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The Silk Mills Gallery

Images taken at Silk Mills

8th August 2026
The Belmond Britannia Explorer luxury charter departed from Taunton on Saturday 8th August 2026 with No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' leading No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' for the first time since the operation started. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' departed Silk Mills as 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

25th July 2026
The Steam Dreams 'Southend to Paington & Kingswear' charter operated with heritage diesel traction on Saturday 25th July 2026 due to a steam ban because of the summer heat. No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' and No.47830 operated in a top-and-tail formation throughout. The pair are pictured passing the weed- and bramble-infested illegal encampment at Silk Mills, operating as 1Z07 06:00 Southend Central - Kingswear.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

17th July 2026
The Britannic Explorer luxury charter train was back in the south west on Friday, 17th July 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' operated in 'top and tail' formation with newly named No. 66745 'Wigan Springs Branch'. The 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard service is pictured passing Silk Mills before crossing over to the West Somerset Railway at Norton Fitzwarren.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

30th May 2026
Having arrived the previous night and recessed on the West Somerset Railway overnight, GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' and No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' (rear) pass Silk Mills/ Fairwater Yard on Saturday 29th May 2026. The locos were operating the Belmond Britannic Explorer luxury train as 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance via Taunton. Image taken on a camera pole.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

23rd May 2026
The Atlantic Coast Express (ACE) was the Southern Railway's premier, multi-portion express passenger train operating from London Waterloo to the seaside resorts of Devon and Cornwall. Debuting on July 19, 1926, it famously ran year-round and was celebrated for its far-reaching, segmented services—acting like multiple trains in one. | The Railway Touring Company operated a circular charter passing Taunton in one direction only on Saturday, 23rd May 2026. 'The Atlantic Coast Express' used a London-based No. 35028 'Clan Line'. The locomotive is more akin to Champagne and Caviar while hauling the Belmond British Pullman, so it was a welcome and rare visitor to the area. Having arrived in Exeter via the Southern route from London Waterloo, No. 35028 'Clan Line' is pictured passing Silk Mills while operating 1Z30 16:04 Exeter St Davids - London Waterloo leg of the steam-hauled charter. (Image taken on a camera pole)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

15th May 2026
The Midland Pullman operated the 'Cornish Riviera Pullman', which passed through Taunton on Friday, 15th May 2026. No. 43058 'Loch Eil' and No. 43059 'Loch Shiel' operated 1Z12 06:35 York - Penzance with the shorter Highland Pullman HST set pictured passing Silk Mills heading for Cornwall.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

2nd May 2026
Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter slowly passes Silk Mills on Saturday, 2nd May 2026. LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' joined the train at Taunton (having previously moved from Bishops Lydeard to Taunton in preparation to meet the charter service). The English Riviera Express was hauled to Taunton by LSL Class 45 No. 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman' in top and tail formation with No. 47593 'Galloway Princess'. No. 61306 'Mayflower' then hauled the 1Z61 06:10 Crewe - Kingswear charter into Devon. Also of note was the Intercity Mk3 Buffet coach in the consist (10212).
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

2nd May 2026
As LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' pulls away from a signal stop at Silk Mills on Saturday, 2nd May 2026. Intercity liveried Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' is pictured on the rear of the Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter 1Z61 06:10 Crewe - Kingswear.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

4th April 2026
After an overnight stay on the West Somerset Railway. GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' (operating in top and tail formation with No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount') passes Silk Mills/ Fairwater Yard on Saturday 4th April 2026 with The Britannic Explorer luxury sleeper train. No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' led 1C02 09:05 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance into Taunton before running around to join its classmate to head south to Cornwall.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

4th April 2026
GBRf Class 66/7 locomotives No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' and No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' double-head 'The Britannic Explorer' luxury sleeper train passing Silk Mills on Easter Saturday, 4th April 2026. The train operating as 1C02 09:05 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

28th March 2026
GBRf Class 66/7 No.66766 passes Silk Mills on Saturday 28th March 2026, hauling a rake of empty JNA wagons for loading with spent ballast overnight. The loco was operating 6F06 15:54 Westbury - Cowley Bridge Junction via Exeter Riverside Yard to attend overnight engineering works.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

18th March 2026
The striking new Cross Country livery has begun making appearances at Taunton. The colours featured on the newly refurbished Voyager include the colours of Cornish Clotted Cream, Royal Mile Teal, English Rose, and Cardiff Bay Sunset. No.220033 and No.220033 are pictured passing Silk Mills on the 18th March 2026 while operating 1S51 12:27 Plymouth - Edinburgh. Over the coming months, more refurbished Voyagers will exit from Derby Litchurch Lane, bringing more refurbished sets into public service.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

17th January 2026
After a week of unsettled winter weather, Saturday, 17th January 2026, saw a period of bright mild winter sunlight. Operating the only booked daylight freight of the week DB Cargo Class 66 No.66098 passes the western end of Fairwater Yard at Silk Mills. The loco was hauling a rake of 16 empty China Clay wagons for loading in Cornwall as 6B76 10:35 Westbury - Goondbarrow Junction.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

2nd January 2026
Network Rail Class 153 No.153385 passes Silk Mills on the 2nd January 2026, operating 2Q64 13:05 Kingsland Road - Plymouth Park Sidings with a Video Inspection run.
(Photo: Phil Izzaard)

13th December 2025
DB Cargo operated their weekly Saturday-only service of empty China Clay wagons on Saturday, 13th December 2025. No. 66051 'Maritime Intermodal Four' operated 6V76 10:35 Westbury - Goonbarrow Junction. The train operated via Bristol due to engineering work between Castle Cary and Taunton, and is pictured passing Silk Mills in the low winter sunlight.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

10th December 2025
Two former Transport for Wales Class 175 units headed west on the 10th December 2025 to become part of the GWR fleet of Class 175 units to be based at Laira Depot for use in Devon and Cornwall. No.175006 and No.175011 were captured in daylight operating as 5V84 10:23 Wolverton - Laira passing the west end of Fairwater Yard.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

3rd November 2025
Freightliner moved a second rake of heavily graffiti-ed aggregate wagons for storage on the 3rd November 2025, following a downturn in stone output. No.66588 operated 6Z27 08:21 Westbury - Exeter Riverside, where the wagons will be stored until required for use again. This is the second rake which has been moved in recent weeks, pictured passing Silk Mills shortly after 9 am.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

15th October 2025
West Coast Railways Class 57/0 No.57010 passes the Autumn colours at Silk Mills on he 15th October 2025. The loco was operating 5Z57 06:22 Carnforth - Totnes delivering four Mk1 coaches for use in the upcoming Diesel Gala and Polar Express events.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)

20th September 2025
Having stabled on the West Somerset Railway overnight, the Belmond Britannic Exploerer set off for Cornwall early on Saturday 20th September 2025. The train arrived in top and tail formation into Taunton ebfroe No.66701 ran around the train to join No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' at the front. The livery pigment differences between the two locomotives with No.66701 last being repainted in 2014 is quite evident. The pair pass Silk Mills operating as 1Z65 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)

13th September 2025
With its coupling doors fixed in the open position, GWR nine-car IET No.802106 (Paddington In Peru banded at the oposite end), passes Silk Mills on Saturday 13th September 2025. The unit had issues and contiinued to loose time from Newbury departing Taunton 20 late as 1C72 08:03 London Paddington - Penzance by the time the train has reached Cornwall it had lost 40 minutes.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)

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