JUNE NEWS :
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Taunton was visited by two tours in quick succession on Saturday the 27th June. First to pass through was Spitfire Railtours 'Kernow Growler' working from Birmingham International to Penzance. The tour utilized two rare South West visitors 37194 & 37087 and passed Taunton just after 9am in difficult lighting conditions. About 10 minutes after this image 40145 promptly passed through with Pathfinder Railtours 'Cornish Explorer' working from Portsmouth to Penzance! (Photo: Bob Tucker) |
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Early morning sun rise's now provide the perfect opportunity to capture the 4L31 06:30 Fairwater Yard - Whitemoor Yard used sleepers departing Taunton.On the 24th June 66705 'Golden Jubilee' departs Fairwater Yard on time in the early morning clear skies. The loco arrives into Taunton during the early hours with a loaded train of new sleepers. This return service takes the old ones back to Whitemoor Yard for processing. (Photo: Steve Yarde) |
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Having settled into their routine Taunton - Cardiff weekday diagrams, 67016 and 67017 do manage to escape the attention of local enthusiasts becuase of their regularity.However to coin the phase 'never look a gift horse in the mouth' we should not take loco hauled service trains for granted. On the 15th June 67016 passes Creech St Michael with the 2C79 14:00 Cardiff - Taunton stopping service for First Great Western (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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The West Somerset Railway managed to turn the clock back at their recent Mixed Traffic weekend with a host of Hydraulic Locomotives working alongside the DEPG home fleet. Although Friday and Saturday provided fair weather, Sunday was the best day with wall to wall sunshine for most of the day.Seen at Minehead having arrived from Bishops Lydeard is D7017 being prepared for a quick trip onto the WSR Turntable at Minehead. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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The first day of the West Somerset Railway's 'Mixed Traffic Gala' kicked off in style on the 12th of June with Hydraulics taking centre stage for the three day event.Here D1062 'Western Courier' is seen departing Blue Anchor on route to Minehead with many heads enjoying the sound of the twin engined machine working away from Blue Anchor. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Having moved D1062 from Kidderminster to Williton on the 10th June in preparation for the WSR Mixed Traffic Gala. GBRF's 66730 made it's first visit to Platform 1 at Taunton, stabling there on the same night. The loco remained in P1 during the 11th. It is thought to be returned to Peterbrough in the consist of the 4L31 06:30 Fairwater - Whitemoor on Friday 12th. (Photo: Rodney Anson) |
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GBRF moved the recently overhauled D1062 'Western Courier' from Kidderminster to Williton (West Somerset Railway) on the 10th June. The loco was moved in preparation for the forthcoming West Somerset Railway Mixed Traffic Gala. Sadly the DEPG's own D1010 'Western Campaigner' won't be joining D1062 for the event. 66730 is seen passing Banklands nearing Taunton with the 0V52 from Kidderminster running 40 minutes early. (Photo: Bob Tucker) |
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The 6th June saw Compass Tours take two DB Class 37's to the seaside holiday town of Paignton. 37401 and 37670 are the only two former EWS Class 37's currently in operational condition.In horrid weather conditions 37670 and 37401 blast through Taunton with the return 1Z45 16:30 Paignton - Preston. 37670 still carries it's shabby paintwork from months in open store. (Photo: Jeff Treece) |
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It's not often we see odd HST moves through Taunton, a once common sight between Laira and St Phillips Marsh Depots!Tonight we take a second look at the 3rd June when FGW provided this 'GTI' HST move working the 5Z77 14:00 Empty Coaching stock move from Old Oak Common to Laira. 43041 is seen passing Beambridge climbing Whiteball Bank into Devon leading coaches 42356 40807 with 43150 on the rear. (Photo: Nathan Williamson) |
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It's not often we see odd HST moves through Taunton, a once common sight between Laira and St Phillips Marsh Depots!However on the 3rd June FGW provided this 'GTI' HST move working the 5Z77 14:00 Empty Coaching stock move from Old Oak Common to Laira. 43041 is seen passing 40 Steps , Taunton leading coaches 42356 40807 with 43150 on the rear. (Photo: Steve Yarde) |
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June starts with glorious weather and large heavy freight. Network Rail are continuing to operate their TRT and HOBC sets from Fairwater Yard. On the 1st June 2009 66552 is pictured approaching Victory Crossing with the 6Y33 20:14 Fairwater Yard - Tiverton Loop TRT set. Powering away from Taunton 66552 (with 66546 at the rear) makes a fine sight as it pulls away from Taunton under full power. The heat haze from the heated exhaust is clearly evident! (Photo: Mike Rowland) |