JULY 2009 NEWS :
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Taunton Celebrity week continued on the 30th July with Freightliners 66623 and 66522 dropping onto the same train in order to work the 6Y33 Fairwater Yard - Cowley Bridge Jn. The 6Y33 was formed of just 10 Autoballasters without the TRT and is seen passing Norton Fitzwarren. The pairing of two of three Freightliner 'Celebrity' locomotives in exceptionally rare, so to have them on the same train at Taunton was well worth recording! (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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From one green loco to another. 66522 is one of Freightliners 'Celebrity' locomotives and carries half Freightliner and half Shanks Waste livery. With the lime end leading 66522 makes the assent of Whiteball at Beambridge with the 6Y33 20:30 Fairwater Yard - Cowley Bridge Jn, with Network Rail's TRT in tow. Just 10 minutes for this shot was bathed in glorious evening sunshine after a day of torrential rain in the Taunton area! (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Sunday 26th July was the turn of 'Tornado' to appear at Taunton. Working the popular 'Torbay Express' 60163 made an on time arrival and departure from Taunton,Note the Stop Board on the relief line at Taunton. This was in place due to a minor derailment of a Freightliner Locomotive (66510) at the South end of Fairwater Yard. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Steam Locomotive 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' worked 'The Devonian' from Bristol Temple Meads through to Plymouth over the Devon banks on the 25th July.West Coast Railways 47760 bought the tour down from Birmingham International to Bristol where Oliver Cromwell was added to the train. The Britannia Class loco is seen passing Creech St Michael on route to Plymouth (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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On the 23rd July, Hanson Aggregates 59101 is seen passing 40 Steps, Taunton with the empty 6C28 Exeter Riverside - Westbury.The stone flow from Merehead/ Westbury has recently restarted in order to bring additional stone material to Exeter Riverside for unloading. Having been absent for quite some time the Class 59's are always welcome in the Taunton area. (Photo: Cameron Walker) |
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The 9th July presented another first for Taunton, with the passing of the first ever 'Barbie' liveried First GBRF Class 73 through Taunton's platforms.66732 and 73141 are due to be named at Minehead this weekend. 73141 is already carrying it's 'Charlotte' plates, but 66732 will be unveiled on Saturday at Minehead. The pair worked light engine from Tonbridge through to Bishops Lydeard passing Taunton at 14:10 (Photo: Steve Yarde) |
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Owing to the failure of 57602 on the previous nights Northbound sleeper service, FGW were forced to hire in a Class 57 from Virgin Trains to cover for the lack of traction. 57310 'KYRANO' was used to haul the 1C99 Paddington - Penzance Night Riviera service. The Virgin liveried Thunderbird is seen at Taunton during the early hours of the 8th July. (Photo: 50006 Neptune) |
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The First Great Western sleeper service was in trouble again during the 5th / 6th July. Having failed at Burngullow the 1A40 from Penzance - London Paddington was towed to Plymouth by a pair of FGW Powercars and was subsequently terminated.In a rare daylight outing 57605 is seen at Cogload Jn towing 57602 and the consist of 1A40 to Old Oak Common. The time was 18:05 on the 6th July some 20 hours after the original service departed Penzance! (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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The Torbay Express season kicked off in style again on the 5th July, with Tornado taking centre stage for the first four weeks.The 2009 set conveys all Mk1 Maroon liveried British Railways coaching stock. Running a little behind schedule 60163 'Tornado' is seen passing through Creech St Michael on route to a water stop at Taunton. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Seen departing Taunton, Fairwater Yard on the 2nd July, 66727 hauls the late running 4L31 06:30 Fairwater Yard - Whitemoor Yard used sleepers away from Taunton. The train was an hour late departing from the yard, finally rolling out at 07:30. The early light of the summer makes this train an ideal shot from 40 Steps. (Photo: Jeff Treece) |