News Archive for January 2020

Freightliner Aggregate Flow

Published on 30th January 2020

With Freightliner now operating the Exeter Riverside Mendip aggregate flow occasional visits of Freightliners own Class 66/6s have been appearing at Taunton.

The return empties have also been retimed to depart from Exeter in a later slot which will make Winter photography of this train virtually impossible. On Thursday 30th January 2020 No.66610 enters Somerset at Marlands hauling 6C28 15:42 Exeter Riverside - Whatley. The locomotive is one of many Freightliner locos suffering from rusting cab windows creating 'window weeping' tears down the cab face.

(Photo: Simon Harling)

Class 50s return north

(Photo: S A Ginn)

Published on 23rd January 2020

Having spent the night stabled back on their former British Railways depot.

The locomotives left coaches 10551,10553 at Laira with GWR. Coach 10706 was then transported to Long Marston for storage.

GBRf Class 50 No. 50049 'Defiance' and No. 50007 'Hercules' (still masquerading as No. 50014 'Warspite') approach Taunton on a dull Thursday 23rd January 2020 running as 1Z50 09:00 Laira to Long Marston. Off-lease ex-Caledonian MK3 sleeper coach 10706 had traveled down from the capital the previous afternoon in company with two other similar vehicles 10551 and 10553 which were detached and left at Laira for refurbishment and re-entry into service with GWR, while the coach in this image was destined for storage at Long Marston.

44 Years

Published on 22nd January 2020

It's incredible to think the journey which the British Rail Class 50 has taken since they first rolled off the production line at Newton Le Willows in 1967, no one could have imagined that so many of the class would still be operational and earning their keep in the year 2020.

The Fifty Fun / GBRf provided more revenue earning work for their two mainline registered Class 50 locomotives on Wednesday 22nd January 2020.

Proving once again that you should 'never say never' when it comes to the railways. Having already traveled from their base at Kidderminster to Wembley Yard, No. 50007 'Hercules' and No. 50049 'Defiance' top and tailed three off-lease Mk3 Caledonian Sleeper coaches (10551 10553 and 10706), the three coaches will be refurbished to strengthen the GWR sleeper fleet. The 5Z50 11:03 Wembley - Laira takes the centre road through Taunton with No. 50007 'Hercules' leading the pair back to their former Plymouth depot.

We have provided a comparison image of the very same locomotive passing the same spot in the 1970s shortly after having been transferred from its west coast mainline duties to the southwest. It's amazing to think that around 44 years separate these two images!

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Taunton Trains Collection)

(Photo: Ashley Harris)

GBRf on the levels

Published on 21st January 2020

After hard overnight freezing conditions, GBRf Class 66/7 No.66758 crosses the Somerset Levels in the stunning morning light.

The locomotive has been in charge of an overnight rail drop. The long welded rail delivery train is pictured at Wick with the colouful Class 66 hauling the train as 6G97 08:10 Castle Cary - Westbury via Taunton on the 19th of January 2020.

To view the gallery, please click here.

(Photo: Adam Snow)

Network Rail - New Measurement Train

Published on 17th January 2020

The Network Rail - New Measurement Train visited Taunton on the 17th of January 2020 returning to traffic after being out of service for Winter maintenance. We took the opportunity to record the unique night-time experience as the set arrived at Taunton, The unique gauging lights and overhead line inspection beam can be viewed as the HST set arrives into Platform 4 at Taunton.

NMT visits Taunton

(Photo: Brian Garrett)

Published on 17th January 2020

After a month or so after being out of action for winter maintenance and upgrades the unique Network Rail New Measurement Train was back in action testing infrastructure right across the UK rail network.

The set worked an amended diagram on Friday 17th January 2020 consisting of: 1Q18 06:09 Reading Triangle to Paignton via Penzance and Dawlish Warren, before forming 1Z18 15:40 Paignton to Taunton via Bristol East Yard. Upon arrival at a very wet Taunton No. 43014 'The Railway Observer' and No. 43013 'Mark Carne CBE' are pictured here in Platform 3 at Taunton station ready to depart with the final testing leg of the day 1Q19 18:57 Taunton - London Paddington.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Weekend Colas Engineers

Published on 12th January 2020

A Colas Class 70 locomotive was conveying a rake of Network Rail Autoballasters loaded with fresh ballast for unloading on the Dawlish Sea Wall worksite on Sunday 12th January.

Class 70/8 No.70813 passes 40 Steps hauling 6C26 11:07 Westbury to Exeter St Thomas.

(Photo: Nathan Williamson)

A Busy Sunday

Published on 5th January 2020

Winter weekends can often be a busy time for Network Rail as this period of the year is always reserved for weekend engineering and infrastructure renewals.

Worksites are planned years in advance and provide a way for Network Rail to repair sections of track over a two / three day period. With more intensive timetables and passengers wanting trains to operate more frequent services, it's often forgotten that tracks and the supporting ballast won't last forever. While closing the railway for a few days is not ideal, it does offer Network Rail the chance to completely renew longer lengths of the track at a time.

Sunday 5th January proved to be particularly busy with three engineers trains returning to their bases during the late morning/ early afternoon having attended various work sites in the South West.

(Photo: Simon Harling)

To view news stories from December 2019 click here, or for news from February 2020, click here.