News Archive for April 2021

Published on 23rd April 2021

Popular GBRf British Rail Large Loco liveried Class 66/7 No. 66789 'British Rail 1948-1997' visited Taunton on Friday 23rd April 2020 after completing a rail drop in connection with the Crediton - Okehampton engineering works.

The loco was originally operated by EWS/DB Cargo as No.66250 until acquired by GBRf in late 2017. It was repainted at Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works has outshopped in a 'one-off' version of British Rail's large logo livery to mark the 70th anniversary of the formation of British Railways. The locomotive was also been named 'British Rail 1948-1997'.

No. 66789 'British Rail 1948-1997' and No.66719 were captured passing the Taunton area in glorious spring sunshine, operating 6G89 09:00 Crediton - Westbury.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 18th April 2021

Colas Rail Freight was providing exclusive hauling for Network Rail infrastructure traffic in the Taunton area on Sunday 18th April, with an impressive collection of locomotives providing the haulage.

Sundays can provide busy periods for freight traffic in the Taunton area. With two trains loaded new concrete sleepers for delivery to the Crediton - Okehampton reopening project, and another conveying welded rail for a rail drop in Wales, Taunton had a busy afternoon.

Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No. 56302 'PECO The Railway Modeller 2016 40 Years' passes over the Somerset Levels at Oath on Sunday 18th April 2021 with the first for two fully loaded trains of sleepers for the Crediton - Okehampton reopening project. The locomotive is pictured operating 6F27 14:36 Westbury - Crediton.

Colas Rail Freight General Electric Class 70 No.70808 passes Oath on the Somerset levels on Sunday 18th April 2021 operating 6F28 15:08 Westbury - Crediton. Colas were delivering the second train of loaded sleepers for the Crediton - Okehampton re-opening project in Devon.

With the line between Westbury and Bath Spa closed for engineering works, some engineering trains departing Westbury needed to visit Taunton in order to change direction and head north to Bristol. On Sunday 18th April 2021 Colas Rail Freight Class 66/8 No.66846 'top and tails' with No.56096 operating 6C97 14:58 Eastleigh - Lisvane & Thornhill loaded CWR. The train is pictured at Oath heading for its second change of direction since leaving Eastleigh.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 17th April 2021

From Monday 19th April 2021 passengers using Taunton Station will be able to enjoy the newly opened south side station entrance.

After extensive work which started in November 2019 a new entrance has been created by repurposing the former Red Star Parcels building and former staff areas along with an extension to the southeast corner of the station. The two-year project which has been progressing throughout the lockdown period has been progressed by Great Western Railway along with local and national partners, including the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Somerset West and Taunton Council, Somerset County Council, and the Department for Transport, investing to redevelop the station and its interchange facilities. The new entrance provides a larger waiting area, more passenger information screens, three ticket windows, and two further ticket machines along with a new gateline entrance to Platform 2. The courtyard area between the station and Great Western Hotel has also been re-designed and brings the Hotel and local Bike Hire within a few steps of the station entrance. Work continues on the new multi-story car park with road entrances, landscaping, pavements, and walkways due for completion very soon. We will be sure to bring you more photos of the finished works as soon as the building equipment has been moved and the final finishing touches from GWR have been applied

The north side entrance from Killkenny Car Park will also remain in place giving the station two choices for entrance/ exit.

GWR Regional Development Manager Matt Barnes said: “Taunton station is a key gateway to the town and with the overall investment in the rail network – including Intercity Express Trains that have already increased capacity by almost 25% than the trains they have replaced - we are expecting passenger numbers to increase significantly over the next decade.
“We are pleased to be working with Somerset County, Somerset West and Taunton Council and the Heart of South West LEP to have been able to open the new ticket office today. It is fantastic to see the completion of this key phase of the project, with the new approach and station forecourt due to be finished soon. Why not take a look at the new entrance space with GWR

Published on 17th April 2021

In a series of moves during the week commencing 12th April, GBRf returned a selection of former First Great Western HST powercars to Laira from open storage at Long Marston.

On the 13th of April GBRf Class 66/7 No.66748 transferred four former First Great Western powercars to Laira, the locomotive hauled No.43197 No.43193 No.43087 and No.43056 as 0C20 12:41 Long Marston - Laira. Having spent the night at the GWR Laira Depot GBRf No.66748 returned light engine to Long Marston on the 14th April. Later in the day GBRf Class 66/7 No.66748 returned to Devon operating as 5C20 14:43 Long Marston - Laira formed with No.43069 (Mk3 42095) No.43078 & No.43086 (Mk3 42094) and No.43196 in tow.

The powercars are being returned to allow GWR to extract power units from within the stored powercars which have lower engine hours than those in the current operational 'Castle' fleet, and perform a switch. Two former FGW Mk3 coaches were also returned (42095 and 42094). In total 8 powercars have been extracted from storage.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 9th April 2021

Colas Rail Freight was back covering for the Network Rail HST on Friday 9th April 2021.

No. 67023 'Stella' and No. 67027 'Charlotte' are pictured passing 40 Steps operating 1Z18 15:39 Paignton - Taunton via Bristol East Yard. The pair were sandwiching Network Rail coaches 975091 (OHLM Test Coach), 72631 (Plain Line Pattern Recognition vehicle "PLPR1"), 9701 (Network Rail Remote Train Operating Vehicle), and 9523 (Network Rail Brake Force Runner).

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 9th April 2021

Direct Rail Services Class 57 No.57002 Rail Express made its first-ever visit to Taunton on Friday 9th April 2021.

The locomotive is one of only four Class 57/0 locomotives that have visited Taunton over the years. Their use on Freightliner Intermodal and Nuclear Flask traffic have made them rare visitors to the southwest throughout their working lives. No.57002 'Rail Express' was converted from Class 47 No.47322 in 1997 at Brush Loughborough from an order originally placed by Freightliner.

No.57002 arrived in Taunton hauling a rake of newly refurbished wagons for the Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC) operating as 6Z82 10:57 West Ealing Plasser Works - Fairwater Yard. After delivering the wagons to the yard the loco then stabled behind Platform 1 for the night, before carrying out a route learning trip to Exeter the next day. After spending a second night in Taunton it then departed for Swansea on Sunday 11th April.

Published on 9th April 2021

To mark the passing of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99 we have put together a selection of images of visits made by Prince Philip using the railway at Taunton.

The Duke was a frequent user of the Royal Train and public railway services in general. Being a patron of over 800 organisations brought him to Taunton on many occasions during his public service life. He was most notable for the Duke of Edinburgh Award which was founded in 1956 and gave help to young people to gain essential skills, experience, confidence, and resilience to successfully navigate adult life.

One such visit was in 1952 when the Duke arrived by train to meet local dignitaries on the platform at Taunton Station before proceeding to various engagements including a girls judo club, and to officially open what was then known by many as Raleigh Terrace playing field: though properly known as Taunton Green playing field.Old Newsreel footage of the event is available on Dailymotion.

Other visits included 16th November 2010 when The Prince was wearing his Captain-General of the Royal Marines uniform. He swiftly passed through the station into a waiting car, where he was taken to Norton Manor Camp where he presented Taunton's own 40 Commando with their campaign medals.

The Duke also traveled on the Royal Train through to Minehead on the 1st November 2002 from the mainline before taking up further visits in the Exmoor area. - HRH Prince Philip 10th June 1921 - 9th April 2021.

Published on 7th April 2021

Freightliner Class 66/6 No.66606 passes Norton Fitzwarren on the 7th April 2021, the locomotive was operating 6C28 14:21 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry aggregate empties.

No.66606 having delivered the loaded train to Exeter for unloading during the early morning.

Freightliner Class 66/6 No.66617 slogs its way through Beambridge on the 9th April 2021 hauling the loaded 7C27 04:57 Westbury - Exeter Riverside aggregate flow from the Mendip Quarries.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 4th April 2021

Locomotive Services Ltd operated a Private Charter on Easter Sunday 4th April 2021.

Veteran English Electric power could be heard for miles in the Taunton area as No.37667 and No.37688 'Great Rocks' powered 1Z32 09:57 Bristol East Yard - Penzance. The tour consisted of private coaching stock 6311, 17159, 10520, 6708, 310 (Pullman), 99993, 6706, and 6705. Coach 6705 has also been specially converted to have a rear-facing veranda.