The English Riviera Express Gallery

Images of The English Riviera Express charters which have been photographed in the Taunton Area operated by Saphos Trains

30th August 2025 The houses at Longforth farm have all but disappeared behind the unchecked growth of lineside vegetation as No. 34046 'Braunton' streams around the outskirts of Wellington on Saturday 30th August 2025. Running as the 1Z70 05:29 Bedford - Taunton to Kingswear ‘English Riveira Express' the initial leg of the tour was worked by LSL Class 57 No. 57002 'Winston Churchill' & Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess', the latter remaining attached to the rear of the train for the run down to Kingswear. (Photo: S A Ginn)

23rd August 2025 GWR 4-6-0 No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' powers south at Bradford on Tone on Satruday 23rd August 2025 hauling Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter. The Castle hauled the steam leg of 1Z60 07:10 Slough - Kingswear. The charter was hauled to Taunton by newly re-painted Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' leading No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' (on the rear of the train). (Photo: Phil Izzard)

23rd August 2025 Looking respladant painted in its new Intercity Executive livery LSL Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' crosses the Somerset Levels at Wick on Saturday 23rd August 2025. The loco was operating Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter with partner No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' in top and tail formation. The gleaming locomotive No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' was operating as 1Z60 07:10 Slough - Kingswear. Upon arrival at Taunton the Class 47 was removed and replaced by No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' for the steam leg through to Kingswear. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

23rd August 2025 Saphos Trains English Riviera Express arrived back into Taunton for a glorious sunset on Saturday 23rd August 2025. No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' lead the steam leg of 1Z62 16:35 Kingswear - Slough (seen above passing Nyenehead) before handing back to Intercity Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' for the return diesel leg through to slough, departing with a glorious evening sunset at Taunton. Please be sure to look up @timbadgertrains on TikTok for lots of local railway action. (Photo: Timbadgertrains)

2nd August 2025 ScotRail liveried Class 47/7 No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' storms past Cogload Junction with the 1Z64 16:35 Kingswear - Wolverhampton “English Riviera Express” on Saturday 2nd August 2025, having just relieved ex-GWR ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' at Taunton. Class 57/3 No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' ‘The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ is visible attached at the rear of the formation. (Photo: Russell Ayre)

2nd August 2025 Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter is pictured having arrived at Taunton with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' leading 1Z82 05:39 Wolverhampton - Kingswear charter with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' (out of sight at the rear) on Saturday 2nd August 2025. Upon arrival at Taunton the Class 47 was removed from the train for No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' to take over for the steam leg through Kingswear. The Scotrail Class 47 currently carries the identities of two former classmates No.47709 'The Lord Provost' on one side and No.47711 'Greyfriars Bobby'. (Photo: Chris Shewy)

2nd August 2025 Saphos Trains operated their 'English Riviera Express' charter on the 2nd August 2025 which operated as 1Z82 05:39 Wolverhampton - Kingswear. No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' (operating as No.47709 'The Lord Provost') hauled the charter south in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers'. Upon arrival at Taunton the lead locomotive was removed and replaced with Great Western steam locomotive No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' for the steam leg through to Paington. No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' is pictured from a camera pole passing Creech St Michael on the approach to Taunton. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

2nd August 2025 With more steam in the boiler then is required No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' gets up to speed through Allerford with the ‘English Riviera Express’ Saphos Trains charter on Saturday 2nd August 2025. The 1Z82 05:39 Wolverhampton to Kingswear was initially worked as far as Taunton by No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' in 'top and tail' configuration with 57311. On arrival at the Somerset town control of the train was handed over to No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' for the remainder of run down to Kingswear. (Photo: S A Ginn)

19th July 2025 GWR 4-6-0 Castle No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' is pictured at Taunton on the 19th July 2025 ready to depart with The English Riviera Express charter. The 1Z50 05:18 Crewe - Kingswear charter was hauled to Taunton by No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' in top and tail formation. At Taunton the Class 47 was removed to stable for the day before the resplendent Nunney Castle was added for the steam leg through to Kingswear. (Photo: James Berry)

19th July 2025 Locomotive Services Ltd Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' were back in the Taunton area on Saturday 19th July 2025 top and tailing the initial leg of the English Riviera Express’ from Crewe. On arrival at Taunton the Class 47 was removed and replaced by GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' for the run down to Kingswear and return. This well-turned-out train is captured between Bridgwater and Cogload Junction when passing through Fordgate running as the 1Z50 05:18 Crewe to Kingswear (For Dartmouth) via Taunton. (Photo: S A Ginn)

19th July 2025 Locomotive Services Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' powers south at Cogload Junction on Saturday 19th July 2025 with the slightly delayed 'English Riviera Express' charter, operating in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers'. The 1Z50 05:18 Crewe - Kingswear charter changed to GWR Castle No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' at Taunton with No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' stabling at Taunton for the day. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

7th June 2025 BR Green Class 40 No. 40013 'Andania' (D213) exits Whiteball Tunnel into Somerset returning from Devon on the 7th June 2025. The loco operated both the diesel and steam leg of 'The English Riviera Express' charter returning as 1Z62 16:35 Kingswear - Northampton. (Photo: Russell Ayre)

7th June 2025 British Railways Green liveried Class 40 No. 40013 'Andania' (D213) passes Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 7th June 2025 hauling the steam leg of 'The English Riviera Express' charter in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers'. The 1Z60 05:21 Northampton - Kingswear would normally have been steam hauled from Taunton but No. 34046 'Braunton' had failed its fitness to run exam the day before. In the background is GBRF Class 57 No. 57310 'UK Railtours' (sister loco to No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers') waiting to follow with the mock Britannic Explorer test run. (Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

7th June 2025 Saphos Trains/ LSL were unable to provide the steam leg for their 'English Rivera Express' charter on Saturday 7th June 2025 after No. 34046 'Braunton' failed its fitness to run exam at Bishops Lydeard. However a suitable replacement for the full journey was provided in the shape of No. 40013 'Andania' (D413). The Class 40 hauled 1Z60 05:21 Northampton - Kingswear throughout in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers'. The loco is pictured passing Cogload Junction. (Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

28th May 2025 Running as the 5Z48 06:24 Bishops Lydeard to Bristol Temple Meads SR Rebuilt Bullied West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 'Braunton' heads north through Banklands on the morning of Wednesday 28th May 2025. The loco with Mk1 Support coach 35479 in tow makes its way to Bristol prior to working the steam leg of the Paignton to Shrewsbury 'Welsh Marches Express' tour as 5Z48 06:24 Bishops Lydeard – Bristol Temple Meads. The main charter worked by Class 47 locomotives No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot', respectively would also pass through some 99 minutes later, handing over control of the train to No. 34046 'Braunton' on arrival at Bristol Temple Meads. (Photo: S A Ginn)

28th May 2025 Working the 'Welsh Marches Express' charter on Wednesday 28th May 2025, Class 47 locomotives No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot', respectively are captured running northbound through Banklands. Running as the 1Z47 06:16 Paignton to Shrewsbury the tour would change to steam haulage from Bristol onwards. SR 'Rebuilt’ West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 'Braunton' had already run ahead of the main train from Bishops Lydeard to Bristol some 99 minutes earlier. (Photo: S A Ginn)

24th May 2025 The diesel leg of Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter passes Creech St Michael on Saturday 24th May 2025. Two-tone green Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and black-liveried Class 57 No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' top and tailed the diesel leg of the 1Z82 06:43 Shrewsbury - Kingswear charter. At Taunton the Class 47 was removed and replaced with LSL steam locomotive No. 34046 'Braunton' for the steam leg into Devon. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

3rd May 2025 Saphos Trains operated the first English Riviera Express of the 2025 season ran on Saturday 3rd May 2025 running as the 1Z82 06:34 Poole to Kingswear. The initial leg from Poole to Taunton was diesel-hauled by No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' and No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' via Westbury where the train reversed direction to head west across the Somerset Levels resulting in No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' leading the tour into Taunton. Rebuilt Bullied West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 'Braunton' was promptly added to the front of the tour, and was assisted by the Class 57 because of the current fire risk. The first charter of the season captured here soon after departure getting up to speed through Allerford. (Photo: S A Ginn)

25th September 2024 BR Green Class 40 No. 40013 'Andania' (D213) is pictured at Taunton on the 25th September 2024. The Class 40 had been added to 'The Golden Hind' charter at Taunton having taken over from LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' from the steam leg to Taunton. The Class 40 is pictured ready to depart Platform 2 at Taunton in top and tail formation with No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 '. The charter train operated as 1Z69 17:00 Plymouth - Nantwich. (Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

25th September 2024 LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' is pictured at Taunton Station on Wednesday 25th September 2024. The loco had been added to Saphos Trains 'The Golden Hind' charter, and is pictured ready to depart with the 1Z61 05:55 Nantwhich - Plymouth charter. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' remained on the rear of the train, while Class 40 No. 40013 'Andania' remained at Taunton for the day. (Photo: Paul Clarke)

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