News Archive for June 2022

Published on 18th June 2022

Saphos Trains operated 'The English Riviera Express' charter on the 18th June 2022.

The 1Z60 07:48 Slough - Kingswear was hauled by LSL heritage diesel locomotives No.47810 and No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' in 'top and tail' formation. Upon arrival into Fairwater Yard No.47810 was removed and replaced with the booked steam locomotive No. 34046 'Braunton'. Due to the non-availability of 'Britannia' No. 34046 'Braunton' had been moved down from Crewe the previous week. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' remained on the rear of the train to assist with empty stock movements once at Kingswear.

The return run in the evening 1Z61 16:35 Kingswear - Slough saw No. 34046 'Braunton' once again removed at Fairwater Yard with No.47810 re-joining the train to haul passengers back to Slough.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 18th June 2022

A single GBRf-liveried Class 50 No. 50007 'Hercules' hauled UK Railtours 'The Devon Pullman' charter through Taunton on the 18th June 2022.

The Pullman dining charter had originally been planned to be hauled by both of The Fifty Fund mainline locomotives but problems with No. 50049 'Defiance' meant a single loco was used to haul the charter. No. 50007 'Hercules' hauled 1Z50 08:00 London Victoria - Exeter St Davids in a one way trip through Taunton. The return trip operated via the Southern route via Yeovil taking the Class 50 over some of its former stomping ground on the West of England route.

Published on 16th June 2022

Direct Rail Services Intercity-liveried Class 37//4 No. 37419 'Carl Haviland 1954-2012' headed west on the 16th June 2022.

The loco was operating a route learning/ driver training run from Gloucester to Plymouth and return. The southbound run (0Z35 10:00 Gloucester - Plymouth passed Taunton around 11:40, with the northbound run (0Z36 14:35 Plymouth - Gloucester passing Taunton at 16:10.

Published on 12th June 2022

The visiting Class 17 'Clayton' had an additional operating day on Sunday 12th June 2022 by covering the booked 80-mile heritage diesel hauled blue timetable diagram.

The locomotive operated the 10:00 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard, 12:30 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead, 14:30 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard and 16:35 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead service.

The Saturday and Sunday diagram will continue to operate on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer with with either a Class 33 or Hymek hauling the service.

Published on 12th June 2022

The West Somerset Railway 'Sixties Diesel Gala' was held between Thursday 9th June and Saturday 11th June 2022.

Two heritage diesel locomotives attended the four-day event. Class 17 'Clayton' D8568 courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group at the Severn Valley Railway, and return visitor Class 25 No.D7612 from the South Devon Diesel Traction group based at the South Devon Railway.

WSR home fleet locomotives from the Diesel Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) featured Class 33 'Cromptons' No.33048 (D6566) and No.33057 (D6575) and Hymek twins No.D7017 and No.D7018. Sadly D7017 suffered a fault on the Friday and had to retire from the event, but this did allow people to visit the locomotive at the DEPG Depot at Williton during the event. Progress could also be viewed on the restoration of No. D1010 'Western Campaigner' and Class 14 D9518 which were on display in the maintenance shed where sales stands were also set up to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of these expensive locomotives.

A small gathering of 1960s cars were on display at Minehead together with free vintage bus rides, public entertainment and various sales stands. Unlike previous years there was no Beer Festival, or catering with the Quantock Belle being used as more elegant seating capacity. The Saturday evening late night 'Dance Train' was cancelled due to lack of bookings and the timetable adjusted to provide an 8pm finish to the event.

We hope you enjoy the selection of images taken by photographers and passengers who attended the 2022 event, further images can be viewed in the gallery link below.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 11th June 2022

Saphos Trains kicked off their summer season of steam specials in the South West on Saturday 12th June 2022.

Steam locomotive BR Standard Class 7 No. 70000 'Britannia' will be based at Bishops Lydeard until September and will be used on the Taunton - Kingswear - Taunton legs of the English Riviera Express charter services. The triangle at Norton Fitzwarren also provides an excellent facility to turn the locomotive each week to make sure its facing the correct way for its next tour.

The first charter of the year was originally booked to depart from Solihull but operational issues in the area saw the re-arranged to depart from Dorridge departing 34 minutes late, but with plenty of slack in the timetable and a Class 47 leading the way the tour was back on time by Challow. LSL Class 47 locomotives No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' operating as 1Z60 06:18 Dorridge - Kingswear. Upon arrival at Taunton it is now normal practice the change the train locomotives on the relief lines adjacent to Fairwater Yard rather than within Taunton Station. Having already departed the West Somerset Railway No. 70000 'Britannia' met the train at Fairwater Yard before continuing to Kingswear with No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' remaining on the rear of the train to assist with stock movements at Kingswear.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 9th June 2022

The colourful Network Rail HOBC set ('System 5') based at Fairwater Yard, Taunton departed its south west base on the 9th June 2022, and will not return for another thirteen weeks.

Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66507 passes Fordgate conveying the full length HOBC (High Output Ballast Cleaner) from Taunton to Crewe attached at the rear is ONE (Ocean Network Express) liveried Class 66/5 No. 66587 'AS ONE, WE CAN', the whole consist working north as the 6X37 09:25 Fairwater Yard to Crewe Basford Hall.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 4th June 2022

In order to position the Midland Pullman HST set on preparation for the 'Settle and Carlisle Pullman' charter the next day, Locomotive Services Ltd (LSL) moved the empty stock south on Friday 3rd June 2022.

Immaculate Intercity 'Swallow' liveried HST powercar No. 43049 'Neville Hill' lead No. 43046 'Geoff Drury 1930-1999' on 5Z69 08:12 Crewe - Plymouth Friary. The Blue Pullman set also included a green liveried Mk3 from the disbanded Rail Charter Services set. The train was formed as: 41160 (RCS Green), 41108 41183 40802 41176 41169 40801 41162 and 44078.

Operating on the historical Platinum Jubilee weekend the 'Settle and Carlisle Pullman' operated on Saturday 4th June 2022 as 1Z70 05:00 Plymouth - Carlisle returning later that evening.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 2nd June 2022

Direct Rail Services have been continuing their occasional visits to Taunton with their driver training/ route learning trips.

Direct Rail Services Class 37 No. 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/ Concrete Bob' arrived into Taunton on the 31st May 2022. The Regional Railways liveried Class 37/4 operated 0Z51 14:33 Worcester Shrub Hill - Taunton. The locomotive stabled in Platform 1 for the night.

On the 1st June 2022 the locomotive operated an out and back trip from Taunton to Bescot before stabling in Platform 1 again overnight. On the 2nd June 2022 No. 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/ Concrete Bob' operated 0Z54 09:25 Taunton - Bromsgrove. We have included a selection of images from the recent workings for the popular heritage Class 37 locomotive.

To view the gallery, please click here.