News Archive for April 2014

The Great Britain

Published on 27th April 2014

Day two of 'The Great Britain' charter also passed through Taunton on Sunday 27th April 2014, the tour featured GWR Castle No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' and SR Pacific No. 34046 'Braunton'.

The pair storm north at Cogload Junction with the 1Z85 09:01 St Austell - Bristol Temple Meads charter. The tour also had West Coast Railways Class 47 No. 47746 'Chris Fudge 29.7.70 - 22.6.10' attached to the rear of the train to provide electric train supply.

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(Photo: Dave Elliot)

British Belmond Pullman

Published on 27th April 2014

Having spent the weekend in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.

The 'Belmond British Pullman' returned to its London home on Sunday 27th April 2014. Driver Andy Floyd drives Royal Class 67 No.67006 leads No.67024 12:20 Truro - London Victoria passes Norton Fitzwarren returning the Belmond Pullman to London.

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(Photo: Tony Hayman)

The Devonian

Published on 26th April 2014

Former British Rail 'Western' No. D1015 'Western Champion' and Class 47 No.47773 pass Bathpool on the 26th April 2014 operating 1Z15 06:25 Tyseley - Kingswear 'The Devonian'.

Upon arrival at Paignton steam locomotive 4277 hauled the train through to Kingswear. The Western also carried the number and name of No. D1017 'Western Warrior' for this charter.

(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

Annual Pullman Visit

Published on 26th April 2014

Also visiting the Taunton area on was the annual visit of the Orient Express.

More recently its been announced the 'VSOE' (Venice Simplon Orient Express) branding is to be dropped in favour of 'Belmond British Pullman'. The Pullman operated south from London Victoria to Truro during Friday 25th April, during Saturday the Pullman then operated a Plymouth - Taunton - Plymouth 'Luncheon' priced at £250 per person. Later in the day the train also operated a Newton Abbot - Exeter - Kingswear - Newton Abbot evening 'Dinner'. Class 67s No.67006 and No.67024 are pictured exiting from Whiteball Tunnel at Marlands operating 1Z79 11:30 Plymouth - Taunton on the 26th April 2014.

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(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Chester Model Railway Club

Published on 26th April 2014

The Chester Model Railway Club, and Ffestiniog Railway Dee & Mersey Group operated their annual charter outing on the 26th April 2014.

The tour used two DRS Class 47s locomotives. 'The Somerset Coast Express' started at Hooton and ventured to Minehead on the West Somerset Railway. The lengthy rake of former Virgin Trains and Arriva Trains Wales Mk2 coaching stock is seen passing Cogload Junction with Class 47 No.47853 leading the 1Z91 06:43 Hooton to Minehead. No.47813 was located on the rear of the set.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Transfer for The Great Britain

Published on 26th April 2014

In connection with 'The Great Britain' charter (which will pass Taunton on Sunday 27th April).

West Coast Railways moved GWR Castle No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' to Exeter using Class 47 No.47245. At Exeter the Steam Locomotive continued onto Plymouth for turning and then joined SR Pacific No. 34046 'Braunton' before running forward to St Blazey. The Class 47 joined classmate No. 47746 'Chris Fudge 29.7.70 - 22.6.10' (continuing to Truro) from Exeter where 'The Great Britain' charter had previously arrived from London Victoria behind No. 34046 'Braunton'. No.47245 and No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' are pictured passing Banklands near Cogload Junction operating as 5Z86 09:35 St Philips Marsh - Plymouth.

(Photo: Bob Tucker)

Grid Hauls Logs

(Photo: Bob Tucker)

Published on 24th April 2014

Colas Rail Freight continue to supply Class 56 locomotives for the South West log flow to Teigngrace.

However Thursday 24th April 2014 provided two class members. The southbound empties ran south to Teigngrace during Wednesday 23rd, the return 6M51 09:55 from Teigngrace was booked to return in Thursday 24th. However 56302 experienced problems and was removed from the train at Exeter Riverside Yard. In the mean time a well executed plan saw Class 56 No.56113 arrive light engine from Cardiff haul the train forward to Chirk, while 56302 was left to return to Cardiff light engine. Colas Class 56 No.56113 is pictured passing Cogload Junction with the late running 'logs' as 6M51 09:55 Teigngrade - Chirk Kronspran.

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DB Schenker Aggregate

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Published on 24th April 2014

DB Schenker operations in the South West are not all that common in daylight hours these days.

The once dominant freight company in the UK rail industry appears to be slowly receding out of the south west. One such working which can still provide EWS/DB liveried Class 66s locomotives is the 7C28 12:03 Exeter Riverside - Westbury stone empties. On the 24th April 2014, EWS liveried Class 66 No.66130 is seen passing through Taunton Station on route back to Westbury.

The Dartmouth Express

Published on 19th April 2014

The Dartmouth Express was hauled from Guildford to Taunton on the 19th April 2014 by West Coast Railways Class 47 No.47237 (with Class 57 No.57313 attached to the rear of the train for heating).

The veteran Class 47 arrived early into Taunton having made good time between Westbury and Taunton. At Taunton the loco was removed for LNER A4 steam locomotive No.60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' to be added to the train. The original plan was for the locomotive to be attached to the Guildford - Kingswear service at Westbury, this was later changed to Taunton.

The return run of The Dartmouth Express ran into problems after the locomotive set alight several fires between Paignton and Newton Abbot. Initial information suggested the locomotive was to be halted at Exeter, with diesel locomotives to return south from Westbury to haul the charter to Westbury. However after some delay at Exeter the charter was given permission to proceed forward to Westbury at reduced speeds. This resulted in the tour arriving into Taunton around 20 minutes later than planned.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Adam Snow)

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

The Night Riviera

(Photo: Wayne Potter)

Published on 12th April 2014

Nocturnal activities at Taunton Station are rarely recorded in the dead of night, however on the 12th April 2014 First Great Western's Class 57/6 No. 57604 'Pendennis Castle' is pictured on the Night Riviera sleeper service from Penzance to London Paddington.

The 1A40 21:45 Penzance - London Paddington calls into Taunton at 01:42 in the morning on route to London.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Colas Driver Training

Published on 11th April 2014

Another Colas Rail Freight Class 70 visited Taunton on the 11th April 2014 with a driver training run from Westbury to Taunton.

The loco reversed direction in Platform 3 at Taunton before returning to Westbury. No.70804 is pictured waiting for the adjacent Paddington bound First Great Western services to depart before following departing as 0Z70 10:36 Taunton - Westbury.

(Photo: Paul Finnimore)

Taunton Deane Services

(Photo: Mike Rowland)

Published on 8th April 2014

We return to Taunton Deane services on the M5 for another locomotive movement by road on the 8th April 2014.

As part of a deal between the South Devon Diesel Traction group and Harry Needle, Class 37 No.37275 was transferred to the South Devon Railway from Barrow Hill in exchange for Class 20 No.20110. The other South Devon based Class 20 No. 20118 'Saltburn by the Sea' has already left the line and is now operating back on the mainline network, which was swapped for a Class 25 restoration project. The Class 37 and 20 were switched at Buckfastleigh on the 8th April 2014. This impressive view shows No.37275 taking centre stage at Taunton Deane southbound services on the M5, during a layover during the journey to Buckfastleigh.

Crompton on Freight

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

Published on 5th April 2014

Out of course movements using diesels on the West Somerset Railway are often never advertised, however on the 5th April 2014 this movement was captured at Blue Anchor.

Class 33 D6575 (No.33057) was employed to move the WSR freight set from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard in preparation for forthcoming driver training runs between Bishops Lydeard, Norton Fitzwarren & Crowcombe.

Stock Movements

Published on 5th April 2014

With the South West now reconnected to the rest of the UK Railway network at Dawlish a flurry of stock movements took place during the days after the Dawlish re-opening.

West Coast Railways were contracted to move a rake of refurbished First Great Western Mk3 HST coaches from Killmarnock to Laira Depot on the 5th April 2014. The rare combination of a Class 57/3 No.57313 (carrying former Arriva Trains Wales colours) and Class 47/7/ No.47746 were used to haul the 5Z00 05:55 Kilmarnock - Laira stock transfer move from Scotland to Devon. The refurbished coaching stock will soon be back in traffic with First Great Western, and is seen passing the village of Creech St Michael. The consist for the move was as follows: 80204 (Barrier), 42259, 44036, 42285, 42202, 42003, 42284, 41138, 41137, 6330 (Barrier).

West Coast Railways Class 57/3 & 47/7 returned from Laira to Southall on Sunday 6th April 2014. Having spent the night at Laira the pair deposited their rake of refurbished FGW Mk3 coaches at the depot and reformed into a 'top and tail' formation for the return trip. Class 57/3 No.57313 is pictured passing Silk Mills with two barrier vehicles in the consist and No.47746 attached to the rear of the set. The closure of Silk Mills Road (because of the Taunton Marathon) made an ideal, and quiet location to take a photo of 5Z00 10:50 Laira - Southall Depot.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

To view news stories from March 2014 click here, or for news from May 2014, click here.