News Archive for November 2019

A Norton Fitzwarren Selection

Published on 28th November 2019

Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66569 returns to Fairwater Yard from the West Somerset Railway after delivering the latest load of ballast from the part HOBC on Thursday 28th November 2019.

This short trip working rarely gets reported on Taunton Trains and must be one of the shorts trip workings in the UK only needing to cross the mainline at the South end of Fairwater Yard before reaching its destination to drop spent ballast for processing.

Colas Rail Class 70 No.70805 passes Norton Fitzwarren with the returning cement empties from Moorswater on Thursday 28th November 2019 running as the 6C36 06:25 Moorswater to Aberthaw.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

RHTT Season continues

Published on 28th November 2019

The RHTT season continues the south western circuit is currently being worked by DB Cargo Class 66s.

Locomtoives No.66199 & No.66151 seen here passing the former site of Norton Fitzwarren station working 3J13 08:50 Westbury to St.Blazey via Salisbury on Thursday 28th November 2019.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Stella and Charlotte visit Taunton

Published on 22nd November 2019

Colas Rail Freight is currently providing cover for the Network Rail New Measurement Train which is out of service on Winter maintenance. On Friday 22nd November 2019 Class 67 No. 67027 'Charlotte' and No. 67023 'Stella' stand at Taunton ready to depart with the 1Q19 18:57 Taunton - London Paddington. The train departed Taunton 31 minutes behind schedule having been held up at Newton Abbot earlier in the afternoon due to a suspected landslide on the Dawlish Sea Wall. The problem was identified as a false alarm but disruption to services had a knock-on effect for services held up at the time. (Video: Brian Garrett)

To view the gallery, please click here.

Network Rail Testing Unit

(Photo: Simon Harling)

Published on 19th November 2019

The British Rail Class 950 is a diesel multiple unit that was purpose-built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works for the British Rail Research Division for use as a track assessment unit.

It is currently operated by Network Rail. ... It was built in 1987 using the same bodyshell as the Class 150/1 Sprinters.

The two-car Network Rail Diesel Multiple Unit recently visited Devon for overnight infrastructure tests. The one of a kind unit No.950001 passes Marlands on the 18th of November 2019 operating the 2Q08 03:45 Plymouth - Derby RTC.

First Freightliner loco on the Exeter Riverside Aggregate flow

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Published on 19th November 2019

The honour of being the first dedicated Freightliner locomotive to work the Exeter Riverside Aggregate flow since taking over the contract from DB Cargo fell to No. 66601 'The Hope Valley' on Tuesday 19th November 2019.

The 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside - Westbury is seen passing Oath on the Somerset Levels with the returning empties mid-afternoon.

The Exeter Riverside flow from the Mendips has always been in the hands of EWS/ DB Schenker/ DB Cargo since the railways were first privatized. The loss of the contract will now see a new chapter in the history of the flow and regular appearances from Freightliner locos alongside the existing Mendip Rail Class 59 fleet. The six former DB Cargo owned Class 59/2 locomotives have also been purchased by Freightliner have already been debranded ready to be repainted into their new company livery.

Final DB Cargo aggregate flow to Exeter

Published on 18th November 2019

The final DB Cargo operated aggregate flow to Exeter Riverside Yard on the 18th of November 2019.

Hanson liveried Class 59/1 No. 59101 'Village of Whatley' climbs Whiteball Bank hauling the 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside - Westbury returning empty box wagons to from unloading at the Exeter virtual quarry.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Simon Harling)

Pioneer Class 800 makes its Taunton Debut in passenger service.

Published on 15th November 2019

Pioneer Class 800 No.800001 made its maiden voyage into the South West at Taunton on Friday 15th November 2019. 800001 was one of the very first test IETs which helped gain valuable information for the Class to allow certification of the Class on the mainline.

When 800001 was first built it was outshopped in White, the kitchen car was filled with test equipment. When testing was finished the kitchen car was taken off the set and sent to Wabtec Doncaster for rebuilding with a kitchen car, which would eventually be put back into passenger traffic. However, rather than wait for the kitchen car to go through the Wabtec workshops a brand new kitchen car was supplied for 800001. The original kitchen car ended from 800001 actually ended up on 800311 as its completion on the production line coincided with the completion of the kitchen car from 800001 at Doncaster Wabtec.

The GWR Class 800 is pictured departing Taunton operating 1C72 07:03 Paddington to Paignton. We also noted yet another five-car formation from GWR with the company unable to provide a full ten-car set for this service.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Bristol based Colas RHTT set visits Taunton

Published on 15th November 2019

Due to the lack of railhead spraying because of the recent engineering work at Cogload Junction, the Bristol-based RHTT set operated by Colas Rail Freight was requested to make an extended diagram to Taunton on the 15th November 2019.

The track between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare is one section which never gets any railhead treatment, but with the stretch having not had any regular rail traffic over it for the past week, the Bristol RHTT extended to Taunton in order to provide the line with a clean.

Covered in Winter grime from their regular track cleaning duties, filthy Colas Class 66/8s No.66846 and No. 66850 'David Maidment OBE www.railwaychildren.org.uk' at pictured at Taunton having arrived with the 3S59 19:55 (Thur) Kingsland Road to Kingsland Road via Taunton spraying run.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Busy First day as Cogload Junction works are completed

Published on 15th November 2019

Taunton Station was back open for business as usual on Friday 15th November 2019 with track relays at Cogload Junction and tunnel lining work completed at Whiteball Tunnel on time.

A large amount of engineers trains had been stored away in Fairwater Yard pending the line reopening, so the first job was to transport the rakes of engineers wagons back to Westbury.

Freightliner Heavy Haul had two locomotives on hand with Class 66/5s No.66525 and No.66555 ready to haul the used spoil and old track, back to Westbury for recycling and processing. The below images show the workings which operated during the morning and afternoon periods.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Cogload Junction Infrastructure Renewals

Published on 12th November 2019

The first day of infrastructure renewals at Cogload Junction provided a huge amount of manpower and plant on-site to cut, lift and dig out old track and ballast at the important junction between the Taunton - Bristol mainline and the Taunton - Westbury mainline.

By lunchtime, on Saturday 9th November 2019 track panels had already been cut, lifted, and strapped onto wagons ready to leave, and a huge tonnage of spent ballast had been removed and loaded into waiting trains. GBRf, Colas Rail Freight, and Freightliner had been contracted by Network Rail to supply haulage for trains removing and delivering materials to and from the worksite. We have set up a dedicated gallery for images from this major track renewal in the Taunton area.

By the 11th Novmeber a large amount of track had been put into place with trains arriving to drop fresh ballast before tamping. On site during the day were No. 66532 'P&O Nedlloyd Atlas' No.70807 and No.70805.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Harry Patch - We will Remember Them

Published on 10th November 2019

For Remembrance Sunday we have put together a gallery dedicated to the GWR Rememberance powercar to remember those who fought for the freedoms we have today.

First Great Western first launched the powercar livery on No.43172 back in 2015, and it still appears at Taunton on a regular basis operating stopping services between Taunton and Cardiff Central.

The engine's livery incorporates the words from Laurence Binyon's Ode to Remembrance.

When Harry Patch used to hear the poem, he would say it brought back memories of his fallen comrades. Sadly Harry passed away in July 2009 aged 111, the HST powercar is named in his memory.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Simon Harling)

Wick - Undergrowth Clearance

Published on 8th November 2019

Network Rail has been carrying our further cutting back of lineside vegetation on the Somerset Levels, in the small hamlet of Wick (near Langport) is the latest place to have been cleared.

The westbound view has now been extensively opened up and can be viewed from the local overbridge.

DB Cargo Class 66s No.66023 and No.66012 cross the Somerset Levels at Wick whilst returning west with 3J13 08:43 Westbury to St Blazey via Salisbury RHTT on Thursday 7th November 2019.

Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66588 returns to Taunton with fresh ballast in the part HOBC rake on Thursday 7th November 2019. The 6C73 12:02 Westbury to Fairwater Yard will be shunted into the main train HOBC set ready for overnight track renewals.

(Photo: S A Ginn)

6 Days with no passenger trains

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 8th November 2019

As GWR and Network Rail prepare for the six-day closure of the mainline at Cogload Junction the final full day of passenger operation is captured in this scene.

GWR Hitachi Class 802 No.802104 passes the assembled equipment while working the 1C04 07:30 London Paddington - Penzance. In the background, a Freightliner Class 66 waits patiently for the line to clear before it proceeded forward to Fairwater Yard. The six-day closure of the mainline at Cogload Junction and Whiteball Tunnel is thought to be the first time Taunton will have been totally cut off from the UK rail network with every service to be replaced by a bus during this period.

To record the ongoing engineering work over this period we have set up a dedicated gallery where all the images can be viewed in one location.

To view the gallery, please click here.

WSR: Santa's Winter Wonderland

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 7th November 2019

The West Somerset Railway (WSR) has introduced a new and invigorating element to their Christmas programme of events for 2019.

The WSR, which had a difficult start to the year, has enhanced their very successful Santa Special services with some newly added attractions for visitors.

Aptly named 'Santa's Winter Wonderland', the event will take passengers from Bishops Lydeard through the countryside to a specially dressed 'Snowcombe' station which is the WSR's Crowcombe Station. The station will be decorated to fit the magical Christmas theme of the event, with Santa’s Grotto, animatronic reindeer and a large sleigh.

Starting at the end of November and carrying on through to Christmas Eve, this event offers passengers the opportunity to experience the railway in the evening, with the station lit up with festive lights and decorations. Jonathan Jones Pratt, the Company Chairman said: “Christmas is our favourite time of year, a time where our supporters come out in droves with their children to build memories with their families. "This new event will enhance the whole family experience and ensure that every visitor walks away with more than the gift that Santa gives them.

The remainder of the Christmas programme includes the Santa Special from Minehead, Carol Trains, Dunster By Candlelight, 'Whistletoe and Wine' and the Winter Steam Festival. Full details can be found on the WSR's website

Autumn Leaves

(Photo: S A GINN)

Published on 5th November 2019

DB Cargo Class 66s No.66023 & No.66168 pass through the Autumnal colours at Creech St Michael on Monday 4th November 2019 whilst working the returning 3J13 08:50 Westbury - St Blazey Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT).

The undergrowth through the former four-track mainline in Creech St Michael may be colourful but has been left unchallenged for nearly twenty years allowing for mature trees to form within falling reach of the running lines.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Daytime Sleeping

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Published on 4th November 2019

Following the failure of Class 57/6 No. 57604 'Pendennis Castle' on the previous nights 1A40 21:15 Penzance to London Paddington 'Night Riviera' sleeper service the empty sleeper stock makes an unscheduled daytime appearance on Monday 4th November 2019.

GWR liveried Class 57 No. 57604 'Pendennis Castle' & No. 57602 'Restormel Castle' top and tail the empty stock pictured passing the former site of Creech St Michael station running as the 5Z70 10:11 Laira to Reading Traincare Depot. The stricken Sunday evening sleeper service was terminated at Plymouth with a train supply failure, whereupon passengers were asked to leave their beds and were transferred on to a waiting IET No.802107 for the remainder of the journey to Paddington.

This again left Plymouth shot of a set for the first service to London Paddington in the morning resulting in both 1A72 05:53 Plymouth - London Paddington and 1A12 07:45 Paignton - London Paddington (which starts at Laira depot) being short formed of just five coaches each.

To view the gallery, please click here.

1B06

Published on 4th November 2019

The 1B06 08:01 Exeter St Davids - Bristol Temple Meads operates once a week on a Sunday and can provide some interesting GWR Unit combinations, as the service is often used as a way to transport an extra unit to Bristol.

Our growing database shows how the combinations can vary, making for some interesting photography. 1B06 Database Records

In beautiful early morning Autumn lighting GWR Class 158 No.158769 paired with No.150234 passes Norton Fitzwarren on the 3rd November 2019 working the 1B06 08:01 Exeter St Davids - Bristol Temple Meads. stopping service.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

Changing Scenes at Taunton

Published on 3rd November 2019

With the recent news that Acron Developments plan to build 58 flats on the site of the current A1 Taxis HQ based in Railway Street now is the time to capture trains passing the original Victorian terrace houses from Platform 2 or 3.

Acorn Developments are proposing a three-story building housing 58 flats at the site, which would see the Victorian houses on the site flattened.

Local residents, however, are raising objections as the parking situation in the surrounding streets at critical mass already, the is development proposed to allow residents of the development to use two electric cars at 'spot hire' rates and two communal bicycles. Sharing two cars between 58 people is clearly going to add extra vehicles into the surrounding streets

The developers rendering of the proposed development is shown below, along with the odd choice of an American Amtrak P42 passing Railway Street to illustrate the railway.

On the 3rd November 2019, GRRf Class 66/7 No. 66757 'West Somerset Railway' passes the Victorian houses on Railway Street hauling the 6G73 11:04 Crediton - Westbury engineers loaded with fresh ballast.

(Photo: Acorn Developments)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Short formed IET sets at Taunton - October

Published on 1st November 2019

As reported on during previous months GWR is still failing to meet their commitment of full-length trains in the South West, which is not looking good for the impending December Timetable change.GWR is quoted as saying "On 15 December 2019 GWR will be introducing the biggest timetable change on the Great Western Railway network since 1976, bringing faster, more frequent services with thousands more seats across the region."

However with twenty-eight instances during October of IETs only operating with five coaches instead of ten, using the current timetable, it is concerning that this close to supplying an intensified service that Hitachi and GWR is unable to provide a full quota of trains at the correct length for public service.

A recent shunting incident at Penzance Long Rock depot highlighted the knife-edge upon which the GWR IET fleet is operating, with instant short formed trains operating as a result of losing just one set from traffic. This was again highlighted when a single set was used to stand in for the Night Riviera sleeper from Plymouth, resulting in the first two services out of Plymouth and Paignton the next morning being formed five coaches instead of ten. There appears to be no spare capacity in the system to cope with losing a single set from traffic or alterations due to problems on the network, particularly in the South West.

Our sightings report from October shows 28 separate services operating with five coaches instead of 10 passing through Taunton, providing a loss of 9128 seats from Taunton Station.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

List of short-formed IET sets during October 2019

Actual Unit	Date & Time at Taunton	Working
802002	1st October 2019 at 15:51	1C84 14:06 London Paddington - Penzance
802002	7th October 2019 at 07:18	1A72 05:53 Plymouth - London Paddington
802006	11th October 2019 at 23:12	1C98 21:03 London Paddington - Plymouth
802012	13th October 2019 at 12:34	1A81 11:00 Plymouth - London Paddington
800020	15th October 2019 at 09:04	1C72 07:03 London Paddington - Paignton
800020	15th October 2019 at 12:45	1A83 11:32 Paignton - London Paddington
802012	16th October 2019 at 07:17	1A72 05:53 Plymouth - London Paddington
802021	18th October 2019 at 05:12	1A40 21:48 Penzance - London Paddington
802019	18th October 2019 at 09:20	1A77 05:41 Penzance - London Paddington
802001	19th October 2019 at 22:08	1C96 20:03 London Paddington - Plymouth
802017	20th October 2019 at 18:36	1A92 15:00 Penzance - London Paddington
802022	24th October 2019 at 19:43	1C91 17:33 London Paddington - Paignton
802011	25th October 2019 at 07:17	1A72 05:53 Plymouth - London Paddington
802022	26th October 2019 at 11:46	1A80 07:55 Penzance - London Paddington
802005	26th October 2019 at 14:45	1A85 10:58 Penzance - London Paddington
802018	28th October 2019 at 07:17	1A72 05:53 Plymouth - London Paddington
802005	28th October 2019 at 09:07	1A12 07:48 Paignton - London Paddington
802022	28th October 2019 at 09:50	1C04 07:30 London Paddington - Penzance
802005	28th October 2019 at 14:34	1C81 12:33 London Paddington - Taunton
802005	28th October 2019 at 15:33	1A89 15:33 Taunton - London Paddington
802022	28th October 2019 at 17:34	1A93 14:00 Penzance - London Paddington
800008	29th October 2019 at 12:33	1A37 21:28 Taunton - London Paddington
800008	29th October 2019 at 20:36	1C24 17:30 London Paddington - Taunton
802001	29th October 2019 at 22:11	1C96 20:03 London Paddington - Plymouth
802007	30th October 2019 at 09:20	1A77 05:41 Penzance - London Paddington
802009	30th October 2019 at 17:41	1A93 14:00 Penzance - London Paddington
802021	31st October 2019 at 20:11	1C92 18:03 London Paddington - Penzance
802008	31st October 2019 at 22:10	1C96 20:03 London Paddington - Plymouth

Total number of short-formed workings: 28.

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