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The English Riviera Express Gallery

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

5th September 2026
Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter returned to steam operation on Saturday 5th September 2026 after a lengthy steam ban due to the recent lack of rain and hot weather. LNER A1 Pacific No. 60007 'The Spirit of Tom Kendell' powers through Bradford on Tone hauling 1Z07 06:35 Pooles - Kingswear, having taken over from No. 50050 'Fearless' at Taunton. No.57302 remained on the rear of the train throughout.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

5th September 2026
Passing through the dappled shade at Whiteball, LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' leads 1Z07 06:35 Poole to Kingswear charter ‘The English Riviera Express’ on Saturday 5th September 2026. The initial leg of the tour was worked in 'top & tail' configuration by LSL locomotives No.57302 and No. 50050 'Fearless' from Poole. The train reversed direction at Westbury, putting the Class 50 in charge across the Somerset Levels as far as Taunton, where Sir Nigel Gresley replaced Fearless for the final run down into South Devon.
(Photo: S A Ginn)

5th September 2026
BR Blue Class 50 No. 50050 'Fearless' (D400) shatters the peace as it powers through Creech St Michael on Saturday 5th September 2026. The LSL locomotive made its debut on Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express ', returning the loco to its former stomping ground when formerly in British Rail service. No. 50050 'Fearless' and No.57302 operated in top and tail formation hauling 1Z07 06:35 Poole - Kingswear. The Class 57 led the train from Poole, but with a reversal at Westbury, the Class 50 led the train to Taunton. Upon arrival at Taunton, the Class 50 was removed and replaced with LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' for the steam leg through to Kingswear.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

5th September 2026
BR Blue Class 50 No. 50050 'Fearless' (D400) is pictured in Platform 2 at Taunton on Saturday 6th September 2026. Fearless had rejoined The English Riviera Express at Fairwater Yard, taking over from LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley'. No. 50050 'Fearless' and No.57302 then operated 1Z08 16:35 Kingswear - Poole in top and tail formation from Taunton.
(Photo: Richard Hiscox)

5th September 2026
Locomotive Services Ltd Class 50 No. 50050 'Fearless' (D400) storms north through Cogload Junction on Saturday 5th September 2026. The loco was returning north on 1Z08 16:35 Kingswear - Poole charter, having taken over from LNER A1 Pacific No. 60007 'The Spirit of Tom Kendell' at Taunton.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

22nd August 2026
Locomotive Services Ltd, InterCity-liveried Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' configured in top-and-tail formation with No.57302, gets underway from Taunton with the non-steam ‘English Riviera Express’ on Saturday 22nd August 2026. The colourful locomotives and stock is captured passing Allerford, running as the 1Z07 05:30 Bedford to Kingswear.
(Photo: S A Ginn)

8th August 2026
Having been severely delayed during its journey west by both sheep on the line and the rear locomotive reported with smoke coming from the locomotive, No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' is pictured at Cogload Junction on Saturday 8th August 2026. No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' was hauling Saphos Trains 'The English Riviera Express' charter as 1Z07 05:40 Ely - Kingswear. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' had been detached and stabled at Westbury after an incident with suspected dragging brakes. The charter still managed to get to Kingswear 32 minutes late despite running 113 minutes late at Cogload Junction owing to not needing to stop for water.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

1st August 2026
Two-tone Green Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' is pictured paused on Platform 5 at Taunton on the 1st August 2026. Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter passed through the Taunton area on Saturday 1st August 2026. With a steam ban still in place, the charter was hauled throughout, but diesel traction No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No.57302 operated 1Z07 06:17 Shrewsbury - Kingswear in a top-and-tail formation.
(Photo: Jason Prole)

18th July 2026
With a steam ban firmly in place, weekend charters were in the hands of heritage diesel locomotives. The Saphos Trains 'English Rivera Express' charter was operated by No.47830 and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot'. The pair operated as 1Z07 06:25 Woking - Kingswear, pictured passing a GWR service at Cogload Junction on Saturday 18th July 2026.
(Photo: Kian Westlake)

30th May 2026
Looking like there are steam locomotives at both ends of the English Riviera Express charter on Saturday, 30th May 2025. LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' heads south from Taunton with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' clearing its diesel engine as it provides power from the rear of the train. The rear locomotive was instructed to provide assistance under acceleration to prevent the risk of lineside fires after the recent hot weather. The 1Z07 06:31 Wolverhampton - Kingswear charter had arrived at Taunton with No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' leading the train, which then handed over to Sir Nigel Gresley at Taunton.
(Photo: Kian Westlake)

30th May 2026
LSL Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' (D1935) and No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' top and tail the 1Z07 06:31 Wolverhampton to Kingswear ‘English Riviera Express’ Saphos Trains charter through Fordgate on Saturday 30th May 2026. On arrival at Taunton, No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' was removed from the train and replaced with LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' for the steam leg onward to the English Riviera.
(Photo: S A Ginn)

30th May 2026
Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter operated on Saturday, 30th May 2026. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' operating in top and tail formation with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' is pictured passing Cogload Junction. The 1Z07 06:31 Wolverhampton - Kingswear charter handed over to LNER A1 Pacific No. 60007 'The Spirit of Tom Kendell' for the steam leg into Devon with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' remaining on the rear of the train.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

30th May 2026
Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter returns north through Cogload Junction on the 30th May 2026. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' returned 1Z08 16:35 Kingswear - Wolverhampton solo from Taunton after both LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' and No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' remained at Taunton (as they would return the next day to Crewe). This shot (taken on a camera pole) provides a rare shot of a Saphos charter with a complete matching Mk1 rake and no rear locomotive in the traditional fashion.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

9th May 2026
LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' arrives back into Taunton, passing Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 9th May 2026, where the English Riviera Express would hand back to LSL preserved Class 45 No. 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman'. The charter operated as 1Z08 16:35 Kingswear - Northampton.
(Photo: Kian Westlake)

9th May 2026
LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' gets up to speed through Bradford-on-Tone with the second ‘English Riviera Express’ of the 2026 season. Heading for the English Riviera operating as 1Z07 05:52 Northampton to Kingswear. The initial leg of the tour was worked as far as Taunton by Class 45 No. 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman', where steam traction took over the train. Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' was attached to the rear of the train, remaining in place for the run down to Devon and back. Image recorded on Saturday, 9th May 2026.
(Photo: S A Ginn)

6th September 2025
Nunney Castle powers through Bradford on Tone Saturday 6th September 2024. Becoming the second GWR Castle to pass over the same section of track in under 40 minutes. No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' was hauling the steam leg of Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe - Kingswear. The diesel leg having been coved by No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' and No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' in 'top and tail' formation. The Class 57/3 remained with the train providing assitance from the rear. The English Riveira Express later overtook Vintage Trains 'The Mayflower' charter at Tiverton Loop, and later it was possible to see the sight of two Castle locomotives on the Dawlish Sea Wall at the same time following one another.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

6th September 2025
Nunney Castle powers away from Taunton on Saturday 6th September 2024 (sadly being assisted from the rear of the train), becoming the second GWR Castle to pass over the same section of track in under 40 minutes. No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' was hauling the steam leg of Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe - Kingswear. The diesel leg having been coved by No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' and No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' in 'top and tail' formation. The Class 57/3 remained with the train providing assitance from the rear. The English Riveira Express later overtook Vintage Trains 'The Mayflower' charter at Tiverton Loop, and later it was possible to see the sight of two Castle locomotives on the Dawlish Sea Wall at the same time following one another. This image taken on a camera pole at an elevation of 5m.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

6th September 2025
GWR 4-6-0 'Castle' No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' arrives into Plaform 2 at Taunton in order to haul the steam leg of Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter on Satruday 6th September 2025. The steam locomotive had taken over from No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' which had hauled the diesel leg of 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe - Kingswear.
(Photo: James Berry)

6th September 2025
Scotrail liveried Class 47/7 No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' passes Cogload Junction Saturday 8th September 2025 hauling 'The English Riviera Express' 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe- Kingswear in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers'. The Class 47 then handed over to No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' at Taunton for the steam lef through to Devon.
(Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

6th September 2025
LSL Scotrail Class 47 No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' operates in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' on Shphos Trains 'English Riviera Express'. The charter operated on Saturday 6th September 2025 as 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe - Kingswear. At Taunton the Class 47 was removed and replaced with No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' for the steam leg through to Devon.
(Photo: Kian Westlake)

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