1997/1998:
On the 24 th March 1997, EWS (English Welsh and Scottish Railways) began to operate one of their largest 'short term' flows through Taunton. This unique service was to originate from the Mendip Quarries (Merehead and Whatley) and deliver in excess of 105,000 tonnes of stone to Minehead for use in the 'Sea Defence' scheme. The sheer size of the task undertaken on the sea defences required large amounts of hard wearing, non-porous rock to prevent further breeches of the sea wall in future years, by the often violent winter storms which batter this coast each year.
The West Somerset Railway played a key role in delivering this large quantity of rock to Minehead. Both Whatley (ARC) and Merehead (Yeoman) Quarries had rail hubs used for the loading and delivering stone all over the country on a daily basis. With this contract, the WSR were able to provide the missing rail link, making it possible to keep a potential 4250 lorry loads of stone off Somerset's roads in particular the twisting A358 between Taunton and Minehead.
The working, known as the 'Minehead Stones', was operated mainly by a single EWS 'heavyweight' Class 37 hauling a rake of open 'Turbot' wagons which had been specially refurbished for the service. Much of the stone carried we boulders although some smaller material was also carried in mineral wagons as required. The large rocks were unloaded on specially cleared land near Minehead Station. This job fell to a mechanical grab which stock piled the stone into various grades and sizes, before then loading it into lorries for the short trip to the sea front.
Initially, the service from either quarry operated on an 'as required' basis depending on the daily demand for the stone. A few weeks into the contract, the train operated on a daily basis and, very occasionally two loaded trains arrived on the Branch on the same day. Average tonnages delivered each day varied between 500 and 1050 tonnes.
The services operated between two separate periods – 24th March – 17th December 1997 and 6th January to 16th June 1998. The first train onto the Branch was hauled by 37711. A total of 48 different Class 37s visited the Branch together with two Class 47s and two Class 33s (which appeared double-headed on 1 st October 1997). Heritage traction also played its part when, for example, D1010 'Western Campaigner' took the opportunity to pilot the train from Bishops Lydeard on 27 th March 1998 and steam locos 1450 and 4160 were also used to pilot trains along the branch.
The West Somerset Railway played a key role in delivering this large quantity of rock to Minehead. Both Whatley (ARC) and Merehead (Yeoman) Quarries had rail hubs used for the loading and delivering stone all over the country on a daily basis. With this contract, the WSR were able to provide the missing rail link, making it possible to keep a potential 4250 lorry loads of stone off Somerset's roads in particular the twisting A358 between Taunton and Minehead.
The working, known as the 'Minehead Stones', was operated mainly by a single EWS 'heavyweight' Class 37 hauling a rake of open 'Turbot' wagons which had been specially refurbished for the service. Much of the stone carried we boulders although some smaller material was also carried in mineral wagons as required. The large rocks were unloaded on specially cleared land near Minehead Station. This job fell to a mechanical grab which stock piled the stone into various grades and sizes, before then loading it into lorries for the short trip to the sea front.
Initially, the service from either quarry operated on an 'as required' basis depending on the daily demand for the stone. A few weeks into the contract, the train operated on a daily basis and, very occasionally two loaded trains arrived on the Branch on the same day. Average tonnages delivered each day varied between 500 and 1050 tonnes.
The services operated between two separate periods – 24th March – 17th December 1997 and 6th January to 16th June 1998. The first train onto the Branch was hauled by 37711. A total of 48 different Class 37s visited the Branch together with two Class 47s and two Class 33s (which appeared double-headed on 1 st October 1997). Heritage traction also played its part when, for example, D1010 'Western Campaigner' took the opportunity to pilot the train from Bishops Lydeard on 27 th March 1998 and steam locos 1450 and 4160 were also used to pilot trains along the branch.
24th March 1997 Railfreight Metals liveried Class 37 No.37711 passes Cogload Juntion with the 8Z90 Westbury - Minehead stone
(Photo: Brian Garrett) |
1st April 1997 Mainline Freight liveried Class 37 No. 37715 rounds the curve at Roebuck Curve, working the 7Z90 Merehead - Minehead
(Photo: Neil Higson) |
1st April 1997 Mainline Freight liveried Class 37 No. 37715 rolls onto the West Somerset Railway at Norton Fitzwarren on the 7Z90 from Whatley to Minehead (Photo: Neil Higson)
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8th April 1997 Mainline Freight liveried Class 37 No. 37705 passes Wanstrow with the 8Z90 Whatley - Merehead, this train then had a loco change at Westbury! (Photo: Neil Higson)
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14th May 1997 Railfreight Coal liveried Class 37 No. 37894 arrives at Bishops Lydeard with the 8Z90 from Merehead to Minehead (Photo: Neil Higson)
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15th May 1997 Railfreight Coal liveried Class 37 No.37894 having called at Bishops Lydeard, is seen passing Watchet on route to Minehead (Photo: Neil Higson)
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9th July 1997 Load Haul liveried Class 37 No.37713 passes Cogload Junction with the 8C25 Whatley - Minehead stone (Photo: Brian Garrett)
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21st July 1997 Mainline Blue liveried Class 37 No. 37798 7C25 Merehead - Minehead at Longlands Farm between Norton Fitzwarren and Bishops Lydeard (Photo: Neil Higson)
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8th April 1998 Load Haul liveried Class 37 No.37710 was an Ex Immingham FDCI pool loco, and is seen passing Fairwood Jn with the 7C25 from Whatley, the wagons had earlier been tripped to Westbury by 47484! (Photo: Mark Few)
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9th April 1998 Load Haul liveried Class 37 No. 37698 in Load Haul livery passes Fairwood Jn with the 7C25 Merehead - Minehead (Photo: Mark Few)
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12th May 1998 provided a rare visit of a RES liveried 47/4. This happened on 3 occasions in May 98. Here Res liveried Class 47 No. 47475 is seen passing Cogload Jn heading for Minehead (Photo: Dave Jones)
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26th May 1998 Mainline Freight liveried Class 37 No. 37892 is seen passing Upton Noble on route to Minehead (Photo: Mark Few)
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29th May 1998 EWS liveried Class 37 No. 37695 passes Wanstrow on the Merehead branch. The 37 would then work to Westbury before running round and heading to Minehead (Photo: Mark Few)
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1st June 1998 BR Large Loco survivor Class 37 No. 37025 passes Upton Noble with the 8C25 Whatley - Minehead stone (Photo: Mark Few)
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