News Archive for November 2015

Published on 29th November 2015

The Taunton Colas Class 60 invasion continued into Sunday 29th November 2015, with Class 60 No.60076 retuning from the engineering blockade at Lostwithiel.

Having worked south under the cover of darkness during Saturday evening the locomotive returned (roughly an hour behind schedule) with the 7C21 09:00 Largin - Westbury engineers. The colourful locomotive brightens up the scene at 40 Steps as it heads north to Westbury.

We have included a second shot in this selection to show the latest scene at 40 Steps. As expected street lighting has now been installed on the Taunton NIDR road which further restricts the view for photographers. The Classic 40 Steps shot has all but been eliminated, however it is still possible to obtain images on zoom lens up to 200mm and beyond. There is still no date set for the opening of the road, with continued problems surrounding the former railway bridge in station road, with the lack of any bedrock in order to construct piles for the new bridge. Two huge piling machines have now been bought in to try and solve the protracted build which has now been ongoing since 2013 and has become the laughing stock of the town. Colas Class 60 No.60047 is pictured running away from the camera on the 29th November 2015, hauling 7C21 09:00 Largin - Westbury engineers with a Colas Rail Crane on the rear of the train.

Published on 28th November 2015

Colas Rail Freight provided a classic British built Class 60 to haul an engineers train through to Conrnwall on the last weekend of November.

Class 60 No.60047 heads south at Cogload Junction towards Taunton Station formed of 5 HQA and 5 JJA wagons on the 28th of November 2015. The Class 60 was hauling the 6C26 10:25 Westbury - St Blazey Yard loaded with fresh ballast. It's believed the last time this loco has visited Taunton prior to its overhaul with Colas was the 23rd June 2006 when it worked a similar train through to Totnes

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 26th November 2015

November 26th, 2015 saw the Steam Dreams charter from London Victoria run into problems at Reading with dragging brakes on Mk2 Coach No.3048.

The charter finally arrived in the Taunton area some two hours late, having removed several coaches at Reading. As a result of the delay, the charter was revised to return with accompanying West Coast Class 47 No. 47746 'Chris Fudge 29.7.70 - 22.6.10' to London, while the B1 steam locomotive hauling the original tour would then make an overnight stay on the West Somerset Railway before returning to Southall the next day. No. 61306 'Mayflower' is pictured slowly approaching passing the Taunton area on the 27th November 2016 operating 5Z31 11:20 Bishops Lydeard - Southall with its support coach in tow.

Published on 20th November 2015

The daily visit of the Rail Head Treatment Train through Taunton in the Autumn months is a welcome addition to the normal traffic flows.

On the 20th November 2015 the filthy grime-covered set is seen passing Freightliner Heavy Haul (shunting in Fairwater Yard).

EWS liveried Class 66 No.66061 and No.66067 head away from the camera with the 3J13 08:45 Westbury - St Blazey.

How dirty can a locomotive get? Filthy loco and filthy weather on November 25th, 2015 at Forty Steps Bridge, Taunton. EWS-liveried Class 66 No.66061 and No.66067 work the RHTT (Rail Head Treatment Train) 3J13 08:45 Westbury to St.Blazey via Salisbury.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 13th November 2015

Friday 13th November 2015 saw the visit of the Royal Train to the South West, having worked down to Newton Abbot and onto the Heathfield branch the previous night, the train then delivered HRH Prince Philip to Plymouth his Royal Highness visited Devonport Naval Base and met 1 Assault Group, Royal Marines to formally open the new £1.8million Mercury building, which will serve as a canteen and communications storage.

Having carried out its duties the 1Z50 12:30 Plymouth - Wolverton returned the empty Royal Train stock to Wolverton where the Royal Train is maintained.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 8th November 2015

Freightliner Class 66 No.66599 and No.66523 arrive back into Fairwater Yard through Taunton Station on the 8th of November 2015.

No.66599 is pictured leading 6Y19 08:30 Basingstoke to Fairwater Yard in top and tail formation with No.66523 located out of sight on the rear of the MOBC (Medium Output Ballast Cleaner).

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 7th November 2015

Freightliner Heavy Haul continues to operate the Medium Output Ballast Cleaner (MOBC) from Fairwater Yard on a nightly basis.

On the 7th November 2015, Class 66/5 No.66523 leads the 6Y19 18:35 Fairwater Yard to Reading Green Park through Platform 2 at Taunton Station, out of sight on the rear of the train was No.66599. The train would then spend the night operating between Reading and Basingstoke before returning to Taunton on the 8th of November.

To view the gallery, please click here.