News Archive for March 2021

Rare Class 73/9 visits Taunton


Published on 30th March 2021

GB Railfreight Class 73/9 No.73964 made a rare appearance in the Taunton area on Tuesday 30th March 2021 in glorious spring lighting conditions, The locomotive was operating a Colas Rail Freight route learner, 0Z21 13:00 Westbury - Westbury via Taunton.

This was the first appearance of a GBRf Class 79/9 since 2016.

The Class 73/9's owned by GB Railfreight were re-built by Wabtec at the Brush Traction works in Loughborough, between 2013 and 2016 and fitted with a more lightweight MTU engine offering around 1600HP.

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(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Paul Finnimore)

(Photo: Paul Wilkins)



 Evening Star - Evening Visit

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)


Published on 27th March 2021

GBRf 'celebrity' Class 66/7 No. 66779 'Evening Star' visited Taunton late on Saturday 27th March 2021 operating an engineering train for Network Rail.

The popular British Railways green locomotive No. 66779 'Evening Star' is pictured in Platform 3 at Taunton having run around 6G70 20:42 Westbury - Bristol East Junction and is seen ready to depart to the Bristol worksite.

The locomotive was the final Class 66 to be built for the UK and European markets and was named at the National Railway Museum on the 10th May 2016.

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Stella and Charlotte help Network Rail


Published on 25th March 2021

Colas Rail Freight Class 67 locomotives No. 67023 'Stella' and No. 67027 'Charlotte' made a rare early morning appearance on a northbound Network Rail test train on Thursday 25th March 2021.

The pair of locomotives were used in top and tail formation to operate a Network Rail test train from Exeter Riverside Yard through to Bristol. The pair were formed between Network Rail test coaches 977868 (Radio Survey Coach), 977983 (Electrification Measurement Vehicle), 5981 (Plain Line Pattern Recognition PLPR2), and 6264 (Generator Van). The train is pictured passing Whiteball and Norton Fitzwarren while operating 3Z23 08:32 Exeter Riverside - Bristol Temple Meads.

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(Photo: Simon Harling)

(Photo: Phil Izzard)



 GBRf visit Taunton

Published on 21st March 2021

GBRf made an evening visit to Taunton's platforms on Saturday 20th March 2021 operating 6G72 19:17 Westbury - Bristol East Junction.

The train arrived behind No. 66792 'Collaboration' and departed with No. 66710 'Karen Harrison' leading as the locomotives operated in 'top and tail' formation either end of their loaded ballast train.

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(Photo: Paul Finnimore)


Okehampton Reopening


Published on 21st March 2021

The recent announcement that the previously freight-only/ private preserved line is to reopen to passengers is providing additional infrastructure trains passing Taunton.

The reopening of the 22.5 miles of track between Crediton and Okehampton later this year will be the first line in the UK to be reinstated under the Department for Transport's 'Restoring your Railway' initiative. Network Rail is currently engaged in replacing 24,500 worn-out sleepers and delivering over 28,000 tonnes of fresh ballast to bring the line up to passenger standards. Regular passenger services are expected to operate between Okehampton and Exeter for the first time in 50 years. The line was closed to passengers on the 5th June 1972 but was used as a freight line to Meldon Quarry for many years after, and operated more recently as a preserved railway between Okehampton and Sampford Courtenay.

Various engineering trains will be visiting Okehampton over the coming months and we have featured on such service after delivering around 1000 tonnes of new ballast.

(Photo: Simon Harling)

(Photo: Simon Harling)

(Photo: Paul Wilkins)



 East Coast Powercar Joins Network Rail

Published on 12th March 2021

Former East Coast HST powercar No.43299 has joined the current Network NMT fleet.

The powercar has spent its entire life racing up and down the East Coast Mainline between London Kings Cross and Scotland. Since the introduction of the Hitachi Azumas, many of these powercars are now stored out of service. On Friday 12th March 2021 No. 43062 'John Armitt' and No.43299 pass Taunton either end of a rare six coach formation of Network Rail test coaches (977995 977984 975814 977993 977994 975984) while operating 1Z18 15:39 Paignton - Taunton via Bristol East Yard.

(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)


G&W Class 59 & Hanson Class 59


Published on 11th March 2021

Since the Exeter Riverside aggregate flow has been operated by Freightliner, the use of Class 59s has been very rare, with the company's own Class 66/6 locomotives being favoured.

On Monday 8th March recently repainted Genesee and Wyoming liveried Class 59/2 No.59203 on 7C28 15:42 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry aggregate empties passing Silk Mills.

Still carrying its Hanson livery Class 59/1 No. 59104 'Village of Great Elm' makes a rare appearance in the South West since Freightliner took over operations for Aggregate Industries. No. 59104 'Village of Great Elm' passes Marlands on the 10th March 2021 while hauling 7C28 15:42 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry empties.

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(Photo: Quentin Hawkes)

(Photo: Simon Harling)



 Evening Star makes a Morning Visit!

(Photo: Adam Snow)


Published on 7th March 2021

GBRf celebrity Class 66/7 No. 66779 'Evening Star' visited Taunton early on Sunday 7th March 2021.

The locomotive is was the last Class 66 built for UK and European Markers in December 2015. It is painted in British Railways Green and named 'Evening Star' in recognition of the last steam locomotive built by British Railways. The loco is pictured at Cogload Junction operating 6G70 08:00 Castle Cary - Hinksey Yard via Taunton with a mixed rake of engineers wagons in tow.

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DRS - Rare Visit to Taunton

(Photo: Ashley Harris)

Published on 1st March 2021

Taunton had a rare early morning visit from Direct Rail Services on Monday 1st March 2020.

A points failure in the Bridgwater Area meant 6V74 01:58 Crewe CLS - Bridgwater flask was unable to cross over and access the unloading facility. DRS Class 68 locomotives No. 68003 'Astute' and No. 68018 'Vigilant' were sent forward to Fairwater Yard in order to change direction. The pair arrived with their flask wagon at 07:35. The train was then held at Fairwater Yard until the points failure was resolved at Bridgwater. No. 68003 'Astute' and No. 68018 'Vigilant' then departed Taunton at 10:30 for their original destination of Bridgwater. The pair are pictured passing Broomhay Crossing in top and tail formation after their foray to Taunton. This rare operation has only occurred a handful of times in the history of the Bridgwater Flask operation and can be considered as rather rare.

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To view news stories from February 2021 click here, or for news from April 2021, click here.