Published on 29th September 2004
It was the 29th September 2004 when a unique event occurred to bring a former Virgin Trains HST set for storage at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway.
The set was due to be transferred to First Great Western but while it waited for their refurbishment program to start a HST set and later several powercars were provided secure storage on the West Somerset Railway. Freightliner Heavy Haul was contracted to move the first HST set south to Somerset. Workstained Freightliner Class 47 No.47150 hauled Ex Virgin Trains HST set No.43123 and No. 43155 'Rougemont Castle' operating as 5Z47 11:05 Derby - Minehead. The move was booked to depart from Bishops Lydeard after the last service train of the day had arrived before working over the length of the line to Minehead. Once at Minehead, the Class 47 was cut off the front and the HST started to drive the final length into the sidings. The Class 47 then returned light engine to Bristol, Kingsland Road to stable.
