5. Journey home-11.05.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 22. Spring break in Frome-06-11.05.21 > 5. Journey home-11.05.21
On our journey home I persuaded my wife to allow us to take a break so that I could capture a couple of the emergency timetable workings laid on by Great Western following the withdrawal of their Class 800s for safety checks. We stopped off just east of Corsham near Thingley Junction where I photographed a CrossCountry HST and Voyager undertaking shuttle services between Bristol and Swindon.
Click here to search The Archive Files


Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.

59004, 09.42 Whatley Quarry-Westbury Down (18E), Frome Sheppards bridge 59004 'Paul A Hammond' leads the 09.42 Whatley to Westbury loaded stone train through Frome taken from Shepperds (sic) bridge. Whilst this working is timetabled short, on arrival at Westbury it then will make its way onwards towards the London area. This location is a very quiet one and on this spring morning was particularly popular with birds who all appeared to be talking with each other at full volume and who seemed unperturbed by the passing of a huge and noisy stone train! Keywords: 59004 09.42 Whatley Quarry-Westbury Down Frome Sheppards bridge Paul A Hammond
220032, XC (for GW) 10.14 Paignton-Swindon (1M41, RT), Thingley ST890700 Initially, this appears to be a straightforward photograph of a CrossCountry Voyager but as it's taken running on the GWML near the Wiltshire town of Chippenham it is far from that! 220032 works the 10.14 Paignton to Swindon service running as 1M41 operated by XC for Great Western. It is part of a series of shuttle workings hastily put into place following the mass withdrawal of the Class 800 IETs for safety checks to their underframes. According to Rail magazine (issue 931) this was possible as some XC drivers had route knowledge of this stretch of line due to it being a possible diversionary route but, until this present crisis, this has never actually been used. Keywords: 220032 10.14 Paignton-Swindon 1M41 Thingley ST890700 CrossCountry GWR Great Western Railway Voyager
43207 & 43239, XC (For GW) 12.30 Bristol Temple Meads-Swindon (1Z20, RT), Thingley ST890700 HSTs return to the Great Western Mainline again! After a break of some two years, GWR has been forced to reintroduce HSTs to the route once again after their new and shiny Class 800s had to be taken out of service following safety checks revealing cracks to their aluminium underframes. A CrossCountry set has been hired in by GWR with 43207 leading 43239 operating the 12.30 Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon shuttle operating as 1Z20 seen approaching Thingley Junction just west of Chippenham. Once at Swindon, passengers will change boarding an electric Class 387 service towards London. There have been questions asked about the possible use of the GWR Castle sets to run through to London but, according to Rail (issue 931), there are gauging issues now further east towards the capital. Keywords: 43207 43239 12.30 Bristol Temple Meads-Swindon 1Z20 Thingley ST890700 CrossCountry HST GWR Great Western Railway HST
220032, XC (for GW) 12.47 Swindon-Bristol Temple Meads (1Z19, 1L), Thingley ST890700 Unfortunately, avoiding the sunshine at Thingley Junction CrossCountry Voyager 220032 heads back towards Bristol Temple Meads with the 12.47 1Z19 ex Swindon shuttle service. The very unusual sight of a XC Voyager on this section of the GWML was as a result of the temporary withdrawal from service of the Class 800 IETs amid safety concerns enabling them to be fully checked at depots. Unfortunately, these inspections revealed large cracks where the aluminium body jacking mounts are welded to the body of the units and to which the yaw dampers are also attched. Keywords: 220032 12.47 Swindon-Bristol Temple Meads 1Z19 Thingley ST890700 CrossCountry Voyager GWR Great Western Railway

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.