News Archive for February 2014

Published on 25th February 2014

Outlandish Heritage traction visited Taunton the 24th and 25th February 2014, when DCR hired two Class 20 locomotives from GBRF to collect a motley collection of stock from the Dartmoor Railway.

London Underground red Class 20 No.20189 & BR Blue Class 20 No.20142 arrived into Taunton at 18:00 on the 24th (stabling in the new sidings behind Platform 1) early next morning they continued to Okehampton to collect No.47375, No.31459 & No.47769 and return them to Derby operating as 0Z20 07:45 Okehampton - Derby Gas Tank Sidings. The colourful collection of locomotives was captured several times passing through the Taunton area.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 8th February 2014

After continued heavy rain between the 7th and 8th February 2014, Taunton has become the latest location to be cut off from the rest of the UK rail network.

The mainline between Taunton and Bristol was breached north of Banklands (near Durston) at 11am on the 8th February 2014, with water levels continuing to rise. The alternative route via Castle Cary has also been shut, and the diversionary route via Yeovil to Exeter has now been closed due to a landslide. A huge road going coach operation is now in place to transport passengers between Bristol and intermediate stations to Plymouth. From next week Flybe have also confirmed they will double the amount of flights they operate between Newquay and Gatwick to assist. We visited as many locations as possible to record the unprecedent water levels in relation to the railway network.

Published on 4th February 2014

Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66601 'The Hope Valley' stands at the site of the current Network Rail track replacement scheme adjacent to Fairwater Yard on the 4th February 2014.

The was operating as 6A24 09:00 Fairwater Yard - Norton Fitzwarren Junction. The 1000 yard relay will be completed in three days, and is the third such blockade to be completed in the Taunton area since the initial line closure on the 18th January. Adjacent a dozer can be viewed levelling the ballast via laser guidance.

With the down mainline completely removed a loan Komatsu PC120 Excavator waits for the next train to move forward in order to continue removing old ballast from the track bed. After loading trains continued forward to the West Somerset Railway's triangle at Norton Fitzwarren for unloading.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 4th February 2014

Since the 18th January 2014, Network Rail has been embarking on a complicated project to carry out works to repair Whiteball Tunnel in partnership with Amco Rail.

The 1000m long tunnel built in 1842 and straddles the Somerset/ Devon boarder between Taunton and Tiverton.

To prevent potential brick fall the tunnel lining had previously been relined with a Ram Arch wire mesh system two years ago. During the January closure new concrete lining has been applied to the worst areas and main crownbrick arch to prevent future deterioration of the tunnel, and improve safety. Work has also been carried out to improve water drainage and embankment stability on both the Taunton and Exeter sides of the tunnel. A future phase of works will see the sides of the tunnel receive a similar concrete spray treatment, in partnership with Amco a new type of train wagon/ platform has been developed, which will allow work to be carried out from the stable platform of the wagon while trains will be able to pass on the opposite line without posing a danger to workmen. This collaborative effort by Amco and Network Rail have provided a unique solution to allow work to be carried out on the remaining phase without the need to close the mainline again.

Unfortunately for normal rail passengers, Network Rail were forced to close the line for three weeks between the 18th January until the 9th February in order to carry out this complex piece of work within the confined space of the tunnel. During the three-week closure passengers were transferred onto a well-organised bus service between Taunton, Tiverton and Exeter, while selected train services operated via Yeovil & Honiton to Exeter. Network Rail saw the closure of the Taunton – Exeter mainlines as a positive step to incorporate three separate upgrade projects into one programme, this enabled them to tackle the tunnel and the railway infrastructure at the same time, without having to close the railway in the future. Around three miles of track have also been renewed and seven units of switches and crossings re-laid separately at Taunton and Tiverton. The upgrade work has been in the planning for over three years, and once complete will enable trains to travel at a higher speed and improve journey times. This co-ordinated and efficient effort will significantly help boost rail performance whilst complementing Network Rail's long-term aspiration to improve services between Bristol and Exeter. Network Rail have invested a total of £15m on the essential upgrade / renewal works.

Freightliner Heavy Haul, DB Schenker and Colas Rail Freight have all provided locomotives and ground staff for up to 80 loco hauled services in connection with the various works over the three-week period. Contractors on the ground have been commended by Network Rail for working in truly appalling weather conditions in recent weeks (particularly at Whiteball Tunnel). At any one time Amco have had approximately 65 persons on site during each shift, working 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Many of the Amco and Network Rail staff working on the Whiteball Tunnel project are now involved with the rebuilding of the Dawlish Sea Wall, the fast response and imaginative engineering solutions which were quickly put into action at the sea wall site are a credit Network Rail and their railway engineering partners.

A full report on the Whiteball Tunnel Engineering will be available in the online Railway Magazine Railway Herald Magazine No.396 which was published on the 12th February 2014.