News Archive for June 2016

West Somerset Awayday

Published on 19th June 2016

GWR operated a 'West Somerset Awayday' charter on the 19th June 2016, using GWR liveried Class 150/2 No.150247.

The unit is pictured crossing over to the WSR at Norton Fitzwarren in the rain working the 2Z19 11:17 Taunton to Bishops Lydeard for onward travel to Minehead. The charter later returned to Taunton before working empty stock back to Exeter St Davids TMD.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

Double Headed Delights

Published on 18th June 2016

The 18th June 2016 saw two tours and a total of four Class 47's pass through Taunton in one day, BR Green Class 47/7 No.47773 and West Coast Railways No.47327 led 'The Whistling Ghost IV' rail tour working 1Z73 08:04 Tyseley to Bishops Lydeard, on the West Somerset Railway.

The Class 47s were then swapped for 2 steam locos at Bishops Lydeard to continue the journey to Minehead. The colourful pair are seen passing through the ever-changing scene at Norton Fitzwarren.

GBRf also visited the West Somerset Railway on the 18th June 2016, but only hauling an empty stock movement, GB Railfreight's newly re-engineered Class 73/9's No.73961 and No.73964 led an empty coaching stock move from the 'GBRF Staff Special' tour which ran from Ashford International to Weston-Super-Mare. The 5Z62 12:30 Weston-super-Mare to Bishops Lydeard is seen passing Norton Fitzwarren onto the WSR for servicing and to allow the locomotives to change ends.

Two former top link Class 47/8s revisited their old stomping ground on the 18th June 2016, when Rail Operations Group (ROG) used No.47848 and No. 47815 'Great Western' to haul a rake of refurbished Great Western Railway MK3 coaches working 5V47 05:15 Kilmarnock (Barclay Sidings) to Laira the pair are seen passing 40 Steps, Taunton.

(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

Taunton Freight Movements

Published on 17th June 2016

Colas Rail Freight sent a light engine Class 60 into Devon on the 17th June 2016.

Colas liveried Class 60 No.60047 runs light engine through Taunton working 0Z76 18:20 Hinksey Yard to Exeter Riverside, in order to take the RailVac to Devonport on the evening of the 18th.

Despite having been operated by Freightliner Heavy Haul for some time now former DRS liveried Class 66/4 still carries its old operator livery. On the 17th June 2016 No.66419 passes through Taunton with a High Ballast Output Cleaning (HOBC) train approaching Fairwater Yard working 6C73 12:12 Westbury - Fairwater Yard via Bristol.

(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

(Photo: CHay Farzaneh)

Cross Country

Published on 13th June 2016

Cross Country Voyager No.220012 is picoted stopped in Platform 5 at Taunton while operating 1E67 16:25 Plymouth - Leeds on the 13th June 2016.

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Weed Killing South West

(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

Published on 13th June 2016

The 13th June 2016 saw Network Rail Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) No.DR98958 & DR98908 head south into Cornwall to start the annual weed killing services.

The MPV is seen on the approach to Taunton Station working the 6Z50 12:40 Reading Triangle Sidings to St Blazey.

90 Glorious Years

Published on 11th June 2016

To celebrate the 90th Birthday of HRH The Queen, GWR turned out a splendid vinyl wrap onto former 'Glorious Devon' powercar.

The powercar was prepared at Laira depot and worked north on the 1A85 11:00 Penzance - Paddington service on the 11th June 2016. No.43027(partnered with No.43162) are pictured at 40 Steps.

(Photo: Chay Farzenah)

Queens Birthday Locomotive Wrap

Published on 11th June 2016

To celebrate the 90th Birthday of HRH The Queen, GWR turned out a splendid vinyl wrap onto former 'Glorious Devon' powercar No.43027. The powercar was prepared at Laira depot.

GWR has also released a Youtube Video showing how they wrapped the powercar at Laira depot in time for it to work the 11:00 service from Penzance on the 11th June 2016.

The Dartmouth Express

Published on 9th June 2016

'The Dartmouth Express' bought steam to Taunton on the 11th June 2016, with SR Pacific No. 34046 'Braunton' 'Braunton' (Operating as 34052 'Lord Dowding') operating the train.

The steam locomotive arrived from Southall with its support coach to await the West Coast Railways diesel hauled leg of the tour to arrive from Woking. The locomotive is seen at Taunton shortly before departing Taunton with the 1Z82 06:35 Woking - Kingswear charter.

West Coast Railways Class 47 No.47245 led the diesel leg of The Dartmouth Express charter arriving with the 1Z82 06:35 Woking to Kingswear leg of the tour. The locomotive was supposed to have been detached and return to Westbury. However, it suffered traction issues and was removed from the train at Taunton by Braunton and placed in Taunton Loco Sidings.

(Photo: Chay Farzenah)

(Photo: Robert Latham)

Colas head to Minehead

(Photo: Paul Wilkins)

Published on 9th June 2016

With its nameplate already in position, Colas Rail Freight Class 56 descends over Cogload Junction on Thursday 9th June 2016 working the 0V40 13:18 Washwood Heath - Bishops Lydeard in preparation for its naming during the West Somerset Railway Mixed Traffic weekend.

Upon arrival, the loco was stabled on the turntable at Minehead and remained in position until late Saturday afternoon when it was named 'Peco The Railway Modeller 2016 - 70 Years'. The loco also operated several passenger services over the gala weekend.

To view the gallery, please click here.

The Northern Belle

Published on 4th June 2016

Direct Rail services used a pair of Class 68s to operate the Northern Belle into Cornwall on the 4th June 2016, No. 68016 'Fearless' and No. 68017 'Hornet' are pictured passing 40 Steps, Taunton in top and tail formation while operating the 1Z31 07:05 Swindon to Par charter.

The Pullman Style service featured a day out to the Eden Project in Cornwall.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

Colourful Network Rail

Published on 3rd June 2016

The early bird always catches the worm, or in this case Colas Class 37s.

At 07:02 on the 3rd June 2016, Class 37 No.37116 passes Norton Fitzwarren with the overnight Network Rail test train from Penzance. The 3Z91 22:44 (Thurs) Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads via St Ives.

The Network Rail Measurement Train visited Taunton three times in one day on the 3rd June 2016, as part of its booked testing pattern of tracks in the South West. Powercars No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' & No. 43014 'The Railway Observer' operated from London Paddington to Paignton in the morning, before returning north with the 1Z18 Paignton to Taunton via Bristol Temple Meads arriving back at Taunton at 18:47 then departing at 18:57 to London Paddington. The set is seen departing at Taunton East Junction from Obridge operating 1Q19 18:57 Taunton - London Paddington.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

DB Cargo Surprise Visitor

Published on 3rd June 2016

A surprise visitor to the Taunton area on the 3rd June 2016 was DB Schenker liveried Class 60 No.60100, the locomotive operated the early morning loaded aggregate to Exeter Riverside Yard.

This was the last train of the current contract and the locomotive is seen passing Broomhay Crossing near Bathpool with the 6C28 12:34 Exeter Riverside - Westbury return empties.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Lee Robbins)

Taunton Avoider Bridge

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

Published on 2nd June 2016

Please do not adjust your router, this is still TauntonTrains.

We start June with this image of the former Taunton 'avoider' bridge chained down to a trailer, while parked on the former Taunton avoider track bed, parked under 40 Steps! On the 2nd June 2016 the two side sections from the previously dismantled railway bridge were being prepared for road transport ready for refurbishment. The sides will then rejoin a new bridge frame once complete. Former cattle haulage Scania R480, AY09CWG is pictured ready to leave 40 Steps.

Colas Long Welded Rail

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

Published on 1st June 2016

Colas Rail Freight operated the Long Welded Rail Train into Cornwall on the evening of the 1st June 2016.

Class 66/8 No. 66849 'Wylam Dilly' powers through Norton Fitzwarren passing a Paddington bound HST service hauling the 6C97 17:31 Westbury - Burngullow via Penzance.

To view the gallery, please click here.

To view news stories from May 2016 click here, or for news from July 2016, click here.