The end of CrossCountry HST operations and the ongoing reductions in Great Western Railway’s Castle Class fleet has seen stock movements from Laira get underway following hand-back work, prior to the Class 43 power cars and Mk.3 HST trailers heading to store or in preparation for export.
On September 26, GWR green power cars 43010 and 43192, along with ex-GWR Mk.3 trailers 48128/143-145 and 49110/115, left Laira for Ely Papworth sidings, with the ensemble hauled by Rail Operations Group’s 37608 Andromeda.
October 4 saw 43040, 43172 and Mk.3 set GW14 (48140-142, 49114) move from their temporary storage site at St Philips Marsh depot, heading to the Great Yarmouth base of Eastern Rail Services, joining the 11 Mk.3 HST trailers that moved to the Norfolk site last month.
The following day saw another two former GWR power cars and six Mk.3 coaches on the move, with 43009 and 43016 sandwiching 48127/129/146-148 and 49116 from Laira to Angel’s storage site at Potter Logistics Ely Papworth sidings.
On October 10, power cars 43009/010/016 and 43192 were on the move from Ely to Great Yarmouth to join the assembled coaches and power cars already stored at the ERS site, being assembled for export later in the month.
