News Archive for July 2014

Published on 28th July 2014

Direct Rail Services operated the as required service from Crewe to Keyham during Monday 28th July 2014.

Class 57/0 locomotives No.57008 and No.57009 were used to operate 5Z52 07:10 Crewe Gresty Bridge - Keyham, which was formed of two Mk2 barrier/ support coaches. The train is pictured passing Creech St Michael And 40 Steps.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 19th July 2014

Saturday 19th July 2014 saw Statesman Rail operate a dining charter from Sheffield to Minehead on the West Somerset Railway.

The charter was hauled by two of West Coast Railways Class 57 Locomotives, No.57314 is pictured passing Silk Mills operating 1Z57 06:15 Sheffield - Minehead service with No.57315 located at the rear of the train. Additional coaches were provided on the train for those who wish to travel but not consume food on board.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 16th July 2014

On Wednesday, 16th July 2014 marked the opening of the new footbridge to replace the famous '40 Steps'.

The opening took place with no ceremony. However, access to the new bridge is by steps only at present as work on the construction of the ramps on both sides of the railway has fallen behind schedule. This important crossing for pedestrians and cyclists has been missing for 261 days as 40 Steps was closed on 28th October 2013. Unlike 40 Steps, the new bridge itself is an enclosed structure but there are some new railway photographic opportunities to explore. It also provides a vantage point to observe the construction of the new road running along the former Fairwater Yard head shunt.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 15th July 2014

A proposed £4.6M pound re-development of Taunton Station has been approved during July 2014 by the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin.

Mr McLoughlin recently visited the town to see the benefits of further regeneration in the Firepool area of Taunton along with other schemes in the area. The redevelopment of the station and Firepool will improve Taunton's image. The redevelopment has been fully supported by Network Rail, First Great Western, Taunton Deane Council and Somerset County Council. Talks are currently underway between Network Rail and Somerset County Council to improve Taunton Station and bring it into the 21st century by enhancing it's former 'Great Western' heritage mixed with modern materials such as glass, street furniture, planting and modern buildings.

The North side has long been neglected and is in bad need of redevelopment to improve the facilities for passengers using the station. More ticket desks, better parking, transport links, lighting and disabled access are required to bring the station into the 21st century. Inside the station the station roof, glazing and guttering are in bad need of repair. Passengers may not be aware, but although the station is operated by First Great Western, they only care for the station facilities, which is why when you look above the station columns, the paint stops and the roof / glazing is untreated....as the station roof is Network Rail's responsibility (Another odd 'quirk' of privatisation).

The former extension to the north side entrance (erected in the 1970s) has hidden the stations former entrance from clear view, it's hoped this will be exposed and used as the main feature of the redevelopment. Taunton Station has the rare accolade of having two entrances thanks to how the station was constructed by the Bristol and Exeter Railway in the 1800's. In 1842 the Bristol & Exeter Railway opened an extension of their mainline from Bridgwater to Taunton the line was later extended to Beambridge and on to Exeter in 1843. The station was built 'double sided' with separate stations (and entrances) for up and down passenger services.

Published on 9th July 2014

Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No.56105 made possibly it's first visit to the South West on the 9th July 2014.

The locomotive operated the 6V54 05:55 Chirk - Teigngrace empty log wagons to the Devon loading facility.

Having loaded its train in Devon overnight Colas Rail Freight returned their loaded log train from Teigngrace to Chirk on Thursday 10th July 2014. Class 56 No.56105 is pictured passing under the new '40 Steps' footbridge hauling 6M56 14:15 Teigngrace - Chirk loaded logs service.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 6th July 2014

Sunday 6th July 2014 provided two steam charters through Taunton Station in quick succession, first to arrive was The Railway Touring Companies' 'Royal Duchy' charter from Bristol Temple Meads to Par.

The charter used LMS Black 5 No. 45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' for the excursion into Cornwall. The LMS locomotive is pictured passing Staplegrove Road in Taunton operating as 1Z37 08:48 Bristol Temple Meads - Par.

The second charter during Sunday 6th July 2014 was 'The Torbay Express', this charter utilised Southern Region Pacific No. 34046 'Braunton' for the steam excursion from Bristol Temple Meads - Kingswear in Devon. The charter is also pictured passing Staplegrove Road in Taunton after taking its booked servicing stop at Taunton operating as 1Z27 09:15 Bristol Temple Meads - Kingswear.

Published on 4th July 2014

Overnight on the 4th July 2014 contractors lifted the main bridge span section into place of the Bristol - Exeter mainline to the south of Taunton Station, two cranes were involved in the overnight lift to locate the main bridge span into position.

This image was taken in the early hours of the morning as the lift began.

Taunton's new 40 Steps Bridge is now nearing completion and will soon allow people to return to their former walking and cycling routes through town. The ramped sections to the Chip Lane side of the bridge were being delivered on the 4th July for fitting onto new foundations. It's hoped the bridge will be open soon, although the council have given no indication of when the opening might occur.