Class 175s to GWR

[craigybagel]

I don`t know if the sunflowers themselves have since been modified or not but I have seen one picture within the cab that shows that the sunflower mounting was now angled towards the driver with the probable intention to make it more visible, is this the case on all the units now ?

Prior to storage sunflowers were not illuminated but the yellow petals were painted with fluorescent paint for visibility during darkness and in a depot environment during the hours of darkness the sunflowers were visible. I don`t recall any driver defect reports asking for them to be replaced due to poor visibility.

I don't know the reasons why, but Aslef are inisiting that the sunflowers be luminous in darkness. I suppose it's to match the rest of the GWR fleet, ie it's something that drivers are accustomed to. You point out that the sunflower is visible on depot, and that's half the problem. They are mistakenly coming off depot, then the driver at Plymouth station has to either fail set, or wait for daylight before working the train.

They were never visible in darkness when they were at TfW. Putting them in a more sensible position facing the driver won't fix that. It was accepted at TfW but the issue wasn't unique to that part of the fleet there.

This is not a criticism of either TOC or ASLEF - but it is good to see that ASLEF are insisting their members at GWR don't take a step backwards in terms of cab conditions.

 

[BrianW]

Displaying my ignorance here, and not trawling back through 4141 posts- what is a sunflower? Sunflower stopped play?

 

[tfw756rider]

Displaying my ignorance here, and not trawling back through 4141 posts- what is a sunflower? Sunflower stopped play?

The 'sunflower' (AWS sunflower) is the round visual indicator of the Automatic Warning System (AWS).

Attached is an image (credit: To The Trains) that shows two stages of the AWS sunflower:

Left: AWS sunflower active. Right: Inactive; next signal clear.

Source page of the image

 

[spark001uk]

Displaying my ignorance here, and not trawling back through 4141 posts- what is a sunflower? Sunflower stopped play?

Automatic Warning System - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Siemens Staines]

To be expected as darkness falls

19:15 Penzance to Exeter St Davids due 22:37 will be terminated at Truro.
Last Updated:02/09/2026 20:01

 

[devondonkeu]

Just clocked on and 115 cancelled Par to Exeter and it's the connecting train at Exeter for Bristol.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 20:56 ==

5E90 150 to Exeter was in the platform at Par and went off. I'm sure the passengers were impressed, not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 20:59 ==

115 as 5E28 terminating at Plymouth

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 21:16 ==

When the two trains were at Par, I wonder if they asked the guard of 115 to go on the 150 so it could go passenger to Exeter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 21:26 ==

5E90 has gone into the siding south of platform 3

I was on this from Truro and yes, I saw 5E90 leave ecs (with a guard) and let the them know I wasn't happy. Especially when I found the pub closed too . 115 left ecs about ten mins after cancellation

 

[REVUpminster]

006 just passed Saltash as 5E28. 2Z28 is on it's way in it's timings 27 late. 150266 off Falmouth. Hopgood could replace Jethro on Cornwall radio.

5E28 shunted to the dock platform. Maybe the crew have to take 2Z28 which has arrived at 2136

 

[Apedlar12]

2Z28 is on it's way in it's timings 27 late. A 150 I presume.

Yes, 150266 on 2Z28.

 

[BillStampy]

To be expected as darkness falls

19:15 Penzance to Exeter St Davids due 22:37 will be terminated at Truro.
Last Updated:02/09/2026 20:01

It's frustrating as it's only going to get worse if the problem isn't solved as we approach the winter time and daytime continues to be slashed daily!

 

[REVUpminster]

2Z28 arrived at Exeter and they didn't hold 2M77 the Bristol connection 10 minutes and it went 1/2 minute early!

The golden rule on GWR is "a train in the platform is worth two down the line". Take the first train and go as far as you can towards your destination.