Published on 24th September 2005
The 24th September 2005 provided four charters passing through the Taunton area all of which were hauled by double headed locomotives/ double diesel multiple units.
The first charter to appear was Hertfordshire Railtours 'The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Bodmin Wanderer' charter. Royal Class 67 No.67005 and EWS-liveried No.67016 hauled 1Z49 09:19 London Euston - Par charter, owing to engineering works in the London area the charter later returned to London Paddington rather than Euston.
Next to pass through was Pathfinder Railtours 'Pixies Revenge/ Eden Belle' charter. The Fifty Fund Class 50s No. 50031 'Hood' and No. 50049 'Defiance' hauled the 1Z52 06:10 Banbury - Penzance charter throughout to revisit former haunts in Cornwall.
Third to pass through the platforms at Taunton was Heartland Railtours 'West Somerset Excursion', this charter was hauled by Cotswold Rail Class 47 locomotives No.47813 and No.47316 hauled 1Z46 06:50 Wolverhampton - Minehead. No.47316 failed at Bristol and had to be shunted inside the lead locomotive to allow the tour to continue. The tour returned from Minehead in 'top and tail' formation
A further 'double' on the same date was from the Cotswold Rail Users Group charter 'The Cotswold-Torbay Express', the group hired two Central Trains Class 158 units No.158857 and No.158780 to operate a Hereford - Paignton charter to the Devon Riviera.
