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| Next weekend March 5th and 6th will see the start of the two weekend Somerset and Dorset Gala on the West Somerset Railway. Locomotives are already beginning to arrive on the line and will no doubt be seen on the line during this coming week. The lineup will feature the return of the Somerset and Dorset 7F No.53808 fresh from overhaul which will join with sister locomotive No.53809. Also visiting the line will be BR Standard 4MT Tank No. 80072, SR West Country No. 34070 'Manston', SR Rebuilt West Country No. 34053 'Sir Keith Park' & British Railways 9F No. 92214. LMS 4F No.44422 (which is now part of the WSR home fleet) will also take part. A demolition/ permenant way train hauled by Class 35 'Hymek' No.D7017 will also operate on March 6th departing Minehead at 14:00. Further details, and provisional timetables can be found on both the WSR's own website. |
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Freightliner Heavy Haul continue their Network Rail contract at Fairwater Yard transporting the Network Rail MOBC set to various locations. On Sunday 21st February Class 66/5 No.66507 leads the 6Y19 07:45 Basingstoke - Fairwater Yard through Creech St Michael, having spent the night ballast cleaning in the Basingstoke area. (Photo: Thomas Courtney) |
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| All good things have to come to an end, and for the DEPG the end has come for firm favorite Class 42 Warship D832 'Onslaught'. News has been confirmed that D832 is to return to the Bury Diesel Group based at the East Lancashire Railway later in 2016 after the Mixed Traffic Event. The locomotive has been under the care of the DEPG (based at Williton) since it arrived in 2007. After an eight year residency on the line and much love care and attention to the locomotive it's time on WSR metals will soon be over. Onslaught is one of only two surviving Class 42 'Warships' both with strong ties to the South West. As part of the farewell to the popular locomotive it has been announced that D832 will operate the diesel service on the 30th April. Departing Bishops Lydeard at 11:45 arriving at Minehead for 13:00 before departing back to Williton at 13:20 arriving back into Minehead at 14:56, before then operating the final leg the 17:15 from Minehead arriving into Bishops Lydeard at 18:27. (Photos: Brian Garrett) |
2016 WSR Diesel Haulage
After a feast of Diesel Haulage between the 10th and 12th June on the West Somerset Railway there is still the chance to catch a ride behind classic British Railways traction before the end of the year. The 2016 season still features some Diesel operation over the length of the West Somerset Railway. The DEPG hom fleet (based at Williton) are booked to operate various services throughout the summer. A one Day Rover ticket on the West Somerset Railway for the 2015 season costs £19.00 but if you book in advance you can get this ticket for £17.10. The 2016 Diesel Diagram has been altered which means you must now check the 'Yellow' or 'Green' timetable for your day of travel,
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More English Electric power was sent to the South West on the 16th February when Network Rail and Direct Rail Services provided a splash of colour at Taunton. With DBSO No.9703 leading Network Rail test coaches No.999605 and No.6261, Class 37/6 No.37604 pushes its way west through Taunton operating the 3Z05 Derby RTC to Exeter Riverside test train. (Photo: Chay Farzaneh) |
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Direct Rail Services returned to Crewe from Keyham on Friday 12th February conveying the empty nuclear flask wagon from the Devonport Dockyard. the two veteran locomotives No.37667 and 37607 are pictured passing Taunton on route to Crewe as the 6Z63 09:44 from Keyham. (Photo: Paul Clarke) |
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To compliment the above view, Class 37 No.37667 and No.37607 are seen climbing to Whiteball Tunnel with their KUA MODA wagon No.95770 in tow heading back to Crewe from Keyham. (Photo: S A Ginn) |
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Direct Rail services sent a second pair of Class 37's into Devon on Thursday 11th February. No.37607 lead classmate No.37667 south through Taunton as the 0Z41 from Crewe to Keyham. (Photo: Chay Farzeneh) |
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Also captured passing through the centre platforms at Taunton, No.37607 and No.37667 catch the early afternoon sun as they head south to Devonport to collect the flask wagon which was left at the navel base in January. (Photo: Paul Clarke) |
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Aggregate Industries Class 59/0 No.59005 'Kenneth J Painter' is seen passing Taunton on the 11th February operating the 7C28 Exeter Riverside - Westbury stone empties returning east through the centre road after unloading in Exeter Riverside Yard. (Photo: Paul Clarke) |
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Tuesday 9th February saw two fifty year old veteran English Electric locomotives passing through Taunton. Colas Rail Freight Class 37/4 No.37421 'top and tailed' with Class 97/3 No.97301 working the Network Rail 1Q04 06:49 Derby - Exeter Riverside test train. The pair are seen on the approach to Taunton passing the new Firepool development. (Photo: Chay Farzeneh) |
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A second chance to view the a rare Class 37/4 visit to the South West was obtained from 40 Steps at the pair took the mainline through Taunton Station. This view captured from the north side of the footbridge. (Photo: Jeff Treece) |
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After the recent passing of Storm Imogen it was nice to see the sun finally breaking through the clouds, with this image of Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66585 arriving into Fairwater Yard with just two wagons in tow. (Photo: Jeff Treece) |
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HST stock moves between First Great Western depots are always sure to provide some interest. The 3rd February 2016 was no exception when No.43128 and No.43191 were formed up with just two Mk3 trailers to operate the 5Z70 from Laira to Old Oak Common, seen passing 40 Steps. (Photo: Chay Farzeneh) |
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