News Archive for January 2013

Published on 30th January 2013

The 30th January 2013 proved to be a very busy day for freight train in the Taunton area.

DB Schenker provided a splash of colour through Taunton on the 30th January 2013. EWS liveried Class 66 No.66030 gained severe wheel flats and the train was terminated at Exeter Riverside. DB Schenker liveried Class 59 No.59204 was sent light engine to collect cement PCA wagons from Exeter Riverside Yard and return them to Westbury Cement Works. The rare daylight northbound cement tanks are seen passing 40 Steps, Taunton operating as 6Z66 14:03 Exeter Riverside - Westbury Cement Works.

Freightliner Heavy Haul operated another ballast train from Stud Farm to top up the ballast supplies at Exeter Riverside Yard. On the 30th January 2013, Freightliner Class 66/6 No.66621 passes Taunton with the return empty IOA wagons as the 6M40 10:34 Exeter Riverside - Stud Farm empties.

Colas Class 56 No.56094 passes through Creech St Michael on the 30th January 2013 operating 6Z52 07:13 Chirk Kronospan - Teigngrace empty KFA wagons for loading with logs at the Devon timber loading terminal.

Published on 24th January 2013

After visiting Somerset and Devon in full snow on Wednesday 23rd January, Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No.56094 returned North to Chirk on Thursday 24th January 2013 with the loaded 6Z53 logs from Teigngrace.

As the low winter sun sets at Taunton No.56094 passed through the melting snow. Note the addition of two newly imported timber wagons at the front of the train. Soon these will become a common sight on this service.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 23rd January 2013

In less pleasing news we are sad to report that West Coast Railways Class 47 No.47500 has been involved in a major derailment and ensuing fire in the Salford area of Manchester.

The incident happened around 14:45 on the 23rd January 2013 at Windsor Bridge, close to Salford Crescent. The loco was working an empty coaching stock move at the time, and only the driver was on board the train. No.47500 was first built in 1966 and became a Western Region Class 47 from 1979 when it was also named 'Great Western', the loco later found fame when it was painted into BR Brunswick Green for the GWR 150 Celebrations and was often pictured operating in the Taunton area. After a period out of use the loco found a new lease of live with West Coast Railways.

Published on 23rd January 2013

Winter arrived in Taunton between the 18th to the 23rd January 2013 with significant amounts of freezing weather and snowfall over the week long period.

The railway system while affected was operating with some minor disruption but fared much better than roads, schools and business's in the Taunton area. We have provided a selection of images taken during the snow fall period.

Published on 8th January 2013

Direct Rail Services operated a Nuclear Flask from Crewe to Keyham on the 8th January 2013.

A grubby Class 66/4 was supplied in the shape of No.66421. The locomotive is seen passing 40 Steps, Taunton hauling the 6Z40 04:33 Crewe to Keyham, with KUA MODA Flask Wagon No.95771 in tow. The absence of photographers on Taunton Station platforms may reflect the introduction of ticket barriers to both Pl 2 & 5 entrances.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 6th January 2013

January kicks off with a round of Sunday engineers trains returning to Westbury.

DB Schenker provided the first engineers train on the 6th January 2013. EWS liveried Class 66 locomotives No.66100 and No.66150 'top and tailed' a rake of five Autoballasters back to Westbury as the 6W40 08:05 Penwithers Junction to Westbury. Three of the five Autoballasters were still loaded with ballast. The train is seen passing Cogload Junction.

Freightliner Intermodal Class 66 locomotives are now often used on South West weekend engineering trains. While they look the same as Heavy Haul locomotives, this is believed to be the first ever time Freightliner Class 66 No. 66533 'Hanjin Express/ Senator Express' has ever visited Taunton. Intermodal Class 66 locomotives arrive at Bristol FLT on a Friday evening, and are not required until Monday morning by Freightliner Intermodal, so their use on weekend engineering trains is a way of keeping them in use. No. 66533 'Hanjin Express/ Senator Express' passes a misty Cogload Junction on Sunday 6th January 2013 hauling 6Y97 08:30 Liskeard to Westbury, the long welded rail delivery train.

Visiting from Freightliner Intermodal on the 6th January 2013 was Class 66 No.66543. The locomotive was employed to haul the 6Y27 08:15 Ufton Down Goods Loop - Hackney Yard long welded rail train. This paused in a foggy Taunton Station between 08:35 and 09:35 before continuing to Hackney Yard (Newton Abbot). After dropping the train at Hackney Yard the loco returned light engine as 0Y27 11:28 Hackney Yard to Stoke Gifford. Here the loco will be serviced in time for it to return to Bristol FLT on Monday morning. The locomotive is seen passing Cogload Junction returning to Bristol.