News Archive for January 2018

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 24th January 2018

It's hard to believe it was 10 years ago when the last Great Western HST powercar with a Valenta power unit was making its final journey from Taunton before conversion to the more modern MTU power units.

Equally it's just as hard to think the MTU's have provided ten years of hard work inside one of the most best loved and iconic passenger trains operating up to 1000 mile diagrams each day. With another dawn of change on the horizon the HST's are continuing to provide a front line service as their newer Hitachi Class 800 replacements arrive into Traffic. No. 43002 'Sir Kenneth Grange' stands at Taunton on the 2nd January 2008 ready to make it's last departure from Taunton with its Valenta power unit before conversion to an MTU unit at Brush Loughborough. The powercar arrived with the 1C24 17:30 from London Paddington and departed as the 1A37 21:30 Taunton - London Paddington service.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Richard Hill)

Published on 22nd January 2018

Sunday 21st January 2018 saw a rare Sunday evening visit of a GWR Hitachi Class 800.

No.800008 operated the 1C19 15:03 London Paddington - Taunton solo as a five car formation arriving at 18:03. The Unit then recessed at Taunton to form the 1A33 18:56 Taunton - London Paddington service. The Class 800's will soon begin to take over more HST diagrams in the coming months as more of the Class get accepted into traffic.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 21st January 2018

This weekend we have added over 100 images onto the new Taunton Trains website, and the Taunton Trains Collection.

Each image has been re-scanned to higher resolution and re-edited for your viewing pleasure. Where applicable images have also been linked into the Taunton Workings Database. The images added vary from 1950 through to the current day, so there is plenty of variety to interest everyone.

We have also been busy in the Workings Database with over 200 lines of newly recorded workings added into this part of the website.

During next week our front page image will be changing daily featuring a different photograph from the incredible range of images we've added this weekend, so please do come back each day to see the latest image on the front page of the website.

A rather ropey looking BR Large Logo Class 47 No.47473 passes Cogload Junction on the 16th May 1992 working the 07:33 Rose Grove - Paignton service.

(Photo: John Day)

Published on 15th January 2018

Direct Rail Services sent a silver Chiltern liveried Class 68 No.68011 to Plymouth on the 15th January 2018.

The silver light engine passed Taunton at 14:10 working the 0Z63 Crewe Gresty Bridge - Plymouth. The locomotive is booked to collect the second portion of stored Mk3 coaching stock from Laira on the 16th to return it to Crewe.

(Photo: Jeff Treece)

Sunday 2nd January 2011, saw the West Somerset Railway celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the lines closure, when the last scheduled passenger and freight trains operated over the line on the 2nd January 1971. To coincide with with the achievements made since this date, the WSR operated a number of special workings during the day. A special charter service provided passengers with the chance to travel from Exeter to Minehead on board a First Great Western Class 150 DMU. First Great Western provided one of their 'local lines' Class 150 units as part of a charter train to allow passengers to travel from Exeter to Minehead and provide a modern day comparison to the final DMU service which operated on the 2nd January 1971. The Class 150's themselves are older than many would think, originally built between 1984 and 1987 by BREL. The Class 150 No.150234 had also received a full body and window wash prior to being used on the special charter. It's seen departing from Crowcombe Heathfield with the 2Z10 Exeter St Davids - Minehead service.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 13th January 2018

The Minehead Rail Link Group is campaigning for the existing Cardiff to Taunton service operated by Great Western Railway to be extended to Minehead.

The group says the move would open up West Somerset, giving a direct travel connection to Bristol and Wales, along with easy connections to Devon, Cornwall, London and the cross-Country network. While the campaign believes it would bring unrivaled benefits for business to tourism to the area, there are many questions which remain unanswered about how mainline trains operating to Minehead as part of a timetabled diagram would occur. Sim Harris from RailNews has provided an excellent in depth analysis of the possibilities for future through services on the West Somerset Railway and his report can be downloaded by clicking this link .

Whatever outcome the decision and implementation of any through service from Taunton to Minehead is probably still years away, talking is one thing, decisive action, infrastructure investment are very much another. The 'Minehead Link' has been talked about for over twenty years. It's probably more likely that any future operations would take the shape of limited Summer through services from London Paddington, and/or shuttles to Bishops Lydeard extended from Cardiff services. Perhaps if Butlins and other holiday locations can get on board then building a dedicated loco hauled service similar to that started ten years ago by Victa Westlink in 2007 with inclusive ticket deals could also be a possibility.

Published on 12th January 2018

As new trains and services come into place in the South West and across the UK as a whole, a huge cascade of rolling stock is currently taking place.

Great Western Railway Class 150/1's (which were originally inherited from Central Trains and Silverlink Trains) are now in the process of being transferred to Northern Trains. The latest dates advised for the transfer of stock from GWR to Northern is as follows:
3rd February 2018: 150101, 150104, 150106, 150108, 150123, 150128 & 150129
17th February 2018: 150120,
3rd March 2018: 150121,
17th March 2018: 150127,
31st March 2018: 150130,
14th April 2018: 150131.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Shortly after transfer from Silverlink Trains (and still complete with its London Transport maps inside) First Great Western Class 150/1 No.150127 stands at Taunton on the 29th March 2008 having arrived from Bristol Parkway with a stopping service to Taunton.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Stephen A.Ginn)

Published on 8th January 2018

DB Cargo bought a splash of red to Taunton on Sunday 7th January 2018.

Class 66 No.66192 hauled the 6C97 07:58 Pilning - Westbury continuous long welded rail train (CWR) and was captured twice on its route through Taunton.

The train first arrived from the Bristol direction over the top of the Cogload Junction flyover and is pictured at Cogload Junction heading towards Taunton. After reversing direction at Taunton's Fairwater Yard the train returned to Westbury via the Berks & Hants route and was captured for a second time crossing the Somerset Levels at Oath. Why not take a look in our Database to see more images of this service.

Hauling the 11:50 Taunton-Castle Cary local service on Monday 12th May 1958, bunker-first 4575 Class 2-6-2T No.5554 sets out from Taunton on its short 27 mile journey passing Taunton East signal box.

(Photo: Brian Morrison)

Published on 7th January 2018

We are pleased to announce that we have added the 'Brian Morrison Collection' to the Taunton Trains Gallery.

Brian is one of the UK's most well known railway photographers and contributing editors, having taken his first image in 1951 at London's Liverpool Street Station of a B1 Class steam locomotive on a turntable. His thousands of images have been seen in countless publications. We would like to thank Brian for allowing us to feature his images taken in the area during various visits to Taunton during his photographing travels. In particular those taken in 1950's which are of outstanding quality and huge value in recording the history of Taunton's railway scene. In this image 2-6-2T No.5554 departs Taunton bunker first on the 12th May 1958 hauling the 11:50 stopping service to Castle Cary, seen passing Taunton East Signal Box.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Adam Snow)

Published on 5th January 2018

Weekend track renewals in Devon and Cornwall will bring a host of Network Rail Engineering trains through Taunton over the weekend of the 6th/7th January 2018.

Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No.70816 leads class mate No.70813 in top and tail formation through Cogload Junction on Friday 5th January 2018. The mixed load of NLU/JNA's, MLA's, YWA's, IEA's were running as the 6Z29 10:30 Westbury - St Blazey. However upon arrival at Exeter Riverside Yard the load was split to form two trains. 20 wagons remained in Exeter Riverside Yard with No.70813 while the remaining 11 continued to St.Blazey hauled by No.70816.

(Photo: Simon Harling)

Published on 3rd January 2018

DB Cargo operated the first freight train of 2018.

Before Christmas DB Cargo stored a rake of wagons at Exeter Riverside for the Christmas period. On January 3rd EWS liveried Class 66 No.66025 was sent light engine from Westbury and haul the rake back to Whatley Quarry where they would return to daily use. The locomotive is pictured climbing to Whiteball Tunnel hauling the 7C28 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry formed of empty aggregate wagons.

Published on 1st January 2018

The first day of a new year can always throw up an interesting working, the 1st January 2018 was no exception.

GWR provided a full length HST to cover for an absent Class 166 Turbo on the Taunton - Cardiff Central stopping diagram. Heritage liveried powercar No. 43185 'Great Western' leads No.43176 past Broomhay Crossing near Bathpool, having departed Taunton with the 9U16 12:04 Taunton - Cardiff Central. The set had previously arrived into Taunton with the 10:00 service from Cardiff Central.

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)