News Archive for March 2016

Published on 16th March 2016

As 'Mad March' reached its midpoint, DB Schenker jumped on the bandwagon to add an 11th different locomotive type in 16 days to pass through Tauntons' Platforms.

Already this month Classes 31, 33, 45, 47, 37, 56, 57, 59, 66 & 70 have all passed through Taunton. While some of these locomotive types were not operating under their own power it just goes to show Taunton can be a diverse railway location. No. 60039 'Dove Holes' made its appearance hauling the Aggregate Industries stone contract to Exeter Riverside.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 14th March 2016

Mad March continues with seemingly madder workings by the day, this one being a contender for 'working of the year'.

Monday 14th March 2016 saw Direct Rail Services arrive in Taunton to test the Network Rail snow ploughs. Snowploughs ZZA ADB 965231 & 965209 were once kept at Bristol Barton Hill depot and were normally tested once a year under the cover of darkness by EWS/ DB Schenker. After a change of ownership at Bristol Barton Hill the snowploughs were then moved to Network Rail's Yard at Fairwater on the 26th February 2015. One plough is now kept on the far end of each yard headshunt.

No. 57306 'Branchline Society' 'Her Majesty's Inspectorate 175' and No.66431 (wearing plain DRS Blue) were dispatched from Crewe to work the 7Z75 09:20 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 9th March 2016

The Taunton Locofest continued on March 9th, 2016 when Rail Operations Group (ROG) provided a pair of Class 56 locomotives for the return First Great Western stock move, having deposited their stock at Laira the pair called into Exeter Riverside Yard to collect long term stored Network Rail Class 31 No.31285.

No.56081 and No.56104 are pictured passing 40 Steps and Taunton Station with No.31285 in tow, operating as the 0Z31 12:00 Exeter Riverside to Burton on Trent.

The Class 31 had been stored at Exeter Riverside Yard having failed on a Network Rail test train back in April 2015. It's not currently known if it's intended for the Class 31 to be stripped for spares or perhaps repaired at the Nemesis Rail Depot but it could be some time (if ever) that it's seen passing Taunton under its own power again.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 6th March 2016

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Railway from Bath to Bournemouth.

It was, therefore, fitting that the 2016 Spring Steam Gala should have a Somerset and Dorset themed event. With six visiting engines befitting of locomotives that traversed the S&D, the first weekend of steam operations provided some stunning scenes for everyone who attended the event.

The first weekend of the West Somerset Railway 2016 Spring Steam Gala took place on the 5th and 6th March 2016 coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset and Dorset route. The S&D theme for the gala rejuvenated the memories of the line by using locomotive types which once operated over the route. No less than six visiting locomotives were bought in to boost the variety of traction on offer. The lineup will feature the return of the Somerset and Dorset 7F No.53808 fresh from overhaul which was joined with sister locomotive No.53809. Also visiting the line will be BR Standard 4MT Tank No. 80072 (which operated as 80043), SR West Country No. 34070 'Manston', SR Rebuilt West Country No. 34053 'Sir Keith Park' & British Railways 9F No. 92214 and LMS 4F No.44422 (which is now part of the WSR home fleet). The first two days of the event also featured a much-improved timetable which allowed for a more interesting operating pattern. The use of terminating trains, through trains and goods trains in the middle of the day offered some much-missed operational diversity. The special working of Class 35 Hymek on Sunday 6th March operating a demolition train was also well received and thought through. The S&D memories continue next week starting on Wednesday 9th March through to Sunday 12th March. With plenty of steam traction on offer, there will be plenty to see and do.

Published on 4th March 2016

To end the first week of March and the Taunton Traction Bonanza we bring you two former British Rail Type 5 heavy freight locomotives.

Rail Operations Group operated No.56104 and No.56081 on a stock move for First Great Western transferring a rake of Mk3 HST stock from Laira (Plymouth) to Kilmarnock (Scotland) on Friday 6th March 2016. The pair were then booked to pick up a second rake of coaching stock and return to Plymouth early on Monday 7th March. It's been an unprecedented week with veteran Classes' 31, 33, 37, 45, 47, and 56s all passing through Taunton.

The pair are pictured shortly before leaving Devon and crossing the border into Somerset with the 5S56.

Having passed through Taunton Station, Rail Operations Group Class 56 No.56104 leads No.56081 through Bathpool heading north to Kilmarnock in Scotland. The pair were then booked to pick up a second rake of coaching stock and return to Plymouth early on Monday 7th March.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 3rd March 2016

Traction highlight of the week (for those who missed the loco on Sunday 28th February), was the visit of veteran stalwart Class 37/0 No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' to Taunton.

The locomotive is owned by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society but is on a rolling hire contract with Colas Rail Freight. The fifty-year split headcode Scottish veteran operated light engine from Westbury - Tavistock Junction on the 2nd March 2016 and is pictured on the passing Taunton, before returning to Westbury on the 3rd March 2016 with a rake of engineers wagons from Tavistock Junction.

Before being returned to the mainline No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' underwent a lengthy and extensive overhaul by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, the loco has been restored to an exceptional standard and now carries full British Rail 'Large Logo' complete with the Highland Stag motive. No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' was released from English Electric Vulcan Foundry on the 31 August 1961 as D6725. Having spent the first 20 years of operation in British Rail's Eastern Region, before being moved north to Scotland in June 1981. During this time it became the first locomotive to carry the BR Large Logo livery and, later, the Departmental Grey livery. It was also named 'Inverness TMD' in March 1994 having been repainted into BR Large Logo livery from Civil Engineers 'Dutch' livery. In 1995, No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' moved south for the last three years of its working career. It was withdrawn in 1998. Purchased in 2000 by the Scottish Thirty-seven Group, No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' made a successful return to traffic on September 2007 following an extensive restoration. In April 2011, No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' was once again withdrawn from traffic in order to prepare the locomotive for work on the mainline.

Our gallery of images below feature the locomotive at work in the Taunton area for Colas.

Published on 1st March 2016

It was inevitable that Great Western Railway powercars would eventually be split from their full green HST Mk3 coaching stock set.

On the 1st March No.43187 and No. 43188 'Newport Castle' were paired up on a standard First Great Western rake of coaching stock while operating the 1A12 08:06 Newton Abbot - London Paddington service. The service had started at Newton Abbot instead of Paignton due to late running of the empty coaching stock from Laira depot. The colourful combination is pictured at Platform 5, Taunton.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 1st March 2016

Veteran Class 31 No.31452 ventured to deepest Devon on the 1st March to collect a plethora of locomotives from the Dartmoor Railway, the equally 'veteran status' locomotives had resided at the Dartmoor Railway since the Christmas 2015 'Polar Express' services which operated on the line.

No.31452 lead the 0Z36 16:50 Okehampton – Derby with No. 45060 'Sherwood Forester', No.33103, and No.47701 tow. The convoy ran approximately 100 minutes ahead of schedule. Both the Class 45 and 33 look like they require a bit of 'spit and polish' to bring their faded paintwork back following a winter out in the open on the edge of Dartmoor. The Class 47 carries a non-standard version of two-tone green and had been purchased by Nemesis Rail.