Query about FGW on the SWML

I have just seen a picture of a First Great Western Class 43 running down the South Western Mainline between Farnborough and Fleet (i.e at Bramshot) - it's a head on shot but the leading power car seems to have the dark blue FGW livery.

Any idea why an FGW Class 43 would have been on that line?

(Sorry no date information with the image)

 

Reading remodelling and wires installation led to a number of times with interesting diversions.

Simon

 

Ah yes a definite possibility (and I hadn't thought of that)

 

Or could have been empty stock movement or route learning.

 

Most likily when the GW main line is closed for engineering works then GWR divert via SW main line, with specially reformed HST sets, as they all have to be of the short swing type bogie normally HST's cant operate on the SW because the sets would be out of gauge the one in question most likily was a west of England service from Plymouth, as these tend to be the ones diverted via Salisbury where as most of the other diverted services would run via Staines, or terminate at Reading, i was on one once from Swindon, and we went via staines and Clapham junction and used the then out of use Eurostar platforms at Waterloo,

 

Happened a few times in 2015 at least and throughout the entire Easter holiday. Scenes like this became commonplace on SWML. Seemed to attract some interest too. This is the 1O42 08:44 Waterloo to Penzance on 6th April 2015.

 

From memory the HST's to Waterloo via Woking were worked by GW drivers with Freightliner pilotmen.
( Did anyone else notice that the Saturday night maintenance trains around Waterloo at that time were always worked by Freightliner for "route knowledge"?)

Cheers, Neil