Two lines local to me hosted at least a few daily Class 43 services prior to the gradual withdrawal of the class. No. 43366, a CrossCountry power car, leads its train past Besford.

‘Celebrity’ power car No. 43002 departs Pershore station at the rear of th 13:47 train to London Paddington. Despite going to the trouble to paint two power cars in heritage liveries to celebrate 40 years of the class’ service, punctuality on the Cotswold Line is poor; examination of the matrix board reveals that this train is over half an hour late.

The other one of the two ‘celebrity’ power cars, No. 43185, passes a popular photographic spot at Lower Moor.

2018 was the last year of Class 43 hauled services to the Pembrokeshire coast. No. 43156 stops at a an unguarded crossing near Manorbier station, which itself is a mile from the village, in order to sound the horn before proceeding.

One or two services per day between Worcester and London operate via Cheltenham, and one of these is at an ideal time of morning for photography. Nos. 43196 and 43158 leave Bredon on the way to Cheltenham with a Saturday morning service to the capital.

Another photograph of the Saturday morning HST to London via Cheltenham, this time at Brockhampton level crossing just outside Cheltenham. This was the last HST to operate this service before it was taken over by the Class 800.

A new lease of life for the Class 43. Nos. 43094 and 43005 have been refurbished to form a ‘Castle’ set.