Published on 23rd February 2003
EWS Class 66 No.66171 passes Creech St Michael on the 23rd February 2003.
The locomotive was operating a Bridgwater - Westbury via Taunton engineering conveying fresh ballast from an engineering blockade near Highbridge.
EWS Class 66 No.66046 rounds the curve at Creech St Michael with a short engineers train on the 22nd February 2003. The loco was operating a Bridgwater - Westbury via Taunton engineers, with a mixed rake of ballast and new sleepers.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 23rd February 2003
A shortened Virgin Trains 'Challenger' set passes Creech St Michael on the 23rd February 2003.
No.43103 leads No.43090 with a five car set with a service to Plymouth. The sets had been shortened from eight cars to allow the HST sets to keep up with the newly introduced Virgin Voyager timings.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 15th February 2003
The Exe-Tawe Charter operated by Pathfinder Tours on the 15th February 2003 took a unique route by brining a charter south as far as Newton Abbot before changing direction and heading away from Devon and Somerset with a destination of Bridgend.
Class 46 No.46035 (Owned by Pete Waterman) operated the diesel leg of the tour operating as 1Z66 04:44 Crewe - Bridgend via Newton Abbot. The loco was reported passing Yatton at 75mph and clearing Whiteball Bank at 58mph (load 11). Upon arrival at Newton Abbot the Class 46 was removed and then ran light engine behind the charter through to Bridgend. The loco carried the headcode 0B24 which was a former light engine move to Highbridge in British Rail days. At Newton Abbot GWR 4-6-0 Castle No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' then operated the steam leg between Newton Abbot and Bridgend. The Castle put in a stunning performance on Whiteball Bank with the cold crisp morning providing a good column of smoke on the climb leaving Devon.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Taunton Trains Collection)
Published on 1st February 2003
A First Great Western HST departs from Platform 3 at Taunton heading for London Paddington on the 1st February 2003.
In the adjacent platform No.43141 is pictured on the rear of a southbound service from London.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 1st February 2003
First Great Western their 1C23 10:33 London Paddington - Penzance service and 1A91 16:40 Penzance - London Paddington in 'top and tail' formation on the 1st February 2003.
No.47815 lead the southbound service with No.47811 on the rear. Upon arriving at Penzance, No.47811 then lead the evening service back to London Paddington. The services were captured passing Taunton in both directions.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 1st February 2003
Virgin Cross Country 'Super' Voyager No.221110 passes 40 Steps on the 1st February 2003 passing with an unidentified norhthound service, arriving into Taunton for its booked passenger stop.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 1st February 2003
Former British Rail locomotives No. D1015 'Western Champion' and No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' pass through Creech St Michael on the 1st February 2003 at 07:55 in the morning.
The pair were operating Pathfinder Railtours 'The Royal Duchy' charter 1Z29 04:45 Slough - Penzance. The Western piloted the Castle through to Exeter Riverside Yard where the 'Castle' then operated solo through to Penzance. The Western followed to Plymouth where it later returned the train to Bristol (The Castle remaining in Cornwall). The charter terminated at Bristol due to no onward crew, and passengers then transferred onto a HST for the remaining journey through to Slough.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
To view news stories from January 2003 click here, or for news from March 2003, click here.
