News Archive for August 2022

Published on 27th August 2022

After the rare visit of No. 50050 'Fearless' to the south west on the 24th August, more Class 50 action visited the Taunton area on Saturday 27th August with a GBRf Staff Charter to Paignton.

The Fifty Fund provided No. 50049 'Defiance' and No. 50007 'Hercules' to haul the 1Z18 07:32 Warrington Bank Quay - Paignton and 1Z20 16:41 Paignton - Warrington Bank Quay. Hot and sunny weather greeted the colourful charter as it passed through the Taunton area with the Class 50's turning many heads as they applied the power for a non-stop run through Taunton Station and the climb for Whiteball bank.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 24th August 2022

Beyond Athelney the hills and surrounding area have all but disappeared into the murk and drizzle as much needed rain clouds gather in the distance.

Colas Class 70 No.70817 emerges into soft sunlight at Oath while heading eastbound in charge of 6C97 04:15 Lostwithiel to Westbury on Wednesday 24th August 2022.

Running to the recently revised schedule Aggregate Industries Class 59/0 No. 59002 'Alan J Day' with 21 loaded box wagons in tow crosses the Somerset Levels through Oath on Wednesday 24th August 2022 westbound with the 7C27 08:25 Westbury Exeter Riverside Yard loaded aggregate.

Published on 24th August 2022

Vintage Trains operated a mid-week charter on the 24th August 2022 using Neil Boden owned Class 50 No. 50050 'Fearless'.

The Class 50 has been a popular choice on Vintage Trains charters in 2022, having not seen much use on the mainline previous to this. No. 50050 'Fearless' operated 1Z70 06:59 Dorridge - Plymouth in top and tail formation with Class 47 No.47773.

The rare visit to the South West marks several milestones. Seven years since the locomotive was towed from Yeovil to Washwood Heath, five years since a BR Blue Class 50 had passed through Taunton, 28 years since 50050 'Fearless' operated between Bristol and Taunton direct, and 23 years since 50050 'Fearless' last hauled a charter through Taunton, when it hauled a NENTA charter from Felixstowe through to Minehead and back. The 1999 charter is illustrated by an image from the David Jones Collection.

Published on 24th August 2022

Cross Country Trains have been operating a pair of back to back powercars on an 'as required' basis between Laira Depot and Bristol Temple Meads via the B&H route to Caslte Cary and Westbury.

Although Cross Country do not operate services over the route it acts as a diversionary route should an incident or line closure happen between Cogload Junction and Bristol. A driver must develop in-depth knowledge of speeds, signals, stations, curvature and gradient of track, risk areas, level crossings, foot crossings, junction names, tunnels, yards, sidings and many other things to operate safely over the chosen route.

The current Cross Country training is in connection with engineering work this winter which will require Cross Country services to be diverted for a week.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 21st August 2022

Rail Operations Group Class 37 No. 37800 'Cassiopia' arrived into Taunton on Friday 19th August light engine from Sims Metals, Newport.

The loco had towed a pair of Class 321 units for scrap before heading to Taunton to stable. The ROG locomotive wears the name 'Cassiopia' named after a constellation in the northern sky named after the vain queen Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda, in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivalled beauty.

On Sunday 21st August 2022 No. 46233 'Duchess of Sutherland' and No. 37800 'Cassiopia' met at Taunton. The LMS Pacific was operating 'The Royal Duchy' charter between Bristol Temple Meads and Par. The pair passing at the south end of Taunton Station as the Class 37 departed light engine to Derby RTC.

Published on 13th August 2022

Somerset was the place to be for the largest gathering of Class 33 'Crompton' locomotives on Saturday 13th August 2022.

Owing to a steam locomotive restrictions both on the mainline and West Somerset Railway the West Somerset Steam Express charter was diesel hauled from London Paddington to Minehead by veteran Class 33 locos No.33029 and No.33025. While on the West Somerset Railway both No.33048 (D6566) and No.33057 (D6575) would be operating the two passenger services on the line. With each of the locomotives now 60 years old it's a major achievement to see these veteran locomotives still in operation both on the mainline and preserved lines around the UK. In fact medium sized diesels are are a premium with many preserved lines needing similar sized locos to fill the gap in their fleets with steam locos temporarily banned.

Published on 10th August 2022

Locomotive Services Ltd Class 37 No.37521 arrived at Taunton on the 9th August 2022.

The BR Green locomotive arrived operating as 0Z37 08:22 Crewe HS - Taunton Station Yard before stabling. It had been sent down to collect steam locomotive No. 34046 'Braunton' from Bishops Lydeard the next morning before moving north to haul 'The Welsh Mashes Express' charter from Bristol. Because of the steam ban the Class 37 would pilot the tour all day with the steam locomotive tucked inside.

At 06:24 in the morning LSL Class 37 No.37521 passes through the buddleia infestation at 40 Steps hauling SR Pacific No. 34046 'Braunton' on the 10th August 2022. The pair were operating as 0Z65 05:45 Bishops Lydeard - Bristol Temple Meads where they would join a charter through to Shrewsbury and back. Due to the risk of lineside fire the Class 37 hauled the charter with the steam locomotive tucked inside.

Published on 8th August 2022

They say 'make hay while the sun shines', and the farmers of Somerset have certainly been able to do that in the summer of 2022.

In the evening heat a DB Cargo Class 66 No.66104 rounds the curve at Wellington on the 8th August 2022 hauling 6G71 15:22 Cliffe Vale - St Blazey. The train was conveying empty china clay wagons for loading in Cornwall.

With crops waiting to be harvested at Allerford, GWR Class 800/3 No.800321 is pictured through the heat haze on the 10th August 2022. The celebrity 'Mask' liveried IET had been halted while operating 1C74 09:04 London Paddington - Plymouth after a passenger pulled the emergency chord. After a short delay and reset of systems the service was able to continue west.

Published on 8th August 2022

Trains in the middle of the night are rarely recorded at the station due to the unsociable hours they operate.

However with the recent heatwave photographers took advantage of the cooler night time temperatures to record two such operations at Taunton in the early hours of the 10th August 2022. We would like to thank the friendly staff at Taunton for allowing access at this time to record the workings. Regional Railways Class 37 No. 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/ Concrete Bob' is pictured at Taunton Station at 01:32 in the morning in top and tail formation with No.37175. The DRS and Colas Class 37 locomotives are pictured on the 10th August 2022 operating Network Rail test train 3Z22 23:48 Kingsland Road - Cardiff Canton Sidings via Tiverton Loop.

GWR Class 57/6 No. 57604 'Pendennis Castle' makes its scheduled stop at Taunton Station on the 10th August 2022 operating 'The Night Riviera' service 1A50 21:45 Penzance - London Paddington.

Published on 6th August 2022

The WSRA Steam and Vintage Vehicle rally was held at Norton Fitzwarren on the 6th and 7th August 2022.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and after a three year absence the event was back in fine style. The break in proceedings had also provided restorers and vehicle custodians time to spend working on their vehicles, and there were some superb finished vehicle exhibits on display for the public to enjoy. The event attracted over 7000 visitors over the two days providing a huge boost the the WSRA fund raising efforts. We have included a few images from Saturday 8th August 2022.

Published on 2nd August 2022

The as required aggregate flow from Whatley Quarry to Exeter Riverside started to run again during early August.

Freightliner supplied Class 66/6 locomotives for the first two days of the flow. The aggregate service has been re-time with a later departure time meaning he southbound service now passes Taunton mid morning. We have featured two images from the first two days of the train operating through the Taunton area.