1979 request - London to Cornwall in August

[Lee_Again]

I’m looking for a 1979 summer saturday (August) timetable for London to Cornwall. We travelled as a family to friends near Liskeard and I’m sure we used an HST; just looking for some confirmation. TIA

 

[Gloster]

Digging into the jumbled remnants of my memory, I think that most Paddington-West of England trains did not go over to HST until May 1980. However, a handful, possibly only the Riviera and Hind as far as Cornwall was concerned, had gone over earlier. I can’t say when this was, but don’t think it would have been earlier than May 1979, if then. Previously, the main trains had been late Mark II types. (As said, all from the chaotic depths of my failing memory, so not guaranteed.)

 

[Lee_Again]

I’m told the date is 100% and we deffo used a HST. I suspect it was either an additional service or a last minute substitution; hence the timetable request. We travelled out and back on one.

 

[Magdalia]

In the Public timetable HSTs were booked on the Cornish Riviera and Golden Hind in each direction from 1 October 1979.

But, according to Railway Observer October 1979, this actually started on 6 August 1979.

 

[hexagon789]

The Cornish Riviera Express and a few other selected services became HSTs in August/September 1979 iirc.

The full WoE HST service was introduced from May 1980, linespeed over the B&H remained 90mph for the first two years. Work to raise speeds to 100-110mph was undertaken during 1981, with schedule accelerations from 1982.

 

[Lee_Again]

In the Public timetable HSTs were booked on the Cornish Riviera and Golden Hind in each direction from 1 October 1979.

But, according to Railway Observer October 1979, this actually started on 6 August 1979.

This fits with my recollection. I was only 7 at the time so clearly a sketchy memory at best but. I'll have to search harder for the timetables.
thank you all,

 

[37078xotTE]

HST's were definitely working to Cornwall in August 1979 as I was on 43026 & 43027 on the 11:30 Paddington - Penzance on Monday 6th August 1979

 

[jfollows]

I can't help with the timetable, sorry, but I think you've got the answer you wanted anyway.
I went on a cycling holiday in summer 1979, prior to A-level results coming out, and I cycled from Bristol to Penzance along the north coast of Cornwall, returning to Exeter along the south coast of Cornwall. Part of the purpose was to see 50-hauled services before they were taken over by HSTs, and to go along some of the branches - I managed Falmouth & Looe anyway. Also had to take the bicycle on a very small ferry at one point on the way back from Penzance.
All good memories - I wasn't worried about my A-level results and I wasn't going to university until 1980 anyway, and there weren't too many HSTs at the time although I certainly can't remember specifics!

 

[Commoner]

HSTs took over the up Golden Hind and Cornish Riviera and the corresponding down workings from 6th August 1979, running to existing timings. Actual diagrams were
M-F 05.07 Pz-Padd 10.42/11.30 Padd-Pz 17.07, SO 04.57 Pz-Padd 10.46/11.30 Padd-Pz 17.24
M-F 10.54 Pz-Padd 16.27/17.32 Padd-Pz 23.22, SO 10.50 Pz-Padd 16.40/17.32 Padd-Pz 23.22.

There was no Sunday HST working. On the first day of service 43026/27 wrapped around the trailers of 253 015 worked the up GH and down CRE, 253 008 (43016/17) worked the up CRE and down GH.

The sets were serviced and received A Exams at Penzance depot and were drawn from the internal WR allocation. When a set was required at OOC or SPM for any out of course repairs or B exam or higher, sets were swapped at Paddington. Only 253 028 (43125/126) from the West of England order had been formed up by 6/8/79 and was operating from Old Oak Common. 253 030 (43129/130) entered service on 10.08.79. 253 029 entered service W/c 03.09.79 with power cars 43010/127.

The accelerated service that operated from 1/10/79 built on the 2 diagrams listed above with the M-S 07.40 Padd-Pz/15.00 Pz-Padd and M-F 10.30 Padd-Ply/15.46 Ply-Padd becoming HST workings. The latter two service services were worked by the set off the 06.40 Swansea-Padd.

On Sundays the 08.35 Pz-Padd and 15.30 Padd-Pz were worked by HSTs.

No further regular HST diagrams were added between 06.08.79 and 30.09.79. It had been the WR's intention to turn further diagrams over to HSTs during the winter of 79/80 as more sets become available. That plan was thwarted by the poor reliability of the GEC traction motors fitted to the West of England build which ultimately led to dispute between BR and GEC and the prolonged suspension of power car deliveries. A further extension of HST working to the West of England took effect from May 1980, but this occurred at the partial expense of London-Bristol route where some services reverted to loco-haulage. The full HST timetable was introduced on 01.06.81 by which time, the GEC dispute had been resolved and power car deliveries for the W of E build neared completion.

 

[co-tr-paul]

The small ferry could be either the Falmouth to St Mawes or the Saltash to Plymouth..... !

 

[Lee_Again]

Thank you for all the additional info. It's appreciated.

 

[jfollows]

The small ferry could be either the Falmouth to St Mawes or the Saltash to Plymouth..... !

Helford would be my guess, based on my memories of the approximate route we took and having just looked at some maps.