Great Western Coffee Shop

FGW Journeycheck is reporting the 23:45 London Paddington to Penzance was terminated at Taunton at 02:52. A relief train was organised to take passengers forward which left at 05:25. However as I type the monitoring system has been waiting over an hour for it to pass Saltash. It may be a glitch but it's been a long night for anyone on the sleeper in any event.

A hot axle box on the original 57 meant it terminated Taunton with the 57 being shunted into the bay platform there. A rescue loco was sent from Old Oak Common and it departed Taunton at about 0525. Left Truro at 0822, just over an hour later than normally booked.

Obviously a problem with Live Departures then. It is being shown there as delayed somewhere between Plymouth and the Royal Albert Bridge.  ;D

I did see a Class 57 loco heading west through Thatcham early this morning (about 530am) - could this be connected?

Seems it was 150108 that ran at 0525 from Taunton, arrived into Penzance at 0905, hasn't shown correctly on LDB which is quite common with additional services. 57604 is now dumped at Taunton, probably awaiting road transport. 57602 ran from OOC, passing Thatcham around 0530 sounds about right, and attached to the sleeper stock, either run ECS or with the sleeper passengers still on-board down to Penzance.

It was strange the additional service showed OK on LDB until Plymouth and then vanished.  With a 57 down there "might" be some interesting motive power in use if there are future problems.

From what I understand the sleeper passengers were all transferred to 150108. They did however receive their tea and croissants at Plymouth I believe.

I understand 57604 is to be moved to LA on a wheelskate, that was the plan last time I heard anything.

There should be three 57/6 as 57605 is back in service after the altercation with the tree. Not sure if any are away at Brush or if 57604 will be dealt with before it's scheduled appearance at Rail-Fest at York...

15mph move from Taunton to Laira tonight apparently. Better than the coach which had a hot axle box near Newbury recently, that was dumped in a siding at Newbury for a while.

So is the 57 still thought to be at Taunton?

At the moment yes. In the West end facing Minehead bay although they will have to haul it out to fit the wheelskate.
 

Going to take a while to get to Laira at that speed.  Is there a big enough gap in the timetable or will they have to do it "loop by loop"?

I assume it would have run between 1C32 and 1C99 to Exeter. 80 miles at 15 mph is quite a tall order particularly as the movement has to slow to walking pace over points etc.

Not sure if the move actually took place as I'm not at work today.

EDIT, I gather from posts made in SWRG that 57604 is indeed at LA.

Wheelset on route to LA for repairs to 57604 to be effected.

There was a hired in loco on the up on 13/5 as I understand.