News Archive for February 2024

Class 59 Aggregates

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

Published on 26th February 2024

Aggregate Industries liveried Class 59/0 No. 59004 'Paul A Hammond' passes 40 Steps, Taunton on the 26th February 2024.

The loco was returning north with aggregate empties as 6C28 12:48 Riverside to Westbury Cement Works.

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GBRf Class 59 Visits For Colas

Published on 25th February 2024

Former Yeoman Class 59 No. 59003 'Yeoman Highlander' made a visit to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall overnight on Saturday 24th / Sunday 25th February 2024.

The loco delivered a set of rail cranes to Cornwall in connection with re-signalling. Despite advertising itself at as GBRf movement, No. 59003 'Yeoman Highlander' is actually on hire to Colas Rail Freight to supplement its fleet of locomotives. No. 59003 'Yeoman Highlander' passes through Platform 4 at Taunton returning light engine as 0C21 08:10 Truro - Westbury.

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(Photo: Paul Clarke)

Early Morning Turbo

Published on 20th February 2024

GWR three-car Class 165 'Turbo' No.165108 is pictured at Taunton on the 20th February 2023.

The unit had arrived empty stock into Platform 4 from Exeter in time to operate the 2K10 06:37 Taunton - Severn Beach stopping service. Early morning and late night are generally the only times that Turbo units can be seen at Taunton during the week.

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(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Flooding Chaos

GWR Hitachi IET No. 800314 'Odette Hallowes GC MBE LdH' rounds the curve at Stoke St Gregory on Sunday 18th February 2024 while operating 1A81 11:45 Taunton - London Paddington. The service was running under caution because of flooding on the line ahead and was later cancelled at Westbury due to a complete line closure at Lavington, also caused by flooding.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 19th February 2024

After more heavy overnight rain on the 17th February 2024, flooding effectively cut the GWR network in half for the majority of Sunday 18th.

GWR were dealt a triple whammy with flooding at Somerton and Lavington closing the Berks and Hants Route, (Somerton later subsided allowing a partial train service from Westbury). Chipping Sodbury Tunnel was also blocked by flooding, and in a cruel twist the remaining diversionary route via Trowbridge/ Bath was closed for Engineering works. Services were heavily disrupted for the majority of the day, not helped by a further trespass incident in Cornwall later in the day, which caused further disruption to passenger services.

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Freightliner Fun Day

Published on 19th February 2024

The 17th and 18th February 2024 provided a large selection of Freightliner operated engineers trains in the Taunton area in connection with infrastructure renewals near Bathampton Junction.

Taunton is fortunate enough to be a convenient change of direction for trains travelling to or from Westbury, and is often used as means to get engineers trains to or from the respective destinations. In a rare turn of events 66589 failed at Bristol Temple Meads on Sunday 18th February having only just exited from the engineering blockade. The loco was operating 6Y43 09:31 Bathampton Junction - Westbury via Exeter Riverside. A following engineers train had a spare loco at the rear, which was later used as a rescue locomotive from Bristol. However this caused large delays to the engineers trains appearing in the Taunton area. No.66952 hauled No.66589 6Y43 south arriving into Taunton 194 minutes late. The service was originally booked to change direction at Exeter Riverside but to avoid the 60 mile round trip to Exeter the loco run round took place at Taunton. Following close behind was No. 66506 'Crewe Regeneration' operating 6Y42 itself running 120 minutes late because of the loco swaps at Bristol Temple Meads. Both services made up some time at Taunton before heading back to Westbury. We have provided a selection of the Freightliner workings passing through the Taunton area over the weekend.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Jason Prole)

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

125 Years Of History

Published on 18th February 2024

Railway Infrastructure is often overlooked as part of the modern railway scene, bridges and structures built in Victorian times stood the test of time, and often small gems can still be found in the local area.

We've recently reported on the demolition of the former water tower adjacent to Platform 5 at Taunton Station which had served steam locomotives hauling passenger trains at Taunton Station. Bridges are equally important, and while the modern techniques involve reinforcing bar and concrete, bricks and steel from Victorian times still provide abutments and bridge spans to this day. Once such bridge located near Stoke St Gregory on the Berks and Hants route between Athelney and Oath which stands the test of time with excellent Victorian build quality still bears the hallmarks of the brick supplier Joseph Hamblet from 1899. The bridge parapets are adorned with blue coping bricks from the Hamblet Brick Works in West Bromwich. The coping bricks are still in place today, although one side of the bridge (exposed to the weather) is more worn than the other side (protected from the weather). The bridge at Stoke St Gregory is now 125 years old.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

WSR - Spring Steam Gala Takes Shape

April 1st, 2015 saw only the second ever recorded visit of an LNER B1 Steam Locomotive to Taunton. A record exists that No.61251 operated on an Exeter to Bristol train on July 7th, 1948 as this was part of the 1948 Exchanges. The 2015 visit marks a 67-year absence of the class operating in the South West. No. 61306 'Mayflower' is pictured passing Cogload Junction hauling The Cathedrals Expres 1Z30 08:24 Oxford - Kingswear.

(Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

Published on 3rd February 2024

The West Somerset Railway has confirmed the first to visiting locomotives for the traditional 2024 Spring Steam Gala weekend.

LNER B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 'Mayflower' will visit for the four days of the gala event courtesy of Locomotive Servicers Ltd. The loco is often found on mainline charter services, so it will make a unique opportunity to see the LNER apple green locomotive in action on a preserved line. Mayflower will join other WSR locomotives alongside visiting LNWR Coal Tank No. 1054 'Western Governor', with more visitors still to be announced.

The 2024 Spring Steam Gala will take place between Friday 3rd May and Monday 6th May 2024. Tickets for the event can now be purchased directly from the West Somerset Railway

The Last Last HST

Published on 2nd February 2024

With GWR having ceased passenger 'Castle' HST operations to Taunton in December 2023 it was a surprise to witness the visit of a HST set on Friday 2nd February.

Owing to the failure of Hitachi IET No. 802022 'Cyril Bleasdale OBE' while operating 1G77 15:50 Penzance - Gloucester at Plymouth a GWR 'Castle' HST (No. 43188 'Newport Castle' and No. 43186 'Taunton Castle') was called upon to operate the service between Plymouth and Taunton. Upon arrival into Platform 2 at Taunton passengers were again transferred to a waiting GWR Hitachi IET (No.800307) for onward transit to Bristol and Gloucester. The appearance of the HST at Taunton provided the opportunity to record the Class operating, and it was particularly poignant that No. 43186 'Taunton Castle' should revisit its namesake town.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

To view news stories from January 2024 click here, or for news from March 2024, click here.