GWR Class 143 withdrawals

[Jim]

So there is going to be a 143 on Barnstaple today then with a 150??

Could be the last day for a 143 heading up to Barnstaple if so...


Ah ok so they will most likely go straight to where they will be disposed of. Any idea on timings of this e.g. a few days after 12th or something??

Yes, 150238 + 143621, 1020 1320 1620 1920 (all ish) off of Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple.

One of the two planned diagrams on Paigntons covered by a 150 i'm afraid.

 

[RPI]

Just looked on genius, today on the Barny one 166, one 158/9 and a 150+143, a right mix lol

 

[Apedlar12]

Just looked on genius, today on the Barny one 166, one 158/9 and a 150+143, a right mix lol

Yep, 166220, 158951 and 150238 + 143621 vice 158798 as mentioned above if I am not wrong. And as I said a few posts ago this could well be the last day a 143 visits the Barney branch before withdrawal next weekend...

 

[Jim]

621 been taken off at 1320 at Exeter I'm afraid chaps.

 

[kingston_toon]

621 been taken off at 1320 at Exeter I'm afraid chaps.

Just arrived at St David's to find the very same. Gutted! Bit of a farce as a 143+150 pulled in on the adjacent platform and the screens changed to display that as the 1321 Barnstaple but can confirm it's 158760. Platform staff said Pacer was off to the depot though the screens changed to Paignton as we pulled out.

Any others out today? I'll update later if I find anything!

 

[PHILIPE]

143619 and 143612 ran empty as 5Z74 from Exeter to St Philips Marsh this morning led by 150219.

 

[Class172]

621 been taken off at 1320 at Exeter I'm afraid chaps.

Did the 143 fail? I was on the 1020 service and there didn’t appear to be any problems on the outbound journey to Barnstaple.

 

[Wolvercoter]

Any others out today?

143618/150261 on 2T17 1257 Exmouth Paignton earlier.

 

[Apedlar12]

Did the 143 fail? I was on the 1020 service and there didn’t appear to be any problems on the outbound journey to Barnstaple.

From what I have heard, apparently the reason 150238 + 143621 were taken off is because 143s are GWR's absolute last resource for the Tarka Line now due to the vast amount of jointed track on the line which doesn't do well with the 143's wheels and there is near to no new wheelsets left for them now so I would suspect they are trying to avoid them developing flats; so 158760 must have become available so 143621 was taken off asap...

Reason they were on there in the first place is because 158798 hit an animal on the line yesterday so was sent back to SPM this morning on 5Z58 from Exeter TMD.

 

[RPI]

Did the 143 fail? I was on the 1020 service and there didn’t appear to be any problems on the outbound journey to Barnstaple.

Was a lovely chap who checked your ticket

 

[kingston_toon]

We had a nice run on 143618 on the 2056 from Exmouth this evening, after visiting the lovely Crossed Anchors Brewing Company. Great crew and my partner even commented "these are much nicer than the Northern ones". Time for a final few rides tomorrow hopefully before heading back to London.

 

[DGH 1]

We had a nice run on 143618 on the 2056 from Exmouth this evening, after visiting the lovely Crossed Anchors Brewing Company. Great crew and my partner even commented "these are much nicer than the Northern ones". Time for a final few rides tomorrow hopefully before heading back to London.

Didn't they used to be northern ones lol

 

[kingston_toon]

Didn't they used to be northern ones lol

She's more used to bus-seated 142s

 

[DGH 1]

She's more used to bus-seated 142s

I used to think our 142's were bad till I saw my first 141's at Doncaster one day and then felt so sorry for the people there having to travel on them every day.

Does anyone know if any 143's been selected for preservation?

 

[Jim]

From what I have heard, apparently the reason 150238 + 143621 were taken off is because 143s are GWR's absolute last resource for the Tarka Line now due to the vast amount of jointed track on the line which doesn't do well with the 143's wheels and there is near to no new wheelsets left for them now so I would suspect they are trying to avoid them developing flats; so 158760 must have become available so 143621 was taken off asap...

Reason they were on there in the first place is because 158798 hit an animal on the line yesterday so was sent back to SPM this morning on 5Z58 from Exeter TMD.

Partially there, it was actually because a 150 was required to be available to go to Cornwall in the evening for a diagram which the spare 158 would have been unsuitable for.
The Tarka Line comment is not for those reasons, it's because the 143s are not fitted with WSP and there has been several decent sets of wheel flats appearing from trips down there (remembering no RHTT operates Crediton - Barnstaple) and the 143's are required to be on Bristol ends of trains, so end up leading to Barney each time, being the first wheelsets on the line each morning on a damp morning isn't the best for them.

I do suspect however, that may be your lot for Barnstaple now.

Monday:
603 traffic
611 stopped
612 SPM tyre turning
617 traffic
618 traffic
619 SPM tyre turning
620 traffic
621 traffic

 

[Apedlar12]

Partially there, it was actually because a 150 was required to be available to go to Cornwall in the evening for a diagram which the spare 158 would have been unsuitable for.
The Tarka Line comment is not for those reasons, it's because the 143s are not fitted with WSP and there has been several decent sets of wheel flats appearing from trips down there (remembering no RHTT operates Crediton - Barnstaple) and the 143's are required to be on Bristol ends of trains, so end up leading to Barney each time, being the first wheelsets on the line each morning on a damp morning isn't the best for them.

I do suspect however, that may be your lot for Barnstaple now.

Monday:
603 traffic
611 stopped
612 SPM tyre turning
617 traffic
618 traffic
619 SPM tyre turning
620 traffic
621 traffic

Yep I would think so which is a shame as I was hoping for at least one more appearance but oh well.

 

[Jim]

Monday
143621 + 150216
2F04 0608 Exeter to Exmouth
2T07 0655 Exmouth to Paignton
2F11 0853 Paignton to Exmouth
2T14 1023 Exmouth to Paignton
2F18 1220 Paignton to Exmouth
2T21 1357 Exmouth to Paignton
2F26 1612 Paignton to Exmouth
2T29 1754 Exmouth to Paignton
2E34 1950 Paignton to Exeter

143603 (+158760)
2T04 0558 Exeter to Paignton
2F08 0722 Paignton to Exmouth
2T11 0854 Exmouth to Paignton
2F15 1039 Paignton to Exmouth
2T18 1223 Exmouth to Paignton
2F22 1420 Paignton to Exmouth
2T25 1555 Exmouth to Paignton
2F29 1739 Paignton to Exmouth
2T32 1924 Exmouth to Paignton
2E36 2112 Paignton to Exmouth
2F36 2240 Exeter to Exmouth
2E39 2319 Exmouth to Exeter

143618 (+150248)
2F03 0545 Exeter to Exmouth
2T06 0616 Exmouth to Paignton
2F10 0815 Paignton to Exmouth
2T13 0957 Exmouth to Paignton
2F17 1154 Paignton to Exmouth
2T20 1323 Exmouth to Paignton
2F24 1524 Paignton to Exmouth
2T27 1655 Exmouth to Paignton
2E31 1852 Paignton to Exeter

143617 + 150221
2T02 0530 Exeter to Paignton
2F07 0639 Paignton to Exmouth
2T10 0824 Exmouth to Paignton
2F13 0950 Paignton to Exmouth
2T16 1123 Exmouth to Paignton
2F20 1319 Paignton to Exmouth
2T23 1457 Exmouth to Paignton
2F27 1640 Paignton to Exmouth
2T30 1824 Exmouth to Paignton
2E35 2003 Paignton to Exeter
2F34 2139 Exeter to Exmouth
2T38 2224 Exmouth to Paignton
2E42 0001 Paignton to Exeter

Also additional working today:
143620 (+150265)
2F05 0648 Exeter to Exmouth
2T08 0724 Exmouth to Paignton
2F12 0917 Paignton to Exmouth
2T15 1057 Exmouth to Paignton
2F19 1255 Paignton to Exmouth
2T22 1423 Exmouth to Paignton
2F25 1553 Paignton to Exmouth
2T28 1724 Exmouth to Paignton
2E32 1920 Paignton to Exeter
2F32 2037 Exeter to Exmouth
2T36 2124 Exmouth to Paignton
2E40 2320 Paignton to Exeter.

Yep I would think so which is a shame as I was hoping for at least one more appearance but oh well.

Never say never, if a 3 car 158 jacks overnight and the right people are on, it's game on! Although not today of course, as all the available ones are already out!

 

[Colby James]

I used to think our 142's were bad till I saw my first 141's at Doncaster one day and then felt so sorry for the people there having to travel on them every day.

Does anyone know if any 143's been selected for preservation?

Vale of Berkeley Railway have purchased two units

however they maybe going to be 143611 and 143612 I think I’m not sure.
Their does that answer the question

 

[DGH 1]

Vale of Berkeley Railway have purchased two units

however they maybe going to be 143611 and 143612 I think I’m not sure.
Their does that answer the question

It certainly does,thank you.

 

[RPI]

Strange theyre having 611 when it's been robbed for bits already

 

[7 Ingleborough]

All are

143619 and 143612 ran empty as 5Z74 from Exeter to St Philips Marsh this morning led by 150219.

All three going on the wheel lathe. 612 did have some meat on the wheels after last time, but now extensive flats need taking out. A pity as this was one selected for preservation at Sharpness. They were going for 611 (already fairly robbed) and 612. They might want to see what there is left from the Welsh fleet as I believe TFW did manage to get a few more spares sidelined. I know one supplier did get an order for a few sets of axles and final drives. (Enough for 5 units allegedly) One set I know about, as to the whereabouts of the others, no idea.

 

[Express380]

All are

All three going on the wheel lathe. 612 did have some meat on the wheels after last time, but now extensive flats need taking out. A pity as this was one selected for preservation at Sharpness. They were going for 611 (already fairly robbed) and 612. They might want to see what there is left from the Welsh fleet as I believe TFW did manage to get a few more spares sidelined. I know one supplier did get an order for a few sets of axles and final drives. (Enough for 5 units allegedly) One set I know about, as to the whereabouts of the others, no idea.

Do you know when they will head back west please?

 

[LowLevel]

All are

All three going on the wheel lathe. 612 did have some meat on the wheels after last time, but now extensive flats need taking out. A pity as this was one selected for preservation at Sharpness. They were going for 611 (already fairly robbed) and 612. They might want to see what there is left from the Welsh fleet as I believe TFW did manage to get a few more spares sidelined. I know one supplier did get an order for a few sets of axles and final drives. (Enough for 5 units allegedly) One set I know about, as to the whereabouts of the others, no idea.

Is having to run them in multiple with WSP fitted units exacerbating the issues this year or are they problematic anyway?

 

[Class172]

Was a lovely chap who checked your ticket

He was indeed, very nice to meet you. (I was not expecting to get that reply!)

 

[RPI]

He was indeed, very nice to meet you. (I was not expecting to get that reply!)

Haha although you were one of two who were on that train so not sure which one you were but nice to meet you.
Not sure if one went up today? So that may have been the last one to Barny.

 

[Class172]

Haha although you were one of two who were on that train so not sure which one you were but nice to meet you.
Not sure if one went up today? So that may have been the last one to Barny.

Well at one point I thought staff outnumbered passengers as I didn’t see anyone else after Crediton. I was in the bay close to the toilet.

 

[RPI]

Well at one point I thought staff outnumbered passengers as I didn’t see anyone else after Crediton. I was in the bay close to the toilet.

Ah yes, there was one other chap in the front coach too who was taking pics etc, anyway, we digress lol

 

[Apedlar12]

Haha although you were one of two who were on that train so not sure which one you were but nice to meet you.
Not sure if one went up today? So that may have been the last one to Barny.

No 143s headed up to Barnstaple today so yesterday was most likely the last time before they are withdrawn but you never know.

On another note it seems as if it is 143603 and 143612 that will now be going to the Vale of Berkeley Railway according to their latest post. At least a couple of them will get preserved after withdrawal.

 

[7 Ingleborough]

The non preserved ones are going to Sims of Newport almost immediately to make room. Three days being allowed to strip out the reusable stuff, and then off they go.

 

[kingston_toon]

Monday
143621 + 150216
2F04 0608 Exeter to Exmouth
2T07 0655 Exmouth to Paignton
2F11 0853 Paignton to Exmouth
2T14 1023 Exmouth to Paignton
2F18 1220 Paignton to Exmouth
2T21 1357 Exmouth to Paignton
2F26 1612 Paignton to Exmouth
2T29 1754 Exmouth to Paignton
2E34 1950 Paignton to Exeter

[other diagrams snipped]

Thank you so much for posting these earlier. We had a great day walking the sea wall and bashing around Exeter, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Paignton. The weather was meant to be rubbish but actually turned out lovely, and I managed to get some great photos.

Back in London now but had a fantastic weekend.