Published on 30th April 2015
Network Rail sent one of their Class 97/3s to Exeter on the 30th April 2015 to collect a stranded test train after it's original locomotive Class 31 (31285) failed with traction motor problems.
It's expected that the Class 31 will be removed by road back to Derby. No. 97304 'John Tiley' is seen passing 40 Steps, Taunton operating 3Z33 12:52 Exeter Riverside - Bristol Kingsland Road.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)
Published on 28th April 2015
It's not known how many steam tours we will see operating in the South West over the summer months due to the ongoing issues surrounding West Coast Railways.
One of the only steam legs to operate on the annual Great Britain Charters took place on the 28th of April 2015. No. 70000 'Britannia' is seen exiting from Whiteball Tunnel with the 1Z82 08:44 London Victoria - Exeter. A substantial number of photographers were present all huddled together on the Devon side of Whiteball Tunnel to witness the impressive passing of Britannia.
To view the gallery, please click here.
'The Great Britain VIII' storms out of Whiteball Tunnel on Wednesday 28th April 2015 with day one, of the around the UK steam charter. BR 'Britannia' Class 4-6-2 No. 70000 'Britannia' enters Devon hauling 1Z82 08:44 London Victoria to Exeter St Davids on Wednesday 28th April with Class 66 No.66122 also located on the rear of the train.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Paul Wilkins)
Published on 27th April 2015
First Great Western has recently applied vinyl the second of the London Midland twins into a new advertising livery.
Class 153 No.153333 now sports a 'Visit South Devon' livery with different pictures on either side of the unit. The colourful unit has not been refurbished inside, however. Several observant people have also claimed that the seaside image portrayed on the side of the unit is not of 'South Devon', could this really be true? - The unit is pictured at 40 Steps on the 27th April 2015.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 25th April 2015
The annual visit of the Belmond Pullman (formerly VSOE) occurred on the 24th, 25th, 26th April.
Friday saw the normal London Victoria - Truro leg completed by Class 67s No.67005 and No.67026. The pair were then back to visit Taunton on the 25th of April 2015 with a Luncheon special from Plymouth. No.67005 & No.67026 are seen at Norton Fitzwarren waiting for access to the relief line to access Platform 2 at Taunton Station while working 1
79 11:30 Plymouth - Taunton. Having run round in Taunton the pair returned to Plymouth, before working back to London Victoria on the 26th April during the mid-afternoon.
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(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 25th April 2015
Saturday 25th April 2015 saw Pathfinder Tours front two DRS Class 37s into Somerset and Devon.
Direct Rail Services provided Class 37/6 No.37605 with No.37059 for 'The Devon Explorer' which took the class members to Meldon Quarry, Exmouth and then home via Yeovil. The pair is seen rounding the curve at Creech St Michael on the approaches to Taunton operating 1Z74 05:58 Crewe - Meldon Quarry.
Published on 24th April 2015
Aggregate Industries liveried Class 59/0 No. 59005 'Kenneth J Painter' passes light engine through the centre road at Taunton on the 24th April 2015.
The loco was operating 0C27 09:24 Westbury - Exeter Riverside to collect a rake of empty aggregate empties. S
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(Photo: Paul Clarke)
Published on 24th April 2015
Aggregate Industries liveried Class 59 No. 59005 'Kenneth J Painter' was at the lead end of the 6C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside to Whatley Quarry aggregate empties on the 24th April 2015.
The colorful combination is pictured passing Taunton with its rake of MBA box wagons, having been previously unloaded in Exeter Riverside Yard.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
Published on 24th April 2015
DB Schenker provided a rare visit of the company 'management train' to the South West on the 23rd of April 2015.
The unique set propelled its way south with DVT No.82146 leading and Class 67 No.67029 located on the rear. 82146 working 1Z05 08:31 Ealing Broadway to Torquay. After an overnight stay in Torquay, the set returned north on the 24th April with No.67029 leading coaches 10546, 10211, 11039 and DVT 82146
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
Published on 23rd April 2015
First Great Western named one of the HST powercars after Glastonbury Festival organizer (and farmer) Michael Eavis on the 23rd April 2015.
The ceremony took place at London Paddington before the service departed for Penzance. No.43028 now carries the festival organizers name complete with a central crest and is pictured at Taunton on the same day.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 18th April 2015
On the 18th April 2015, the West Somerset Railway hosted another of their training weekends for First Great Western employees.
The event used two DEPG Diesel Locomotives, Class 47 No.D1661 'North Star' and Class 33 No.D6575. The organised event Included driving experiences, shadowing the on train guard, shadowing the signalman at Bishops Lydeard and PICOP duties (putting down protection and removing protection during a site occupation).
(Photo: Alex Martin-Brown)
(Photo: Alex Martin-Brown)
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
Published on 17th April 2015
Class 67s were the order of the day in Taunton on the 17th of April 2015.
DB Schenker provided Royal Class 67 No.67006 to haul 'The Cornish Riviera Statesman' charter from Leeds to Penzance. DB Schenker was standing in for West Coast Railways who recently had their entire operation halted by Network Rail after a serious SPAD incident. The Class 67 operated by DB Schenker is pictured passing 40 Steps, Taunton operating 1Z75 06:24 Leeds - Penzance.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
Published on 17th April 2015
Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66596 arrives into Taunton on Friday 17th April 2015.
The loco was operating 6Y20 15:27 Westbury - Fairwater Yard engineers, pictured arriving into Platform 2.
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
Published on 17th April 2015
First Great Western Class 150/2 No.150219 has recently returned to service for First Great Western having undergone refurbishment and fitting of a disabled toilet.
New legislation introduced means all frontline passenger trains need to have disabled facilities fitted by 2019. However, while the new stock has these facilities designed into the build process and layout, trying to squeeze such facilities into older trains (such as the majority of the First Great Western fleet) means a reduction in seats and overall space inside the train. Disabled facilities will continue to be retrofitted to all First Great Western stock prior to the 2019 deadline.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 17th April 2015
Class 67s were the order of the day in Taunton on the 17th of April 2015.
DB Schenker provided Royal Class 67 No.67006 to haul 'The Cornish Riviera Statesman' charter from Leeds to Penzance. DB Schenker was standing in for West Coast Railways who recently had their entire operation halted by Network Rail after a serious SPAD incident. The Class 67 operated by DB Schenker is pictured passing 40 Steps, Taunton operating 1Z75 06:24 Leeds - Penzance.
(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)
Published on 17th April 2015
A second pair of Class 67s (also operated by DB Schenker) passed through Taunton on a test train on the 17th of April 2015.
Silver Class 67 No.67012 'A Shropshire Lad' and No.67018 'Keith Heller' top and tail two Network Rail Mk2 test coaches. The southbound test train had already passed Taunton at 07:50 the pair later returned as 1Q18 09:37 Plymouth - London Paddington and were captured several times in the Taunton area.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Robert Latham)
Published on 16th April 2015
Class 70 currently seem to be in favour for use on the Colas Rail Freight log traffic.
Having now switched their loading operating to Exeter Riverside Yard from Teigngrace, Class 70 No.70804 passes through Taunton on the 16th April 2015 hauling the 6M51 12:31 Exeter Riverside - Chirk Kronospan loaded log train.
Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66596 is pictured arriving back into Taunton through Platform 2 from Westbury on the 16th April 2015 hauling the return 6C73 12:12 Westbury - Fairwater Yard loaded MOBC trip working.
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
(Photo: Paul Clarke)
Published on 9th April 2015
Network Rail Test Trains are commonplace throughout the UK railway network, and each weekday their specialist equipment is spread far and wide around the UK, testing track, equipment and structures to the latest standards.
On the 9th April 2015, Class 31 No.31233 pushed its way into the South West on the rear of the 3Z05 10:24 Derby - Exeter Riverside. With DBSO No.9708 leading the brightly coloured is seen passing Banklands near Durston.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Paul Wilkins)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
Published on 9th April 2015
We thought we'd feature something a little 'different' on Taunton Trains this week.
We are all too aware of trains which run on rails, but from time to time the railways need to turn to alternative methods to move their rolling stock around the UK. Ont he 9th April 2015 this heavy haulage Volvo FH (YN12EOJ) from Heanor was captured at Silk Mills awaiting entry into Fairwater Yard. It's load consisting of a single HOBC wagon No.DR92246 back from repair/ overhaul. Heanor has a long-standing relationship with railway based road movements but are rarely seen in the South West so we thought this image was worthy of inclusion on Taunton Trains.
(Photo: Adam Snow)
Published on 6th April 2015
Easter Monday provided some stunning morning lighting in the Taunton area.
Coupled with the recent return of the Network Rail MOBC (Medium Output Ballast Cleaner) set to Taunton's Fairwater Yard, morning and afternoon feeder services have started to operate between Taunton and Westbury for ballast replenishment. On the 6th April 2015 Class 66/5 No.66596 passes Charlton near Cogload Junction hauling the 6C72 08:20 Fairwater Yard - Westbury MOBC empties for loading.
Published on 6th April 2015
Pioneer Class 150 No.150001 made another appearance in the Taunton area on the 6th of April 2015.
The original Class 150 unit passes Charlton while working the 2D06 08:36 Taunton - Bristol Parkway stopping service.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Adam Snow)
Published on 3rd April 2015
First Great Western Night Riviera Sleeper services have been operating under an air of normality recently after their latest set of failures and daylight operations.
On the 3rd April 2015 celebrity Class 57/6 No. 57604 'Pendennis Castle' 'Pendennis Castle' was captured at Taunton in the early hours of the morning while working the retimed 1C99 22:33 London Paddington - Penzance 'Night Riviera' in top and tail formation with No.57303 (located on the rear of the train).
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Matthew Bar)
Published on 1st April 2015
This stunning footage was recorded from the M5 between Cullompton and Whitebll Bank on the evening return of 'Mayflower' from Paignton, operating at line speed alongside the M5 motorway, showing a steam locomotive operating at its best. (Video: Oldham Video Productions)
Published on 1st April 2015
The 1st of April 2015 saw only the second ever recorded visit of an LNER B1 Steam Locomotive No. 61306 'Mayflower' to Taunton.
A record exisits that No.61251 operated on an Exeter to Bristol train on July 7th, 1948 as this was part of the "1948 Exchanges". The 2015 visit marks a 67-year absence of the class operating in the South West. In fact, LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' has been booked for several visits to the South West this year as part of charters operated by Steam Dreams. It's certainly nice to see something different passing through Taunton's platforms!.
(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)
(Photo: Jeff Treece)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
To view news stories from March 2015 click here, or for news from May 2015, click here.