Published on 29th January 2015
Colas Rail Freight Class 56s No.56087 and No.56078 double-head 6M51 12:31 Exeter Riverside Yard to Chirk Kronospan on 29th January 2015.
The locomotives hauled a consist of twenty wagons, eight of which had been stranded for two weeks at Teigngrace as a result of overnight flooding on January 15th. The extended length train required two Class 56s from Colas instead of the normal single booked locomotive.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
(Photo: Quentin Hawkes)
Published on 25th January 2015
DEPG Class 33 No.33057 (D6575) was engaged in ballast duties on the West Somerset Railway on the 25th of January 2015.
The locomotive is pictured at Dean Bridge close to the Norton Fitzwarren TRiangle where its small train of Dogfish was loaded with ballast.
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
(Photo: Phil Izzard)
Published on 25th January 2015
Sunday 25th January 2015 featured top and tail Class 70 locomotives returning from an overnight ballast drop on the Falmouth Branch in Cornwall.
Class 70 No.70804 and No.70801 are pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren while hauling the 6C26 05:00 Penwithers Junction - Westbury empty autoballasters. In the background can also be seen the DEPG Class 33 on the West Somerset Railway 'Norton Triangle'. The Class 33 with its own 'heritage ballast train' was turning on the triangle to load ballast at Dean Bridge.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 17th January 2015
Saturday 17th January 2015 saw one daylight engineers train to pass through the Taunton area. 6C21 was booked to appear around 12:20 however a late departure from the Yatton engineering blockade didn't see the train arrive until nearer 13:30 some 74 minutes behind schedule.
Colas Rail Freight provided Class 70 No.70810 to lead the 6C21 11:56 Uphill Junction to Westbury conveying spent ballast. The loco is pictured rounding the curve at Creech St Michael on route to Fairwater Yard where the loco ran round the train and returned to Westbury.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 17th January 2015
While the mainline between Taunton and Bristol was effectively blocked by the weekend engineering work on the 16th and 17th January 2015, Cross Country services were diverted via Bath and Westbury to Taunton.
There was a skeleton stopping service operating between Taunton, Bridgwater, Highbridge, and Weston-super-Mare. On Sunday 17th January 2015 one of the services was operated by a single Class 153. No.153382 is pictured passing Creech St Michael operating the 2Z16 12:07 Taunton - Weston-super-Mare service.
To view the gallery, please click here.
Published on 14th January 2015
Colas Rail Freight provided yet more colour and variety in Taunton on the 14th January 2015 when Class 56 No.56078 was used to haul the 6V54 05:35 Chirk - Teigngrace log empties.
The train conveyed a lengthy rake of timber wagons and is seen passing Silk Mills. Unfortunately due to flooding at the Teigngrace Yard not all the loaded wagons could return. So in due course, a light engine movement may be needed to remove the remaining loaded wagons from Teigngrace.
Colas Rail Freight provided a pair of Class 70s for a trip into Cornwall on Thursday 8th January 2015. Class 70 locomotives No.70803 and No.70805 are seen in a rare double-headed formation passing Creech St Michael with a rake of Autoballasters in tow while working the 6C27 14:43 Westbury - St Blazey. On the 11th the pair ventured onto the St Ives branch for a ballast drop, breaking new ground for the Class members in Cornwall.
Colas Rail Freight provided more quality traction on the night of the 16th January 2015 when newly refurbished Class 60 No.60085 arrived into Taunton under the cover of darkness. The loco was used to haul the 6C20 22:35 Westbury to Yatton via Taunton. The train conveyed various engineering wagons and including a Kirow Rail Crane. This was the third weekend of engineering between Bristol and Worle to replace crossings and pointwork at critical locations. The Colas Class 60 is pictured at Taunton having arrived into Platform 3.
To view the gallery, please click here.
(Photo: Paul Wilkins)
(Photo: Paul Wilkins)
(Photo: Paul Rundle)
Published on 13th January 2015
Some may have noticed that movements in and out from Fairwater Yard have decreased in recent weeks after the departure of the Network Rail HOBC set.
The train is currently operating in East Anglia replacing the Anglia Mainline. The BBC has recently featured the HOBC's arrival and operation in the region and a short news piece about the train can be viewed via the BBC News Website.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
Published on 11th January 2015
With such changeable weather during January, it's worth making the most of any winter sunlight.
On the morning of the 11th January 2015, EWS liveried Class 66 No.66201 is pictured rolling over the Somerset Levels at Wick near Langport. The loco was operating the 6W10 08:25 Newton Abbot West Junction - Westbury engineers running about six minutes behind schedule, having been out overnight on a ballast drop.
(Photo: Adam Snow)
To view news stories from December 2014 click here, or for news from February 2015, click here.