News Archive for December 2004

Published on 31st December 2004

We have recently been working through digital railway images taken in 2004 which capture a period in time when HSTs were still powered by their classic valenta power units, Class 47s were in decline but finding new work with charter operators, and locomotive passenger haulage was still possible.

We hope you enjoy the latest additions to the Taunton Trains website.

Published on 31st December 2004

A gallery to look back at the action from 2004 with all the colourful and interesting workings which have passed through Taunton during the year.

Published on 3rd December 2004

It was 15 years ago when Past Time Rail operated their 'Dunster by Candlelight' charter which resulted in the most unexpected outcome for passengers who attended the tour.

We thought we would turn back the clock and look at the 3rd December 2004.

The Past Time Rail charter started at Weston-super-Mare but needed an empty stock movement to operate from Old Oak Common to Weston via Taunton. Haulage was provided by EWS Class 67 No.67002 and its route allowed the empty stock move to be captured in the Taunton. Starting at Weston-super-Mare the tour was routed via Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Westbury, Castle Cary and back to Taunton. Arrival into Taunton provided the fine the sight of 4-4-0 No. 3440 'City of Truro' in Platform 5 which was working a positioning charter from Plymouth to Bristol, passing the Past Time Rail charter. After a short break at Taunton, the tour took the relief line alongside Fairwater Yard before crossing the mainline and onto the West Somerset Railway. At Bishops Lydeard passengers were given a short break to await the arrival of a service train before the Class 67 hauled charter could proceed forward Minehead. Having traversed the 19 miles to Minehead passengers were transferred onto a waiting fleet of double-decker buses for the short journey to Dunster, meanwhile, the locomotive ran around the stock and the coaches were serviced and watered for the return journey. Upon rejoining the train passengers were advised that the Class 67 had insufficient fuel to get back to Westbury. This was a common problem with the Class 67s as by design they were only ever able to be filled three-quarters full with fuel else they would be deemed too heavy, this fuelling restriction caused many issues during their time operating charters and long-distance traffic flows.

It was announced that a supplementary locomotive would be sourced from Bristol Barton Hill and would join the train upon arrival back at Taunton Station. One of the only locos available on Barton Hill was Transrail Class 37 No.37896, this loco had been operating on the Rail Head Treatment Train during November and was covered in dirty winter grime. No.37896 arrived light engine shortly before the tour and waited in Platform 3 for the charter to arrive into Platform 4 direct from the WSR. The Class 37 piloted the charter from Taunton via the anti-clockwise route of Weston-super-Mare, Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, and Westbury. This unique charter is captured and detailed in the below images for your viewing.