Published on 14th July 2005
The 14th July 2005 saw a unique day of movements on the West Somerset Railway.
The preserved line had been providing storage space of former Virgin Trains stock awaiting transfer to First Great Western. Laira did not have the space to hold all the waiting stock, so from October 2004 the WSR were able to provide space at Minehead. The 14th July 2005 saw a stock swap take place. Freightliner Class 47/0 No.47150 arrived with HST barrier vehicles (5Z47 08:36 St Philips Marsh - Bishops Lydeard). The loco collected Mk3 trailers 41162, 41114, 40422, 42095, 42231, 42232 and 42233 and departed as 5Z48 11:15 Bishops Lydeard - Laira with a reversal at Fairwater Yard. Once at Laira Freightliner collected a second rake of Mk3 coaches to return to the West Somerset Railway. Operating as 5Z49 15:06 Laira - Bishops Lydeard No.47150 conveyed Mk3s 44068, 42305, 42304, 42303 and 42302 for storage at the West Somerset Railway. Arrival back at Bishops Lydeard saw the stock formed up with No.43123 before later being moved to Minehead. Freightliner then returned to St Philips Marsh Depot with the two HST barrier vehicles it arrived with in the morning. We have put together a selection of images from the evening arrival of stock from Laira.
