News Archive for December 2020

Flooding Closes The Railway

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

Published on 30th December 2020

Flooding at Staffords Bridge located between Rewe and Cowley Bridge Junction (Exeter) along the River Exe has seen the line between Taunton/ Tiverton and Exeter closed to passenger trains since Christmas Eve.

After continued rainfall, the River Exe finally closed the railway just before Christmas and was only opened again on the 30th December 2020. For those people who were traveling coaches from as far afield as Portsmouth were hired to provide transport between Taunton, Tiverton, and Exeter. With passenger numbers nowhere near their normal levels, there was plenty of space to socially distance onboard. As the 'downside' car park and station entrance remain closed due to ongoing building work, coaches departed from the 'up' side and were staged in the 'up' side temporary car park (itself empty of cars). This was the scene around lunchtime on the 30th December 2020.

The Mask Returns - As Somerset Enters Tier 3

(Photo: Adam Snow)

Published on 28th December 2020

The sun shines as GWR Hitachi Class 800/3 No.800321 passes Silk Mills shortly after a heavy downpour had passed through the area on the 27th December 2020.

'The Mask' liveried Class 800 has not visited Taunton in quite some time, but perhaps acts as a further reminder to passengers as Somerset was moved into 'Tier 3' Covid restrictions from Boxing Day 2020 owing to rising case numbers. No.800321 is pictured passing Silk Mills operating 1C79 11:03 London Paddington - Plymouth service.

Christmas Engineers

Published on 28th December 2020

While its often the case that no passenger services operate over the Christmas and Boxing Day periods, engineering projects and infrastructure renewals are often carried out during the Christmas break as this gives a period of time when passengers won't be disrupted and the Network Rail can complete a large amount of engineering work.

The 2020 Christmas break saw Network Rail continue engineering work between Bristol and Yatton resulting in several engineering trains visiting Taunton on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

DB Cargo - Bio Fuel

Published on 21st December 2020

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66150 now caries 'We are the future' branding after the locomotive has recently been converted to operating on Hydro-treated vegetable oil (HOV).

This is a synthetically made fuel by hydrotreating vegetable oils and animal fats. The result reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The loco passed through Taunton on the 20th heading to Cornwall under the cover of darkness but returned north on the 21st December.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Paul Wilkins)

GWR Large Prairie 5199

Published on 21st December 2020

West Somerset Railway Plc has announced that former GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T 5199 Large Prairie from 'The 5199 Project' based at the Llangollen Railway will spend the next year operating on the West Somerset Railway.

The locomotive has already been moved to Bishops Lydeard and is being prepared to move to Minehead in the coming days. Large Prairie locomotives are ideal for the passenger loadings on the line, and for the past 25 years has been the home of sister locomotive 4160 (which is currently under overhaul on the South Devon Railway). It's expected that No.5199 will operate a minimum of 35 steaming days while on the WSR. 5199 is no stranger to the West Somerset Railway having visited on several occasions in the past as our images illustrate.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

WSR Santa Express

Published on 21st December 2020

The West Somerset Railway has been able to operate a limited number of Santa Express trains towards the end of the 2020 season under strict Covid-19 guidelines.

As with other preserved railways, the use of compartment stock has proved very helpful allowing small groups to be placed inside each compartment with the sliding doors then closed. Mk1 stock is also ideal for good ventilation. Bookings can still be made for the 22nd to 24th December 2020 on the West Somerset Railway Website.

Steam Locomotive No. 7828 'Odney Manor' and DEPG Class 33 No.33057 have been operating the various trips between Bishops Lydeard and Williton.

The heavens open and the rain falls as GWR 4-6-0 'Manor' No. 7828 'Odney Manor' pulls away from its station stop at Crowcombe on the 20th December 2020 hauling the 13:45 Bishops Lydeard - Williton 'Santa Express' special on the West Somerset Railway.

DEPG Class 33 D6575 (No.33057) has been assisting with the 2020 'Santa Express' special services on the West Somerset Railway. The Class 33 is pictured in dramatic lighting on the 19th December 2020 returning to Bishops Lydeard from Williton at Watersmeet in top and tail formation with No. 7828 'Odney Manor'.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Timmy Badger Photography)

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

Colas Christmas Engineers

Published on 20th December 2020

Colas Rail Freight operated an overnight rail drop in the Devonport area on Saturday 19th/ Sunday 20th December 2020.

Having worked south during Saturday evening Colas Class 66/8 No. 66849 'Wylam Dilly' passes Cogload Junction on Sunday 20th December 2020 operating 6C97 08:35 Devonport - Westbury returning a long welded rail delivery train back to base after an overnight rail drop.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Merry Christmas

Published on 20th December 2020

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, in these uncertain times, it's safe to say 2020 has been a year like no other.

However you are able to enjoy any part of Christmas this year, we wish you and your families all the best of health in the year ahead.

We would especially like to thank all those who have helped or contributed to the Taunton Trains project over the past year, the progress made during the various lock-down period by those who offered their free time due to being furloughed or wanting to keep themselves occupied has expanded our database of workings considerably. The Taunton Trains Workings Database now stands at around 120,000 recorded workings, and the site now hosts over 4700 images which can be accessed through our Image Galleries.

There are plenty more plans in the pipeline for Taunton Trains over the coming year, we will be sure to launch these as soon as development work is completed to allow the site to be better accessed and viewed.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

GWR Hybrid Class 802

Published on 19th December 2020

Hitachi and Eversholt Rail are to develop GWR intercity battery hybrid train – offering fuel savings of more than 20%. In a UK-first, Hitachi Rail and Eversholt Rail have signed an exclusive agreement aimed at bringing battery power to the modern Great Western Railway Intercity Express Trains that carry passengers between Penzance and London. Since their introduction in 2018 the Class 802 Bi-mode units have already transformed journey times and the passenger experience. This new project will develop batteries replacing a diesel engine as a power source on an existing Hitachi-built five-carriage train – currently known as a bi-mode for its ability to switch seamlessly between electric and diesel power. Adding battery technology to reduce emissions in stations and save fuel will create the first tri-mode units with the ambition to create a fully electric-battery intercity train, that is capable of traveling the full journey between London and Penzance – by the late 2040s, in line with the UK’s 2050 net-zero emissions target.

To view the gallery, please click here.

More Units Go For Store

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Published on 18th December 2020

GWR sent more Class 143 'Pacer' units for storage on Thursday 17th December 2020.

A trio of de-branded GWR units No.143620, No.143611, and No.143621 pass the former site of Creech St Michael Halt. Despite departing some 60 minutes ahead of schedule the 5Z40 12:25 Exeter St Davids to Landore TMD is pictured running roughly to time at this point after a lengthy unscheduled stop in Taunton's Platform 4.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Your Own Railway Moquette

A First Great Western 'Dynamic Lines' liveried moquette design from Shed Number 2 Ltd using material which would have been used for seating covers on all FirstGroup trains.

(Photo: Taunton Trains)

Published on 18th December 2020

Would you like to own your very own piece of railway history? Or perhaps you would like to brighten your room.

Shed Number 2 are currently selling the best of British railways transport memorabilia, and have an amazing range of cushions, coasters, glasses cases, wash bags, and pencil cases made from genuine railway moquette patterns. Moquette has long been used for railway seating and decor as it can be woven in a short dense pile and is very durable. Now you can own your very own version from your local train company or create your own collection of colorful and unique handmade items for your home. If you would like to own your very own item then head over to Shed Number 2 who will be only too pleased to provide an excellent courier service to your door.

Covid 19 hits GWR services

GWR Hitatch Class 800/3 No.800321 descends from Cogload Junction flyover with North Curry Church of St Peter & St Paul in the background on Friday 10th July 2020 operating 1C25 17:30 London Paddington - Taunton service. The service is booked to operate via Bristol Temple Meads. The unit carries the special 'Face Mask' livery reminding passengers to wear a face mask while using public transport.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 18th December 2020

With the Covid Pandemic spreading around the UK, train companies in the south-west are now being affected with staff in self-isolation or absent because of contracting the virus themselves.

GWR has done an excellent job since the initial lockdown in March 2020 of operating a constant train service for those who need to use their services, as the South West has seen lower infection rates compared to the rest of the UK. However, in recent weeks the virus has now started to affect the ability for GWR to operate a fully functioning timetable. GWR says that one in four train drivers and staff at their depots in the South West are currently either ill or self-isolating after coming into contact with colleagues who tested positive, with over fifty staff currently absent from work. Many train services in the south-west are being cancelled or rescheduled at short notice because of staff shortages. While local services between Taunton and Bristol are mainly still operating, long-distance trains between Penzance, Plymouth, Exeter, Taunton and London Paddington are now being cancelled and amended. On Sunday 13th December 17 services were cancelled followed an average of 15 services for each day of the following week. With passenger numbers expecting to increase during the five-day relaxation of current tier restrictions, GWR will need every seat from every service they can operate to try and provide safe social distancing measures on board to safely transport passengers to their destinations over the Christmas period.

DRS Nuclear Traffic

(Photo: Simon Harling)

Published on 14th December 2020

Direct Rail Services operated a trio of locomotives into Devon on the 14th December 2020.

No.66432 and No.66422 were paired up to operate 5Z74 05:05 Crewe CLS - Devonport Dockyard. On the rear of the train was also No.66421, the locomotives sandwiching DRS nuclear escort coaches 9248 and 9419. The collection of stock worked south on the 14th December and collected two nuclear flask wagons (95771 and 95770) from Devonport. The train returned under the cover of darkness on the 15th December 2020 6X86, the 18.35 Devonport Royal Dockyard to Sellafield. Interestingly the locomotives were also switched to allow No.66422 and No.66432 to lead with No.66421 re-marshaled to the rear of the train for the northbound run. The train passed Taunton at 20:53 heading for Sellafield overnight.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Cornish Engineers

Published on 13th December 2020

Having dropped their RHTT set at Westbury, DB Cargo RHTT locomotives No.66151 and No.66155 were employed on a loaded ballast working.

Still in their filthy condition No.66151 and No.66155 pass Whiteball on the 9th December 2020 operating 6W02 11:15 Westbury -Truro.

Returning from track renewals in Cornwall DB Cargo Class 66 locomotives No.66002 and No.66001 top and tail 6W01 11:13 Truro - Westbury engineers on the 9th December 2020.

(Photo: Simon Harling)

RHTT Season Comes to an End

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Published on 9th December 2020

Following the completion of the 2020 railhead treatment operation in the southwest on December 7th, DB Cargo Class 66 locomotives No. 66155 and No.66151 return the RHTT consist to Westbury.

The pair are pictured passing New Road Overbridge at West Lyng, running around 2 hours behind schedule as the 6Z41 09:24 St Blazey to Westbury Tuesday 8th December. The 2020 RHTT season has also been unique in the fact the same pair of locomotives has completed the entire season without being removed from the train and staying in the same formation. This image at West Lyng providing one of the very few chances to capture No.66155 leading on the northern end of the train. Normally this locomotive would pass Taunton under the cover of darkness. Once at Westbury both locomotives were pressed into service by operating engineers trains back to Cornwall in their filthy states.

To view the gallery, please click here.

GWR Class 143s go for store

Published on 6th December 2020

GWR moved two more Class 143 'Pacers' for storage at the GWR St Philips Marsh depot on the 6th December 2020.

The Class 143 units have been operating the Devon branch line services for many years. The units were originally introduced by British Rail between 1985 and 1986, and have been used in the Cardiff, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter at various points during their operational careers. The cascade of other unit types into Devon is now bringing the end of the Leyland fixed bodied first-generation DMUs operational life. Providing the transport for the empty stock move was First blue liveried Class 150/2 No.150219. The rare combination of No.150219 No.143619 and No.143612 passes Cogload Junction operating as 5Z74 09:51 Exeter TMD - St Philips Marsh.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Sunday Cornish Engineers

Published on 6th December 2020

Two engineers trains operated on Sunday 6th December.

DB Cargo and Colas Rail Freight hauled two separate services from Westbury to haul wagons and ballast to the worksite between Sr Eth and Penzance. Passenger services were also terminating at St Erth during the weekend with onward replacement road transport provided for the short journey through to Penzance.

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66014 passes Cogload Junction in the low winter sunlight on Sunday 6th December 2020 operating 6W22 09:25 Westbury - Long Rock. The train was conveying a rake of empty JNA 'Falcon' wagons for loading with spent ballast at the Cornish track renewal site.

In glorious winter sunlight Colas Rail Freight Class 66/8 No. 66849 'Wylam Dilly' passes Cogload Junction on Sunday 6th December 2020 operating 6C23 10:10 Westbury - Long Rock engineers to the Cornish track renewals site with a rake of loaded fresh ballast.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Autumn Sun

(Photo: Quentin Hawkes)

Published on 5th December 2020

In stunning Autumn light Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66509 crosses the Somerset Levels at Wick on the 26th November 2002, operating 6C73 12:17 Westbury - Fairwater Yard HOBC ballast replenishment trip.

The train was running over an hour later than normal having operated an hour late on the outbound service.

To view news stories from November 2020 click here, or for news from January 2021, click here.