NENTA SPA EXPRESS The 23rd August saw 'Nenta Tours' operate a charter from Norwich in East Anglia to Plymouth in Devon. Two West Coast Railways Class 47's were used for the tour hauling a mixed rake of stock between the two locations. Ex Virgin Trains 47851 'Traction Magazine' hauled the outward leg of the 1Z25 from Norwich departing at 04:30. However by Taunton the loco developed a fault which caused 47826 to be removed from the rear of the train, and bought forward to the front to haul the train into Devon. 47851 currently sports it's Heritage Virgin Trains repaint of Two Tone Green, although how much longer this livery will last before being painted into the West Coast house colours of 'drab maroon' it's not known. 47826 was also an Ex Virgin Trains locomotive, and was also painted in Heritage Intercity for some time. However the locomotive now sports the West Coast house colour scheme, although with the addition of the 'Scarborough Spa Express' Steam Excursion adverts on the side!
47826 is removed from the rear of the 1Z25 from Norwich and is seen at 40 Steps (Taunton) before heading back into Platform 2 in order to couple to it's former Virgin Cross Country Classmate 47851. It can be said that perhaps advertising 'The Scarborough Spa Express' this far South is a little novel! (Photo: Jeff Treece)
With 47826 and 47851 producing more clag than King Edwards' regular Sunday departures, the 1Z25 is seen departing Taunton for the final 80 miles jaunt to Plymouth (Photo: Jeff Treece)
|
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK! Often a group of single events are hard to report on as individual stories, so we have grouped together a selection of images taken over the past week detailing some of the movements which have occurred during the week. Wednesday the 22nd of August saw Steam Dreams operate their 'Cathedrals Express' charter from Clapham Jn to Exeter St Davids. The tour used LMS Royal Scot, 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' which worked the train as far as Westbury. At Westbury a Class 47 from West Coast Railways was used to forward the tour through to Exeter. This gave ample time for 6233 to be turned at Westbury before running tender first to Exeter with it's support coach.
Non heat 47245 speeds the 1Z82 through Taunton on the final leg of the Cathedrals Express to Exeter. (Photo: Cameron Walker)
6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' made a booked pathing stop at Taunton on the return trip to London Victoria. The Class 47 had already returned light engine to the capital. The LMS locomotive is seen paused at Platform 5, Taunton (Photo: Cameron Walker)
After her booked pathing stop at Taunton 6233 is seen pounding the rails of the Berks and Hants passing Oath on route to Westbury and London Victoria. (Photo: Brian Garrett)
It's not often images like this can be captured on the Mainline. Looking more like a 'Digital Enhanced Image' this amazing combination happened on the 22nd August when Tamper DR73108 failed at Tiverton while on a routine move North. A Cross Country Voyager was immediately behind the tamper which was then looped at Tiverton to allow 66603 to pass through and push the Tamper to Taunton! In a very rare move, 66603 is seen pushing the completely failed tamper (Note not even the marker lights are working) through Norton Fitzwarren into Fairwater Yard. The Freightliner Heavy Haul locomotive was working the 6A82 loaded Meldon - Fairwater Yard HOBC set. (Photos: Mike Rowland)
|
Last of the 'Valentas'
43104 and 43007 are now proudly battling on for Arriva Cross Country. Their new fleet of MTU fitted HST powercars are being produced at Brush Loughborough, shortly the the two remaining Valenta Powercars will enter works for a complete rebuild. Cross Country have been using ex Midland Mainline stock to operate their various services on Thursdays through to Mondays. However very soon the stock will also change to incorporate the Cross Country branding, with Mk3's which are currently being gutted and refurbished at Marcroft Engineering and Doncaster. Above Left: On the 3rd August in the pouring rain 43104 waits to depart Taunton with the 9V57 Edinburgh - Penzance. The rear powercar on this train was MTU fitted 43303 (Ex 43103) which has only been in mainline service since Thursday 31st July! (Photo: Brian Garrett) Above Right: On the 3rd August 43007 races North exiting Whiteball Tunnel with the 9S66 Plymouth - Glasgow service for Cross Country, 43301 (Ex 43101) was on the rear which has been operational for several weeks after an extensive rebuild. (Photo: Brian Garrett) Below: The image shows the differences between the current Valenta (Ex Midland Mainline) HST powercars and their new guise which will soon be commonplace on the Cross Country network within a matter of weeks! (Photos: Brian Garrett) Move your Mouse over the image to see 'Old and New'
Above Left: On the 9th August 2008, 43104 takes Taunton's centre road accelerating through the station working the 1V49 Manchester - Newquay service for Arriva Cross Country. (Photo: Mike Rowland) Above Right: On the 10th Augut 2008, 43007 leads 43104 (Both Valenta Powered) into Taunton with the Sunday's only 9S66 10:25 Plymouth - Edinburgh (Photo: Brian Garrett)
|
Taunton's Mellow Yellow Taunton has seen a large amount of Yellow liveries passing through it's Platforms this week as Network Rail continues it's program of track recording in the South West. On Monday 28th July 31233 lead the 4Z08 1218 Derby RTC - Exeter St Davids South. The train was formed of 31233 + 6263, 999602, DBSO 9703. On Wednesday 30th July the same train returned North working the 4Z08 from Exeter Riverside to Bristol Barton Hill depot. However this time the DBSO Coach would lead with the Class 31 providing power from the rear of the train.
On the 29th July DBSO 9703 arrives into Taunton at 40 Steps for it's booked pathing stock, working the 4Z08 to Bristol TM. (Photo: Brian Garrett)
On the 29th July during it's booked stop at Taunton, 31233 can be seen at the rear of the 4Z08 providing the unique opportunity to photograph yet another era of Network Rail test trains at Taunton. (Photo: Brian Garrett)
On the 31st July Network Rail's NMT (New Measurement Train) paid a VERY brief visit to Taunton. Working the 1Z17 Derby - Old Oak Common to Taunton, 43014 and 43013 arrived into Taunton's Platform 2 in typical wet summer evening conditions. The special HST was not stationary for long, and even delayed at Southbound FGW service because of congestion in Taunton's platforms! (Photo: Brian Garrett)
The NMT is currently formed as: 43013 + 977995 975814 977994 977993 975984 + 43014. 43013 is seen at the lead end of Taunton's Platform 2 ready to reverse and head forward to Old Oak Common (Photo: Adam Hiscock)
|
Bluebells new Blue Boy! It won't be long before 73133 'Bluebell' is joined in Fairwater Yard by another Class 73. 73119 left the The Keith and Dufftown Railway back in May of this year on route to become the second Fairwater Yard shunting locomotive. Since then 73119 (painted in the slightly more authentic BR Blue with full yellow ends) has been unloaded and stabled at Heanors Heavy Haulage Yard in the Midlands. It's hoped that soon the locomotive will be making it's way South to provide the chance of seeing a second ED at work in Fairwater Yard
73119 is seen amongst unfamiliar surroundings at Heanors Yard on the 19th July waiting for onward movement to Taunton where it will join Fairwater Yard's resident Class 73. 73133. (Photo with permission: Steve Yarde)
Contary to popular beleif that 73133 is little more than a static exhibit at the South end of Fairwater Yard, the locomotive does now make regular shunting forays around the yard complex. It's mainly used for shunting smaller sections of the HOBC / TRT sets, leaving the heavy work to her GM cousins from Freightliner Heavy Haul. (Photo: Brian Garrett)
|
DRS Departure. Having arrived at Taunton the 28th July light engine from Stowmarket, 37059 departed Taunton on the 29th with a Network Rail Stoneblower in tow heading for Wymondham (Norfolk). To see the departure from Taunton we have provided a video link with thanks to Steve Thornley.
|
Tangmere Bows to King Edward After several weeks of putting in a stirling performance on 'The Torbay Express' 34067 'Tangmere' will now take a back seat to allow Great Western traction to return to the service. For full details of which Steam Locomotives will be appearing over the next month check out our 'Workings Page'
On the 13th July, 34067 'Tangmere' catches the early evening glint as it arrives into Platform 5 at Taunton. (Photo: Cameron Walker)
6024 'King Edward 1st' made a welcome return to 'The Torbay Express' on the 20th July. In good light it's seen passing Banklands on the approach to Cogload Jn. (Photo: Bob Tucker)
After a stop at Taunton for servicing, 6024 departed Taunton in fine style and storms past Fairwater Yard. The 2008 Steam Season has for the first time produced a complete rake of authentic Chocolate and Cream coaching stock to accompany the Great Western theme. It certainly makes a change to see full rakes of the same livery compared to the 'mix and match' sets which have been provided in previous years! (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
crosscountry HST launched
The 18th July saw Cross Country Trains release their first refurbished MTU HST Powercar into traffic. Recently completed at Brush Loughborough the HST Powercar has been painstakingly rebuilt from a former shell. The body from 43101 was donated to the project having been stored at Loughborough from many years as a source of spares. As with the previous GNER MTU conversions Cross Country has added 200 to the previous powercar number to record that the powercars are effectively different to their previous Velenta engines. For a look at how 43101 looked before it's Brush MTU makeover have a look at this link to Paul Biglands Website
43301 also has it's number applied to the front nose end making their identification a little easier through the camera lens. The powercar was used to lead the 9V57 Edinburgh - Plymouth service pausing at Taunton around 19:20. Coaching stock is still formed of Ex Midland Mainline Mk3 coaches, while Cross Country have their new refurbished coaching stock completed at Doncaster. It's expected that the set 'may' be turned overnight at Laira to allow 43301 to lead the 1E47 from Newquay on the 19th (Taunton non stop 12:45). Photos Above: Brian Garrett
On the 19th July 43301 lead the 1E47 from Nequay to Manchester providing the chance to photograph the Cross Country livery leading the Midland Mainline set once again, this time in good light. 43301 is seen approching Cogload Jn heading North. (Photo: Cameron Walker)
|
TANTALISING TAUNTON! Every now and then a chain of events is set off which seems to cause indecipherable events at Taunton. Wednesday 16th July was one of those days where everything seemed to occur at once. The previous night 31233 had arrived at Taunton and stabled in Platform 1 with the Network Rail test train (complete with the new DBSO Coach 9703) ready to work to Minehead on the 16th. On the same night, due to congestion within Fairwater Yard 66506 had been stabled in Platform 6. This meant both of the bay platforms were occupied with locomotives for the first time in many years! During the 16th Taunton would also be visited by 34067 'Tangmere' which would start the steam leg of a charter to Kingswear. The charter was hauled from London by Royal Class 67 No. 67006. Tangmere arrived earlier in the morning shunting to Platform 1 (The Platform now being vacant as 31233 was on route to Minehead) to allow the locomotive to take water and be serviced. Upon arrival of the tour into Platform 2, 67006 was removed and 34067 added to the tour. 67006 then returning to Platform 1 nearest the buffer stops, the Royal 67 becoming the first of it's Class to visit the famous Platform! After Tangmere had departed South, the 67 remained in Platform 1 and promptly became blocked in by 31233 when it arrived back from Minehead. Thankfully some bright spark remembered that the Royal locomotive had an earlier engagement, and some shunting was done in order switch the two trains around! Below is a summary of the movements recorded at Taunton on the 16th July to give some idea of just how busy and complicated the day became:
|
40 Steps Save Our Bridge
Many in the Taunton area will be aware of the current plans to build a relief road through the Northern fringe of Taunton's suburbs. We reported on Taunton Trains quite some time ago how one of the most popular photographic locations in Taunton could be lost because of the new road which is planned to be built on top of the current Fairwater Yard Headshunt. After a public exhibition to detail the route of the new road, PDF drawings have now been released which show the new bridge which will be built in place of the current structure. At 77 meters long the bridge is a monster, allowing for disabled access ramps at both ends. Although the whole structure won't be closed in, the sides will be high, and the section spanning the railway will be entirely meshed. Network Rail are pushing for the cage, and claim this is because of the crime rate which exists on the bridge, and will prevent things being thrown from the bridge. Questions are now being asked of Network Rail to provide full details to justify their claim for a meshed section to the bridge, the Somerset County Council wish to have the bridge un-caged. The cage will also severely hinder photography from this classic location, however the size of the structure will open up additional photography locations and new angles, however NR's insistence to cage the main span will cause problems for the large crowds of photographers who gather to photograph passing Steam and Diesel Charters in the Summer months! We have obtained the links to the relevant documents which you can download and inspect in your own time, however we would strongly recommend that the relevant bodies at the Somerset County Council, Atkins and Network Rail should be lobbied to ensure that railway photography from this classic and safe location can still be pursued. The bridge and proposed roundabout at Staplgrove Road have now been submitted for formal planning with construction due to begin in 2010. So if you want to continue viewing images like those shown below then it's going to take a lot of letters and Emails to make sure views like this can still be recorded. We will of course post the relevant contact details on Taunton Trains in due course, and keep you up to date with any planning decisions and information.
Photos Above: Bernard Mills, Jeff Treece, Dave Jones, Brian Garrett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's certainly worth taking note of a novel fix which for a caged bridge, as found in Mojave. The local town of Mojave (California) needed to build a new road bridge. As with 40 Steps they felt it needed to be caged to prevent people from throwing themselves and items onto the track below. However local rail fans objected the caged mesh as the bridge grave good vantage points of Union Pacific's Yard at Mojave. They would be unable to take photographs. The Railfans working with the local council and the manufacturers to come up with a very novel, and cheap solution to the problem. Let's hope Network Rail can come up with something equally as novel, cost effective, and vandal proof!
Such a simple piece of timber, screwed to the mesh, allows local photographers to poke their lens through the hole to take photos of the passing trains, these have been placed in about 6 - 8 locations over the length of the bridge to allow for different angles to be used.
|
