News Archive for December 2015

Festive NMT

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Published on 18th December 2015

Network Rail 'New Measurement Train', Fairwater Yard, Taunton.

Approaching Taunton, NMT power cars 43013 & 43014 'top n tail' a short 4 coach consist on the 1Q18 (05:01) Old Oak Common H.S.T.D. - Plymouth - London Paddington on Friday 18th December 2015.

To view the gallery, please click here.


 ROG return North

(Photo: Brian Garrett)


Published on 13th December 2015

Having delivered a rake of coaching stock Laira Depot on the 12th December, Rail Operations Group returned another set to Scotland on the 13th December 2015.

Running as the 5S56 10:45 from Laira - Kilmarnock, Class 56 No.56301 & No. 56098 'Lost Boys 68-88' pass Cogload Junction with the following formation in tow: (Barrier) 6330, 42310, 44022, 42068, 42062, 42221, 42504, 40810, 41089 & (Barrier) 6338.

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Rail Operations Group - Class 56s


Published on 12th December 2015

Class 56s were back in the news for the 12th December 2015 when another pair of class members operated a stock move from Kilmarnock to Laira returning Mk3 coaching stock from their C6 overhauls.

Class 56 No. 56098 'Lost Boys 68-88' and former Fastline Freight No.56301 operated 5V56 02:20 Kilmarnock Barclay Sidings to Laira stock move. No. 56098 'Lost Boys 68-88' also carried the 'Rail Operations Group' (ROG) headboard.

The formation was as follows: (Barrier) 6338, 41126, 40809, 42268, 42506, 42216, 42344, 42261, 44030 and (Barrier) 6330.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)



Class 60 in December sun

(Photo: Quentin Hawkes)

Published on 9th December 2015

Colas liveried Class 60 No.60047 heads the 6V54 05:35 Chirk - Exeter Riverside westbound empty logs passing Allerford on Wednesday 9th December 2015.

Ironically, this has been one of the very few mornings over the past month where the sun has made much of a presence in the area.

To view the gallery, please click here.


 Colas move coal empties

(Photo: Darren Harris)


Published on 8th December 2015

Colas Railfreight operated a rake of stored coal wagons from Exeter Riverside to Barry Island on the 8th of December 2015.

Class 70 No.70804 was employed to move a rake of stored Colas Coal wagons from their long term storage in Exeter Riverside Yard. On the morning of the 8th December No.70804 was pictured approaching the A361 road bridge at Durston with the rare southwest wagon type load in tow operating as the 4B70 09:00 Exeter Riverside to Barry Island.

To view the gallery, please click here.


 Freightliner HOBC

Published on 6th December 2015

Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66523 & No.66562, approach Fairwater Yard on Sunday 6th December 2015 hauling the 6Y19 07:45 Basingstoke to Fairwater Yard.

The Network Rail MOBC set was being returned from overnight engineering work in the Basingstoke area.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: S A Ginn)


'York and Durham Noel Explorer'

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Published on 6th December 2015

This was the busy scene at Fairwater Yard on Sunday 6th December 2015.

Freightliner Class 66 No.66515 departs with the Empty Coaching Stock 5Z45 12:08 Fairwater Yard - Eastleigh Depot, hauling the coaching stock from the previous day's 'York and Durham Noel Explorer'. The 1Z41 Taunton to Newcastle was originally operated DB Schenker's 67006, which was later declared a failure after arriving at the northern destination. Freightliners Class 66/5 No.66515 was drafted in to work the return charter to back to Taunton. Having spent the night stabled in Fairwater Yard No.66515 departs back to Westbury where '515' was replaced by DB Schenker 66076 for onward transit to Eastleigh.

To view the gallery, please click here.


 Freightliner Turning Move

Published on 5th December 2015

On an as-required basis the use of the Norton Fitzwarren 'Triangle' provides a useful tool for Freightliner Heavy Haul to turn locomotives and equipment should the need arise.

Taken on the 5th December 2015, Freightliner Class 66 No.66563 returns from the Norton Fitzwarren Triangle to Fairwater Yard on a turning move from Fairwater Yard. The loco was operating as 6X75 13:40 Bishops Lydeard - Fairwater Yard is seen passing the new housing estate built on the former Taunton Cider works at Norton Fitzwarren.

(Photo: Phil Izzard)


To view news stories from November 2015 click here, or for news from January 2016, click here.