Published on 29th September 2015
Catching the last rays of the sun at Cogload Junction, DC Rail Class 56 No. 56312 'Jeremiah Dixon' with LNER A1 No. 60163 'Tornado' and support coach in tow pass over the classic Cogload Junction fly-over on the 29th September 2015.
The Type 5 Class 56 was hauling 5Z63 09:40 York NRM to Bishops Lydeard as 'Tornado' was heading to the West Somerset Railway to star in the Autumn Steam Gala Weekend.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
Published on 29th September 2015
The village of Creech St Michael can be a busy little spot for photography if the times of trains coincide with one another.
On the 29th September 2015 the following freight services were observed.
Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66523 works a very short 6C73 12:12 Westbury to Fairwater Yard consisting of just five auto-ballasters on 29th September 2015, the train is pictured passing Creech St Michael nearing journies end at Taunton.
DB Schenker Class 59/2 No.59203 passes Creech St Michael with a rake of empty stone wagons on 29th September 2015 hauling 6C28 13:45 Exeter Riverside to Whatley Quarry aggregate empties.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
Published on 29th September 2015
In preparation for Pathfinder Tours 'Autumn Highlander' charter from Exeter to Inverness (and Wick), Direct Rail Services Class 37s No. 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/ Concrete Bob' & No.37218 passed through Taunton with the empty stock from Eastleigh on the 24th September 2015.
The pair are seen passing 40 Steps, operating 1Z30 09:28 Eastleigh - Paignton.
Having completed the marathon trek from Exeter to Wick and back with Pathfinder Tours, DRS Class 37s No.37218 & No. 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/ Concrete Bob' returned to Eastleigh on the 29th September 2015 with their empty stock from the charter. The pair had previously spent several days working Pathfinder Tours 'Autumn Highlander' charter taking them to highlands of Scotland. The pair are seen passing through Creech St Michael on route back to Easteliegh operating 5Z39 13:46 Exeter Riverside - Eastleigh.
(Photo: Paul Wilkins)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
Published on 26th September 2015
GBRf Class 66/7 No.66757 was named 'West Somerset Railway' at Bishops Lydeard station on the 26th of September 2015.
After the naming ceremony, the loco-hauled the 11:05 Diesel service from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 15:25 Minehead back to Bishops Lydeard. The locomotive was named the celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the West Somerset Railway and the working relationship between GBRf. The company has supplied a handful of locomotives for previous diesel gala weekends. The loco only visited for one day before leaving the preserved line heading back to its normal operational duties with GBRf on the UK Railway network. As GBRf currently have no booked freight operations in the Taunton area enthusiasts may have to travel far and wide to find this locomotive on its daily duties!
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
Published on 20th September 2015
First Great Western began it's major rebranding exercise on the 20th September 2015 when the first full green GWR branded HST broke cover.
Although GWR branding had already been applied to other items of rolling stock, efforts to conceal the new GWR lettering on the powercars for the launch failed. With bin bags and tape flapping No. 43188 'Newport Castle' and No. 43189 'Launceston Castle' speed through Norton Fitzwarren operating 5Z20 Laira - London Paddington for the GWR launch ceremony.
Published on 19th September 2015
The West Somerset Steam Express visited Minehead from London Paddington hauled by Southern Region Westcountry No. 34067 'Tangmere' on Saturday 19th September 2015.
The locomotive worked the mainline leg of the tour as far as Bishops Lydeard where GWR Hall No. 6960 'Raveningham Hall' took over for the run to Minehead and back. No. 34067 'Tangmere' is pictured passing Longlands Farm between Norton Fitzwarren and Bishops Lydeard hauling the 1Z70 08:05 London Paddington - Minehead charter.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
Published on 19th September 2015
Colas Rail Freight Class 70/8 No.70809 passes Silk Mills on Saturday 19th September 2015 hauling a short engineers train loaded with fresh ballast.
Operating as 6C25 09:36 Westbury - St Blazey the train heads south to deliver its load to the Cornish outpost.
Published on 13th September 2015
BR Standard Class 7 No. 70000 'Britannia' powers away from Taunton on the 13th of September 2015.
The Torbay Express is pictured passing Allerford hauling 1Z27 08:15 Bristol Temple Meads - Kingswear, the train had also operated via Bath Spa rather than direct from Bristol.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
Published on 5th September 2015
Taunton was blessed with two visiting charter trains within several minutes of one another on Saturday 5th September 2015.
In a race to Cogload Junction, West Coast Railways won with 'The Statesman'. Former First Great Western and South West regular Class 57/6 No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' lead the 1Z07 05:05 Crewe - Minehead dining charter with classmate Class 57/3 No.57316 on the rear of the set. After a short pause at Taunton 57601 'Windsor Castle' then lead the train onto the West Somerset Railway to visit the seaside resort of Minehead.
The second of two tours to pass Taunton was UK Railtours 'Glorious Devon' charter. The 1Z14 07:10 Northampton to Paignton was hauled by DB Schenker owned and unique branded Class 67 No.67029. The locomotive is seen passing Cogload Junction having swiftly arrived from the Berks and Hants route and under the Cogload flyover on the 5th of September 2015.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 5th September 2015
With a multitude of different liveries scattered over the Great Western network, there is often a good selection of colourful combinations on offer for photographers.
First Great Western 'Dynamic Lines' livered Class 158/9 No.158954 leads 'Citizen Rail' liveried Class No.153325 north through Cogload Junction on the 5th September 2015 working 2U14 11:04 Taunton - Cardiff Central stopping service.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 1st September 2015
DRS Class 37 No.37601 passes Taunton on driver training runs between Bristol East Depot and Exeter Riverside on the 1st of September 2015. (Video: Nathan Williamson)
Published on 1st September 2015
Tuesday 1st September 2015 erupted with the sound of English Electric power back in the South West.
Direct Rail Services Class 37/6 No.37601 was hired by Colas Rail Freight for a series of driver training runs between Bristol East Depot and Exeter Riverside Yard. The company also used the rake of former First Great Western 'motor rail' vans (96608 96609 96605 96607 96606 & 96602). The Class 37 is seen arriving into Taunton with the 5Z24 16:08 from Exeter Riverside to Bristol East Depot.
Incidentally, the 'TNT' branding on the rear coach was from a trial to deliver supermarket goods into central London overnight which was carried out last year, and not a new UK parcel service!
(Photo: Nathan Williamson)
To view news stories from August 2015 click here, or for news from October 2015, click here.