GREAT Western Railway (GWR)’s Castle Class trains enjoyed a final hurrah before retirement on Saturday [December 13]. An additional service travelled from Plymouth and Penzance with a single stop at Par to meet interest from train enthusiasts.

Originally introduced in 1976, the Class 43 locomotives and Mark 3 coaches have been in service on the network for almost 50 years and were the mainstay of Intercity services across the country.

These trains stopped operating long-distance GWR routes in May 2019 following the introduction of the Intercity Express Trains, but were refurbished to support regional services between Cardiff and Penzance.

They will be replaced by GWR’s existing fleet, along with its 26 recommissioned Class 175 trains, which will be gradually rolled out throughout 2026.