Brief reprieve for GWR Pacers

ALTHOUGH OFFICIALLY stood down on December 12, 2020 Great Western Railway only managed six days before a Class 143 was returned to traffic due to a shortage of stock. From December 18, 143618 was recorded back on the Exeter, Exmouth and Paignton circuits coupled to a Class 150, where it was joined by an equally resurrected 143617 three days later. Both worked through to Christmas Eve, with 143617 then remaining in use until December 28. With their PRM legislation dispensation due to expire, the brief return then came to an end with December 30 seeing 143603/17/18 along with 150207 form the 5D81 1219 Exeter TMD-St Philip’s Marsh, where the Pacers remained in mid-January awaiting their fate with 143619. Back on December 17, 143611/20/21 had run from Exeter to Landore for storage, while 143612 departed Bristol by road for Wishaw on December 14, where it was held until delivery to the Vale of Berkeley Railway could be arranged for late January. 143603 was also due to be delivered to the preserved line around the same time.