2nd March 2019

Three weeks of diversions over the old Southern route was the result of Whiteball Tunnel, on the ex-GWR route west of Wellington, being closed for relining. Unfortunately for me, few opportunities arose for photography of these trains, but today I was able to get out to capture a handful of HSTs for what will likely be the last time on this line, as their replacement by Hitachi Class 800s and 802s, the Intercity Express Train (IET) bi-mode units, is well advanced. First one caught was the 1C76 09.03 London Paddington to Plymouth service, seen here at 11.05 on the careful approach to the level crossing, before it entered the loop. Power car no. 43180 leads, 43189 out of sight at the other end.