Trio of former GWR Castle Class power cars scrapped

Following the movement of former Great Western Railway high speed train Castle Class power car 43170 to store at Ely Papworth sidings on June 8 (Railways Illustrated issue 246), three further former GWR power cars have now also left Laira depot, but unlike 43170, these were heavily stripped and sent for scrap.

The three power cars – which had all undergone extensive component recovery following their removal from traffic with GWR – were 43005/041 and 43171. The trio left Laira depot by low-loader for an appointment with the South Wales scrap merchant at Sims

Metals, Newport Docks, as the level of component recovery meant that they were unfit to be moved by rail.

First to leave Laira was cab-less 43005, which left on July 4, with 43041 following the next day and 43171 making its scrap move on July 6. All three had been completely dismantled by the following week. 43041 was the first of 35-strong castle Class HST power car fleet to be stood down from service, with the former St Catherine’ sc a st le working its final trains in August last year, while 43171 Raglan Castle was stored in november 2022 and 43005 St Michael’s Mount in February.

At the time of writing, no further GWR Castle Class power cars had been stopped, with eight power cars having been stopped so far. It is understood that Mk.3 coaching stock set GW11 (consisting of trailer standard coaches 48131-133 and Trailer Guard Standard 49111) was taken out of service the week commending July 17.

GWR currently has seven diagrams worked by its Castle Class 2x4 HST sets and this is expected to be reduced upon the next timetable change, which will then allow more power cars and coaching sets to be taken out of traffic. However, original plans for the fleet to be completely removed from timetabled duties by the end of the year have now been revised and it is expected that at least three castle class sets will continue to see daily use on GWR diagrams into 2024.

Chris Rees One for the road: Loaded up at Laira depot and ready for its trip to Sims Metals at Newport Docks, the former GWR Castle Class power car 43041 awaits its final journey on July 5, now devoid of its St Catherine’s Castle nameplates and large metal GWR bodyside branding. As with classmates 43005 and 43171, this power car had undergone extensive component recovery before being sent for scrapping. Within a few days of their arrival at Newport, all three Class 43s had been consigned to the history books.