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DB Schenker provided two Class 67's to cover for Merchant Navy No.34028 'Clan Line' on the 30th June. The Steam Locomotive failed its fitness to run exam, meaning the tour from London Waterloo to Exeter was hauled by Class 67 Diesels instead. The return leg of the charter operated from Exeter to Waterloo via Taunton and Westbury and is seen here passing Oath (on the Somerset Levels). No.67020 is seen leading the 1Z94 18:07 from Exeter. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Early morning risers enjoyed the sound of Napier Deltic engines working hard through Taunton on the 29th June, when D9009 'Alycidon' took charge of Pathfinder Railtours 'Mazey Day Cornishman'. The charter had originally hoped to use D1015 'Western Champion' however D9009 was a more than suitable replacement. Despite some late running from Tame Bridge Parkway the loco made good time and passed Taunton slightly ahead of schedule, and graced Whiteball bank at a impressive pace. D9009 is seen passing East Nynehead between Taunton and Wellington. (Photo: Mike Rowland) |
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D9009 rounds the curve at Marlands on the approach to Whiteball Tunnel with plenty of power in reserve the loco stormed up Whiteball Bank with the countryside echoing to the familiar Deltic noise produced by its Napier engines. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Following shortly behind The Mazey Day Cornishman was 'The Cornish Riviera Statesman', this premier dining charter was operated by Statesman Rail and hauled by two locomotives from West Coast Railways. Former South West stalwart Class 57/6 No.57601 lead the 1Z49 04:45 Derby - Penzance with Class 47/7 No.47760 tucked inside. With both locos being driven independently the pair are seen passing Beambridge on the climb to Whiteball Tunnel (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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We take a look back at the former South West Class 57/6 pioneer from 2002, when the loco was a regular performer for First Great Western. Wearing its eye catching 'Purple Ronnie' livery 57601 is seen at Cogload Junction on the 16th April 2002, hauling its regular loco hauled diagram the 1C50 Paddington - Exeter service. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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West Coast Railways provided a rare double headed pairing for The Cornish Riviera Statesmen on Saturday 22nd June. The 1Z30 05:00 Shrewsbury - Penzance passed Taunton at 10:10 with Class 47 No.47786 'Roy Castle' leading with No.47760 tucked inside. West Coast Class 47's rarely see much cosmetic attention, although silver paint had been applied to the buffers, note the drivers window seal which has rotted away and peeled back up the cab roof. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Another item of rolling stock departed the West Somerset Railway on the 21st June. Class 117 DMU Centre Car No.59515 moved by rail from Bishops Lydeard. The move was carried out by BR Green Class 31 No.31190 from the Nemesis Rail fleet and departed Taunton some 45 minutes ahead of schedule, it also changed it's booked route, reversing at Frome instead of Westbury. The Class 117 coach has been in store at Minehead for some time, and the sale follows a gradual disposal of unwanted DMU items currently stored in sidings at Minehead. The coach is seen at Yeovil Railway centre being shunted by industrial shunter DS1174 'River Yeo' (Photo: Bob Tucker) |
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Friday 21st June saw Class 33 No.D6575 (33057) take charge of it's only booked 'normal' passenger diagram of the 2013 on the West Somerset Railway. The loco will mainly be used on WSRA Quantock Belle services for the rest of the season. 33057 is seen reversing onto its seven coach train at Bishops Lydeard ready to form the 15:10 to Minehead before returning with the 17:35 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. Saturday 22nd June will see Warship D832 in charge of the diesel diagram. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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Two new rather uninventive liveries have burst onto the Great Western network recently. Two FGW powercars (43148 & 43186) have been plastered with Hewlett Packard advertising. The plain white vinyl wrap ends rather abruptly on the front end of each powercar with sharp cut lines, rather than a traditional fade. Each set reportedly has a HP 'rep' on board offering free deomstrations of HP products. On the 15th June, 43148 is seen passing Norton Fitzwarren with the 1A84 13:07 Paignton - Paddington service. The powercar started its day in Swansea at 04:00. (Photo: Adam Snow) |
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Only days after Class 37 No.37215 operated on the West Somerset Railway, the line was visited by a mainline version on the 12th June. DRS liveried Class 37 No.37603 operated the 3Q65 16:37 Taunton - Didcot (via Minehead) test train for Network Rail. The loco arrived at Taunton in the early hours of the 12th June from Didcot, stabling in Platform 1 for the day. In the evening the loco operated to Minehead before returning to Didcot over night, its pictured here at Bishops Lydeard waiting for the signal to continue along the branch. (Photo: Shuan Mockridge) |
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The Railway Touring Company operated their 'Royal Duchy' charter with slightly unauthentic LNER traction on the 9th June. LNER A4 No. 60009 'Union of South Africa' was used to operate the 1Z37 08:48 Bristol Temple Meads - Par excursion. The loco is seen passing Banklands near Cogload Junction with the southbound charter (Photo: Bob Tucker) |
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The 7th June saw the West Somerset Railway let the diesels have their turn in the limelight with a superb collection of Ex BR Locomotives in attendance. Two visiting locos from the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway also bolstered the home fleet. Friday 7th featured an 'all diesel' timetable while Saturday and Sunday featured a steam service for those passengers less educated or less appreciating of heritage diesels. The weekend of Diesel Traction continued on the 8th and 9th June featuring 8 different period BR diesels with 6 locos from the WSR home fleet. The addition of a Class 24 and 37 from the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway provided some superb English Electric and Sulzer sounds for passengers to enjoy. The weekend was a complete success with D1010 finally managing a full gala timetable without a failure and all other locomotives operating without incident. It's hoped that the WSR will continue to build the event for bigger and better things in 2014. The DEPG's own Diesel Fleet will feature running days on Fridays and Saturdays over the coming months, operating the WSR diesel diagram, for full information of diagrams see the bottom of this page. |
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We would like to thank 'Slam Door Media' for allowing us to share this HD Video of the WSR Mixed Traction event on Taunton Trains. |
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Nemesis Rail collected their Class 47 No.47375 from the Dartmoor Railway on the 3rd June, having spent most of last week attached to a Swedish Rail Vacuum, Class 31 No.31190 stabled in Taunton's Platform 1 for the weekend before continuing to Devon on Monday morning. 31190 and 47375 are seen passing Bathpool with the return 0Z32 from Meldon to Burton on Trent. (Photo: Paul Finnimore) |
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The non availability of a serviceable steam locomotive on Sunday 2nd June saw West Coast Railways provide stalwart Class 47 No.47245 to head The Railway Touring Companies' 'The Royal Duchy' charter from Bristol Temple Meads to Par and return. It's hardly the start the RTC wanted to the first of three 'Royal Duchy' charters. It's hoped that a steam loco will be made ready for the next charter on the 9th June. 47245 is seen passing Norton Fitzwarren heading South (Photo: Tony Hayman) |
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Preparations for next weekends 'Mixed Traffic Gala' at the West Somerset Railway were well underway at Williton works on the 1st June. All locomotives were receiving attention from the DEPG members. D832 has been washed, polished and painted, 47840 has also received a bodyside wash and bogie paint. D1010 has been started on both engines and has received some cosmetic attention the bogies. Here D832, D1661 and D1010 are pictured at Williton (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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D1010 'Western Campaigner' is seen at Williton having been started on both engines. The loco has received some cosmetic paint application, but it's main body side is now clearly showing the signs of former BR Westerns. We hope that 2013 might be the lucky year that D1010 manages to complete a season of booked passenger diagrams. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
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2-8-0 No.3850 departs from Williton with the late running 15:05 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard passing Class 117 DMU working the 15:10 from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. (Photo: Brian Garrett) |
2013 WSR Diesel Haulage:
The 2013 season will again see the DEPG Diesel Fleet working Friday and Saturday passenger services during the peak holiday season in July and August. The Diesel Diagram will depart Bishops Lydeard at 11:40 & 15:10 on each operational day, and Minehead at 13:20 & 17:35. A one Day Rover ticket on the WSR costs £17.00 (which has been frozen at the 2012 price) but if you book in advance you can get this ticket for £15.60 and provides 79 miles of haulage from two return trips between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead. Those with WSRA membership or local residents cards can also use their membership for half price travel.
In addition to the booked 'Diesel Diagram' a new venture this year will be the use of newly restored Class 33 (D6575) on a rare weekday 'Quantock Belle' service. The Class 33 will alternate with DEPG Class 14 D9526 on the following trains, it is possible to book on the Quantock Belle dining service by calling the following number: 01823 433856
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