News Archive for September 2026

Published on 6th September 2026

Locomotive Services Ltd Class 37 No. 37667 'Flopsie' operated 0Z37 12:12 Crewe - Taunton light engine in order to collect and return Sir Nigel Gresley to Crewe on Friday 4th September 2026.

The LSL black-liveried locomotive stabled in the Taunton sidings on Saturday and was also joined by shedmate No. 50050 'Fearless' from the English Riviera Express charter. On Sunday, No. 37667 'Flopsie' joined with LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' to form 5Z07 12:00 Bishops Lydeard - Crewe. The steam locomotive will be starring at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam gala between October 17th and 20th.

Published on 5th September 2026

A once common sight at Taunton was the Class 158.

These days, most stopping services are handled by the GWR Hitachi IET sets. On Saturday 5th September, GWR hybrid Class 158/9 No.158959 is pictured on Platform 3, waiting to depart as the 2U18 13:18 Taunton - Cardiff Central stopping service. A Class 158/9 is now regularly diagrammed to operate on a Saturday and visits Taunton several times during the day.

Another of the GWR Class 150/2 fleet returned from C6 overhaul, corrosion repairs and exterior repaints on Saturday, 5th September 2026. No.150248 is pictured passing Taunton, operating as 5V48 10:08 Wolverton - Exeter St Davids empty coaching stock move.

Published on 5th September 2026

BR Blue Class 50 No. 50050 'Fearless' (D400) made its debut on Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express ', returning the loco to its former stomping ground where it once operated in British Rail service.

Somerset was alive with the sound of a single English Electric 16CSVT 16-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine hauling 12 coaches and an extra locomotive at the rear of the train. No. 50050 'Fearless' and No.57302 operated in top and tail formation hauling 1Z07 06:35 Poole - Kingswear. The Class 57 led the train from Poole, but with a reversal at Westbury, the Class 50 led the train west to Taunton. Upon arrival at Taunton, the Class 50 was removed and replaced with LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' for the steam leg through to Kingswear, with the Class 57 remaining at the rear of the train for train supply and shunting requirements at Kingswear.

The use of the Class 50 was a welcome change to the normal LSL Class 47/57 locomotives. With the LSL Class 40 and 45 having worked the charter service in the past, the Class 50 made its presence known with a stunning performance hauling the charter, giving those of younger generations a taste of what it was like to hear a Class 50 working on the mainline as an everyday occurrence in the 80s and 90s. No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' also drew in the crowds for its leg operating along the Devon Seal Wall sections, with hundreds of people lining the route for a glimpse of the famous steam locomotive.

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