Published on 30th May 2021
Making a rare Sunday appearance over the Bank Holiday Weekend, Colas Rail Freight operated a Network Rail Test Train for positioning in the South West.
Class 37 No.37116 operated 3Z39 10:56 Hither Green - Exeter Riverside via Twickenham. The train was formed of coaches 96604, 6262, 9810, 999606 and DBSCO 9702.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)
Published on 30th May 2021
The new Taunton Station 400 space GWR multi-storey car park development is now open for the public to use, one month after the new ticket office and entrance opened on the 'down' side of the station.
GWR has worked with multiple agencies in the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver the station improvements. The improvements to the forecourt area also include additional bike spaces, new pavements, improved bus and taxi facilities, the new ticket office and the new car park. The car park will be managed by Apcoa with parking priced as £7.60 for 24hrs Monday-Friday and £5.30 for 24hrs on Saturday/ Sunday. Those using the Apcoa Connect App gain reduced rates of £6.90 on weekdays only. Prices are comparable to the council owned Killkenny Car Park on the 'up' side of the station which costs £7.70 for 7 hours or £8.20 for 10 hours
In addition we can also report that the 'Dashi' café is now also reopen on Platform 2 having been closed during the pandemic. The Café is now open and able to serve passengers hot drinks, snacks and refreshments. Starbucks on Platform 5 remains closed at this point in time.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 29th May 2021
Locomotive Services Ltd most striking item of rolling stock is the recent Midland Pullman liveried HST set.
The Midland Pullman was Britain's first luxury high speed diesel-electric train, which operated in the early 1960's. This modern day recreation of the original using a HST set has aimed to be as close to the original as possible, down to the cutlery, uniforms and the original 'Nanking Blue' livery. No expense has been spared, the extensive refurbishment was carried out at Eastleigh along with a completely new kitchen car. A former Mk3 buffet car was gutted and rebuilt with a brand new kitchen for serving restaurant quality meals on board. Charters on board The Midland Pullman have proved exceptionally popular with the train already sold out for the majority of 2021.
The train is formed up with two former Midland Mainline powercars (No.43055 and No. 43046 'Geoff Drury 1930-1999'), and uses a nine car Mk3 formation made up from former first class vehicles and two former buffet cars (one of which has been rebuilt into a kitchen.
On Saturday 29th May 2021 the set operated 'The Cornish Coastal Pullman' as 1Z60 06:00 Eastleigh - Penzance formed as No.43055 leading with partner No. 43046 'Geoff Drury 1930-1999' and coaching stock formation 41169, 40801, 41182, 41059, 41162, 40802, 41108, and 41176.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Simon Harling)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 28th May 2021
One of the oldest GBRf Class 66 locomotives dating back to 2001 operated to Crediton on the 28th May 2021.
Originally delivered to Newport Docks in 2001 via the MV Jumbo Challenger, the Class 66/7 was the first of five Class 66/7 locomotives which entered service with GBRf. The locomotive is pictured at Cogload Junction operating in top and tail formation with No.66774 as 6G75 17:10 Westbury - Crediton hauling a mix of MHA, MPA, MHA wagons for loading with spent ballast from the Dartmoor Line. The locomotive also still carries the 'Europorte' livery variation from when GBRf were owned by Europorte.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 27th May 2021
Locomotive Services Ltd collected their rake of former Midland Mainline Mk3 coaches from Laira on the 27th May 2021.
The rake of coaches were moved south to Laira for possible use several weeks prior during the period when GWR Hitachi Class 800s were prevented from operating after cracks were found in yaw damper mounting brackets. LSL sent Railfreight Construction liveried Class 37 No. 37688 'Great Rocks' south on Wednesday 26th May light engine, before then returning with the stock on Thursday 27th heading for Crewe.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Lee Robbins)
(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)
Published on 26th May 2021
With track laying now complete on the Dartmoor Line between Crediton and Okehampton, as series of loaded trains have been visiting the line to drop ballast.
Over 11 miles of new track has now been completed and 29,000 tonnes of fresh ballast laid on top of 24,000 new concrete sleepers. The track has been laid using the NTC (New Track Construction) machine, with can evenly drop and distribute sleepers into position. Two Colas operated ballast trains returned north through Taunton on the 26th May 2021 having delivered their payloads into Devon.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
Published on 24th May 2021
Steam services resumed on the West Somerset Railway on the 22nd May 2021 with WSR 2-6-0 No.9351 transporting passengers on return trips to Williton from Bishops Lydeard.
The locomotive is pictured at Bishops Lydeard with a rake of crimson and cream Mk1 coaches ready to depart with the 15:10 service to Willton. To find out more about tickets and steam services now operating on the line (under COVID safe conditions) please visit the. West Somerset Railway website.
(Photo: Somerset Trucking & Transport)
Published on 17th May 2021
Former DRS Class 37 No.37612 visited Taunton while working for Network Rail on the 12th and 13th May 2021.
The loco operated 3Z01 13:05 Reading Triangle Sidings - Exeter Riverside on the 14th before carrying out overnight testing duties in Devon on the 14th. The test train then returned to Reading on the 15th operating 3Z65 14:57 Exeter Riverside - Reading Triangle sidings. The HNRC owned Class 37 carries former Direct Rail Services base blue with yellow ends.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
Published on 10th May 2021
With the GWR Hitachi crisis deepening passenger operators affected by the withdrawal of their Class 800/802 trains are racing to provide as much stock as possible by whatever means possible.
Overnight meetings between high level affected parties had yet to provide a resolve to the cracking of welds found in the Hitachi Fleet. Operators are seeking to find surplus passenger stock previously taken off lease. GWR secured a movement of former HST stock from Locomotive Services Ltd. The former Midland Mainline/ EMR Mk3 coaches were moved from Crewe to Laira on Monday 10th May 2021 by Railfreight Construction liveried Class 37 No. 37688 'Great Rocks'. The locomotive operated 5Z37 12:45 Crewe HS - Laira with LSL Barrier 9479, coupled with Mk3's 41117 44047 42100 42220 43063, pictured here passing Norton Fiztwarren.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 9th May 2021
As of Sunday 9th May 2021 - 75 out of 93 GWR Hitachi IETs remain out of service.
Passengers should refer to the GWR website to establish which trains and services will be operating over the coming week.
The Government has also commissioned Hitachi to present an initial assessment of when they expect problems to be resolved. The Department for Transport is working closely with the affected operators to determine what level of train service is able to run into next week and are doing everything possible to minimise the impact on passengers, although significant disruption is expected throughout at least the next week.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 8th May 2021
Saturday 8th May 2021 saw major travel disruption across the GWR, LNER, and Transpennine Networks after cracks were found in the yaw damper bolsters on the newly built Hitachi train fleets which were delivered new in 2017.
Passengers were advised not to travel, as the introduction of 'single class fleets' and disposal of the the trains they replaced meant operators had nothing to provide a passenger service with. Checks on the 78 Class 800 and 802 sets had located problems with up to 20 sets.
GWR said "there will be significant disruption across the network today" and services running to and from London's Paddington Station have been cancelled. At the time of commenting there was currently no high-speed service on routes between London and Bristol, Swansea, Penzance, Hereford and Cheltenham. The company added that there would be "only an extremely limited service with no alternative means of transport available" for those routes.
It's not currently known what the solution is to the cracking found in the yaw dampers, engineers will be working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Published on 7th May 2021
Ex East Coast HST No.43299 visited Taunton as part of the Network Rail New Measurement Train on Friday 7th May 2021.
The former powercar which had become surplus to requirements from passenger operations on the East Coast Mainline with LNER following the introduction of Hitachi IET sets. The LNER liveried powercar (with Network Rail branding) has joined the Network Rail HST test fleet to allow one of their own powercars to be released for overhauls, ETCS fitment and an improved trial cab interiors.
On Friday 7th May No. 43062 'John Armitt' and No.43299 partnered to operate 1Q18 06:11 Reading Triangle Sidings - Paignton via Penzance, 1Z18 15:40 Paignton - Taunton via Bristol East Yard, and 1Q19 18:57 Taunton - London Paddingon. This track testing diagram saw the NMT visit Taunton Station three times during the course of he day.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 6th May 2021
GBRf 'celebrity' British Rail liveried Class 66 No. 66789 'British Rail 1948-1997' re-visited Taunton on Thursday 6th May 2021.
In rather inclement conditions No. 66789 'British Rail 1948-1997' operated in 'top and tail' formation with partner No. 66729 'Derby County' either end of fifteen loaded autoballasters as 6G74 09:25 Westbury - Crediton. The train was conveying around 900 tonnes of ballast to the Crediton - Okehampton reopening project.
(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)
(Photo: Simon Harling)
Published on 1st May 2021
GBRf delivered two trains load loaded ballast consisting of 15 autoballasters on each trip between the 30th April and 1st May 2021.
No. 66726 'SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY' and No. 66753 'EMD Roberts Road ' operated 6G70 11:15 Westbury - Crediton on Friday 30th April 2021 before returning to Westbury light engine (0G07 14:23 Exeter Riverside - Westbury). On the 1st May 2021 No. 66753 'EMD Roberts Road ' returned alone to operate 6G69 07:11 Westbury - Crediton before also returning light engine (0G69 10:00 Exeter Riverisde - Westbury). The two trains conveyed around 2000t of fresh ballast which will be used to relay track between Crediton and Okehampton in the coming weeks.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Ashley Harris)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Paul Finnimore)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
To view news stories from April 2021 click here, or for news from June 2021, click here.