News Archive for January 2016

Fastline leads to Scotland

(Photo: Thomas Gulliford)

Published on 31st January 2016

Having deposited a refurbished rake of Mk3 coaching stock at Laira, ROG returned north on the Sunday 31st January 2016 with another rake of stock heading for refurbishment.

Rail Operations Group Class 56s No.56301 and No. 56098 'Lost Boys 68-88' are pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren hauling the 5S56 11:37 Laira - Kilmarnock, very much at the start of their 500-mile journey to Scotland.

To view the gallery, please click here.

'Lost Boys' heads west with ROG

Published on 30th January 2016

The 'Lost Boys' name takes its origins back to 1968, when BR employed the first group of Fireman after the demise of steam, the new grade of Secondman, later Drivers Assistant were introduced, this grade continued until 1988 when the Traincrew concept was introduced.

'Boys' taken on in this era included a number of 'well-known' names of today, with many moving on from the footplate line of promotion to management, over the years this group has become known as the 'Lost Boys'.

On Saturday 30th January 2016 newly named and re-liveried Class 56 No. 56098 'Lost Boys 68-88' teamed up with ex Fastline Class 56 No.56301 to haul a rake of refurbished HST stock from Scotland to the South West. The 5V56 02:29 Kilmarnock - Laira is pictured passing through the Taunton area.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: S A Ginn)

The Colas Triple

Published on 30th January 2016

Colas Rail Freight provided a triplet of trains to record in daylight hours through Taunton on the 30th of January 2016, with extensive engineering work taking place between St Austell and Truro Colas had a fleet of trains ready to return to Westbury throughout the day.

The trains also had the rare combination of three different locomotive types for haulage.

The first to pass the area was Colas Class 66 No.66847 loaded with used track panels returning to Westbury operating as 6C23 10:00 Par to Westbury, seen here passing Creech St Michael.

Colas Class 70 provided the second locomotive type on the Cornish weekend engineers trains, No.70804 had rather slow 45mph amble back from Cornwall owing to the inclusion of a Balfour Beatty rail crane. The 7C21 08:23 Par - Westbury is pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren on the approach to Taunton.

The third locomotive type of the day was Colas Class 60 No.60047, the Type 5 locomotive broke new ground on Friday 29th when it became the first member of the class to reach the buffer stops at Penzance Station, an incredibly rare sight indeed for this Class of locomotive. Taken as the low winter sun on Saturday 30th January 2016 Class 60 No.60047 grumbles its way back to Westbury 6C22 13:02 from Par to Westbury.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

DRS Return to Crewe

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

Published on 28th January 2016

Thursday 28th January 2016 saw a bright and breezy winters morning dawn in the Taunton area.

The conditions provided an excellent opportunity to capture the pair of Direct Rail Services Class 37's return from Keyham minus their flask wagon. Ex Works Class 37/0 No.37069 with No.37609 double head back through Norton Fitzwarren with the 5Z40 08:40 Keyham - Crewe CLS move conveying the two DRS barrier/ crew vehicles Mk2a BSO 9419 and Mk2a BSO 9428.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Bristol Green 2015 in 2016

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

Published on 28th January 2016

'Bristol Green Capital 2015' livery continues to appear on First Great Western powercar.

No. 43192 'Trematon Castle' was out-shopped in the colourful green and white vinyl during mid-January 2016. Here on the 28th January 2016 No. 43192 'Trematon Castle' and partner powercar No.43177 are pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren leading the 1A78 06:45 Penzance - Paddington service.

To view the gallery, please click here.

DRS move a flask to Devonport (Video)

Published on 27th January 2016

The above video features the journey of the DRS Flask from Bristol Temple Meads through to Totnes on Wednesday 27th January 2016, Class 37 No.37609 and No.37609 are seen arriving into Bristol Temple Meads before being overtaken in Highbridge Loop, then passing through Taunton Station, before being overtaken again in Tiverton Loop and finally being filmed passing through Totnes. (Video: Nathan Williamson)

DRS move a flask to Devonport

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Published on 27th January 2016

Wednesday 27th January 2016 saw English Electric power back in the South West with Direct Rail Services making a colourful sight passing through Taunton.

DRS Class 37s No.37609 & freshly painted No.37069 were paired up to operate the 6Z40 08:00 Crewe CLS to Keyham. The formation was: Mk2a BSO 9419, KUA MODA 95770 & Mk2a BSO 9428 conveying a Nuclear Flask wagon to the Devonport Dockyard. The ensemble is pictured passing Taunton on route to south to Devon.

To view the gallery, please click here.

'Super Power' for Railvac move

Published on 22nd January 2016

Colas Rail Freight returned a Swedish Railvac from Truro Yard to Westbury on the 22nd January 2016, super power in the form of former DB Class 60 No.60047 was provided for the move.

The coulorful locomotive is pictured passing 40 Steps, Taunton with the 6X54 11:55 Truro - Westbury.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Jeff Treece)

Frosty Morning

(Photo: Chay Farzenah)

Published on 20th January 2016

After a heavy overnight freeze in the South West, Taunton awoke to a winter wonderland with temperatures still below zero at first light.

By mid-morning the cloudless skies allowed the sun to start the thaw. Arriving into a frosty Taunton on the 20th January 2016, filthy Cross Country powercar No.43378 arrives into Taunton with No.43303 operating the 1V44 06:00 Leeds - Plymouth service in the morning winter sunlight.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Colas Wagon Move

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 14th January 2016

Colas Class 70 No.70810 was taking part in route learning duties on the 14th January 2016 when the locomotive was also used to transport a single KFA loaded log wagon from Exeter Riverside Yard to Cardiff Canton for attention.

The wagon had been removed from a previous log train due to a fault. The 6Z51 13:45 Exeter Riverside - Cardiff Canton passes Class 150/1 No.150127 at Taunton on route to Wales.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Freightliner Ballast Cleaner Move

Published on 11th January 2016

Monday 11th January 2016 saw Freightliner Heavy Haul move part of the MOBC ballast cleaning equipment from Fairwater Yard.

Class 66/5 No.66562 (which has recently had attention to its cabs along with a front end repaint) is seen passing Cogload Junction hauling MOBC RM95RT Power Wagon DR76323 north as the 6Z19 11:04 Fairwater to Parkeston movement. The colourful combination is pictured passing Cogload Junction.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Jamie Waters)

Colas Weekend Engineers

Published on 9th January 2016

Saturday 9th January 2016 provided a wealth of engineering trains operating through Taunton for Network Rail.

Sadly the 9th also coincided with the first torrential rain and heavy downpours of the year (some of which included freak hail, thunder, and lightning). Colas Rail Freight operated a selection of services, several operated from Hinksey Yard and the remaining services operated from Westbury Yard. All trains worked to Taunton where trains would then change direction in Fairwater Yard before returning to Castle Cary, and enter the engineering blockade. A selection of images for the various trains from the day have been captured below, all of which feature the General Electric built Class 70 which are operated by Colas.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

FGW Powercar Move

Published on 9th January 2016

In a rare move for a Saturday, First Great Western repositioned two of its HST powercars between Laira and St Philips Marsh depots on the 9th of January 2016.

No.43030 and No.43159 are pictured passing Cogload Junction operating 0Z74 10:30 from Laira to St Philips Marsh.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Harry Patch on the Levels

(Photo: Adam Snow)

Published on 3rd January 2016

Sunday 3rd January 2016 saw the special remembrance day liveried Great Western HST powercar lead a service to London in stunning lighting.

The striking powercar was No.43172 was originally out shopped in time for remembrance day 2015 and named 'Harry Patch'. Since then we had yet to feature this powercar as its workings in the South West have been somewhat elusive. The black full-body vinyl with a stunning poppy field setting on the site is undoubtedly the best powercar re-livery which First Great Western has produced. No.43172 'Harry Patch' and partner No.43160 are pictured passing the sodden Somerset Levels leading the 1A83 09:45 Penzance - Paddington service.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Taunton Trains Youtube

(Photo: Taunton Trains)

Published on 2nd January 2016

Over recent weeks we have begun our latest project to digitize hours of video footage taken from 2004 onwards.

The footage dates from VHS Compact Video Cassettes, through to Mini DV, and further digital material. We already have a large number of clips now uploaded to our Taunton Trains Youtube Channel providing some great viewing material for these dark winter nights. Why not subscribe to the channel and don't forget to press the 'bell' icon to get automatic alerts as new videos are uploaded.

To view news stories from December 2015 click here, or for news from February 2016, click here.