'Castle' HST sets

[76026]

Is it true that some of the GWR 2+4 HSTs went into service using unconverted slam door coaches?
If so, does anyone know when the Mk 3 upgrades are expected to be completed?

[the green mile]

I did on at least one occasion observe a set running around with trailer cars in the old FGW dynamic lines livery. This would suggest that they had not been retrofitted with power operated doors and presumably retention tank toilets. I will interrogate my grapevine next time I pass through the old workplace.

Roy

[Robin Summerhill]

Some of them are indeed running around with slam doors whilst waiting for refurbishment. I was on one a few weeks ago between WSM and Taunton.

I understand from another forum that this is causing some minor havoc with timekeeping due to the longer station dwell times necessary with slam door stock.

[Ashley Hill]

The 2+4 HSTs with slam doors are class 257s to differentiate from "Castles" which are 255s. This is for diagramming purposes as only Train Managers can work 257s whereas Conductors and Train Managers can work 255s. Some 257s have green coaches in formation but most are still blue. All 255s are green. The 257s "should all be converted to 255s by December but this seems quite unlikely. The time keeping issues mostly concern the loading/unloading of bikes. This is more prevalent in the Bristol corridor than Devon and Cornwall as passengers at say Parson Street or Highbridge are used to units on their stopping services and don't understand why they have to put their bike in the van.

[76026]

Thanks all- most helpful

[the green mile]

The latest edition of the 125 Group Magazine confirms that the four car sets remain a mixture of sliding door sets and conventional slam door sets pending arrival of the final conversions.

Another article lists all the Castle class nameplates which are being applied to the power cars. All of them have the castle suffix apart from St Michael's Mount. Many of the names once adorned the former pre-nationalisation GWR Castle class locos. One notable exception from the list is Bristol Castle which seems strange.

Roy

[Ashley Hill]

GWR recently produced an excellent 63 page booklet called "Castles to Legend Land". Inside is a short history of each actual castle together with a picture of it. The book also suggests that the companies class 57s are to receive the new style castle nameplates except 57604 which will keep its brass ones.

[Andy Kirkham]

Another article lists all the Castle class nameplates which are being applied to the power cars. All of them have the castle suffix apart from St Michael's Mount. Many of the names once adorned the former pre-nationalisation GWR Castle class locos. One notable exception from the list is Bristol Castle which seems strange.

Roy

When I visited STEAM at Swindon the other week, the nameplates were on display. They all feature a silhouette of the castle in question. Perhaps the omission of Brstol Castle is because the edifice no longer exists and could not provide a recognisable image to adorn the nameplate.

[Rivercider]

I understand that 8 refurbished sets have now been sent down from Doncaster, leaving three slam-door sets to do.
I have seen refurbished set GW07.

I have travelled on the 2+4 sets quite a lot, Weston to Camborne in a HST is much better than a 150, or change en route!

cheers

[76026]

Thanks for this info.
I had my first 2+4 journey last week-very pleasant, and much more comfortable than travelling on an IET. I had planned to have two journeys, but one of the sets failed and that service was cancelled.