4 carriages reduced to 2 - is this the end of GWR pacers?

[whole diary]

[REVUpminster]

166211 at Paignton Station 1855 13 DMR 20 by Robert, on Flickr

166211 working 2F24 1855hrs Paignton to Exmouth.

I was just driving over the level crossing and saw it in the platform. Driver said it was the only one at Exeter and the 143s have gone.

[plymothian]

2 bad consequences of Turbos coming west are:
Exeter depot have little knowledge of 16xs and so can't work on them as well as the 143s/150s.
The 16x fleet is already aged and SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) already rob Peter to pay Paul to keep them running as there are few spares.

[Bmblbzzz]

Is there nostalgia for Pacers? Everyone seemed to hate them when travelling in them! I have a Pacer at home and I rather like it; but it's only got two wheels... and even that ceased manufacture a couple of years ago!

[REVUpminster]

The 143 pacers down here had decent seats.

[bobm]

There is currently one Turbo in Exeter.   A second is due to arrive shortly and will primarily be used for driver familiarisation.   Although training was undertaken earlier a lot of crew have lost their competency on the 16x as they haven't had the chance to work them.

The first of the three additional Castle sets has also arrived with the second due soon.

[PhilWakely]

There is currently one Turbo in Exeter.   A second is due to arrive shortly and will primarily be used for driver familiarisation.   Although training was undertaken earlier a lot of crew have lost their competency on the 16x as they haven't had the chance to work them.

The first of the three additional Castle sets has also arrived with the second due soon.

There are actually 2 Turbos at Exeter - 166210 and 211.  166211 is out and in service whilst 210 was due to do a number of crew training runs between EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) and Paignton today - including a run out to Pinhoe for route familiarisation to allow for Barnstaple services to turnback at Pinhoe when the Exmouth Junction siding is replaced. These training runs were canned today (Monday, 14/12), but are scheduled to run every day this week.

[REVUpminster]

There is currently one Turbo in Exeter.   A second is due to arrive shortly and will primarily be used for driver familiarisation.   Although training was undertaken earlier a lot of crew have lost their competency on the 16x as they haven't had the chance to work them.

The first of the three additional Castle sets has also arrived with the second due soon.

There are actually 2 Turbos at Exeter - 166210 and 211.  166211 is out and in service whilst 210 was due to do a number of crew training runs between EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) and Paignton today - including a run out to Pinhoe for route familiarisation to allow for Barnstaple services to turnback at Pinhoe when the Exmouth Junction siding is replaced. These training runs were canned today (Monday, 14/12), but are scheduled to run every day this week.

Exmouth Junction siding "is replaced". Dose this mean taken out or renewed?

[PhilWakely]

Exmouth Junction siding "is replaced". Dose this mean taken out or renewed?

Sorry    I meant, 'when the Exmouth Junction turnback siding track is taken up and renewed'.

[Bob_Blakey]

Question: The Exmouth Junction turnback has, according to both Google & Bing aerial images, two sidings with the northerly line appearing to be blocked OOU^▸ (out of use); would there be any prospect of reactivation of the second track so that both Barnstaple & Okehampton services could be accommodated should it prove necessary?

[Electric train]

2 bad consequences of Turbos coming west are:
Exeter depot have little knowledge of 16xs and so can't work on them as well as the 143s/150s.
The 16x fleet is already aged and SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) already rob Peter to pay Paul to keep them running as there are few spares.

That has always been the case, even back in the days of Mk1 DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)'s Reading TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot) always had one of the highest fleet availability in the country

[REVUpminster]

Those 143s are still hanging on. Saw one attached to 150/2 at Paignton and one on Dawlish cams.

below 158957 on Paignton-Exmouth on Sunday

158957 2F24 1855 Paignton-Exmouth by Robert, on Flickr

[REVUpminster]

143 working 2T20 just seen on Dawlish cams. They're getting there monies worth. Modern Railways say Exeter's are very reliable beating newer stock/

[grahame]

143 working 2T20 just seen on Dawlish cams. They're getting there monies worth. Modern Railways say Exeter's are very reliable beating newer stock/

Just 3 days to go on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) ... though if you still want to ride a 143, I note that 15 have been given a derogation to be used until 31st May 2021 there - that's if you can get permission to go to Wales.  Also 9 Porterbrook and 4 Angel trains class 153s - not all their 153s, I don't think - some have had work done to make them compliant ...

[plymothian]

A cavalcade of 3 143s is scheduled to depart Exeter St David's for the final time at 12.19 on 30th December to Bristol.

[REVUpminster]

A cavalcade of 3 143s is scheduled to depart Exeter St David's for the final time at 12.19 on 30th December to Bristol.

Is a cavalcade coming the other way. I notice 3B72 arrives earlier from St Phillips Marsh at 0656; a 166? I hope and the same move on the 31st, and on the 1st Jan,  and 2nd Jan

That's 4 unless they are just paths. They only need 4 to replace the 8 143s and there are two already here.

Am I reading this right? Does anybody know the train numbers. 166210, 16211 already at Exeter.

These must be paths as only the 1st Jan says altered WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table) 1st January 2020