3. The West Somerset Steam Express & journey home -08.08.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 48. Trip to London-06-08.08.15 > 3. The West Somerset Steam Express & journey home -08.08.15

Whilst my wife and son were getting ready I popped out to Paddington to see the steam-hauled West Somerset Express leave from platform one, unfortunately, so did plenty of other people!

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Images 1-21 of 21 displayed.

57303, GW 21.45-Penzance-London Paddington Sleeper (1A40) & 43025, GW 8.00 London Paddington-Bath Spa (1U05), London Paddington station
First Great Western is having to hire in locomotives for the Night Riviera services due to their own fleet prooving to be unreliable. At the stops of Paddington's platform one, DRS' 57303 rests having worked the 21.45 Sleeper from Penzance. Next to it 43025 will soon power at the rear of the 08.00 to Bath Spa terminating due to electrification preparation works between there and Bristol. 43025 wears nameplates that must have one of the longest names, 'IRO The Institute of Railway Operators : 2000-2010 Ten Years Promoting Operational Excellence'.
Keywords: 57303 21.45 Penzance-London Paddington Sleeper 1A40 43025 08.00 London Paddington-Bath Spa 1U05 London Paddington station First Great Western Direct Rail Services DRS IRO The Institute of Railway Operators : 2000-2010 Ten Years Promoting Operational Excellence

08483, GW 07.42 London Paddington-OOC CS sleeper ECS (5A40), London Paddington station
Old Oak Commons' resident 08483 may well date from October 1958 but looks absolutely superb in its green livery complete with British Railway's roundel. It is seen at Paddington station about to haul the empty coaching stock from the up Night Riviera Sleeper back to Old Oak Common for servicing with 57303 still attached on the rear. Up until recently this Class 08 carried the name 'DUSTY Driver David Miller' but this appears to have been removed.
Keywords: 08483 07.42 London Paddington-OOC CS sleeper ECS 5A40 London Paddington station First Great Western DUSTY Driver David Miller

165106, GW 07.42 London Paddington-Reading (2R15), London Paddington station
On a very grey and somewhat dismal August morning, Turbo 166106 leaves Paddington station with the 2R15 07.42 to Reading. When the electrification is eventually completed these units will be redundant and cascaded elsewhere on the First Great Western network perhaps to relieve chronic overcrowding in the Bristol area?
Keywords: 165106 07.42 London Paddington-Reading 2R15 London Paddington station Turbo

47746, 05.06 Southall-London Paddington ECS (5Z70), London Paddington-station
With the platform end being a little overcrowded, taking a decent picture of 47746 leading the 05.06 Southall to Paddington ECS working into the station was somewhat difficult. As usual, the drab WCR livery applied to 47746 looks even worse on what is a very grey summer's morning.
Keywords: 47746 05.06 Southall-London Paddington ECS 5Z70 London Paddington-station WCR West Coast Railways

70000, outward leg of The West Somerset Steam Express, 08.06 London Paddington-Minehead West Somerset Railway (1Z70), London Paddington station
70000 'Britania' sits smack bang under Bishop's bridge at Paddington station thus making taking a reasonable photograph virtually impossible! It has been hauled in at the rear of The West Somerset Steam Express charter that it will soon lead heading for Minehead at 08.06 running as 1Z70. Behind where I am standing the platform end was absolutely packed with enthusiasts and people intending to travel on the train illustrating yet again how powerful the lure of steam remains.
Keywords: 70000 The West Somerset Steam Express, 08.06 London Paddington-Minehead West Somerset Railway 1Z70 London Paddington station WCR West Coast railways Britania

166207, GW 06.39 Bedwyn-London Paddington (1K25), London Paddington station
First Great Western's 166207 arrives at Paddington station passing through the huge throat. It is working 06.39 from Bedwyn a small village in Wiltshire and the Berks. and Hants. route that I visited back in 1978 when the motive power observed was a little different than a Turbo unit, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25327932004/x50026-unidentified-up-working-bedwyn
Keywords: 166207 06.39 Bedwyn-London Paddington 1K25 London Paddington station First Great Western Turbo

43028, GW 08.00 London Paddington-Bath Spa (1U05) & 70000, outward leg of The West Somerset Steam Express, 08.06 London Paddington-Minehead West Somerset Railway (1Z70), London Paddington station
No, this is not a summer fog at Paddington but excess smoke and steam being emitted from 70000 'Britania' hiding under the bridge! To its left, the 08.00 Paddington to Bath Spa HST service leaves led by 43028 no doubt eager to get away from the pollution emitted by the Brit. that will lead The West Somerset Steam Express charter to Minehead. It is really pleasing to note in this image the age of the enthusiasts on the platform end. Yes, there were the usual old blokes like me but note the line of young lads all eager to get their photographs and get them uploaded straight to the internet no doubt!
Keywords: 43028 08.00 London Paddington-Bath Spa 1U05 70000 Britania The West Somerset Steam Express 08.06 London Paddington-Minehead West Somerset Railway 1Z70 London Paddington station

47746, London Paddington-Southall light engine, London Paddington station
After bringing the stock into Paddington station with 70000 'Britannia' on the rear 47746 runs out again back towards West Coast's Southall facility with the railtour having left for Minehead. This particular Class 47 is almost the same age as me having been released into traffic in August 1964.
Keywords: 47746 London Paddington-Southall light engine London Paddington station West Coast Railways

43179 (1U06), 180102 (1W00), 43069 (1C75), class 43 (1G11) & 332001, London Paddington station
With much evidence on the continued work to restore Paddington's superb roof and glazing a familiar line-up of trains sits at the blocks. From front to rear.....

43179 'Pride of Laira', 08.30 London Paddington-Bath Spa (1U06)
180102, 08.21 London Paddington-Hereford (1W00)
43069, 08.35 Paddington-Paignton (1C75)
Class 43, 08.15 Paddington-Cheltenham Spa (1G11)
332001, 08.40 Paddington-Heathrow (1Y30)
Keywords: 43179 08.30 Paddington-Bath Spa 1U06 180102 08.21 Paddington-Hereford 1W00, 43069 08.35 Paddington-Paignton 1C75 class 43 HST 08.15 Paddington-Cheltenham Spa 1G11 332001 08.40 Paddington-Heathrow 1Y30 First Great Western High-Speed Train Aldante Pride of Laira

332001, HX 08
Since their introduction in 1998 the fourteen Class 332s have worked exclusively between Paddington and Heathrow for Heathrow Express. One of their members of staff appears to be comforting a passenger in some sort of distress in front of 332001 that is about to work the 08.40 service to Heathrow terminal five.
Keywords: 332001 London Paddington station Heathrow Express

165133, GW 08.50 London Paddington-Oxford (1D19), London Paddington station
First Great Western's 166133 will soon leave Paddington with the 08.50 to Oxford. It is services such as this that will be run by smart new electric units in the coming few years as the wiring continues its relentless way westwards, if a lot slower than expected. Notice the reflection on the platform tiles of the couple walking their bikes!
Keywords: 165133 08.50 London Paddington-Oxford 1D19 London Paddington station First Great Western Turbo

43189, GW 08.45 London Paddington-Swansea (1B15) & IKB statue, London Paddington station
Isambard Kingdom Brunel has his back to both the station that he designed and one of the most iconic trains ever built, should he not be facing them? 43189 'Railway Heritage Trust' will soon leave with the 08.45 to Swansea from platform one. I suspect that Brunel will need to be moved as this area of the station is where the Crossrail platforms will be, perhaps the opportunity could be taken to then move him to a better position within the station, perhaps taking pride of place on the concourse?
Keywords: 43189 08.45 London Paddington-Swansea 1B15 IKB statue London Paddington station Brunel First Great Western HST Railway Heritage Trust

165114, GW 08.27 London Paddington-Oxford (2N18), Paddington LU station
Taken from the Bakerloo line platform at Paddington station 165114 is seen on the adjacent Network Rail platform. The Turbo will soon work the 08.27 2N18 stopper to Oxford. Over the coming years, this scene will change as this platform, and all those at Paddington will be wired with new stock occupying them.
Keywords: 165114 08.27 London Paddington-Oxford 2N18 Paddington LU station TfL First Great Western

21436, TfL Hammersmith-Barking working (0276), Paddington LU station
The S stock was launched in 2009 and has recently been introduced on the District Line replacing the older D78 stock last year. As yet, only limited numbers of the elderly 1978 D78s have been withdrawn with Vivarail taking a fair number of them for possible future re-use. 21436 approaches Paddington station working a Bakerloo Line Hammersmith to Barking working that I took to King's Cross. With this unit being no more than a year old it is somewhat disappointing to see, what appears to be rust stains down the nose cone from the pantograph wiper spindle.
Keywords: 21436 Hammersmith-Barking working 0276 Paddington LU station Bakerloo Lone TfL

165104, GW 08.03 Hayes & Harlington-London Paddington (2Z18), Paddington LU station
After a very dull start to the day the sun has begun to break through the cloud. 165105 winds its way through Paddington station's throat approaching with the 08.03 from Hayes and Harlington whilst a Bakerloo Line service arrives to the right working a Hammersmith to Barking train.
Keywords: 165104 08.03 Hayes & Harlington-London Paddington 2Z18 Paddington LU station Turbo First Great Wetsern

390151, VT 14.03 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (9G25), London Euston station
Taken from one of the access ramps at Euston station instantly recognisable 390151 with its 'Business is Great' vinyls attached to the power car. The Virgin Pendolino is about to work the 14.03 to Birmingham New Street.
Keywords: 390151 14.03 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 9G25 London Euston station Virgin Trains West Coast Pendolino

350116, LM 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1W15), London Euston station
Our train home from London to Northampton sits at Euston station's odd double-faced platform seventeen. This is a single-track platform with two faces as seen either side of the London Midland Desiro. 350116 is at the rear of the 13.49 to Birmingham New Street.
Keywords: 350116 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1W15 London Euston station London Midland Railway Desiro

350109 & 350116, LM 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1W15), London Euston station
A second view of our train home from London to Northampton. 350109 leads 350116 that will work the 1W15 13.49 to Birmingham New Street.
Keywords: 350109 350116 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1W15 London Euston station London Midland Railway Desiro

86401, stabled, Willesden yard
Passing Willesden depot 86401 'Mons Meg' is seen broadside on with its relatively new Caledonian Sleeper livery. Apart from the very rare foray to Scotland 86401 only operates between Wembly yard and Euston hauling the empty sleeper stock. The current name is one of three that it has carried, firstly it was named 'Northampton Town' when it was the only member of the class painted in Network SouhEast livery. After that, it became 'Hertfordshire Railtours' in 1998 until initial withdrawal came in 2002.
Keywords: 86401 Willesden yard Caledonian Sleeper

Tickets, London Euston-Northampton
Our return tickets from Euston to Northampton were exactly the same price as the outward ones; not bad value at £11.35 for all three of us.
Keywords: Tickets London Euston-Northampton

Images 1-21 of 21 displayed.