Red Diamond Mirage and Renown reskins out now! First Wessex Omnidekkas out now too!
It’s been great to visit some new places, and some old favourites too. It’s certainly been a busy year! From the last of the HSTs, various stock transfers, and seeing new stock arrive on the rail scene… 2023 has definitely been a fun one!
City Civity
Northern Class 331 Civity 331030 departs Manchester Oxford Road with a service for Blackpool North on 21/11/2023.
The not last HST to Worcester...
GWR Class 43 HSTs 43162 "Caerhays Castle" and 43027 "Acton Castle" seen at Worcester Foregate Street after working a service from Bristol Temple Meads on 31/10/2023.
South Western vibing
CrossCountry Class 43 HST 43008 seen at Wareham working the Bournemouth Belle railtour from Swanage to Bournemouth as SWR Class 444 Desiro 444014 arrived from London Waterloo on 26/09/2023.
The last CrossCountry HST
CrossCountry Class 43 HST 43008 seen at Wareham working the Bournemouth Belle railtour from Swanage to Bournemouth as SWR Class 444 Desiro 444014 arrived from London Waterloo on 26/09/2023.
It's the final countdown
CrossCountry Class 43 HSTs 43008 with 43007 on the front passes Worcestershire Parkway working the 1S51 12:27 Plymouth to Glasgow Central service on 04/09/2023.
"I do like to be beside the seaside" 🎶
GWR Class 43 HSTs 43189 "Launceston Castle" and 43016 "Powderham Castle" are seen on the Dawlish Sea Wall with a Cardiff Central to Penzance service on 23/08/2023.
Diesel to the city.
Hastings Thumper Class 201 DEMU 1001 is seen approaching London Bridge working to London Cannon Street on 12/08/2023.
South Western vibing
South Western Railway Class 159 159001 with 159020 are seen approaching Exeter Central working a Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo service on 02/08/2023.
"Wheels on the bus go round and round" 🎶
LSL's newly repainted GMPTE Class 142 Pacer 142003 passed Dorridge working 5Z42 Eastleigh Arlington to Crewe H.S. whilst WMR Class 172 Turbostar 172006 had arrived from Worcester Foregate Street on 18/07/2023.
A HST day out to Worcester 😅
GWR Class 43 HSTs 43016 "Powderham Castle" and 43153 "Chûn Castle" are seen at Worcester Foregate Street with the 12:53 departure to Bristol Temple Meads on 11/07/2023.
Adelante to the capital.
Grand Central Class 180 Adelante 180102 passes through Peterborough working a Bradford Interchange to London King's Cross service on 28/06/2023.
New train time in Worcester.
West Midlands Railway Class 196 Civity 196112 and South Western Railway Class 701 Aventra/Arterio 701033 are seen at Worcester Shrub Hill on 01/06/2023, with 701033 hauled by Class 47 47749 on a move to Long Marston.
Castle to Kidderminster
GWR Class 43 HST 43186 “Taunton Castle” is seen at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway working a service to Kidderminster Town from Arley on 19/05/2023.
"This is Birmingham New Street, our final destination"
Friday 19th May marked the end of Class 170 operations with West Midlands Railway. 170505 seen at Birmingham New Street after working 1M05 from Great Malvern for the last time before working to Tyseley LMD.
A legend of the Great Western
GWR Class 43 HSTs 43010 “Lydford Castle” and 43156 “Maen Castle” depart Worcester Foregate Street working 2T32 to Bristol Temple Meads on 01/05/2023.
The end of an era.
West Midlands Railway Turbostars 170505 and 172101 arrive at Great Malvern after working the morning peak extra from Birmingham New Street on 28/03/2023. This service is now run by the Class 196s.
Seaside Castle
GWR Class 43 Castle HST 43004 “Caerphilly Castle” is seen at Weston-super-Mare having arrived from Cardiff Central via Bristol Temple Meads on 21/03/2023.
Crossing the country, one HST at a time.
CrossCountry Class 43 HST 43301 stands at Plymouth after working a service from Leeds on 07/03/2023.
Lost in the East Midlands.
East Midlands Railway Class 170 Turbostar 170924 a former Southern Class 171 departs Kirkby-in-Ashfield with a service to Worksop on 28/02/2023.
Great Western diversion
GWR Class 800 IET 800320 arrives into London Paddington from North Pole depot before running a service to Hereford via Swindon and Cheltenham Spa on 21/02/2023.
Chiltern Railways Class 165 Networker Turbo 165014 is seen at Leamington Spa after working a service from Stratford-upon-Avon on 08/02/2023.
172 to the city.
Class 172 Turbostars 172008 and 172219 arrive at Great Malvern on a West Midlands Railway service to Birmingham New Street on 06/02/2023.
Shanklin: End of the Line ✅
SWR Island Line Class 484 484003 is seen at Shanklin after working a service from Ryde Esplanade on 28/01/2023.
Class 231 FLIRT: First day of service ✅
Transport for Wales Class 231 Stadler FLIRT 231007 prepares to depart Pontlottyn with a Penarth to Rhymney service on 18/01/2023.
A North Wales Sprint.
Transport for Wales Class 150 Sprinter 150256 departs Llandudno Junction with a service to Holyhead from Cardiff Central on 11/01/2023.
Lost in the Welsh Marches
Northern Class 150 Sprinter 150270 calls at Hereford working a Transport for Wales service to Cardiff Central on 02/01/2022.