News Archive for August 2015

(Photo: Lewis Brownlow)

Published on 31st August 2015

Taunton can often see some interesting combinations of First Great Western units visiting the station during any given day.

On Bank Holiday Monday 31st August 2015 Class 153 No.153380 leads a three-car Class 158/9 No.158958 into Taunton. The pair operated the 2Z76 12:00 Bristol Temple Meads - Taunton stopping service. While Class 153s reasonably common Class 158/9s are normally reserved for use on the Cardiff - Portsmouth diagrams, but on Bank Holidays and weekends can make fleeting appearances at Taunton.

(Photo: Lewis Brownlow)

Published on 31st August 2015

Freightliner Heavy Haul is seen arriving with the Westbury ballast MOBC replenishment move on the 31st August 2015.

Class 66/5 No.66523 arrives into Taunton with the 6C73 12:12 Westbury - Fairwater Yard portion loaded with fresh ballast.

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 29th August 2015

Two West Coast Railways Class 57s visited the Dartmouth Regatta on Saturday 29th August 2015 from Chester.

The pair No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' and No,57316 operated in 'top and tail' formation from Chester to Kingswear with 'The Statesman' charter. After spending the afternoon in Kingswear enjoying the regatta and air show passengers returned to Chester on the high-class dining train. No.57316 is seen passing Tauntons local Network Rail herb garden at the south end of Platform 5 operating 1Z08 17:05 Kingswear - Chester.

(Photo: Jeff Treece)

Published on 28th August 2015

Pathfinder Railtours provided two Class 20s for a rare foray into Devon on the 28th of August 2015.

'The Dartmouth Flyer' was fronted by Direct Rail Services Class 20s No.20308 and No.20305. The 1Z68 06:07 Nuneaton to Kingswear is seen passing 40 Steps, Taunton on route to the Devon Regatta.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 28th August 2015

First Great Western colourful liveries often make a nice photograph in the sun, here a Class 150/2 and 150/1 combination formed of No.150248 and No.150127 operate the 2U16 12:07 stopping service from Taunton to Cardiff Central on the 28th August 2015.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 27th August 2015

Freightliner Class 66/9 No.66951 arrives into Taunton Station on the 27th August 2015.

The loco was operating 6S11 09:32 Bath Spa - Fairwater Yard with loaded concrete sleepers. Once at Fairwater the loco ran around the train to then later form a service back to Westbury.

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 25th August 2015

First Great Western power cars No. 43041 'St Catherines Castle' and No.43027 operated 'back to back' between Laira (Plymouth) and Old Oak Common (London) depots on Tuesday 25th August 2015.

The pair are seen passing through Platform 5 at Taunton while Citizen Rail liveried Class 153 No.153325 occupies Platform 4.

Published on 24th August 2015

Freightliner Class 66/5 No. 66585 'The Drax Flyer' passes through Platform 2 on the 24th of August 2015.

The train had arrived from Westbury before running around its train in Fairwater Yard and forming 6S05 19:20 Fairwater Yard - Bath Spa departing as the sun prepares to set.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 16th August 2015

Over recent weeks we've featured many of the engineering trains which have been operating between Westbury, Taunton to Bath Spa taking part in the engineering blockade between Bath and Trowbridge. While the trains may bring more freight through Taunton, often it's nice to see the extensive work being carried out by Network Rail. They have now released this superb video via their Youtube Page showing Dundas Aqueduct site where work was carried out to lower the track level and provide enough room for the eventual fitting of overhead power lines for new electric trains. The video features footage from drones, and static time-lapse photography and provides an interesting insight into the work being carried out on the route. (Video: Network Rail)

(Photo: Paul Rundle)

Published on 15th August 2015

The Network Rail MOBC (Medium Output Ballast Cleaner) has also been kept busy of late with Freightliner Heavy Haul continuing to operate the specialist trains from Fairwater Yard.

On the 15th August 2015 former Direct Rail Services Class 66/4 No.66413 is seen at Taunton's Fairwater Yard between shunting duties. *Image was taken by qualified personnel with permission*

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 14th August 2015

Cross Country currently has 'The Big Hoot' branding applied to the side of Voyager No.221138.

The Big Hoot is a similar event to the Ardman Animations Gromit and Shaun the Sheep figures which were placed as visitor attractions in Bristol. Birmingham is now following the same concept using large colourful owls located at visitor attractions around Birmingham during the school holidays. Class 221 No.221138 was captured at Taunton on a scheduled service train.

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 14th August 2015

Weekday engineering trains from the Bath engineering blockade has kept Taunton's freight scene alive.

On the 14th August 2015 Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66/5 No.66513 arrives into Taunton a rake of MRA side tippers in tow. The loco was working the 6T41 10:28 Bathampton Junction - Fairwater Yard. The loco then ran around its train of MRA side tipping ballast wagons before heading to Westbury under a separate diagram.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 14th August 2015

Aggregate Industries liveried Class 59/0 No. 59005 'Kenneth J Painter' operated 6C28 13:45 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry aggregate replenishment contract on the 14th August 2015.

The locomotives is pictured passing through Platform 4 at Taunton returning to the Mendips.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 13th August 2015

Colas Rail Freight Class 60 No.60002 passes through Taunton Station on Thursday 13th August 2015 while hauling loaded timber from Devon.

The Class 60 was operating 6M51 16:05 Exeter Riverside - Chirk loaded timber.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 12th August 2015

Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No.70802 arrives into Taunton westbound in stunning evening sunlight at 19:27 to reverse in Fairwater Yard while working the 6T45 18:27 Westbury to Bath Spa via Fairwater.

No.70804 was on the opposite end of the train allowing the train to quickly depart back to Bath on the 12th August 2015.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Published on 11th August 2015

Looking more like an advert for a local Asda store, the Bristol 'European Green Capital' 2015 powercar No.43126 passed through Taunton on the 11th August 2015 with classmate No.43018.

The pair were operating 0Z74 14:30 Laira to St Philips Marsh Depot. 43126 has been returned to service after its most recent failure in Cornwall and is pictured passing Taunton.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Bob Tucker)

Published on 2nd August 2015

LNER A1 Pacific No. 60163 'Tornado' featured on 'The Torbay Express' on Sunday 2nd August 2015.

The popular steam locomotive hauled the regular summer diagram seen passing Banklands operating as 1Z28 16:50 Kingswear - Bristol Temple Meads. The second charter on the same day 'The Royal Duchy' was less than successful when SR Bullied No. 34067 'Tangmere' failed to make it up Hemerdon Bank on the return trip from Cornwall. As a result, it's train was towed back to Plymouth by a Class 08 (Rare haulage indeed!) from Laira Depot, before the train was canceled and passengers returned home on a First Great Western HST. The loco and stock were later collected by West Coast Railways Class 47/7 No. 47746 'Chris Fudge 29.7.70 - 22.6.10' and towed back to Bristol under the cover of darkness.

To view the gallery, please click here.