Great Western Coffee Shop

Interesting to see 3 trains moving from Laira up to the Brisol area today
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/XLZ/2018/07/27/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt
5Z83   GW   Stoke Gifford   0939   
5Z82   GW   Stoke Gifford   1015   
5Z74   GW   St Philips Mrsh H S T D   1033
Balancing the stock, or part of the re-assignments?

And from GWR "There is a possibility, not yet confirmed, that we may be able to operate a nine car, brand new Intercity Express Train to [West Country Destination] this Saturday morning". That latter may have been updated (confirmed or reverted to HST) by now.

Grahame,  I think the two IET sets may be returning to base after have been travelling around in the Far Southwest this week on driver/guard training.

Also, this cross posted from an insider on the WNXX Forum:

...and:

The service data you have matches my intelligence too.

West of England Main Line? Thread title confused me initially. I saw the it and thought it was going to be a topic on SWR changes because of the current industrial action.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_of_England_line

Aren't we actually talking of the Bristol to Exeter and Exeter to Plymouth lines? Second one also known as South Devon Main Line. Both together though aren't known as the West of England (Main) Line.

Hmmm ... I can see how the title might have confused; historically, the London and South Western Railway, Southern Railway and Southern Region used the term "West of England main line" as opposed the the Portsmouth main line or others. But what would you use as a "brand name" if you like for the line from Paddington to Plymouth that can be traversed in under the magic 3 hours?

Bristol only came into the post as it looked like the move of quite a bit of stock away from the "West of England Main Line" "conglomeration of routes that make the fastest ail route to Plymouth"

I saw DEMU 802 002 in Penzance station yesterday, Thursday, at about 1030. Presumably on crew training.

[/quote]

Departure boards at Paddington show the 08:18 will be 9 coaches.

800 309 became the first IET to run in passenger service west of Taunton as the nine car set formed the 08:18 to Paignton and 13:08 back to London Paddington.

It lost some time on the down journey, including 11 minutes at Dawlish Warren for reasons I haven't yet established.

Seen here on the sea wall on the down trip

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/iettgm2.jpg)

...and mixing the old with the new at Teignmouth on the way back, where it arrived two minutes early.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/iettgm.jpg)

SDO failure.
Only 2 doors could be released towards the rear of the platformed coaches.

At least you managed to stay dry, bobm! (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pwakely/29827087848/)

I was lucky - two showers during the day and I missed both of them.  However the sun did just hide behind a cloud as the train emerged from Parsons Tunnel.

Rained all night in South Devon.  Meanwhile in Swindon there has been nearly half an inch of rain in the last 24 hours.

Don't think I'll bother going to snap the Torbay Express - I gather it is diesel hauled today anyway.

Perfect conditions at Dawlish and Teignmouth at the moment for testing a passing IET  ;D  ::)

Yes, the TE is diesel hauled as two members of Clan Line's support crew are unavailable due to a health scare. Thankfully, the person concerned is recovering well in hospital (the other member being his wife).

Seen here between Westbury and Trowbridge on the return leg (via Melksham.)

(http://i68.tinypic.com/2ur71fq.jpg)

Seen here on the outbound leg.  Lady walked across as I was photographing the train coming through, then insisted I not use her picture!

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/iet001_20180728.jpg)

Here's the back of the train:

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/iet002_20180728.jpg)