Armada' charter - 1Z70, 06.47 Stevenage to Plymouth. The train is seen rounding the curve at Langstone Cliff, Dawlish Warren to commence its run west along the Dawlish Sea Wall. That low winter sun is just super.
Within seconds of the light finally going, the return 1Z71 17.08 Plymouth to Stevenage 'The Armada' charter crosses Cockwood Harbour between Dawlish Warren and Starcross on 22 October 2016. Power is provided by DRS Class 68 No. 68019 on the front, with No. 68003 hanging on the back.
Three-car Class 150 No. 150926 down Dawlish, running wrong line, 2T08, 08.23 Exmouth - Paignton, 21 October 2016.
New Measurement Train (43062, 977984, 975814, 977993, 977994, 975984, 43014) down Dawlish, 1Q18, 05.25 Paddington to Paignton via Penzance, 21 October 2016.
43188 + LA15 + 43187 down Dawlish, 1C76, 09.06 Paddington - Plymouth, 17 October 2016.
70802 + RailVac4 approaches Dawlish station on Sunday 16 October 2016 powering train 6X54, the 08.54 Plymouth to Westbury.
InterCity liveried 43185 pulls under Skey Bridge, Teignmouth on 16 October 2016 poweing train 1A17, the 10.13 Plymouth to Paddington.
66238 + 642035, 642020 + 66160 pull towards Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 15 October 2016 forming train 3J13, the 08.45 Westbury to St Blazey RHTT service.
This set even looks nice in crud weather! 43185, green GWR set and 43002 down Dawlish, 1C76, 09.06 Paddington to Plymouth today, 13 October 2016.
Stoneblower No. DR80211 down Dawlish, 03.30 Whitland to Hackney Yard, Newton Abbot, 13 October 2016.
43024 and 43198 coupled back to back pass Dawlish on 13 October 2016 forming light power move, 0Z77 11.03 St Philips Marsh to Laira.
Ive not noticed this before, but the yellow cab end and the yellow bodysides on 43002 are a different shade of yellow. Has it faded/changed colour? 43002 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 13 October 2016 leading train 1A85, the 12.56 Plymouth to Paddington.
CrossCountry Class 43 No. 43321 passes Dawlish on 9 October 2016 carrying a cast HST40 badge on the inner end. The PC is leading the 14.25 Plymouth to Edinburgh service.
43185 Great Western painted in InterCity Swallow colours emerges from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 8 October 2016 leading train 1A88, the 13.57 Plymouth to Paddington.
Heading into Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish on 8 October 2016, 43185 Great Western in InterCity Swallow colours brings up the rear of the 09.00 Paddington to Plymouth.
Class 800 No. 800101 passes Dawlish on 6 October 2016 forming test special 5X30, 18.53 Stoke Gifford Depot (21.30 Bristol Parkway) to Plymouth. Third night of 800 test running to the west.
The second night of Class 800 IEP testing to the West was on Wenesday 5 October 2016 when set No. 800101 operated train 5Z30, the 21.10 Stoke Gifford Depot to Plymouth. The train is seen at line speed passing Teignmouth.
Colas RailFreight Class 70 No. 70805 passes Dawlish during the evening of 4 October 2016 powering train 6C21 the 20.24 Westbury to Par formed of 10 loaded HQAs.
The first Class 800 to traverse the Dawlish Sea Wall was late on 3 October 2016, and was indeed history in the making, on par with the first ever HST or 'Western' to travel along this historic route. Painted in Virgin 'Azuma' livery and fitted with test equipment, set No. 800101 is seen storming through Dawlish at 23.28 forming train 5X30, the 21.04 Stoke Gifford Depot to Plymouth After about 10 minutes in Plymouth, the set returned to Stoke Gifford depot.
For me personally, far better than some LMS steam loco, on 2 October 2016, The 'Royal Duchy' charter 1Z37 08.48 Bristol Temple Meads to Par was powered throughout by West Coast Railway Class 57/3 No. 57314, following the last minute non-availability of the booked steam loco. The train, running ahead of schedule, is seen heading towards Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish, running adjacent to King's Walk on a glorious Devon day.