Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm travelling to London in a few weeks on an Advance Single ticket that requires you to travel on the specified train, which i've done loads of times no problems, however my journey this time requires a change at Newton Abbot with just 4 minutes interchange (this is a FGW recommended connection and shown in the timetable).  So what happens if my train from Plymouth is late and I don't get the connection, what happens to the validity of the ticket?

If a train is missed due to late running of the first leg then you will be allowed on to the next train.
If at all possible you should find a member of staff on the first train (train manager) just so they can validate your ticket to show you was on a late running service.

Cheers,
a missed connection means an hours+ wait at Newton when I could have had a hour extra at home, i hope not!

In the end the train arrived at Newton early and it was a cross platform interchange.  The staff at Newton made an announcement for passengers off the Penzance/Plymouth train joining the Riviera Express when we arrived at the station.

BTW out of curiosity why is the train from Penzance to Newton shown as 2 separate services, split at Plymouth and not a through service even though its the same train?

Iirc it was originally diagrammed to couple to anothe unit during the summer at plymouth, dont think it ever happened as it was always full up from Cornwall and in the end just ran all the way  as a three car. Glad you made the connection, it is a bit tight but across the platform is good!

It allways uncoupled at Plymouth as the uncoupled 153 was required for the 1401 from Plymouth to Penzance.