News Archive for July 2021

Published on 31st July 2021

Several weeks after DEPG Class 47/8 No.47077 (No. 47840 'North Star') should have left the West Somerset Railway, the loco remains at Bishops Lydeard.

Roadworks on a major motorway route leading to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway are prohibitive in allowing the locomotive to transit by road. Discussions are now taking place to see if the loco may be able move the loco by rail, with a tow being provided from another locomotive. No.47077 and No.33057 are pictured in the bay platform at Bishops Lydeard on the 31st July 2021.

Published on 31st July 2021

DEPG 'Hymek' No.D7018 was rostered for the West Somerset Railway heritage diesel diagram on Saturday 31st July 2021.

The loco hauled the 11:35 Bishops Lydeard - Dunster and 13:25 Dunster - Bishops Lydeard. The service operates non stop to Watchet where passengers have the option to alight for a few hours, the train then continues to Blue Anchor (for a pathing stop only) and then to Dunster. At Dunster passengers are asked to exit the train while a shunt release takes place using a Class 03 shunting locomotive. The shunt is carried out along the Dunster marshes making use of the adjacent siding space.

D7018 hauled its first passenger service in 24 years in 2019 just prior to the worldwide pandemic. As such it's seen little action on the WSR since. The popular loco performed well hauling the three coach train through the Quantocks and Somerset Coastline with the service well patronised. Two steam services were also in operation during the day hauled by former GWR 2-6-0 'Manor' No. 7822 'Foxcote Manor' and 2-6-2 Large Prairie No.5199.

Tickets for other upcoming events and train services on the WSR can be purchased online via the West Somerset Railway Website

Published on 28th July 2021

At long last, after years of being left to grow unchecked undergrowth and variation clearance has finally started in the cutting at Creech At Michael which may also result in overhanging trees also being removed, some trees have been left to grow so close to the line they now touch trains as they pass and would block both running lines if they fell.

On the 26th July 2021 Freightliner Class 66 No.66515 passes the worksite hauling 6C73 12:17 Westbury - Fairwater Yard.

By comparison we can show you how well kept the lineside was in the 1980's with a compassion image from 1986!

Published on 24th July 2021

Marking a rare visit of an LMS Jubilee Class to the south west, and what is thought to be the first visit for the locomotive.

The Railway Touring Company provided No. 45596 'Bahamas' to haul their 'West Somerset Steam Express' charter on Saturday 24th July 2021. The impressive Jubilee is pictured passing Oath in both directions. Once the charter arrived at Bishops Lydeard the loco was removed for servicing and turning while two former Great Western 'Manor' locomotives No. 7822 'Foxcote Manor' and No. 7828 'Odney Manor' hauled the train forward. Once at Williton the front locomotive was then transferred to the rear to operate in 'top and tail' formation before working through Watchet where passengers transferred to waiting road coaches for onward transit to Minehead.

Published on 17th July 2021

Operating the first diesel hauled diagram on the West Somerset Railway since 2019, Former British Rail ‘Hymek’ No.D7018 operated the 11:35 service from Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 17th July 2021.

With the road crossing at Minehead still out of action all services are being terminated at Dunster via the sidings and a shunt release to reposition the loco on the opposite end of the train for the return workings. Passengers who wish to continue their journey to Minehead can transfer to a waiting heritage bus for the final couple of miles. At the other end of the line the diesel service was also extended to Norton Fitzwarren for an additional trip once arriving into Bishops Lydeard.

Published on 16th July 2021

Over eight weeks, from Saturday 10 July to Friday 3 September 2021, Network Rail we will be removing old track, points and ballast, as well as old signalling equipment and a gantry.

They will then be installing brand new tracks in a revised layout to better streamline the passage of trains passing through the junction into and of Bristol Temple Meads. An extra line is also being introduced to support additional suburban services being planned for the future.

In conjunction with this work a large amount of ballast, track and premade point sections will arrive by rail from pre designated locations. Over the coming weeks Taunton will see a large amount of these trains in transit to or from Bristol.

Published on 10th July 2021

Class 59s have become rare visitors to Taunton since Freightliner took over the Mendip aggregate traffic, their own Class 66/6's are often sent to Exeter Riverside.

On the 6th July 2021 former DB Cargo Class 59/2 No.59201 dropped onto the Exeter Riverside aggregate flow. Still wearing its DB Cargo 'Cherry Red' base colours No.59201 is pictured at Oath returning to the Mendips having unloaded in Exeter, operating as 7C28 15:42 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry.

Forming a rare double-headed EWS/DB combination No.66160 and No.66018 pass Norton Fitzwarren on the 8th July 2021 hauling 6 loaded china clay wagons while operating 6Z60 12:14 Parkandillack - Bescot.

Colas Rail Freight Class 70 locomotives No.70809 and No.70811 returned a rake of twenty empty Network Rail auotballasters on Saturday 10th July 2021. Having delivered more ballast to the Okehampton branch the pair (operating in top and tail formation) are pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren running as 6C21 08:00 Crediton - Westbury.

Published on 7th July 2021

The Railway Touring Company 'Royal Duchy' charter ran into problems during a locomotive change at Fairwater Yard on Sunday 7th July 2021.

The 1Z31 08:46 Slough - Par charter arrived into Fairwater Yard behind former DRS Class 47 No.47813 (Which is now owned by West Coast Railways). The loco uncoupled from the charter stock and ran light engine to Plymouth. A subsequent points failure then meant that steam locomotive No. 60163 'Tornado' was unable to joint the train. This resulted in a 106 minute delay. After Network Rail attended the scene Tornado was finally able to depart at 13:17 to continue the journey into Cornwall.

Published on 7th July 2021

With its trademark white roof now weathering nicely.

Locomotive Services Ltd Class 47s No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' and No.47614 power south at Norton Fitzwarren on the 7th July 2021 operating 'The Cornish Riviera Statesman' dining charter. The 1Z80 05:00 Shrewsbury - Penzance was formed of Statesman coaching stock: 17056 3229 3188 80043 3438 3312 1211 3348 3344 3384 3426.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 3rd July 2021

GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66723 'Chinook ' visited the Taunton area on the 3rd and 4th July 2021.

The locomotive was painted and named in 2017, it carries a minor variation to the GBRf livery which replaces the normal GBRf logo with an orange Chinook insignia, and the identifier ZA723 in the place of the standard loco running number 66723 'Chinook '. RAF flag decals were also applied on one of the cab ends.

GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66723 'Chinook ' and No. 66713 'Forest City' top and rail a loaded rake of Network Rail Autoballaster wagons south at Silk Mills on the 3rd July 2021. The pair were operating 6G71 18:24 Westbury - Lostwithiel for an overnight ballast drop in Cornwall.

The locos returned to Westbury on two separate trains the next day.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 1st July 2021

LSL (Locomotive Services Ltd) Class 47 locomotives No.47614 and No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' visited Taunton on the 30th June 2021 wearing their superbly presented former British Railways liveried.

The pair operated 'The English Riviera Statesmen' south as in double-head formation as the 1Z72 06:20 Wolverhampton to Paignton. The executive dining charter visited the Devon Riviera for the day before returning to Wolverhampton the same evening.

To view the gallery, please click here.