News Archive for October 2022

The Final Goodbye Begins

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 30th October 2022

It's been three years since the iconic HST sets were superseded on the London Paddington by the new Hitachi IET sets.

Since that date the selected HST sets have been reformed and rebranded into four coach 'Castle' sets operating regional services between Cardiff, Gloucester, Bristol, Plymouth and Penzance. The next phase of the gradual retirement of the Class begins with the 2022 December timetable change the first phase of current HST 'Castle' diagrams will go over to GWR Hitachi IET operation.

2C02 06:39 Plymouth - Penzance

2U16 08:50 Penzance - Cardiff Central

2C81 15:00 Cardiff Central - Taunton

2U26 17:11 Taunton - Cardiff Central

2C91 20:00 Cardiff Central - Taunton

2M76 22:43 Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads

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2U02 06:28 Bristol Temple Meads - Cardiff Central

2C67 08:00 Cardiff Central - Penzance

2P17 13:50 Penzance - Plymouth

2C31 15:55 Plymouth - Penzance

2P27 18:50 Penzance - Plymouth

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5C06 03:20 Laira - Exeter St Davids (ECS)

2U06 06:36 Exeter St Daivds - Cardiff Central

2C71 10:00 Cardiff Central - Taunton

2U18 13:09 Taunton - Cardiff Central

2C82 16:00 Cardiff Central - Taunton

2U28 18:10 Taunton - Cardiff Central

2C92 21:00 Cardiff Central - Taunton.

Some may have already noticed some HST diagrams already being covered by the Hitachi IET sets covering for daily shortfalls in HST availability. We recommend you grab as many shots as possible, to record another piece of railway history, which will soon be coming to an end.

To view the gallery, please click here.

WSR Driver Experience

Published on 29th October 2022

The chance to drive a steam or diesel locomotive over a heritage line a fantastic experience for any railway enthusiast.

On Saturday 29th October DEPG Class 33 No.33057 (D6575) was employed Diesel Driver Experience course. The locomotive collected wagons from Minehead before making a full run over the length of the West Somerset Railway to Norton Fitzwarren. Here the train was turned on the triangle before returning to Minehead. During 2022 the WSR has been fulfilling previous bookings pre-covid. New dates for 2023 will be released on the West Somerset Railway / DEPG websites in due course.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

RailEx - 2022

Published on 22nd October 2022

It's been three years since the annual RailEX Model Railway Exhibition has been held at Taunton School.

The popular regional model railway event returned on the 22nd and 23rd October 2022 organised by the Somerset Railway Modellers Club. Over 30 exhibition layouts from far and wide including one depicting Australia which is an incredibly interesting location to model, something rarely seen on the UK model railway circuit. There was also a large selection of traders and societies in attendance. Visitors and traders were also able to enjoy the newly constructed school restaurant which was opened in 2020 by HRH The Princess Royal. The catering facility serves the best food and drink of any local exhibition.

(Photo: Briaan Garrett)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

The Torbay Tractor Delight!

Published on 19th October 2022

Locomotive Services Ltd Class 37s locomotives No. 37688 'Great Rocks' and No.37521 pass through Taunton on the 19th October 2022 operating Intercity Charters 'The Torbay Delight'.

The locomotives hauled the 1Z45 06:00 York - Paignton charter throughout with No.47828 located on the rear of the train. The Class 37s stood in for the previously advertised Class 45 'Peak' No. 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman' which hadn't quite made its restoration date, and continues to be restored to working condition. The return to mainline operation is much anticipated.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

(Photo: Paul Clarke)

(Photo: Adam Snow)

(Photo: S A Ginn)

(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

RHTT returns to normal route

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 15th October 2022

With the Castle Cary route recently re-open after engineering work, the annual RHTT diagram can resume its full operation.

On Saturday 15th October 2022 EWS-liveried Class 66 No.66129 leads No.66069 south at Creech St Michael while operating 3J13 09:07 Westbury - St Blazey via Salisbury. The route to Salisbury has been covered by another south west based set over the past two weeks.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Electrification MPV Visits

Published on 13th October 2022

A Network Rail Electrification MPV passes Creech St Michael on the 13th October 2022.

DR96911 DR76913 operated 6Q08 09:43 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer via Taunton. The MPV was operating a driver training run using Taunton as a reversal point.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

GWR 'Castle' Action

Published on 13th October 2022

The GWR 'Castle' HST sets still travel many hundreds of miles each week operating between Penzance, Exeter, Taunton, Bristol, Gloucester and Cardiff Central.

The driver of the GWR 'Castle' HST gives a friendly wave on Sunday 2nd October 2022.

No. 43088 'Dartmouth Castle' and No. 43187 'Cardiff Castle' exit from Whiteball Tunnel into Somerset operating 2U22 11:50 Penzance - Cardiff Central, passing Marlands.

GWR 'Castle' HST No. 43010 'Lyford Castle' and No. 43092 'Cromwell's Castle' heads south through Creech St Michael on the 13th October 2002 operating 2C73 11:00 Cardiff Central - Penzance.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Alan Cheetham)

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

Retro Re-paint

(Photo: Phil Izzard)

Published on 13th October 2022

Retro-repaint HST powercar No.43184 passes Norton Fitzwarren on the 13th October 2022.

No.43184 and No. 43366 'HST 40' were operating 1S51 12:27 Plymouth - Edinburgh.

To view the gallery, please click here.

A Nocturnal Visitor

Published on 13th October 2022

A nocturnal visitor to Taunton Station on the 13th October 2022 was No.37175.

The locomotive operated a Network Rail Test Train as 3Q62 22:00 (Wed) Cardiff Canton - Bristol Kingsland Road via Taunton. The loco is pictured at 00:22 in the morning before returning to Bristol. DBSO No.9702 lead the Network Rail test train back to Bristol.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Alex Barraclough)

Diverted and Late

Published on 12th October 2022

Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66614 '1916 Poppy 2016' passes Fordgate on the 12th October 2022 operating 6C27 05:59 Westbury - Exeter Riverside loaded aggregate.

The train was operating via Bristol owing to the closure of the Castle Cary route. The flow reported 265 minutes late at Cogload Junction.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Paul Wilkins)

RHTT Season Begins - 2022

Published on 6th October 2022

The annual Rail Heat Treatment Train season began on Monday 3rd October 2022.

The first week of the operation was different to normal owning to the closure of the Taunton - Castle Cary line for track and infrastructure renewals. The RHTT set was timed to arrive at Taunton shortly after 07:30 from Par where the train would recess until 08:47 before heading back to St Blazey. The line will remain closed until Saturday 15th October which will then allow the set to pick up its normal daily duties visiting Westbury and Salisbury.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Alex Barraclough)

To view news stories from September 2022 click here, or for news from November 2022, click here.