Published on 31st January 2022
Its not often the scurge of railway graffiti often reaches the south west but it would seem in recent years the amount of mindless tagging and spray painting of locomotives and wagons is getting worse.
Recent arrival to the Taunton area is Freightliner Class 66/9 No.66952.
Sadly the loco is in a poor state of company presentation having suffered from mindless vandalism while working out of Acton during January. No.66952 is pictured passing Cogload Junction on the 31st January 2022 operating 6C73 12:18 Westbury - Fairwater Yard loaded HOBC portion.
(Photo: Ian Draper)
Published on 28th January 2022
Following three days (Tuesday-Friday) of GWR Sleeper Staff Competence Refresher Training No. 57605 'Totnes Castle' returned north through Taunton in daylight hours on Friday 28th January 2022.
The Night Rivera set was being returned to Reading Traincare depot in preparation for its next overnight passenger diagram.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Paul Wilkins)
Published on 27th January 2022
Since Freightliner have taken over the Exeter Riverside aggregate traffic the use of the Class 59 fleet have been few and far between.
Freightliner prefer to diagram on of their own re-geared Class 66/6 locomotives for this job. On the 27th January No. 59202 'Alan Meadows Taylor - MD Mendip Rail Limited' made a fleeting visit hauling the 6C27/ 6C28 diagram. Freightliner Genesee and Wyoming livery Class 59/2 No. 59202 'Alan Meadows Taylor - MD Mendip Rail Limited' passes Norton Fitzwarren on the 27th January 2022 catching the last rays of winter sunlight. The locomotive was making a now rare appearance in the Taunton area while operating 6C28 15:57 Exeter Riverside - Westbury empty aggregate wagons.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Quentin Hawkes)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
Published on 24th January 2022
Due to the Great Western 'Night Riviera' service not currently operating on weekdays between 24th January 2022 and 17th March 2022 because of overnight engineering works along the Teignmouth coastline.
Network Rail will be building a 209m long rockfall shelter from Parsons Tunnel towards Teignmouth. The GWR sleeper stock is needing to be moved between depots for servicing. This practice is likely to continue until March, so further appearances of the unique locomotive hauled sleeper set during daylight hours will become more common over the next month. No. 57605 'Totnes Castle' is pictured on the 24th January 2022 operating 5C99 11:06 Reading - Long Rock at Norton Fitzwarren.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 20th January 2022
Prime Minster Boris Johnson was captured at Taunton Station on the 20th January 2021, having arrived from London by train he visited the Rutherford Diagnostic Centre in Taunton.
The diagnostics centre is based at Blackbrook Business Park and The centre delivers high-quality diagnostic imaging and the latest in advanced cancer treatments including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and, in the future, proton beam therapy.
Published on 19th January 2022
Colas Rail Freight operated a trial timber flow for Euroforest on the 19th January 2022.
The flow is operating in partnership with Pontrilas Sawmills who are trialing the transporting of logs utilising rail from Hackney Yard (Newton Abbot) in Devon to Abergavenny train station in Monmouthshire. From here, the logs will be uplifted by Pontrilas Haulage and delivered to Pontrilas Sawmill near Hereford. Approximately 400 tonnes of locally grown timber will be transported in one journey during this exercise, a greener alternative to using roads in the long-distance movement of timber. Colas provided a specially cleaned Class 70/8 No.70803 for the inaugural flow.
(Photo: Simon Harling)
(Photo: Ashley Harris)
(Photo: S A Ginn)
Published on 13th January 2022
The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group preserved Class 47 No.47077 (No. 47840 'North Star') finally departed Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway to head to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
The loco has spent the majority of 2021 stored at Bishops Lydeard pending transfer due to the Yorkshire after problems with weight limits on several sections of road over the route meant the loco was unable to be moved.
The popular Class 47, which was built in 1965 departed with Allelys Heavy Haulage on the 13th January 2022. The route was more of a sightseeing tour for the first leg taking to Redditch being routed through Bristol and Tewksbury to avoid further weight restrictions on the M5.
DEPG Class 47 No.47077 (No. 47840 'North Star') traverses the A38 at Rooksbridge on the 13th January 2022 in the care of Allelys Heavy Haulage. The loco had been diverted off the M5 due to weight restrictions on the Avonmouth Bridge and was moved via the A38 through Bristol to re-join the motorway network at the M32. The popular Class 47 will spend two years at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)
Published on 9th January 2022
Colas Rail Freight Class 70/8 No.70815 passes Norton Fitzwarren on the 9th January 2022 options the rail delivery train after an overnight rail drop in Cornwall.
The grubby loco was operating as 6C97 07:40 Camborne - Westbury.
Colas Rail Freight Class 70 locomotives 'top and tailed' a lengthy loaded rake of loaded Autoballasters on the 9th January 2022. No.70809 and No.70817 pass Silk Mills operating as 6C21 09:39 Westbury - Newton Abbot West Junction. The train was taking ballast to the Paignton branch which is closed for various infrastructure renewals.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Adam Snow)
Published on 5th January 2022
Having operated light engine to Westbury on the morning of the 5th January 2021, Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66566 arrives back into Taunton operating 6C73 12:17 Westbury - Fairwater Yard a HOBC portion in tow.
The train is pictured (using a camera pole) on the approach to Taunton Station.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Somerset Trucking & Transport)
Published on 4th January 2022
Veteran large-logo Class 37/4 No.37402 became the first Class 37 of 2022 to visit Taunton with an early hours visit to Taunton.
Direct Rail Services owned No.37402 is pictured at Taunton in the early hours on the 4th January 2022. The loco operated an overnight test train for Network Rail 3Q06 21:08 Westbury - Kingsland Road via Taunton. The test train arrived at 03:06 and departed at 03:23.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 3rd January 2022
Colas Rail Freight Class 66/8 No. 66850 'David Maidment OBE www.railwaychildren.org.uk' kicked off 2022 with a light engine crew training run to Hackney Yard from Westbury.
The loco carried out several return driver route learning trips between Paignton and Hackney Yard. No. 66850 'David Maidment OBE www.railwaychildren.org.uk' passes Norton Fitzwarren on Monday 3rd January 2022 operating 0Z10 11:36 Westbury - Hackney Yard.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)
Published on 1st January 2022
In addition to our review of the year, we have also collated data to now include 2004 through to the end of 2021.
We have been able to update previous graphical information and produce new graphs to show trends, locomotive class visits, and the comparison between locomotive operators.
It should be noted that information included between 2004 and 2013 is correct for previous records however records from this period do still need to be added to our newer database. We hope you enjoy looking at the presentation slides and noting the gradual decline in locomotive visits to Taunton in the past 18 years. We would like to thank all those who contribute information, photos and time to the Taunton Trains project.
(Photo: Taunton Trains)
(Photo: Taunton Trains)
(Photo: Taunton Trains)
(Photo: Taunton Trains)
(Photo: Taunton Trains)
(Photo: Taunton Trains)
Published on 1st January 2022
Welcome to our review of 2021.
Over the past few weeks we have been compiling the 2021 statistics to being you some interesting facts in relation to the railway workings of 2021. Our particular thanks go to Adam Hiscock who has again provided an excellent set of information based on last years operations. Despite being another year of interruptions with Covid-19, 2021 was proven to be an improvement on previous years.
In total 241 locomotives passed through Taunton in 2021 compared with 219 in 2020. This provided 13 different class members compared to just 10 in 2020.
There were more charters able to operate in 2021 which provided an increase of steam locomotives (six in total) and Class 47 locomotives which often assist with these charter. There were no Great Western Steam locomotives through Taunton in 2021.
The Crediton – Okehampton line reopening also played a large part in the 2021 figures owning to the huge amount of materials, and locomotive movements needed in connection with this project. GBRf saw a doubling of their appearances to 38 different locomotives from their fleet, and their highest ever total recorded since our records began in 2004.
The Freightliner / HOBC operation which is based in Fairwater Yard continued during 2021, the top five locomotives out-based at Fairwater Yard were No.66561, No.66591, No.66556, No.66951 and No.66515. Locomotive No.66561 recording 95 separate days throughout the year.
6V99 Bescot – St Blazey China Clay empties ran 49 times and used 25 different Class 66 locomtovies. No.66200 was the most common loco with 6 appearances, closely followed by No.66009 with 5 appearances. The train was paired on 1 occasion.
6M60 Exeter Riverside – Bescot loaded China Clay ran 36 times and used 27 different Class 66 locomotives. No.66200 was the most common loco with 6 appearances. The train was paired on 1 occasion and triple headed on 1 occasion. It also operated as 6Z60 on 13 occasions using a further 13 different Class 66s.
The Whatley Quarry-Riverside Yd stone train - 6C27/6C28 (sometimes 7C27/7C28) ran 57 times and used 21 different locos which comprised 5 Class 59, 6 Class 66/5 and 10 Class 66/6 locomotives. No.66617 was the most common loco with 9 appearances.
GWR Sleeper operations were very stable with very few failures in 2021, reliability modifications seem to of had a positive effect on the class as whole. No. 57605 'Totnes Castle' made 180 appearances at Taunton with No. 57603 'Tintagel Castle' making 176, and No. 57604 'Pendennis Castle' making 159. Standby loco No. 57306 'Branchline Society' made 68 appearances while No. 57602 'Restormel Castle' remains very much out of favour with just one visit to Taunton during the year.
To view news stories from December 2021 click here, or for news from February 2022, click here.
