News Archive for January 2019

GBRf & Schweerbau HSM High Speed Milling Machine

(Photo: Ashley Harris)

Published on 31st January 2019

GBRf made a welcome and rare appearance at Taunton on the 31st January 2019 when No. 66717 'Good Old Boy ' and No.66719 hauled DR79601 (a Schweerbau HSM High-Speed Milling Machine) to Fairwater Yard.

The 6X02 12:00 Eastleigh - Fairwater Yard operated via Reading to Westbury and Taunton and is pictured here passing Broomhay Crossing near Bathpool at 15:30.

To view the gallery, please click here.


Colourful Colas


Published on 29th January 2019

Over the past few weekends, Colas Railfreight has been kept busy with a series of track renewals in Devon which has seen the closure of the line between Newton Abbot and Plymouth each Sunday.

Network Rail require large amounts of materials to be hauled to their track renewals sites and Colas have been hauling new sleepers, fresh ballast, and spent ballast to and from the worksites each weekend. We have included a small selection of images of those trains captured during daylight hours from the past two weekends.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Simon Harling)

(Photo: Simon Harling)



 Cutting Back at Bradford on Tone

Published on 17th January 2019

Network Rail has been busy with more cutting back of undergrowth between Taunton and Wellington.

Here at Bradford on Tone, the embankments and a large amount of tree growth have been cut back to reveal the embankments. On the 17th January 2019, British Rail Large Logo liveried Class 37 No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' passes through the opened up cutting hauling the 3Z23 09:49 Exeter Riverside - Ferme Park test train.

(Photo: Ian Draper)


British Rail Large Loco


Published on 17th January 2019

British Rail Large Logo liveried Class 37 No. 37025 'Inverness TMD' (operated by Colas Rail Freight) passes Taunton in glorious Winter sunlight on the 17th January 2019.

Having completed various overnight testing working on lines in Devon and Cornwall the 3Z23 09:49 Exeter Riverside - Ferme Park test train made a very rare daylight appearance at Taunton. With such nice Winter sunlight on offer, it was no surprise that photographers were out in order to capture another piece of British Railways history passing through the Taunton area.

(Photo: Adam Snow)

(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

(Photo: S A Ginn)



 Tragic Odds target 220024


Published on 17th January 2019

Cross Country Voyager No.220024 was involved in a tragic set of circumstances on Thursday 17th January 2019 in a set of odds which combined two involve the unit in two fatalities on the same day.

No.220024 was operating Cross Country Trains 1V42 06:10 Derby - Plymouth service which passed Taunton running eight minutes behind schedule at 09:23. Upon reaching Starcross at the mouth of the Exe Estuary the unit struck a person on the track resulting in severe delays to services in the Devon area.

With the BTP having attended the scene passengers on the train were taken off and the service was canceled at Dawlish Warren. One a new relief driver had been obtained the unit was given the all clear to return empty stock to Bristol Temple Meads where the unit could be taken for servicing and cleaning at Bristol Barton Hill before being put back in traffic.

The 5Z42 12:12 Dawlish Warren - Bristol Temple Meads passed Taunton at 12:45 heading North only to then be involved in a second fatality between Highbridge and Huntspill. This incredible set of circumstances may have been a first and while these sad events do happen at alarming regularity on the railway network, it's certainly an incredible set of odds to involve the same train on the same day!


 Top Link Duty for a Class 143


Published on 11th January 2019

After the cancellation of the 1C91 17:33 London Paddington - Paignton HST service on the 10th January 2019 (due to an obstruction on the line), GWRs most unlikely rescue service took place.

Scrambled from Exeter TMD a two-car Class 143 saw sent from Exeter to Westbury to reform the canceled service from Westbury. In one of the most bizarre movements of recent times, No.143618 operated 3C91 17:25 Exeter St Davids - Westbury passing Taunton at 17:42 operating as empty coaching stock. The unit then made the very rare diversion onto the Berks and Hants route to Westbury where it arrived in time to form the 1C91 19:02 Westbury - Paignton service. The plucky little pacer unit built in the 1980s kept pace with the top link timings and arrived at Taunton just five minutes behind schedule at 19:46, and even managed a four-minute early arrival into Paignton.


Colourful combination returns North


Published on 10th January 2019

Having delivered a Rail Grinder to Okehampton on Wednesday 9th January 2019 Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56113 returned leading the colourful locomotive combination through Taunton.

The Class 56 hauled No.20189 and No.20142 north on Thursday 10th January 2019 as the 0Z02 09:28 Exeter Riverside to Nottingham Eastcroft.

The working is pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren shortly before passing through Taunton Station.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: S A Ginn)



Coats of many colours!


Published on 9th January 2019

Lorum Rail Operations delivered a superb amount of colour to the dull Winter scenes of late on Wednesday 9th January 2019.

Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No.56113 fronted the 6Z01 05:29 Derby RTC to Okehampton working which conveyed Lorum Rail Grinder DR79231, 32, 33, 36 & DR79237. A pair of Class 20s (No.20142 in London Transport Livery and No.20189 in British Rail Blue) were also provided to complete the final part of the move to Okehampton from Exeter St Davids. The Class 56 was detached at Exeter and did not make the trip up the branch line. The Lorum Rail Grinder will be used for staff training while on the branch.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)



Ballast Consolidation


Published on 7th January 2019

Freightliner used a pair of Class 66 locomotives to move several pieces of railway maintenance equipment from Fairwater Yard to the Plasser works at West Ealing on Monday 7th January 2019.

No.66545 is pictured leading Ballast Consolidation Machine DR76801 and HOBC Power Wagon DR76503 through Platform 2 at Taunton. On the rear of the train was No.66621 which appears to of had a slight incident with a large quantity of Limestone in recent weeks. It's ghostly appearance creating a slightly different look for the locomotive at Taunton.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)



 Burngullow Aggregate Flow

Published on 5th January 2019

DB Cargo operated the as required Burngullow - Acton aggregate flow on Saturday 5th January 2019.

The Burngullow to Exeter Riverside leg of the trip had previously operated up to Devon on Friday 4th January. The loaded JNA box wagons were conveying aggregate loaded at the Burngullow terminal to Acton for unloading. DB branded Class 66 No.66121 is pictured passing Creech St Michael hauling the 6Z12 11:35 Exeter Riverside - Acton which passed Taunton around 12:40.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)


 Colas Class 37

Published on 4th January 2019

Former EWS Class 37/5 No.37521 which is now operated by Colas Rail Freight made a brief pause at Taunton on Friday 4th January 2019.

The veteran locomotive was at the head of the 3Q13 20:28 Exeter Riverside - Reading Triangle Sidings test train for Network Rail. The set was formed of coaching stock 6397 96608 6262 999606 and DBSO 9702.

The colourful combination was captured in Platform 4 at Taunton shortly after 22:00.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Colas Class 37 No.37521 makes a brief pause at Taunton on the 4th January 2019 while operating the 3Q13 20:28 Exeter Riverside - Reading Triangle Sidings test train for Network Rail, the train conveyed test coaches 6397 96608 6262 999606 and DBSO 9702

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)


Goodbye GWR Class 150/1!!


Published on 2nd January 2019

The 31st December not only marked the end of 2018 and the start of the New Year but another change in the ever-varying GWR Fleet.

The final two Class 150/1 Sprinter Units were taken off lease ready for transfer to the Northern Franchise. This ends the use if the flat front Class 150s (known as 'slabs') on the GWR network. No.150125 and No.150126 first arrived into the South West during 2010 and have made regular appearances at Taunton since that date. The final diagram departing Taunton saw the two units paired up to operate the 19:17 Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads stopping service prior to a short return run to Weston-super-Mare before ending their diagram at Bristol. We take a look back at some of the images of Class 150/1 units in operation in the Taunton area.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)



To view news stories from December 2018 click here, or for news from February 2019, click here.