News Archive for February 2021

Winter Freight

Published on 27th February 2021

Catching the last rays of the winter sunlight while crossing the Somerset Levels at Oath on the 25th February 2021.

Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66619 'Derek W. Johnson MBE' operates 6C28 15:42 Exeter Riverside - Whatley aggregate empties eastbound returning to the Mendip Quarries.

(Photo: Adam Snow)

WW2 Bomb stops trains at Exeter

Published on 27th February 2021

GWR Statement: Due to an unexploded wartime bomb near the railway in the Exeter area, all lines will be blocked between Tiverton Parkway / Crediton and Exeter St David's from 09:00 on Saturday 27th February 2021 while ordnance experts deal with the device. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on Saturday 27th February 2021

Train services running through these stations will be suspended, where trains are able to run, they may be subject to alteration or delay. Road replacement transport is being provided where trains are not able to operate.

Train services will operate between Penzance and Exeter St Davids, and between Taunton and London Paddington, to an amended timetable and direct services between Plymouth and London Paddington will run every two hours via Honiton.

Road replacement transport will operate between Exeter St David's and Taunton. CrossCountry will accept Great Western Railway tickets on their services between Penzance / Paignton and Cheltenham Spa from 08:00 on Saturday morning.

40 Year Old Class 56 visits Taunton

Published on 25th February 2021

Colas Rail Freight sent a Class 56 to Somerset and Devon on the 24th/ 25th February to collect previously-stored wagons from Hackney Yard.

The Class 56 paid a late-night visit to Taunton on the 24th February 2021. The loco had retrieved a rake of stored wagons from Arlington Fleet Services Yard at Eastleigh Works during the day and deposited them at Gloucester Yard Yard. The loco then detached and operated as 0Z56 17:59 Gloucester New Yard - Taunton, where it stabled behind Platform 1 for the night.

The next day the loco proceeded south to Hackney Yard to collect the second rake of stored wagons and return to Gloucester via Westbury. It's also thought this is the first time the locomotive has ever visited Taunton since entering service on the 8th March 1981. The locomotive turns 40 years old in a few week's time.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Paul Finnimore)

(Photo: Jason Prole)

(Photo: Paul Finnimore)

Goodbye Lester

Published on 11th February 2021

In tribute to local southwest rail enthusiast, Bristol City supporter, and RNLI lifeboatman Lester Solway sadly passed away on Wednesday 10th February 2020 after a short battle with cancer.

Lester loved his railways and football and attended many south west based meets over the years, and was well known in the railway community. We are able to feature two of his images taken on a visit to the Taunton area in 2002 featuring Class 47s operating Cross Country services in the area. RIP - Lester Solway

(Photo: Lester Solway)

GBRf visit Crediton

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

Published on 8th February 2021

GRBf Class 66 No.66786 Looked like it was in need of a visit to a wash plant on Sunday 7th February 20201.

The grubby GBRf Class 66 passes Norton Fitzwarren operating 6G97 08:27 Crediton - Westbury. The loco was returning north with the empty rail delivery train after an overnight rail drop on the Barnstaple line.

To view the gallery, please click here.

The Flying Dustman!

Published on 8th February 2021

GBRf 'celebrity' BIFFA liveried Class 66/7 No. 66783 'The Flying Dustman' paid a visit to Taunton on the 7th February 2021.

The locomotive carries a GBRf customer livery and a suitable name to match. The loco is pictured during a brief visit to Taunton having run around 6G70 16:20 Blatchbridge Junction - Westbury (which operated via Taunton to change direction. The locomotive has also had recent modifications to its cab windows and now has highlighted grey primer around the window frames. GBRf Class 667/7 No. 66783 'The Flying Dustman' was named "The Flying Dustman" by John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight, and Ian Wakelin, CEO of Biffa at York Railway Station on 28th March 2018.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Paul Finnimore)

Colourful WSR Trip

Published on 6th February 2021

Orange liveried Genesee and Wyoming Freightliner Class 66/5 No. 66503 'The RAILWAY MAGAZINE' has recently been operating from Fairwater Yard.

The locomotive is pictured passing the former site of Taunton Cider at Norton Fitzwarren with 6C75 10:30 Fairwater Yard - Bishops Lydeard trip working with part HOBC on the 25th January 2021. The train portion was conveying spent ballast for unloading and processing at the Norton Fitzwarren site before returning to Fairwater Yard to be reformed into the main set ready for the next overnight ballast cleaning duties.

(Photo: Quentin Hawkes)

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