A first look at
'The Britannic Explorer'
Guy Vincent
A blustery, dull and wet start to summer and an early trip out to see GBRf's 66307 'Ipswich Town' heading the newly refurbished ex Irish Rail Mk 3 carriages to be used on the soon to be launched ''Belmond Britannic Explorer'' series of rail landcruise excursions. They were last used between 2016 and 2019 on the Irish 'Grand Hibernian' luxury train.
These carriages were built by BREL for Irish Railways in 1984-1988 and have been re-gauged and refurbished for use on Network Rail by Assenta Rail of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. Today's working brought eight of the ten vehicles south for final attention at Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh. In order they consisted of: 99101 (Generator Car), 99102 (Crew Car), 99103, 99104, 99107 (Sleeping Cars), 99108, 99109 (Dining Cars) and 99110 (Observation Car). The two missing coaches, 99104 and 99105 are both sleeping cars.
Note the door fitting arrangement and the small hopper windows fitted to each carriage.
A going-away look at the end windows of the observation coach was not possible as, over my right shoulder, a class 166 DMU was about to make an ontime departure for Bristol, blocking my view!
Expect to see this train down in Cornwall during the summer months. (Dates in the Railtour Calendar!)
These carriages were built by BREL for Irish Railways in 1984-1988 and have been re-gauged and refurbished for use on Network Rail by Assenta Rail of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. Today's working brought eight of the ten vehicles south for final attention at Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh. In order they consisted of: 99101 (Generator Car), 99102 (Crew Car), 99103, 99104, 99107 (Sleeping Cars), 99108, 99109 (Dining Cars) and 99110 (Observation Car). The two missing coaches, 99104 and 99105 are both sleeping cars.
Note the door fitting arrangement and the small hopper windows fitted to each carriage.
A going-away look at the end windows of the observation coach was not possible as, over my right shoulder, a class 166 DMU was about to make an ontime departure for Bristol, blocking my view!
Expect to see this train down in Cornwall during the summer months. (Dates in the Railtour Calendar!)
2025 06 03 Bradford on Avon 66307 5Z43 1728 (Mon 02nd) Hamilton - Eastleigh Arlington ''Britannic Explorer''. Copyright Guy Vincent.
2025 06 03 Bradford on Avon 99101 Generator Car 5Z43. Copyright Guy Vincent.
2025 06 03 Bradford on Avon 99106 99107 99108 99109 99110 5Z43. Copyright Guy Vincent.
2025 06 03 Bradford on Avon 99106-99110 inc. 5Z43. Copyright Guy Vincent.
2025 06 03 Bradford on Avon 99110 Observation Car End Detail 5Z43. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy - I'm sure this train will be much photographed once it's on the rails of Cornwall!
Dates of its upcoming visits can be found in our Railtour Calendar.
Dates of its upcoming visits can be found in our Railtour Calendar.
West Somerset Railway Arrivals
Andrew Triggs
The build up to the forthcoming WSR Diesel Gala continues with the arrival of Rail Adventure 43484 with 43465 hauling 45108, 50015 'Valiant' and D1015 'Western Champion', running as 0Q83 10.08 Kidderminster SVR-Bishops Lydeard (running 62 early at 14.12) gaining WSR metals at Norton Fitzwarren and following arrival at Bishops Lydeard.
0Q83 crossing over from the Relief line by Fairwater Yard. 03.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
0Q83 viewed from Norton Fitzwarren Footbridge. 03.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
0Q83 heading for Norton Triangle and onwards to Bishops Lydeard. 03.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Following arrival at Bishops Lydeard. 03.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
The Rail Adventure Power Cars later departing for Williton, with 45108, 50015 and D1015 shunted back for stabling outside the station by resident Class 09 D4107. 03.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Many thanks, Andrew - the gala looks like it's going to be a good event!
34046 Braunton - Ivybridge & Bittaford
Clive Smith
West Country Pacific 34046 'Braunton' passes Western Beacon hill at Ivybridge (on the southern edge of Dartmoor) with the 1Z46 09.22 Bristol Temple Meads - Plymouth private charter. 57311 is on the rear.
34046 was hardly working due to various line side fires, with it reportedly setting fire to Victory level crossing near Taunton and igniting a few more at Marsh Barton causing delays and cancellations of as much as over an hour to some trains, in particular the 10.03 Paddington - Penzance.
Rumours were rife that 57311 would lead the return train .
All seemed set for 57311 to be on the front doing all the work with Braunton idling and puffing out wisps of smoke here and there to keep at bay the fire engines of south Devon and paying fines to the TOCS for train delays due to more lineside fires. So it was a bit of a surprise to see the Westcountry on the front spewing out coal dust, ash, embers, smoke and the 57 on the rear. Quite impressive at Bittaford Viaduct from my back window, albeit I won't win any prizes for my photo. This was the 1Z47 17.38 Plymouth - Bristol TM.
Lineside fires were then reported at Hemerdon with up trains behind the train delayed for 40-60 minutes and down trains for about 30 minutes. This went on for an hour after 34046 passed.
34046 was hardly working due to various line side fires, with it reportedly setting fire to Victory level crossing near Taunton and igniting a few more at Marsh Barton causing delays and cancellations of as much as over an hour to some trains, in particular the 10.03 Paddington - Penzance.
Rumours were rife that 57311 would lead the return train .
All seemed set for 57311 to be on the front doing all the work with Braunton idling and puffing out wisps of smoke here and there to keep at bay the fire engines of south Devon and paying fines to the TOCS for train delays due to more lineside fires. So it was a bit of a surprise to see the Westcountry on the front spewing out coal dust, ash, embers, smoke and the 57 on the rear. Quite impressive at Bittaford Viaduct from my back window, albeit I won't win any prizes for my photo. This was the 1Z47 17.38 Plymouth - Bristol TM.
Lineside fires were then reported at Hemerdon with up trains behind the train delayed for 40-60 minutes and down trains for about 30 minutes. This went on for an hour after 34046 passed.
34046 heading west at Ivybridge with 1Z46. 02.06.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
57311 on the rear as the tour heads to Plymouth. 02.06.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
A fine smoke show as 34046 storms over Bittaford Viaduct with the return working. 02.06.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks, Clive - a busy day for the westcountry fire services!
'Baunton' at Plymouth
Roger Winnen
34046 Braunton arrives at Plymouth with a private charter from Bristol Temple Meads. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
57311 Tails the train to Plymouth. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
57311 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers awaits departure to Laira for turning. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Departure to Laira for turning on the triangle. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
57311 On the empty stock emerging from Mutley Tunnel. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Nearing the former Royal Eye Hospital on leaving Plymouth. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Braunton a majestic engine heading for Bristol. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
A classic photo of steam entering Mutley Tunnel with 57311 on the rear. 02.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
HST GTi!
A 2+3 HST set
Jon Hird & Martin Scane
Owing to a shortage of Mk3's, for the past couple of days, a GWR HST has been running round in 2+3 formation as opposed to the more traditional 2+4 which we've become used to. 43097/49108/48119/48120/43092 pass Crugwallins on their way west with 2C20 on 03.06.2025. Copyright Jon Hird.
Earlier in the journey, Martin was at Teignmouth Station at the right time again as 43097 Castle Drogo arrived with 2C20 Exeter SD to Penzance. 03.06.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
Many thanks for the additional photo, Martin
The Weedkiller at rest
Roger Winnen
The weedkiller stabled in Truro Yard on Monday 2nd June 2025. Copyright Roger Winnen
The weedkiller stabled in Truro Yard on Monday 2nd June 2025. Copyright Roger Winnen
CRS Mini Trip to the Westbury Area
Saturday 2nd June 1984
By Roger Winnen
Part 3
Please click any of the below images for an enlargement and a caption.
All images are copyright Roger Winnen and dated 02.06.1984.
All images are copyright Roger Winnen and dated 02.06.1984.
Re: Somerset & Langport
Chris Osment
I was interested to read Micheal Roach's notes about the former stations at Somerton and Langport (click here).
To the east of Somerton were the stations of Charlton Mackrell and Keinton Mandeville, which in my opinion were rare in being two adjacent stations built with almost identical track layouts. I would recommend a read of "Castle Cary to Durston - The Story of a Railway" edited by Nancy Langmaid, which was published in 2006 as part of the local celebration of the Centenary of the opening of the line. (They did have a website www.railwaycentenary.org.uk, but that appears to be defunct now.)
The book contains much interesting detail and contemporary photographs of the building of the line. It was from that book also that I first learnt about the existence of the "Somersetshire Tramways Company Ltd", of whose proposed network of local tramways only about 6 to 7 miles were built as a roadside line from Castle Cary station to Somerton. This appears to have lasted only from about 1896 until 1899.
To the east of Somerton were the stations of Charlton Mackrell and Keinton Mandeville, which in my opinion were rare in being two adjacent stations built with almost identical track layouts. I would recommend a read of "Castle Cary to Durston - The Story of a Railway" edited by Nancy Langmaid, which was published in 2006 as part of the local celebration of the Centenary of the opening of the line. (They did have a website www.railwaycentenary.org.uk, but that appears to be defunct now.)
The book contains much interesting detail and contemporary photographs of the building of the line. It was from that book also that I first learnt about the existence of the "Somersetshire Tramways Company Ltd", of whose proposed network of local tramways only about 6 to 7 miles were built as a roadside line from Castle Cary station to Somerton. This appears to have lasted only from about 1896 until 1899.
Many thanks, Chris - glad you enjoyed the article.