News Archive for July 2026

Published on 29th July 2026

The Midland Pullman HST headed to the Devon Riviera on the 29th July 2026.

The Torbay Riviera Pullman passed through Taunton in glorious sunshine with No. 43050 'Loch Morar' leading No.43055 operating 1Z44 05:24 Hull - Paignton. The Pullman HST visited Paignton. The station was not fully open after the recent fire but had been made safe for passengers to disembark through a portion of the train and exit safely. After an afternoon enjoying the 30-degree temperatures on the Devon Riviera, the train returned north to Hull later in the afternoon.

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Published on 28th July 2026

Heavy Haul Rail (Freightliner Liveried) Class 66/9 No.66952 paid an unscheduled visit to Taunton on Tuesday 28th July 2026.

No.66952 arrived operating 0Z52 14:05 Stoke Gifford - Merehead Quarry. Due to a points failure at Bradford Junction, the driver intended to take the locomotive to Cogload Junction from Stoke Gifford Yard, where the loco would reverse and head back to Merehead Quarry. However, due to another signal fault, the route to change direction at Cogload Junction was unavailable. The loco was sent forward to Taunton Station to change direction and head back east. The unscheduled visit of the Heavy Haul Rail Class 66/9 was captured at Taunton.

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Published on 25th July 2026

The Steam Dreams 'Southend to Paington & Kingswear' charter operated with heritage diesel traction from Loocmotive Services Ltd on Saturday 25th July 2026 due to a steam ban because of the summer heat.

No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' and No.47830 operated in a top-and-tail formation throughout, operating as 1Z07 06:00 Southend Central - Kingswear on the southbound run. The return leg saw No.47830 led the train for the return leg. The 1Z08 16:35 Kingswear - Southend charter had arrived at Taunton 79 minutes early at 18:41 due to not having to make a stop for water. The charter was then held at Taunton until 20:04 to take its booked path back to Southend.

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Published on 24th July 2026

The regular visits of The Britannic Explorer operating three-day trips into Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall are a welcome sight in the Taunton area.

The luxury train was back in Somerset on Friday 24th July 2026. Dedicated locomotives No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' operated in top and tail formation to the West Somerset Railway. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' is pictured leading 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard. The train later continued through to Minehead with a stop at Kerr Moor. The next day, they proceeded to Penzance (via Taunton Station) before reforming for a double-headed run into Cornwall with No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' leading the train.

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Published on 22nd July 2026

A double celebration took place at Taunton Station on Wednesday 22nd July 2026.

Many people may have already seen the stunning King Class steam locomotive model located in the main entrance lobby at Taunton Station. The model was built by Clive Goddard, who first started work at Taunton Station in 1949, at the age of 15. Clive had also been a volunteer managing a team creating and maintaining various station gardens, and winning Taunton in Bloom awards over several years, both at Taunton Station and Bishops Lydeard Station on the West Somerset Railway. At the age of 92, a celebration event was organized to mark the formal launch of the King Class locomotive, which stands on display to the public in the booking hall at Taunton Station. Clive donated the locomotive to the West Somerset Railway Association, which made a long-term arrangement with GWR to serve as a promotional display for the West Somerset Railway and to acknowledge Clive’s long-valued service to the railways. GWR had kindly provided the display case using their community fund. After speeches, GWR used this event to thank Clive for his railway service and long-term volunteering before asking him to unveil the newly refurbished nameplate from GWR HST powercar No.43186, alongside the Mayor of Taunton. Station Staff proudly watched their oldest-surviving ex-railway employee unveil the ‘Taunton Castle’ nameplate. In the future, Clive hopes that one day, should the reigning Monarch pass through Taunton Station, they may stop to admire the model.

The second event was carried out on Platform 5 with GWR and the Severnside Community Rail Partnership to mark the opening of the ‘83B Garden’. The garden space has been under construction for some time with volunteers clearing a previously unused space at the station and transforming it into a landscaped, cared-for habitat for wildlife and passengers. Work continues to improve the space and provide a colourful and open space for passengers to enjoy while waiting for their train services. The Severnside Community Rail Partnership is a Department for Transport Accredited Community Rail Partnership. Established in 2006 as a Community Interest (not-for-profit) Company, the principal partners and funders are Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Great Western Railway and CrossCountry Trains. Network Rail and The British Transport Police also support the work of the Partnership. The 83B Garden was officially opened by the Mayor of Taunton, Councillor Bev Fernandes and Lib Dem Councillor David Northey.

Published on 19th July 2026

With a ban on operating steam locomotives on the mainline due to the current heatwave and ongoing lack of rain, four weekend charters visited the Taunton area, with Diesel Traction hauling the charter services.

The Belmond Britannic Explorer operated its regular visit to the West Somerset Railway from London Victoria on Friday, 17th July, continuing to Cornwall on the 18th. This week, the dedicated locomotive No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' was back with the train, along with the newly named No. 66745 'Wigan Springs Branch'. Saphos Trains operated 'The English Riviera Express' from Working to Kingswear with heritage diesels No.47830 and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' operating in top and tail formation throughout. The Railway Touring Company operated 'The West Somerset Steam Express' with two West Coast Railways Class 33 locomotives, No.33025 and No. 33207 'Jim Martin', throughout. A final charter, 'The Cotswold and Exmoor Explorer' operated by The Branchline Society/ Hastings Diesels saw another visit of the popular DEMU set to the area. WSR passengers were also able to travel on the Hastings DEMU over the preserved line. We have provided a colourful selection from this weekend's charter visits to the area.

Published on 11th July 2026

Owing to a two-week steam ban because of the unprecedented heat which the UK is currently experiencing this year, the regular Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter, operated with heritage diesel locomotives throughout on Saturday 7th July 2026.

The charter also welcomed back an old friend to the southwest. No.47830 has been acquired by Locomotive Services Ltd from Freightliner. The loco has undergone an overhaul and a repaint into the more traditional British Rail two-tone green livery. No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' and No.47830 operated the High Wycombe - Kingswear charter in 'top and tail' formation with No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' leading for the southbound leg of the trip. The return leg was handled by No.47830 from Paington. Because of the need to avoid stopping for water, the return charter arrived at Platform 4, Taunton, one hour early. Passengers were allowed an extra break while the charter was held for a right-time departure.

No.47830 was built in 1965 (outshopped as D1645). It was renumbered as No.47061 in 1974 as part of the British Rail fleet numbering, and in 1986 it was reclassified as No.47649. Four years later, in 1989, it was converted, adding Electric Train Heat (ETH) for passenger services and numbered No.47830. The loco spent its working life in the western region until it was handed back to the leasing company (Porterbrook) in 2002 by First Great Western. Freightliner then acquired the loco in 2005, where it spent 19 years working all manner of stock movements, route-learning, and yard shunting. It became Freightliner's very last operational Class 47 and was named 'Beechings Legacy' during its final years. Locomotive Services Ltd acquired the loco in July 2024 and has spent two years returning it to service. Its appearance on the English Riviera Express is the first time in 10 years the locomotive had last passed through Taunton, when it was on hire to Rail Operations Group for a stock movement.

Published on 10th July 2026

Operating in the 32-degree heatwave on Friday, 10th July 2026, GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66759 'Chippy ' made only its third visit to Taunton while operating 6V72 13:17 Cliffe Vale - Goonbarrow, the train was formed of a healthy rake of 16 JIA empty China Clay wagons.

The service ran early to Taunton, arriving 17 minutes ahead of schedule. Upon arrival, it was held for Cross Country passenger service to pass before following behind with a 3-minute delay upon departing Taunton.

No. 66759 'Chippy ' received this name on September 19, 2015, in remembrance of Clive Chippington, a highly respected Assistant Train Manager with GB Railfreight who unexpectedly passed away that year.

Published on 4th July 2026

The regular visit of the Belmond Britannic Explorer on its three-day trip from London Victoria to the West Country was back on the 3rd/ 4th July 2026.

The dedicated Belmond-liveried Class 66 was unavailable for this trip and was replaced by No. 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' joining No. 66744 'Heart of Wales'. The pair arrive on Friday, 3rd July 2026, operating as 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard. As booked, the luxury train took the onward route to Minehead, taking a pause at Kerr Moor (Blue Anchor) for evening dinner to be served, before proceeding forward to Minehead and back to Bishops Lydeard to stable for the night. The evening trip along the West Somerset Railway needs the longest days of the year and good evening sunlight to record the Britannic Explorer along the journey. The weather has made this difficult until now. After an overnight stay on the WSR the train was prepared and ready to leave on Saturday, 4th July 2026, as 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance via Taunton Station. After a locomotive run round, No. 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' and No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' double-headed the leg through to Penzance.

No. 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' has an interesting history. Built in 2003, it was originally built for the European market, serving Belgium and Germany. It was transferred to the UK through Beacon Rail in 2013 and leased to GB Railfreight. Its non-standard features include European-style headlights, square buffers, and a European-spec horn. In April 2015, the loco was repainted and named. This naming ceremony, held at the Rail Innovation Development Centre (RIDC) in Melton Mowbray, was intended to celebrate GB Railfreight's close relationship with Hitachi Rail Europe. The locomotive was utilized as a dedicated resource to haul Hitachi's Class 800 pre-series trains for the InterCity Express Programme (IEP) between the RIDC testing facility and the East Coast Main Line. After this program finished, No. 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' has been integrated into more of the standard GBRf fleet operations around the UK.

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Published on 2nd July 2026

Jeremy Hoskins' Ralfreight liveried Class 20 locomotives No.20132 and No. 20118 'Saltburn by the Sea' delivered LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' back to the West Somerset Railway on the 2nd July 2026.

The colourful combination operating as 5Z07 08:50 Crewe - Bishops Lydeard. The A4 Pacific will be operating passenger services on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of July at the West Somerset Railway. The Class 20 locomotives stabled for the night at Bishops Lydeard before returning the next day, taking LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' (in light steam) back to the LSL base at Southall.

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