News Archive for April 2006

Published on 30th April 2006

BR Green Class 25 No.27173 (D7523) operated the Diesel Diagram on the 30th April 2006 on the West Somerset Railway.

The Class 25 No.25173 (D7523) is pictured at Bishops Lydeard on the 30th April 2006 ready to depart from Bishops Lydeard - Minehead diesel hauled service and also passing Combe Flory with the three coach service making the climb to Crowcombe.

Published on 22nd April 2006

Pathfinder Railtours ‘The Devonian’ charter on the 22nd April 2006 was to feature a Class 45 ‘Peak’ for the first time after a five year absence on the mainline.

The locomotive had seen little use during this period. The charter (1Z55 06:48 Derby - Kingswear) departed Burton-on-Trent 15 late with the power unit shutting down and problems with the ETH supply meaning the train had n, o heat, lighting or water. The loco failed again at Stourbridge before continuing to Bristol. At Bristol a Fragonset reserve locomotive No.47703 was in place to be added to the train as required, and subsequently followed down to Taunton where it stabled for the day. The decision being taken at Bristol for the Class 45 to run solo to Paignton. The train was re-timed from Paignton (due to the late running on the southbound run) for the return run (1Z56 16:15 Kingswear - Derby) but after the loco shut down five times in 20 miles between Exeter and Taunton the standby locomotive No.47703 was added at Taunton for the rest of the trip back to Derby. While the locomotive was added to the train passengers engulfed the station buffet for a hot drink and hot food as the ETH faults still meant the train had no hot water or heat.

Published on 18th April 2006

Frangonset Class 31 No.31190 arrived at Taunton on the 18th April 2006 light engine having operated as 0Z31 11:00 Derby RTC - Exeter DMU Depot.

Upon arrival at Taunton the loco shunted to Platform 1 to collected No.31602 to take it for fuelling at Exeter. The pair are pictured in Platform 1 at Taunton prior to departure.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 17th April 2006

Fragonset Class 31 No.31602 was operating a driver training run between Birmingham and Exeter on the 17th April 2006 when it ran out of fuel in Platform 3 at Taunton.

As luck would have it EWS Class 66 No.66160 had arrived with 6Z50 East Usk Yard - Fairwater Yard (loaded track panels) and was on hand to shunt 31602 from Platform 3 to Platform 1 and clear the line.

Images show both the Class 66 and Class 31 stabled in Platform 1. No.66160 later departed light engine to St Blazey while the Class 31 would be collected the next day by another Fragonset locomotive.

Published on 17th April 2006

The Taunton Model Engineers held a public running day at the Creech St Michael Recreation Ground on the 17th April 2006.

The Sunday running events are always well attended and provide model engineers a chance to provide rides for local children and raise money to continue developing their site.

Updated 2023 - For 14 years the Taunton Model Engineers leased a piece of land from the parish council at Creech St Michael, where they had a railway track, and on Sundays invited the public to join them for train rides, and raised money for local charities. In 2017 the lease was abruptly terminated by the Parish on the grounds of providing more play equipment and a running track. The site remains derelict in 2023 and no additional facilities have ever been provided by the Parish. The loss of the model railway engines and Sunday running days has been a great loss to the local community, the former site still exists but the TME have now found a new site at West Buckland and continue to operate on selected Sundays in Vivary Park.

Published on 15th April 2006

In order to provide an instant Firstgroup 'band' to the newly launched First Great Western Franchise.

FGW transferred a two-car Class 158 from their Scotrail franchise to operate in the southwest. No.158741 arrived from Scotland to work local and regional services in Firstgroup colours. The unit soon gained the nickname 'Morag' and has been making regular appearances in the Taunton area.

Published on 15th April 2006

Heartland Rail operated a 'Penzance' charter using the Cotswold Rail HST set on the 15th April 2004.

Silver Cotswold-liveried powercar No.43070 lead the train south with Hornby powercar No.43087 at the back of the train. The charter operated as 1Z27 08:00 Gloucester - Penzance, and later returned north as 1Z28 16:30 Penzance - Gloucester.

Published on 4th April 2006

Fragonset Class 31 No.31602 is pictured stabled in Platform 6 at Taunton on the 4th April 2006.

The locomotive was being used for driver training trips and having been stabled at Taunton all day, operated 0Z31 19:50 Taunton - Abbotswood Junction, light engine move. The diagram originally should have started at Exeter DMU Sidings.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 3rd April 2006

Not content with 4 new liveries since 1996, First Great Western launched its 6th livery in 10 years on the 3rd April 2006.

The special shortened HST set formed of powercars No.43004 and No.43009 sporting the new 'dynamic lines' livery was launched to the public via a special press run from Paddington through to Penzance. The striking First Great Western livery is seen at Creech St Michael operating 1Z30 09:12 London Paddington - Penzance with matching coaching stock (44049 40752 and 41003) with the FGW Press Launch Train, to mark the start of the new Greater Western Franchise.