Arriva Crosscountry set 43239 | XC01 | 43304 are photographed passing through Whiteball on the 12:27 1S51 Plymouth to Edinburgh Service.
(Images: ©️ Steve Oliver)
Arriva Crosscountry | Class 43
Class 43
Built: 1975 - 1982 by BREL at Crewe Works
Current Engine: MTU4000
Design Speed: 125mph
With Arriva taking over the Crosscountry franchise from Virgin in 2007, the inherited fleet of 5 HST sets were sent to Brush Traction at Loughborough for fitting with MTU4000 engines and the application of the attractive Plum livery repaint which is still the livery in use today
Crosscountry are now the only remaining operator to run HST full sets in the UK, consisting of 5 MKIII coaching sets XC01 - XC05 which have remained with Crosscountry since first entering service with the operator.
As one of the hardest worked fleets in the UK Crosscountry operate 12 power cars including 43366, the only named power car with them, 'HST 40 Celebrating 40 years of high speed train services on the Crosscountry Network' and 43184 (43384) outshopped in the striking original British Rail Intercity Executive livery with all 12 allocated to Plymouth Laira.
Current Power Cars:
43184 (43384) | 43207 | 43208 | 43239 | 43288 | 43301 | 43303 | 43304 | 43321 | 43357 | 43366 'HST 40' | 43378
Update: 43184 now named 'Laira Diesel Depot'.
43184 'Laira Diesel Depot' is photographed standing at Exeter St Davids while leading 1E63 15:27 Plymouth to Leeds Service.
43184 'Laira Diesel Depot' is photographed at Exeter St Davids while working the 06:06 1V50 Edinburgh to Plymouth Service.
43301 | XC01| 43239 work 1V44 Leeds to Plymouth through Whiteball in Devon
Arriva Crosscountry set 43239 | XC01 | 43304 are photographed passing through Whiteball on the 12:27 1S51 Plymouth to Edinburgh Service
43184 and 43303 arrive at Tiverton Parkway in Devon with the 06:11 1V44 Leeds to Plymouth
43184 and 43303 arrive at Tiverton Parkway in Devon with the 06:11 1V44 Leeds to Plymouth
43357 is photographed on Teignmouth Sea Wall from Eastcliff Bridge while in charge of a Plymouth bound service
Crosscountry Trains 43184 | XC02 | 43303 approach Dawlish Station with the 15:27 1E63 Plymouth to Leeds Service
Crosscountry Trains 43366 (XC05 + 43285) and GWR 43162 stand side by side on ground power adjacent to shed 10 at Plymouth Laira Depot.
Photographed are 43378 and 43304 working 1V52 06:58 Edinburgh to Plymouth as they pass through Silverton in Devon. 2022.04.09
43301 and 43285 are photographed passing through Higher Eastbrook in Devon with one of the recent route learning Laira to Laira via Bedminster runs
43304 is photographed leading 1V50 Edinburgh to Plymouth through Higher Eastbrook in Devon
43184 and 43303 arrive at Tiverton Parkway in Devon with the 06:11 1V44 Leeds to Plymouth
Crosscountry Trains Intercity Executive liveried 43184 (43384) with 43239 on the rear is photographed charging through Tiverton Parkway with a heavily delayed run to Edinburgh, which should have originally seen it stop at Tiverton. The service was late leaving Plymouth following the earlier cancellation at Derby of its Leeds to Plymouth run down, and a subsequent ECS movement between the 2 locations.
43208 leads the daily run from Edinburgh to Plymouth seen working through Whiteball / Upper Eastbrook as it approaches Tiverton Parkway in Devon
43321 | XC05 | 43378 are photographed emerging from Whiteball Tunnel in Devon with the 06:06 1V50 Edinburgh to Plymouth Service
One of my favourite locations of 2021 was Marlands in Somerset, which on this occasion back in the summer saw @crosscountrytrains 43303 | XC02 | 43239 working 1E63 Plymouth to Leeds climbing up away from Whiteball Tunnel. The location provides fantastic views of the line from a public place of safety.
43208 leads 1E63 photographed as it passes up through Rewe in Devon
43384 waits time in the autumnal sunshine ahead of working 1S51 Plymouth to Edinburgh.
Crosscountry Trains 43378 leads a Plymouth bound service along Teignmouth Sea Wall photographed at Sprey Point.