A SHORTAGE of CrossCountry power cars because of failures saw both an East Midlands and Virgin East Coast power car visit the South West on August 11.
Power car No. 43303 should have worked 1V44, the 06.00 Leeds-Plymouth with 43207, but with the latter having failed before the train started, East Midland trains 43043 was hired in as substitute.
The train terminated short of Plymouth at Totnes 83min late because of late running, before starting the 12.25 Plymouth-Glasgow Central from Totnes at its booked time.
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There were plans to swap the borrowed 43043 for 43303, but the former was failed at Edinburgh Craigentinny and replaced by hired-in Virgin East Coast power car No. 43305. This was used on the 1V58 09.00 Glasgow Central-Penzance and 2C80, the 21.29 Penzance-Plymouth, where it was stabled at Plymouth Laira.
The next day the unit worked the 1S51 12.25 Plymouth-Glasgow Central to get it back to Edinburgh Craigentinny for the night.
The power car changes brought the first HST power car in Virgin East Coast livery to the West Country since Virgin took over the franchise, and the visit of the EMT power car was the first for several years.
REPORT AND PICTURES: DAVID HUNT
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