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Weedkiller Trains

Images taken of various Weed Killer Trains operating in the Taunton Area.

9th August 2025
Having completed a week of traversing the branches of the south west overnight, the GBRf operated weed control maintenance train headed north on Saturday 9th August 2024. No. 66742 'ABP Port of Immingham Centenary 1912-2012' and No. 66738 'HUDDERSFIELD TOWN' top and tail 3Q98 17:28 Exeter Riverside - Bescot diagram through Norton Fitzwarren.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

2nd August 2025
GBRf operated the Weed Control Train south on the 2nd August 2025. No. 66742 'ABP Port of Immingham Centenary 1912-2012' and No. 66738 'HUDDERSFIELD TOWN' operated 3Q98 16:01 Kings Norton - Exeter Riverside . The pair are pictured passing Silk Mills running 73 minutes early. Also of note is the final Network Rail ZZA Drift Plough ADB965235 still awaiting collection in the background on Road 7.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

12th May 2025
GBRf Class 66/7 locomotives No. 66704 'Colchester Power Signalbox ' and NWT liveried No.66747 pass Fordgate on the 12th May 2025 operating the GBRf Weed Control Train as 3Q98 10:38 Canton Taff Vale - Exeter Riverside the set will remain in the south west over the coming weeks operating overnight weed control trips.
(Photo: Paul Wilkins)

17th May 2024
GBRf Class 66/7 No.66757 is pictured at Taunton with No. 66719 'Michael Portillo' at Taunton Station on the 17th May 2024. The pair were operating either end of a weed-killing set as 3Q98 13:59 Exeter Riverside - Margam and paused to wait for a passing passenger service before continuing to Wales. No.66757 was named at Bishops Lydeard on in September 2015 and has made the odd visit to the Taunton area since.
(Photo: Paul Finnimore)

17th May 2024
GBRf Class 66/7 No.66719 is pictured at Taunton with No. 66757 'West Somerset Railway' at Taunton Station on the 17th May 2024. The pair were operating either end of a weed-killing set as 3Q98 13:59 Exeter Riverside - Margam and paused to wait for a passing passenger service before continuing to Wales.
(Photo: Jeff Treece)

17th May 2024
GBRF Class 66/7 locomotives No.66719 and No. 66757 'West Somerset Railway' ‘top & tail' a weed-killing set consisting of TIPH 93450 KFA + VTG 95380 KFA + TIPH 93371 KFA through the former station site of Creech St Michael. The set was operating as 3Q98 13:59 Exeter Riverside New Yard to Margam on the 17th May 2024 carrying out weed-killing duties over the route.
(Photo: S A Ginn)

22nd August 2023
GBRf paid another visit to Taunton with a weedkilling set on Tuesday 23th August 2023. No.66701 and No.66304 top and tailed 3Q98 11:15 St Blazey - Margam. The pioneer GBRf Class 66 is pictured at Taunton waiting for the road north.
(Photo: Jeff Treece)

22nd August 2023
Operating what is most likely the final smart weedkiller service of the year GBRF Class 66/7 No.66701 & de-branded former DRS (Direct Rail Services) Class 66/3 No.66304 approach the summit at Whiteball on Tuesday 22nd August 2023 working the 3Q98 11:15 St Blazey to Margam weedkiller move.
(Photo: SA Ginn)

22nd August 2023
GBRf paid another visit to Taunton with a weedkilling set on Tuesday 23th August 2023. No.66701 and No.66304 top and tailed 3Q98 11:15 St Blazey - Margam. Still wearing its former DRS house colours, No.66304 is seen at the rear of the train.
(Photo: Jeff Treece)

10th June 2023
GBRf Class 69 (wearing a retro take on the Derby RCTS livery) No.69004 and No. 69003 'The Railway Observer' pass Norton Fitzwarren on the 10th June 2023. The pair were operating 3Q00 07:05 Exeter Riverside - Eastleigh Yard weedkiller set.
(Photo: Antony Christie)

10th June 2023
GBRf ended their weedkilling spell in the southwest on the 10th June 2023. Early on Saturday morning GRRf Class 69s No.69004 and No. 69003 'The Railway Observer' pass Cogload Junction operating as 3Q00 07:05 Exeter Riverside - Eastleigh Yard with the weedkiller set.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

30th May 2023
GBRf Class 69 locomotives No. 69003 'The Railway Observer' (Former No.56018) and No.69004 (Former No.56069) broke new ground for their Class on the 30th May 2023 by visiting Somerset, and Devon. The pair are pictured at Cogload Junction arriving under caution from the Berks and Hants route while operating 3Q00 11:58 Woking Up Yard - Exeter Riverside with the GBRf operated 'Weedkiller'. No.69004 is pictured on the rear of the train passing Cogload Junction
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

30th May 2023
Two of GB Railfreight Class 69 locomotives made their first ever visit to the Taunton area on Tuesday 30th May 2023. Locomotives No. 69003 'The Railway Observer' and RTC liveried No.69004 were transiting the area and are captured at Cogload Junction working 3Q00 11:58 Woking Up Yard to Exeter Riverside. The train operated via Eastleigh, Salisbury and Westbury prior to 10 days of SITT operation in the west country. Consist is made up of TIPH 93486 KFA, VTG 95378 KFA & TIPH 93470 KFA.
(Photo: S A Ginn)

30th May 2023
GBRf Class 69 locomotives No. 69003 'The Railway Observer' (Former No.56018) and No.69004 (Former No.56069) broke new ground for their Class on the 30th May 2023 by visiting Somerset, and Devon. The pair are pictured at Cogload Junction arriving under caution from the Berks and Hants route while operating 3Q00 11:58 Woking Up Yard - Exeter Riverside with the GBRf operated 'Weedkiller'. The set will spend the next week out based at Exeter visiting branches in Devon and Cornwall on overnight weedkilling duties. The locos had pipped classmates by three weeks ahead of the planned Class 69 railtour to Penzance.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

30th May 2023
GBRf Class 69 No. 69003 'The Railway Observer' and No.69004 'top and tail' the weedkiller set south through Norton Fitzwarren on the 30th May 2023. The new build EMD locomotives were operating as 3Q00 11:38 Woking Up Yard - Exeter Riverside.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

30th May 2023
Making their first visit to the Taunton area, new build EMD GBRf Class 69 locomotives No. 69003 'The Railway Observer' and No.69004 pass Allerford on the 30th May 2023. The pair were operating in 'top and tail' formation on a weedkilling set as 3Q00 11:58 Woking Up Yard - Exeter Riverside.
(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

25th May 2022
Having completed an extensive set of diagrams in Devon and Cornwall with a new Bayer 'smart' weed killer train, GBRf Class 66 locomotives No.66790 and No. 66752 'The Hoosier State' pass Cogload Junction on the 25th May 2022. The pair were operating 3Q98 06:57 Exeter Riverside - Kings Norton.
(Photo: Ian Draper)

20th April 2022
GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66752 'The Hoosier State' and No. 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' are pictured in Platform 3 at Taunton on the 20th April 2022 at 01:48 in the morning. After testing on the Severn Valley Railway GBRf are now operating weed control maintenance trains on the National Network. The company has been working with Bayer Environmental Science and Network Rail to develop cameras to direct herbicide to weed infestations. Data can then be uploaded to cloud based programs using GPS software to allow evaluation of data. It remains to be seen how this new system will cope with overgrown buddleia infections with roots the size of tree trunks, and embankments full of brambles, but in future years perhaps it will prevent more from weeds and unwanted growth from occurring.
(Photo: Ash Bere)

20th April 2022
Part of the new GBRf/ Bayer Systems weedkilling train, with herbicides tanks mounted on modular flat wagons. GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66752 'The Hoosier State' and No. 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' operated 3Q98 21:27 (Tue) Kings Norton - Cardiff Tidal via Taunton on the 20th April 2022.
(Photo: Ash Bere)

7th July 2020
With the need to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic the Network Rail MPV weedkiller needs to have a pair of locomotives working in 'top and tail' configuration to make this possible. DB Cargo Class 66 No.66107 and EWS liveried No.66015 work either end of MPV DR98906 & DR98956 into the southwest on Monday 6th July 2020, the colourful combination is pictured passing through Wellington running as the 3Z15 09:12 Didcot to Exeter Riverside Yard in preparation for another week-long spell of overnight weed killing duties.
(Photo: S A Ginn)

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