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TauntonTrains.co.uk

News Archive for September 2021

Testing Okehampton


Published on 26th September 2021

Colas Rail Freight operated a Network Rail test train to Exeter Riverside on Sunday 26th September 2021.

The test train would then spend Sunday night/ Monday morning carrying out testing on the Crediton - Okehampton line. The Okehampton line is due to open to the public in December 2021. No. 37254 'Cardiff Canton' is pictured at Norton Fitzwarren in 'top and tail' formation with No.37612 while operating 1Z57 09:38 Derby RTC - Exeter Riverside. The train operated via Oxford and Reading with Network Rail test coaches 72612 5981 999868 6264.

Having completed overnight testing on the Okehampton Line, Class 37 locomotives No.37612 and No. 37254 'Cardiff Canton' 'Cardiff Canton' returned north on Monday 27th September 2021. Captured in the low autumn sunlight the pair pass Creech St Michael operating 1Q40 00:30 Exeter Riverside - Derby RTC via Okehampton.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Ashley Harris)

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)



Weekend Charters


Published on 25th September 2021

Two charter services passed through the platforms at Taunton on Saturday 25th September 2021.

First to appear at 09:39 was The Midland Pullman HST operated by Locomotive Services Ltd. The Midland Pullman HST set with No.43055 leading No. 43046 'Geoff Drury 1930-1999' operated the 'Cornish Coastal Pullman' 1Z82 06:57 Swansea - Penzance. Unfortunately the train suffered a graffiti attack on one site while stabled in Swansea overnight.

The second charter to pass was Pathfinder Railtours 'The Champion Torbay Express' 1Z52 05:58 Eastleigh - Kingswear. The charter had originally been advertised to be hauled by Western Champion, however owing to the locomotive failing its mainline test-run the previous weekend, The Fifty Fund stepped in to provide traction for the tour.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Phil Izzard)



GWR Hitachi - RSSB Report

Two GWR Hitachi Class 802 bi-mode units pass Norton Fizwarren on the 30th August 2021. No.802001 and No. 802002 'Steve Whiteway' were operating 1A80 08:15 Penzance - London Paddington.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 19th September 2021

According to a recent Guardian newspaper article, GWR Hitachi bi-mode trains have been ranked the most polluting for on board passengers to travel.

The worrying report links Hitachi built units (which are one a few years old) with Nitrogen Dioxide levels which are 13 times higher than on of London’s busiest roads in Marylebone. The Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) carried our six tests with different train types. Paddington – Bristol (GWR) , Euston – Birmingham (Avanti West Coast), Bletchley – Bedford (West Midlands Trains), St Pancras – Nottingham (East Midlands Railway), Marylebone – Birmingham Snow Hill (Chiltern) – Loco Hauled, and Ipswich – Cambridge (Greater Anglia). Average levels of nitrogen dioxide and levels of particulate matter were recorded on board. For levels of nitrogen dioxide the GWR Hitachi IET was more than double any other train type tested with over 200 Micrograms per cubic meter recorded on board. The type faired better for recorded levels of particulate matter pollution being ranked 5th. Although the findings are concerning it does highlight that newer trains do not equate to better air quality. The RSSB report does conclude that the recorded levels are within the current legal limits, but the DFT have commissioned more research and a review of air standards on board trains.

Another interesting result from the RSSB report is the new Stadler built bi-mode units which have their diesel engines located in the middle of the train ranked the best in both tests with under 50 Micrograms per cubic meter recorded. The report also highlighted that passengers traveling on loco hauled services were exposed to less pollution in the coach behind the locomotive than they would towards the back of the train.


 Last WSR Diesel Diagram - 16th October 2021

Published on 18th September 2021

The final WSR Diesel Running day has been re-dated from Saturday 25th September to Saturday 16th October.

Heritage diesel hydraulic 'Hymek' D7018 will operate the 11:35 Bishops Lydeard - Dunster, and 13:25 Dunster - Bishops Lydeard arriving back at 14:40. Passengers can also enjoy an extended trip with an end of day with a round trip to Norton Fitzwarren from Bishops Lydeard arriving back at 15:25. Advance tickets are available online from The West Somerset Railway. D7018 is cared for and maintained by the DEPG based at Williton depot, this will be the last opportunity of 2021 to ride behind a classic western region locomotive.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)


The Mazey Day Cornishman

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 18th September 2021

Having completed a 720 mile round trip to Stranraer and back the previous weekend, The Fifty Fund Class 50 locomotives No. 50007 'Hercules' and No. 50049 'Defiance' embarked on a 540 mile round trip to Penzance and back on the 18th September 2021.

The pair of locomotives were used to haul Pathfinder Railtours 'The Mazey Day Cornishman 2021' which had been previously postponed because of various COVID19 lockdowns in the UK. The charter operated as 1Z67 06:04 Birmingham New Street - Penzance using Mk1 stock from Riviera Trains. Sadly the train met with delay in the Cam and Dursley area due to a trespass incident which delayed the train by around 10 to 15 minutes.

The same pair of locomotives will be in action at Taunton again next weekend. Owing to Western Champion failing its loaded mainline test run on Friday 17th September, The Fifty Fund have been asked to haul 'The Champion Torbay Express' charter from Eastleigh to Kingswear on the Saturday 25th September.


WSR Mixed Traffic Weekend


Published on 18th September 2021

The West Somerset Railway Mixed Traffic weekend took place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th September 2021.

The event used home fleet diesel locomotives from the DEPG based at Williton and a single steam service. The event featured Class 33 locomotives D6566 (No.33048), D6575 (No.33057), Hymek No.D7018, 4-6-0 'Manor' No. 7828 'Odney Manor', 4-6-0 'Manor' No. 7822 'Foxcote Manor' and 2-6-2T No.5199. Because of the Minehead road / rail crossing still being out of action passenger services either operated to Dunster (with heritage bus transfer to Minehad) or terminated at Blue Anchor facilitating a run round to change direction. Some services were also extended to operate to Norton Fitzwarren.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)


(Photo: Phil Izzard)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)



Royal Scot heads home


Published on 15th September 2021

Having completed its charter duties hauling 'The Welshman' charter the previous day.

Locomotive Services Ltd chose to use the steam locomotive No. 46100 'Royal Scot' to haul the empty stock back Kingswear to Crewe. No. 46100 'Royal Scot' passed through the Taunton area on Wednesday 15th September 2021 hauling 5Z50 13:30 Kingswear - Crewe with No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' on the rear of the train. The Scot took water stops at Taunton, and Hereford on route back to Crewe.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)


(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)



Last Royal Duchy


Published on 14th September 2021

LMS Jubilee No. 45690 'Leander' operated the the final 'Royal Duchy' charter of the year on the Sunday 14th September 2021.

The charter operated with West Coast Railways heritage Class 47 No. 47746 'Chris Fudge 29.7.70 - 22.6.10' from Slough to Taunton where the LMS Jubilee was added for the run Plymouth and Par. Leander has been out-based at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway pending the last Royal Duchy charter of the year.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

(Photo: S A Ginn)



Better Late Than Never!


Published on 6th September 2021

West Coast Railways operation of the Northern Belle dining charter ran into problems at Cheltenham Spa on Sunday 5th September 2021, meaning passengers on board would end up with just twenty three minutes in Paignton instead of three and a half hours.

The 1Z42 09:29 Birmingham International - Paignton started with an unspecified delay leaving its departure station 19 minutes late. The train continued to loose time through the Birmingham suburbs at it headed towards Cheltenham Spa. At Cheltenham the train was unable to release the brakes on the train. The Locomotive No.57314 was leading at this point. After blocking the mainline for 76 minutes the train was moved into Cheltenham Landsdown Loop. After another attempt to move the train went into Gloucester to change direction in the process of doing so the train lost a further 66 minutes. At Gloucester the train was able to operate in reverse formation with No.57314 isolated at the back of the train No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' completed the rest of the journey arriving into Paignton at 15:59 some 148 minutes late. At Paignton No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' changed ends and hauled the train back to Birmingham departing just 23 minutes after it arrived in the Devon seaside resort.

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

(Photo: Simon Harling)



Aggregate Wagons visit Norton Triangle


Published on 5th September 2021

Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66561 is pictured on the south chord of the Norton Triangle on the West Somerset Railway on the 3rd September 2021.

Due to an issue at Whatley Quarry 6Z28 14:24 Riverside Yard - Whatley Quarry was terminated short of its destination at Fairwater Yard. The train had run in top and tail formation to Taunton with No.66621 leading from Exeter. No.66561 had been sent down from Taunton in the morning to help position the train for unloading in the yard at Exeter Riverside. No.66561 is seen with the empty set of wagons from 6Z28 on the south chord of the triangle at Norton Fitzwarren, where the wagons spent the weekend. They will exit the chord when they are next required.

Emerging from the mist at Norton Fitzwarren Monday 6th September 2021, Freightliner Class 66/6 No.66621 collects wagons stabled on the Norton Fitzwarren Triangle over the previous weekend. No.66621 operated 6Z28 09:42 Bishops Lydeard - Whatley Quarry. Note some wagons had not been unloaded at Exeter Riverside on the previous Friday.

(Photo: Jason Prole)

(Photo: Thomas Courtney)



 The Northern Belle

Published on 3rd September 2021

West Coast Railways Northern Belle-liveried Class 57/3 No. 57313 'Scarborough Castle' passes Whiteball with partner No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' operating in 'top and tail' formation on the 3rd September 2021.

The pair were operating a Northern Belle dining charter as the 1Z80 07:25 Swansea - Paignton. No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' later returned the train back to Swansea.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Simon Harling)


 'Euroshed' 66750

(Photo: Simon Harling)


Published on 2nd September 2021

Imported in 2013 and converted by EMD for UK rail operations with GBRf No. 66750 'Bristol Panel Signal Box ' has some subtle differences from the UK spec Class 66/7 locomotives.

Complete with rectangle buffers and revised headlight clusters No. 66750 'Bristol Panel Signal Box ' is pictured on the 2nd September 2021 operating 6G74 17:11 Westbury - Crediton loaded autoballasters with No. 66715 'Valour' located on the rear of the train.

66750 'Bristol Panel Signal Box ' (UK number) was first delivered to HSBC Rail Ltd in August 2003, and entered service with ERC Railways (Rotterdam - NL) numbered as 6606 operating freight traffic cross borders in he Benelux reigns of Europe. In 2009 the loco was sold to Beacon Rail Leasing Ltd and moved to Poland operating for Freightliner Poland (FPL) in the Warszawa area. In 2010 it moved to Crossrail Benelux with a prefix of 'DE' added to its number operating in Germany and Belgium. In 2013 the loco was then hired to Rushrail AB (Stockholm) where it gained the number T664025, where after it was then obtained by GBRf in October 2013 and imported to the UK, where the loco was converted at EMD Roberts Road for UK operation.

To view the gallery, please click here.


To view news stories from August 2021 click here, or for news from October 2021, click here.