News Archive for July 2016

WSR Crompton on Holiday

Published on 31st July 2016

The DEPG Class 33 No.D6575 (33057) took a holiday in Gloucestershire for a weekend in July.

Having worked light engine from the DEPG base at Williton to Bishops Lydeard the locomotive was transferred by road to Toddington on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway, where the loco joined other locomotives for a weekend diesel gala. No.D6575 is seen powering past Dixton heading back to Toddington on the 31st July 2016.

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)

Freightliner Operations

Published on 26th July 2016

Freightliner operate various infrastructure trains for Network Rail from their Fairwater Yard base, we have featured two such workings from July.

Former DRS Class 66/4 No.66419 rounds the curve at Oath near Stoke St Gregory returning to Taunton on the 30th July 2016 hauling the 6C73 12:12 Westbury - Fairwater Yard MOBC loaded trip portion.

Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66551 rounds the corner at Oath on the Somerset levels, during Tuesday 26th July 2016. The loco was returning to Taunton with the loaded 6C72 12:12 Westbury - Fairwater Yard MOBC potion.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

No Steam for Torbay Express

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Published on 24th July 2016

The Torbay Express also differed on Sunday 24th July 2016, after 'Royal Scot' failed its fitness to run exam while on shed at Bristol.

With no suitable alternative steam locomotive in place and no heritage diesels operated by DB Schenker, the nearest alternative locomotive was a Class 66. No.66093 was provided for the trip from Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and back, taking many of those at the line side by surprise. The loco is seen arriving back into Taunton after its day out in Devon operating 1Z28 16:50 Kingswear - Bristol Temple Meads.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Colas Deputize for DB Schenker

Published on 21st July 2016

A shortage of drivers with DB Schenker (who operate the Mendip Rail aggregate contract) has seen Colas Rail Freight providing subcontract hire locomotives and crew to operate the service on behalf of DB Schenker.

This has provided the sight of Class 70s operating the heavy aggregate traffic which is unloaded at the Exeter Riverside Yard terminal. We have featured a selection of images taken in July of the colourful change in traction.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

DB Schenker - Class 60 Visits

Published on 20th July 2016

DB Schenker provided the much liked Class 60 for an appearance on the Exeter Riverside stone trip on several days in mid-July.

With the loaded train having run south during the early morning, the return empties are always able to be captured in the Taunton area. We have featured two such images from July with the classic British Class 60 at the helm.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)

EX DRS Class 66

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Published on 20th July 2016

Former DRS Class 66/4 No.66419 is now operated by Freightliner Heavy Haul.

Still wearing the colours of its former operator No.66419 arrives into Fairwater Yard passing 40 Steps on Wednesday 20th July 2016 hauling the return 6C73 12:12 Westbury to Fairwater loaded MOBC portion.

LMS Steam West

Published on 16th July 2016

More LMS steam visited Taunton on Saturday 16th July 2016, when No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' visited the West Somerset Railway with the 'West Somerset Explorer' which is part of The Railway Touring Company program for 2016.

The 1Z46 08:06 London Paddington - Minehead departed London Paddington on time and arrived onto the WSR around lunch time. Once at Bishops Lydeard BR 7F No.53808 took over for the run to Minehead and back (accompanied by a West Coast Railways Class 37 on the rear of the set, which had travelled down on the back of the train from London). Scots Guardsman is seen at Longlands Farm heading for Bishops Lydeard where the loco would later be serviced in time for its return trip.

(Photo: Jamie Waters)

First 'Torbay Express' of 2016

Passing Trains at Taunton on Sunday 3rd July 2016. Colas Class 70 No.70807 and 'Rail-Vac' work 6X54 09:01 Plymouth - Westbury north passing No. 46100 'Royal Scot' departing Taunton with the first 'Torbay Express' of the 2016 season; 1Z27 08:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear (for Dartmouth) which had operated via Westbury.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

The 2016 Steam Season kicked off on the 3rd July 2016 with the first Torbay Express of the year. The first train of the year was hauled by Midland 'Scot' No. 46100 'Royal Scot' The locomotive is seen passing Norton Fitzwarren with the 1Z27 08:00 Bristol Temple Meads - Kingswear. The train later ran into problems on Whiteball Bank where the train was stationary for fifteen minutes before getting moving again towards Kingswear.

(Photo: Chay Frazenah)

Published on 3rd July 2016

The 2016 Steam Season kicked off on the 3rd July 2016 with the first Torbay Express of the year.

The first train of the year was hauled by Midland 'Scot' No. 46100 'Royal Scot' which operated the charter via Westbury to Taunton. After a short servicing stop at Taunton, the charter continued south to Kingswear departing Taunton at 10:37. The train later ran into problems on Whiteball Bank where the train was stationary for fifteen minutes before getting moving again towards Kingswear.

DRS Class 68s stand in for Network Rail HST

Published on 1st July 2016

Direct Rail Services Class 68s are now spreading their wings around the UK.

The 1st July 2016 provided the opportunity to witness the new Class 68s three times in one day. No. 68004 'Rapid' and No. 68020 'Reliance' visited the South West running a Network Rail test train instead of the usual HST which was out of traffic for maintenance. Having already operated the 1Q18 05:25 Old Oak Common to Paignton via Penzance the pair then operated the 1Z18 15:46 Paignton to Taunton via Bristol Temple Meads. The pair of locomotives operated in top and tail formation either end of test coaches (Mk2 977868 - Radio Survey Test Coach, Mk2 5981 - PLPR2 Plain Line Pattern Rail Recognition Coach, Mk2 - 977983 - Electrification Measurement Coach, Mk1 6264 - Generator Van).

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

To view news stories from June 2016 click here, or for news from August 2016, click here.