70. Bath Spa-30.12.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 70. Bath Spa-30.12.14
On the penultimate day of the year my wife and son spent some time shopping in the beautiful city of Bath. I spent a very happy hour or so at the surprisingly busy station, a place I wiled away much time at in my youth as a schoolboy spotter. Then it was Westerns, 50s and first-generation DMUs; today things are somewhat different!

As this is my last entry for 2014 may I wish all my readers a very happy new year and raise a glass to 2015!
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Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.

43056, GW 10.57 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C11), Bath Spa station An unorthodox view of HST power car 43056 'The Royal British Legion' as it pauses at Bath station leading the 1C11 10.57 Paddington to Bristol service. The veteran power unit was part of the pioneer East Coast set 254001 introduced in 1978. In this view the train has drawn past the B6R banner repeater signal installed due to sighting issues on the tight curve to the western end of Bath station. Now this banner signal is composed of LEDs but in the past, it was a mechanical device with a rotating arm. Keywords: 43056 10.57 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C11 Bath Spa station First Great Western HST The Royal British Legion
158953, GW 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central (Cancelled from Bristol Temple Meads) (1F14), Bath Spa station In superb winter lighting, the 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff First Great Western service arrives at Bath Spa. Unfortunately, for some of the passengers travelling on 158953, their journey was to be interrupted on arrival at Bristol with the train having to be cancelled for 'an unreported problem' according to RTT! Keywords: 158953 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central Cancelled from Bristol Temple Meads 1F14 Bath Spa station First Great Western
158953, GW 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central (Cancelled at Bristol Temple Meads) (1F14) & 43026, GW 08.44 Penzance-London Paddington (1A81), Bath Spa station Whilst 158953 has stopped at Bath Spa's platform one working the 1F14 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central (cancelled from Bristol) the 08.44 Penzance to Paddington arrives at platform two. The HST service is being led by 43026 a power car that has been operating on this route since its introduction during the autumn of 1976. If all goes to plan it will reach its fortieth year of operation in 2016 prior to the introduction of the new electric trains whenever that may be given the appalling delays to the electrification process. Keywords: 158953 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central Cancelled at Bristol Temple Meads 1F14 43026 08.44 Penzance-London Paddington 1A81 Bath Spa station First Great Western
43018, GW 11.27 London Paddington-Penzance (1C82), Bath Spa station A fine portrait photograph of 43018 as it approaches Bath Spa station leading the 11.27 Paddington to Penzance working diverted due to engineering workings on the Berks. and Hants. route. Whilst winter photography can be a tricky and, at some times, a miserable experience when the weather is like this it is an absolute joy with really strong light and with the sun's low angle, detail on the subject that is normally in shadow is picked out. Keywords: 43018 11.27 London Paddington-Penzance 1C82 Bath Spa station First Great Western HST
158958, GW 10.50 Great Malvern-Brighton (1O98), Bath Spa station One of First Great Western's six Express Sprinter hybrid units where one end coach is a driving coach from another unit of the same class has been tagged on to a two-car unit arrives at Bath station. 158958 is working the 10.50 Great Malvern to Brighton 1O98 service that takes an incredibly winding and circuitous route from Worcestershire to East Sussex. Keywords: 158958 10.50 Great Malvern-Brighton 1O98 Bath Spa station First Great Western
158958, GW 10.50 Great Malvern-Brighton (1O98), Bath Spa station FGW's 158958 leaves Bath Spa and is crossing the River Avon and then about to go over Dolmeads viaduct to the east of the station. The three-car hybrid unit is working the 10.50 Great Malvern to Brighton service a journey that it would be interesting to make in its entirety. Keywords: 158958 10.50 Great Malvern-Brighton 1O98 Bath Spa station
159004, SW 12.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury (1O48), Bath Spa station With the afternoon sunshine now getting low in the sky, it is struggling to illuminate the whole length of a train at Bath Spa station as seen here. In order to get at least the front carriage in the sun, I have ventured to the eastern end of platform one as 159004 leaves working South West Trains' 12.52 Bristol to Salisbury service. On arrival at Salisbury, the unit should join with another Class 159 working from Exeter to continue its journey to Waterloo. Keywords: 159004 12.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury 1O48 Bath Spa station South West Trains
43171, GW 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A18), Bath Spa station The 1A18 13.00 Bristol to Paddington FGW HST service arrives at Bath Spa station. The train is being led by power car 43171 that was one of the last tranche of HSTs delivered during the summer of 1982 as part of set 254045 for use on the NE/SW route replacing locomotive-hauled services. This view of Bath station is set to change over the next couple of years with the arrival of electrification that will allow new high-speed electric trains to run between Paddington and Bristol. However, at the time of writing this is incredibly delayed so it may be a while yet until the venerable HSTs are replaced. Keywords: 43171 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A18 Bath Spa station First Great Western HST
150261, GW 11.10 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads (2V90), Bath Spa station 150261 was named 'The Tarka Line, the first 25 years 1989–2014 ' in a ceremony at Barnstable station exactly a month ago to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the launch of the project that transformed the Barnstaple to Exeter line. It is seen arriving at Bath station wearing its vinyl 'nameplate' whilst working the 11.10 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service. Keywords: 150261 11.10 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads 2V90 Bath Spa station First Great Western The Tarka Line, the first 25 years 1989–2014
158950, GW 12.30 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Harbour (1F17), Bath Spa station Withe sun now sinking down behind the ridge that lines Bath to the south only the upper half of 158950 is in full light with the rest in deep shade and it's only 14.30! 158950 is working the 12.30 Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour and is seen leaving the station. In my earlier spotting days, a service such as this would have been worked by a Class 33 hauling a rake of Mk. I stock, for example see....... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29805504204/x33025-bristol-temple-meads-cardiff Keywords: 158950 12.30 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Harbour 1F17 Bath Spa station First Great Western super sprinter

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.