The Tall Controller

Welcome to November! On a day with so much cloud, it was a real treat to be given a beautiful sunrise at Dawlish.

@SwanageNick @ChrisChurchil20 @driverbod125 Would love to visit it if you end up back there again.

@ChrisChurchil20 @Tall_Controller @driverbod125 Still is mine, from time to time! 17 turns there so far this year, not bad for a Relief.

Marchwood has to be my favourite disused station! Located on a barely used line near Southampton, it retains a platform, station building as well as a signal box with manual crossing gates and fully operational semaphores! It still sees the odd train to nearby military site.

There at the beginning and the end. 43042s appearance at the grand finale last week was significant as in addition to being one of the last to leave Plymouth, it was also one of the first! 43042 was part of set 253021 which was the first to appear in Plymouth on 10 April 1977.

@jayforeman I did have an Uncle Barry. Is this book available in the afterlife bookshop?

Don’t go to bed until you’ve made another satisfying dent in your Christmas shopping by ordering a copy of the Map Men book for your Uncle Barry for the temporary low price of £8.33. lnk.to/mapmen

@cliffordbeeton The priority is getting them out as soon as possible regardless of the livery.

@Tall_Controller Thought they would have painted it before entering service or is it not worth it considering GWR is being Nationalised in 2026 and trains will get Great British Railways livery from Spring 2026.

Changing of the guard... With operation of the Castle HSTs at an end, the new order starts to take their place. The first of GWR's Class 175s has entered service today on a round trip from Plymouth to Penzance. More to follow in the new year. (Photo not taken today)

@puddleswellies Correct!

@Tall_Controller That's....Totnes?

@rafthemaster You're welcome. I'm glad I could help

@Tall_Controller The video still captures the moment and gives those of us not present a chance to see what the moment was like, thanks for sharing

The final HST of last night's line up leaves Plymouth for the final time, to toots, cheers and applause! I make no apologies for the basicness of the video. I wanted to watch the event with my own eyes instead of through a screen. But it captures the atmosphere perfectly.

@Implacable_39 Thank you 😊

@Tall_Controller That’s a great video - really captures the atmosphere

@John_The_Fitter It was in the right place at the right time. The set was on its last Penzance-Plymouth run when it was decided to utilise it for the Newquay line. Extended its life by about 9 hours!

@Tall_Controller A really great piece of video, thanks for posting. To think that the fourth Castle set on the very last day, was still required to cover for a failed Class 150 on the Newquay branch, and got home to Plymouth as you mention just before midnight was truly a remarkable end to them.

@every_station Enjoy the sights and Sound of Plymouth (pun intended)

How do! After a very late night I’ve opted for a nice relaxing day today! Plymouth & back is the plan. Hopefully back in time for the footie!

@blurtonwolf Many thousands, if not millions of miles...and hopefully more to come!

@Tall_Controller Does anyone know how many miles it did?

The final HST from Exeter St Davids After almost 50 years, the public service of the HST in the south west comes to an end today. GWR's oldest power car, 43004 Caerphilly Castle had the honour of leading the 0800 Exeter St Davids to Penzance with classmate 43186 Taunton Castle.

@AndyRoden1 @GWRHelp No problem at all. It was wonderful day. Everyone went home happy!

@Tall_Controller You are, as ever, a gentleman! What a fabulous day - and everyone at @GWRHelp really did those trains and all of us paying tribute to them proud.

What a fabulous send off to the HST at Plymouth...3 of the 4 sets in service all lined up ready to head to Laira depot for one last time. Plymouth welcomed its first HST on 10 April 1977. Tonight it will wave goodbye to its last when the 4th set finishes just before midnight.

@AndyRoden1 Certainly

@Tall_Controller A fabulous shot! Would you be able to ping it to me at MR, pard?

@AndyRoden1 @every_station He had a very knowledgeable tour guide 😉 And yes, it was large steak!

@every_station A correct move. What pasty did you have? Always a large steak for me. Philps pasties are Bleddy ansum.

First stop today is Hayle. Second stop after this was a Philps Pasty! Was delicious, so delicious in fact that I forgot to take any photos of any sort 🤦‍♂️

🍓🍓🍓🍓

Flying Scotsman had her first run back on the West Somerset Railway where she's holidaying for the next few weeks. It was great to see every train full and so many spectators out to see her. It was a privilege to signal her into Minehead today.