23. Trip from Newbury to Reading-17.05.16

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2016 > 23. Trip from Newbury to Reading-17.05.16

For my birthday I was treated to a tour of Highclere House of Downton Abbey fame. Whilst the highly successful programme is set in Yorkshire, the house is actually just outside of Newbury. My wife and I stayed the night in the Berkshire town with me taking the opportunity to take a visit to Reading whilst my wife undertook some retail therapy. I found Reading in transition with its modernisation completed the wiring for the GWML electrification was underway.

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Images 1-36 of 36 displayed.

165107, GW 13.13 Newbury-Reading (2K59), Newbury station
165107 waits in Newbury's up facing bay platform to work the 13.13 Newbury to Reading service. Whilst this picture is taken in the sunshine, this was the only picture of the whole day that was nicely lit as it became a very grey and overcast afternoon with very flat lighting.
Keywords: 165107 13.13 Newbury-Reading 2K59 Newbury station

166217, GW 12.38 Bedwyn-London Paddington (1K61), Newbury station
One of Great Western's Turbos painted into their new 'classic' green livery pauses at Newbury station with the 12.38 Bedwyn to Paddington working. I took this train as far as Reading.
Keywords: 166217 12.38 Bedwyn-London Paddington 1K61 Newbury station

43034, GW 08.44 Penzance-London Paddington (1A81), Newbury station
43034 'TravelWatch SouthWest' takes the centre road through Newbury station leading the 1A81 08.44 Penzance to Paddington working. Over the coming few years this scene is set to change dramatically as the wires and catenary is installed. The HSTs will be withdrawn as the class 800 IETs take over the services. that will pass through the station.
Keywords: 43034 08.44 Penzance-London Paddington 1A81 Newbury station

166217, GW 12.38 Bedwyn-London Paddington (1K61) & class 43, GW 08.44 Penzance-London Paddington (1A81), Newbury station
Under grey skies at Newbury 166217 sits waiting to leave with the 12.38 Bedwyn to paddington local stopper. Meanwhile, the 08.44 Penzance to Paddington HST working has just swept past on the up fast with an unidentified class 43 doing the work at the rear.
Keywords: 166217 12.38 Bedwyn-London Paddington 1K61 class 43 08.44 Penzance-London Paddington 1A81 Newbury station

43151, GW 13.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C15), Reading station
43151 waits at the rear of the 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington service at Reading. Looking at this view of Reading's dramatic new station, I am not absolutely sure that it will stand up to scrutiny over time?
Keywords: 43151 GW 13.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C15 Reading station

43158, GW 13.05 London Paddington-Plymouth (1C83), Reading station
This picture clearly illustrates the problems of photographing once the electrification paraphernalia has been erected. This HST has been caught in just the right spot between new mast that have just been installed at the eastern end of Reading station. It is arriving at the station with 43158 leading the 13.05 Paddington to Plymouth. 43158 was one of a small number of power cars delivered to augment the Eastern Region fleet in 1981 as part of set 254035.
Keywords: 43158 13.05 London Paddington-Plymouth 1C83 Reading station

43131, GW 11.55 Cardiff Central-London Paddington (1L54), Reading station
The dispatchers are busy readying the 11.55 Cardiff to Paddington 1L54 service to leave Reading's platform 10. The leading power car of this train is 43131 that was late Western Region delivery in 1981 as part of set 253031.
Keywords: 43131 11.55 Cardiff Central-London Paddington 1L54 Reading station

165111, 12.12 London Paddington-Reading (2R35) & 66566, 10.58 Bristol FLT-Tilbury (4L32), Reading station
The vast and somewhat featureless expanse to the eastern end of Reading's re-built station with the electrification structures going in. To the left, 165111 has just arrived with the 12.12 from Paddington whilst 66566 passes through the station leading the daily 4L42 10.58 Bristol FLT to Tilbury Freightliner working.
Keywords: 165111 12.12 London Paddington-Reading 2R35 66566 10.58 Bristol FLT-Tilbury 4L32 Reading station

43134, GW 13.15 London Paddington-Cardiff Central (1B37), Reading station
A brief burst of sunshine found me the wrong side of the 13.15 Paddington to Cardiff Central as it arrived at Reading. 43134 is the leading power car that was originally part of Western Region set 253032.
Keywords: 43134 13.15 London Paddington-Cardiff Central 1B37 Reading station

43086, GW 13.15 London Paddington-Cardiff Central (1B37), Reading station
The sweeping roofs that cover the pedestrian access to the platforms from the station bridge at Reading's new station are one its most notable features. With the extra wide bridge, complete with retail facilities, the station is more akin to an airport than a railway station! 43086 is seen taking up the rear of the 13.15 Paddington to Cardiff Central.
Keywords: 43086 13.15 London Paddington-Cardiff Central 1B37 Reading station

166221, GW 13.18 London Paddington-Bedywn (1K60), Reading station
166221 arrives at Reading with the 13.18 London Paddington to Bedwyn service. This short three-carriage train is somewhat dwarfed by the new station that was opened, ahead of schedule, in July 2014.
Keywords: 166221 13.18 London Paddington-Bedywn 1K60 Reading station

165106, GW 14.04 Reading-Redhill (2O41) & 450127, SW 14.12 Reading-London Waterloo (2C44), Reading station
Electrification at Reading station is not new, the DC lines were energised in January 1949 linking it with London Waterloo via Wokingham and Richmond. However, electrification using AC overhead wiring is new with the march westward underway, if way behind schedule. 450127 is waiting at platform four with the 14.12 South West Trains service to Waterloo. Meanwhile, 165106 is ready to leave with the 14.04 to Redhill.
Keywords: 165106 14.04 Reading-Redhill 2O41 450127 14.12 Reading-London Waterloo 2C44 Reading station

43162, GW 13.30 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C16), Reading station
The rather sanitised and newly opened Reading station is already being taken over by greenery! Just behind 43162 it looks like a common lilac (syringa vulgaris) has already taken up residence on the trackbed. The HST is seen pausing at platform eight with the 13.30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads.
Keywords: 43162 13.30 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C16 Reading station

165108, GW unidentified working, Reading station
At the western end of Reading station the chaotic scene is caused by the proliferation of metalwork installed as part of the electrification process, and this is before the droppers and wires have been installed! 165108 arrives at the far side of the station with an unidentified working that I believe was coming off the depot.
Keywords: 165108 unidentified working Reading station

165208, GW 14.08 Reading-Basingstoke (2J39) & 165107, GW 14.13 Reading-Newbury (2K82), Reading station
There are three down facing bay platforms at Reading, numbered one to three. They are used for the local services to Newbury, Bedwyn, Basingstoke, as well as for reversals of the Crosscountry workings. Two Great Western 'Turbos' wait in contrasting liveries. To the left is 168208 that will depart with the 14.08 to Basingstoke whilst, to the right, 165107 will leave just after it with the 14.13 to Newbury.
Keywords: 165208 14.08 Reading-Basingstoke 2J39 165107 14.13 Reading-Newbury 2K82 Reading station

43186, GW 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A18), Reading station
43186 winds its way through the newly installed electrification masts at the western end of Reading station leading the 13.00 Bristol to Paddington. The HST is destined to disappear from this route when the wires are eventually installed, laughably behind schedule. What will the future then hold for these iconic work horses that have operated on this line since 1976?
Keywords: 43186 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A18 Reading station

220023, XC 09.35 Newcastle-Southampton (1O86), Reading station
As the driver washes the windscreen of 220023, the guard peers down the train waiting for the RA. 220023 is about to leave Reading's newly built and opened platform three with the 09.35 Newcastle to Southampton working. I could think of better ways to make this cross-country journey from the northeast to the south coast than in a Voyager. I don't poses a pair of rose-tinted spectacles, but surely the travelling experience of loco. hauled stock of yesteryear must be better than the modern alternative?
Keywords: 220023 09.35 Newcastle-Southampton 1O86 Reading station

43056, GW 13.45 London Paddington-Swansea (1B40), & 220019, XC 12.45 Bournmouth-Manchester Piccadilly (1M50), Reading station
43056 has just arrived at platform eight with the 13.45 Paddington to Swansea service. Meanwhile, next to it on platform seven, 220019 is waiting with the 12.45 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly. The Voyager will have arrived a few minutes earlier with the crew then changing ends for its reversal back out and onwards towards Didcot and Oxford.
Keywords: 43056 13.45 London Paddington-Swansea 1B40 220019 12.45 Bournmouth-Manchester Piccadilly 1M50 Reading station

220019, XC 12.45 Bournmouth-Manchester Piccadilly (1M50), Reading station
Having changed direction at Reading station, 220019 departs forming the 12.45 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly. The dramatic sweeping roofs that cover the escalators and stairs that link the station bridge with the platforms are clearly seen in this image.
Keywords: 220019 12.45 Bournmouth-Manchester Piccadilly 1M50 Reading station

43004, GW 12.36 Cheltenham-London Paddington (1L58), Reading station
43004 'First for the Future/First ar gyfr y dyfodol' arrives at Reading with just a hint of sunshine illuminating its side. It is negotiating the plethora electrification masts that have been installed at the western end of the station leading the 1L58 12.36 Cheltenham to Paddington.
Keywords: 43004 12.36 Cheltenham-London Paddington 1L58 Reading station

43187, GW 13.50 London Paddington-Oxford (1D39), Reading station
The rear of the 13.50 Paddington to Oxford 1D39 service leaves Reading station with 43187 doing the work at the rear of the train. Whilst this GWR 'classic' green livery is thought as classy by some with its raised cast letters I think it a little drab and difficult to photograph well
Keywords: 43187 13.50 London Paddington-Oxford 1D39 Reading station

43139, GW 14.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C17), Reading station
43139 'Driver Stan Martin 15 June 1950 - 6 Nov 2004' stands at Reading's platform eight leading the 1C17 14.00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads. This image again shows Network Rail's propensity to leave its waste materials laying about as seen with the used track littering the cess. It's surprising that they have allowed this to blight the scene given that the £897m station only opened only 24 months ago!
Keywords: 43139 14.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C17 Reading station.

43139, GW 14.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C17) & 43098, GW 14.01 Oxford-London Paddington (1P49), Reading station
Two HST workings pause at Reading that started from their origins stations within a minute of each other. In the foreground, 43139 'Driver Stan Martin 15 June 1950 - 6 Nov 2004' leads the 14.00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads. In the background, 43098 sits at the rear of the 14.01 Oxford to Paddington 'fast' working.
Keywords: 43139 14.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C17 43098 14.01 Oxford-London Paddington 1P49 Reading station

43177, GW 14.07 London Paddington-Penzance (1C64), Reading station
43177 arrives at Reading station under a new and shiny electrification mast leading the 14.07 Paddington to Penzance. 43177 was a late delivery being introduced to the north east/south west route during the summer of 1982. For some time, this power car carried the name 'University of Exeter'.
Keywords: 43177 14.07 London Paddington-Penzance 1C64 Reading station

59004, 11.20 Allington-Whatley Quarry (6V18), Reading station
As well as handling many passenger services, Reading station also sees quite an array of freight flows passing through it. Here, a regular working, the 11.20 Allington to Whatley Quarry empty stone train is seen here passing through Reading with 59004 'Paul A Hammond' leading. Whilst looking identical to a ubiquitous class 66, the 59s are over ten years older and have a number of subtle differences.
Keywords: 59004 11.20 Allington-Whatley Quarry 6V18 Reading station

220030, XC 13.46 Southampton Central-Edinburgh (1S52), Reading station
222030 sits under Reading station's large new pedestrian bridge as its crew change ends reading to work the train forwards as the 13.46 Southampton Central to Edinburgh. Another brief glimpse of the sun has lightened the otherwise rather flat scene.
Keywords: 220030 13.46 Southampton Central-Edinburgh 1S52 Reading station

180102, GW 12.09 Hereford-London Paddington (1P51), Reading station
Great Western still retains a small number of the class 180 Adelantes for some of their cross-country services. However, with the introduction of the IETs it is likely that they will go off-lease sooner than later. 180102 arrives at Reading station forming the 1P51 12.09 Hereford to London Paddington.
Keywords: 180102 12.09 Hereford-London Paddington 1P51 Reading station

166208, GW unidentified working, Reading station
166208 has arrived at Reading's platform two with an unidentified up terminating service. As there is nothing displayed on the LED panel at the front of the train, I suspect that it was an ECS working from the depot.
Keywords: 166208 unidentified working Reading station

165130, GW 15.12 Reading-Newbury (2K66), Reading station
165130 waits at Reading's platform one with the 15.12 stopper to Newbury. I took this service all the way following my visit to the 'new' Reading station. I found the station very busy but with all the new concrete and slabs it seemed a little too sanitised. However, the public spaces are large with Network Rail and the architects appearing to make a real effort to future-proof the station in terms of it being able to manage increased passenger numbers.
Keywords: 165130 15.12 Reading-Newbury 2K66 Reading station

43174, GW 15.06 London Paddington-Penzance (1C86), Newbury station
As yet, with no evidence of the forthcoming electrification, Newbury station looks as it has looked for many years. 43174 takes the centre road through the station leading the 15.06 Paddington to Penzance 1C86 service.
Keywords: 43174 15.06 London Paddington-Penzance 1C86 Newbury station

59002, 14.10 Acton-Whatley Quarry (6C76), Newbury station
I have not taken on advertising to fund my website but B & Q are certainly doing their best to promote themselves through it! As one of their delivery vehicles stops on the A339 road bridge in the town, 59002 'Alan J Day' passes through the station leading the 14.10 Acton to Whatley Quarry empty stone train.
Keywords: 59002 14.10 Acton-Whatley Quarry 6C76 Newbury station

166217, GW 15.40 Bedwyn-London Paddington (1K69), Newbury station
A busy scene at Newbury station as the 15.40 Bedwyn to Paddington pauses. These turbos have done a great job on services such as this but their limitations are now clear in terms of peak time capacity. They will be cascaded (the TOC's euphemism for moving them on) soon to other places as the new bi-mode electrics are introduced that will hopefully address the capacity issues.
Keywords: 166217 15.40 Bedwyn-London Paddington 1K69 Newbury station

59204, 13.30 Whatley Quarry-Dagenham Dock (6L21), Newbury station
59204 is one of the later batch of class 59s that arrived in the UK in 1995. It looks very smart in ti new DB Schenker livery red livery and branding as it passes Newbury station with the 13.30 Whatley Quarry to Dagenham Docks 6L92 stone train. Despite their age, the design of these American built locomotives have stood up to scrutiny with them remaining reliable and fit for purpose representing a good investment for their original buyers.
Keywords: 59204 13.30 Whatley Quarry-Dagenham Dock 6L21 Newbury station

Frontage (down-side), Newbury station
The lesser seen and used downside of Newbury station is a classic Great Western design was constructed between 1908 and 1910 replacing the original Berks and Hants Railway 1847 station. The footbridge to the right is due to be replaced as part of the electrification and modernisation plans for the station. I hope that the new structure is in keeping with the existing station structure.
Keywords: Newbury station

165130, GW 16.13 Newbury-Reading (2K73), Newbury station
Taken from the A339 road bridge at the eastern end of Newbury station the layout is seen prior to the installation of the wiring and replacement of the lovely Great Western footbridge. 165130 waits in the bay platform to work the 16.13 to Reading local stopper service. When (if ever?) the wires arrive this scene, that has essentially been the same for over 100 years, will change forever.
Keywords: 16513016.13 Newbury-Reading (2K73), Newbury station

Tickets, Newbury-Reading-Newbury
My tickets for the off-peak walk-on journey from Newbury to Reading.

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