Description

The sights and sounds of a six-coach formation powered by 43004 ‘Caerphilly Castle’ and 43154 ‘Compton Castle’ on a 145 mile route! Starting at the Wabtec plant, and on to Doncaster, Swinton, Chesterfield and Derby, it proceeds to Tamworth and then crawls around the Birmingham suburbs to Kings Norton, down the Lickey, Cheltenham Spa and finally Gloucester (New Yard).

Full description from the producer:

Cab Ride: Doncaster to Gloucester (New Yard) via Chesterfield, Derby, Water Orton and Bromsgrove

During the big reorganisation of the HSTs the majority of the survivors visited the works at Doncaster, with the power cars undergoing an overhaul. The coaches were also overhauled and fitted with power doors. Reformed in shorter sets, these iconic trains remerged for a new life in their smart ‘Great Western’ dark green and ‘Scotrail’ Inter7City liveries.

ROG were in charge of most of the moves from the home depots of Laira and Haymarket and with the programme coming to an end, an opportunity arose for a cab ride on board a GW set on its way back from Doncaster to Plymouth.

This is the first part of an epic eight hour journey, filmed in August 2021. This programme covers the route from Doncaster to Gloucester, a total of 145 miles. Running as a six coach formation, the power cars are 43004 ‘Caerphilly Castle’ and 43154 ‘Compton Castle’.The route we take is fairly straightforward: From the Wabtec plant (reverse) then Doncaster, Swinton and Chesterfield to Derby, then Tamworth, Water Orton, a crawl around the Birmingham suburbs to Kings Norton, down the Lickey, Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester (New Yard).

Includes maps, on-screen captions and minimal narration. A thrash cam in the guards area records 43004 at work and ambient sounds.

Additional information