21st January 2026 The rare view of the rear end of an HST powercar at Taunton on the 21st January 2026, as No.43198, leads No.43098 and No.43097. The three HST powercars operating as 0Z43 11:34 Totnes - Carnforth Steamtown heading to new owners West Coast Railways. (Photo: Matt Powell)

21st January 2026 Wednesday 21st January 2026 saw the next batch of former GWR powercars departing Laira for the last time, destined for new owners West Coast Railways Company. Off-lease GWR Class 43 power cars No.43198 (Formerly Driver Brian Cooper / Driver Stan Martin), No.43098 (Formerly Walton Castle), and No.43097 (Formerly Castle Drogo) passed through a very wet and windy Taunton. Noting that No.43198 was still carrying GWR branding on one side only. The movement was originally timed to run as 5Z43 from Totnes to Carnforth Steamtown, but problems accessing the South Devon Railway called for a change of plan. The original schedule planned for the three power cars to run light from Laira depot to Totnes and collect four additional West Coast Railways Mk1 coaches before continuing to Carnforth. A points failure resulted in the three power cars continuing ahead, operating as 0Z43 11:34 Totnes – Carnforth Steamtown. (Photo: S A Ginn)

21st January 2026 Former GWR powercars No.43198, No. 43098 'Walton Castle'[NN] and No. 43097 'Castle Drogo'[NN] make their last journey through Taunton Station on the 21st January 2026. The three former GWR powercars (with No. 43198 still branded on the opposite bodyside) operated as 0Z43 11:34 Totnes - Carnforth Steamtown, heading to their new owners, West Coast Railways. The powercars were originally planned to collect four West Coast Railways Mk1 coaches from the South Devon Railway, but due to a points failure, the collection was cancelled. (Photo: Matt Powell)