Snow Plough Tests

Images taken of locomotives testing the Network Rail Snow Ploughs from Fairwater Yard

18th December 2021 Taunton-based snow ploughs ADB 965223 ZZA & ADB 965235 ZZA were out on their annual shake down on Saturday 18th December 2021. DRS provided No.66426 and No.66421 are pictured here passing Fordgate on the return leg of 7Z98 11:04 Fairwater Yard to Fairwater Yard via Weston-super-Mare. (Photo: S A Ginn)

18th December 2021 Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 66/4 locomotives No.66426 and No.66421 return through Creech St Michael on the 18th December 2021 operating 7Z98 11:04 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Weston-super-Mare with a snow plough test run. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

18th December 2021 Direct Rail Services Class 66/4 locomotives carried out the annual snow plough test with the two Taunton-based drift ploughs on Saturday 18th December 2021. No.66421 leads No.66426 through Creech St Michael operating as 7Z98 11:04 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Weston-super-Mare. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

23rd July 2020 Taunton-based snow ploughs ZZA ADB965235 & ADB965223 were out on annual test on Thursday 23rd July 2020 with DRS (Direct Rail Services) providing the motive power. Class 66s No.66305 and No.66304 pass Charlton with the outbound run 7Z76 09:42 Fairwater Yard to Fairwater Yard via Weston-Super-Mare. (Photo: S A Ginn)

23rd July 2020 Taunton-based snow ploughs ZZA ADB965223 & ADB965235 were out on annual test on Thursday 23rd July 2020 with DRS providing the motive power. Pictured approaching Cogload Junction. Class 66s No.66304 and No.66305 return to Taunton between the ploughs running as 7Z76 09:42 Fairwater Yard to Fairwater Yard via Weston-Super-Mare. (Photo: S A Ginn)

22nd July 2020 DRS Class 66/4 Locomotives No.66304 and No.66305 stand in the sidings behind Taunton Station on the 22nd July 2020 formed up ready to operate the Network Rail snow plough test the following day. Taunton based drift ploughs ZZA ADB965235 and ADB965223 can be seen formed up either end of the two locomotives. *Image was taken by trained and qualified personnel* (Photo: Jason Prole)

2nd April 2019 Two Network Rail snow ploughs were returned to Fairwater Yard in the early hours of April 2nd 2019. The previous pair of ploughs departed Fairwater Yard by road back in October 2018. All the drift ploughs from around the UK were being collected for overhaul. As a result ADB965209 and ADB965231 left the yard in October and ADB965233 & ADB965235 were returned by rail in April 2019. The pair were conveyed by Direct Rail Services Class 57s No. 57003 'Inter City Railway Society 50th Anniversary 1973 - 2023' and No.57301 operating as 7Z74 00:15 Crewe - Fairwater Yard. Having deposited the newly refurbished ploughs in the yard the pair then continued in a driver training run to Exeter and Penzance. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

9th May 2018 Having visited Highbridge Loop on the 9th May 2018, DRS Class 37s No.37259 and No.37218 return south through Banklands with the 7Z15 10:15 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop carrying out a snow plough test for Network Rail. (Photo: Paul Wilkins)

9th May 2018 DRS Class 37s No.37218 and No.37259 depart Fairwater Yard on the 9th May 2018 with a snow plough test just weeks after the heaviest snowfall of the year. The 7Z15 10:15 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop with Snow Ploughs ZZA ADB 965231 & ZZA ADB 965209 are pictured returning through Platform 2 at Taunton heading for Fairwater Yard. (Photo: Nathan Williamson)

9th May 2018 DRS Class 37's No.37218 and No.37259 depart Fairwater Yard on the 9th May 2018 with a snow plough test just weeks after the heaviest snowfall of the year. The 7Z15 10:15 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop with Snow Ploughs ZZA ADB 965231 & ZZA ADB 965209 are pictured passing 40 Steps. (Photo: Nathan Williamson)

9th May 2018 DRS Class 37s No.37218 and No.37259 depart from Fairwater Yard on the 9th May 2018 with both Network Rail Drift Ploughs formed at either end of the locomotives. The 7Z15 10:15 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop approaches Staplegrove Road. (Photo: Jeff Treece)

9th May 2018 Too late the snow was in March! Thursday 9th May 2018 was full of excitement when a pair of Direct Rail Services Class 37's operated light engine overnight from their base at Crewe Gresty Bridge to Fairwater Yard. No.37218 and No.37259 arrived at 06:11 before collecting both of the Network Rail Snow Ploughs from Fairwater Yard (ZZA ADB 965231 & ZZA ADB 965209). The two veteran locomotives then formed the 7Z15 10:15 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop with the drift ploughs formed at either end of the locomotives. The annual snow plough test certainly raised a few eyebrows passing through the platforms at Taunton Station. The pair are pictured here passing Cogload Junction while working outbound to Highbridge in search of snow! (Photo: Adam Hiscock)

21st March 2017 The 21st March 2017 saw the annual snow plough test from Fairwater Yard. Direct Rail Services are contacted to carry out this diagram. Class 66/3 No.66302 and Class 66/4 No.66431 were used to collect both Network Rail snow ploughs from either end of Fairwater Yard and then operated the 7Z09 16:21 Fairwater Yard – Fairwater Yard via Tiverton Loop. The pair of locomotives and snowploughs ZZA 965231, ZZA965209 were captured on their return to Taunton at Norton Fitzwarren. Having deposited the ploughs back in Fairwater Yard the locomotives returned to Bridgwater Yard for the night before heading to Devonport next day to collect a flask from Devonport. (Photo: Thomas Courtney)

14th March 2016 Long-term residents at opposite ends of the head shunt at Taunton Fairwater Yard since February 2015, snow ploughs ZZA ADB 965209 and 965231 ventured out onto the main line on March 14th 2016. DRS despatched No.66431 & No. 57306 'Branchline Society' from Crewe to conduct the test, an out and back run to Highbridge Loop. The ensemble is pictured arriving back at Taunton with the 7Z75 09:20 Fairwater Yard to Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop. On completion the ploughs were repositioned in their usual places and the locomotives departed for Bridgwater where they were stabled for the night, continuing on to Cardiff Canton the following morning. (Photo: S A Ginn)

14th March 2016 On the 14th March 2016 DRS Class 66/4 No.66431 and No. 57306 'Branchline Society' return from Highbridge Loop operation the 7Z75 09:20 Fairwater Yard to Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop to Taunton with their fruitless search of snow now over. Having depositing the snowploughs back in their relevant positions the pair of locomotives returned to stable in Bridgwater Yard for the night. (Photo: Tony Christie)

14th March 2016 Monday 14th March 2016 saw Direct Rail Services arrive in Taunton to test the Network Rail snow ploughs, which are now kept at Taunton. No.57306 'Her Majesty's Inspectorate 175' and No.66431 (wearing plain DRS Blue) were dispatched from Crewe to work the 7Z75 09:20 Fairwater Yard - Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop. With snowplough ZZA ADB 965231 leading and ZZA ADB 965209 trailing, the pair exited from Fairwater Yard at 09:06 in search of snow. (Photo: Nathan Williamson)

14th March 2016 Long-term residents at opposite ends of the headshunt at Taunton Fairwater Yard since February 2015, snow ploughs ZZA ADB 965209 and 965231 ventured out onto the mainline on March 14th 2016. DRS despatched No.66431 & No.57306 from Crewe to conduct the test, an out-and-back run to Highbridge Loop. The ensemble is pictured arriving back at Taunton with the 7Z75 09:20 Fairwater Yard to Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop. On completion, the ploughs were repositioned in their usual places and the locomotives departed for Bridgwater, where they were stabled for the night, continuing on to Cardiff Canton the following morning. (Photo: S A Ginn)

27th February 2015 Anyone expecting snow? The rare sight of a Network Rail snowplough ADB965209 stabled in Taunton has bizarrely occurred. Both former snowploughs based at Bristol Barton Hill have now been relocated to Taunton. One is located on the south headshunt at Fairwater Yard (adjacent to Silk Mills Road) while the other is located in the new sidings behind Taunton Station (adjacent to Platform 1). These striking pieces of equipment have never been used to clear snow so spend the majority of their time positioned in sidings awaiting the day when 10ft snowdrifts arrive in the South West in freak weather. The plough is pictured at its new home on the 27th February 2015. (Photo: Adam Snow)

26th February 2015 Taunton had a nocturnal visit from a pair of DRS Class 20s on the 26th of February 2015. No.20305 & No20308 operated the South West Snow Ploughs ADB965209 and ADB965231 (normally based in Bristol) from Bristol Barton Hill to Fairwater Yard. Once at Fairwater the ploughs were detached (one being deposited on the Fairwater Yard south headshunt, and one being uncoupled behind Taunton Station). The pair then continued light engine on a route learning trip to Meldon Quarry before returning to Exeter. 20305 and 308 are seen arriving into Fairwater Yard at 03:55 in the morning having arrived as 7Z04 02:36 Bristol Barton Hill - Fairwater Yard! (Image by trained and qualified personnel) (Photo: Jason Prole)

26th February 2015 Taunton had a nocturnal visit from a pair of DRS Class 20s on the 26th of February 2015. No.20305 & No20308 operated the South West Snow Ploughs ADB965209 and ADB965231 (normally based in Bristol) from Bristol Barton Hill to Fairwater Yard. Once at Fairwater the ploughs were detached (one being deposited on the Fairwater Yard south headshunt, and one being uncoupled behind Taunton Station). The pair then continued light engine on a route learning trip to Meldon Quarry before returning to Exeter. 20305 and 308 are seen arriving into Fairwater Yard at 03:55 in the morning having arrived as 7Z04 02:36 Bristol Barton Hill - Fairwater Yard! (Image by trained and qualified personnel) (Photo: Jason Prole)

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