2010:
The first of seventeen stone trains commenced operating from the Mendip Hills to the West Somerset Railway on Tuesday 9th November. Former National Power Class 59/2 No.59205 had the task of hauling the first train from Merehead Quarry to Minehead in connection with local sea defence work on the Somerset Coast. Oddly the flow of large mendip boulders in ZCA 'Sea Urchin' wagons uses two headcodes/ paths in each direction owing to the train sharing the current Mendip Rail stone path from Westbury to Exeter (which operates as required).
7C27 0433 Whatley Quarry– Taunton which formed the 6Z24 0645 Taunton – Minehead
6Z25 1200 Minehead - Taunton which then formed the 6Z28 1310 Taunton – Whatley Quarry
Trains first ran to Minehead where the locomotive would run round, the train would then pull forward to an unloading site situated between Minehead and Dunster. Once unloaded the train would return along the WSR to Taunton and Whatley Quarry.
7C27 0433 Whatley Quarry– Taunton which formed the 6Z24 0645 Taunton – Minehead
6Z25 1200 Minehead - Taunton which then formed the 6Z28 1310 Taunton – Whatley Quarry
Trains first ran to Minehead where the locomotive would run round, the train would then pull forward to an unloading site situated between Minehead and Dunster. Once unloaded the train would return along the WSR to Taunton and Whatley Quarry.
10th November 2010 EWS liveried Class 66 No.
66018 catches the early morning glint at Williton while waiting to enter the
station while working 6Z24 from Taunton to Minehead (Photo: Cameron Walker)
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10th November 2010 EWS liveried Class 66 No. 66018 runs around its train of stone at Minehead having arrived with the 6Z24 from Taunton
(Photo: Martin Southwood) |
24th November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No.59104 passes Doniford having unloaded at Minehead skirting Helwell Bay on route to Taunton & Whatley (Photo: Peter Slater)
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24th November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No.59104 approaches Crowcombe with the 6Z25 empties from Minehead (Photo: Peter Slater)
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24th November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No. 59104 passes through Crowcombe with the 6Z25 from Minehead to Taunton before continuing back to the Mendip Quarries (Photo: Martin Southwood)
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24th November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No. 59104 passes 40Steps, Taunton working the 6Z25 from Minehead back to Westbury
(Photo: Alexander Martin-Brown) |
23rd November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No. 59103 shortly before sunrise, 59103 passes alongside the Bristol Channel at Blue Anchor with the 6Z24 from Taunton to Minehead loaded train (Photo: Peter Slater)
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23rd November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No. 59103 was back for its second visit to the West Somerset Railway hauling stone from the Mendip Quarries to Minehead. As the low Winter sun rises in the morning sky, 59103 is see moving forward from Minehead Station towards the unloading site. (Photo: Nathan Williamson)
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23rd November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No. 59103 is seen at Blue Anchor, who would of thought that several hours after this image was taken the skies would be dropping snow! (Photo: Alex Martin-Brown)
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26th November 2010 Hanson liveried Class 59 No.59103 can be seen traversing the double curves at Leigh Bridge between Crowcombe and Stogumber. It's not often large freight trains like this can be found on branch lines such as the West Somerset Railway. 59103 Mendip Rail Class 59/1 has however visited the West Somerset Railway back in 2005, when it took part during a Diesel Gala Weekend offering passengers the chance to travel behind a heavy freight locomotive. (Photo: Darren Harris)
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29th November 2010 EWS liveried Class 59 No. 59205 skirts Trebles Holford in stunning light hauling the 6Z25 empties to Taunton and Whatley (Photo: Peter Slater)
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1st December 2010 EWS liveried Class 59 No.59201 climbs up to Crowcombe Heathfield with a smattering of snow on the ground hauling the 6Z25 from Minehead (Photo: Peter Slater)
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2nd December 2010 Aggregate Industries liveried Class 59 No. 59005 passes Leigh Woods with the return 6Z25 Minehead - Taunton empties (Photo: Peter Slater)
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3rd December 2010 Aggregate Industries liveried Class 59 No.59005 provides another variety of General Motors locomotives which have been appearing on the Minehead Stone services. 3rd December saw Aggregate Industries liveried 59005 'Kenneth J Painter' arriving into Minehead as the sun rises in the East. All Class 59 variants /0, /1, and /2 have now appeared on the West Somerset Stone services.
(Photo: Alex Martin-Brown) |
9th December 2010 DB Schenker liveried Class 59 No.59206 has been the first German DB branded locomotive to visit the West Somerset Railway. On the 9th December 59206 'John F Yeoman - Rail Pioneer' approaches Blue Anchor in wonderful Winter sunlight with the return 6Z25 empties from Minehead to Taunton, before working back to Westbury and on to the Mendip Quarries. (Photo: Rob Sherwood)
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9th December 2010 DB Schenker liveried Class 59 No.59206 passes Castle Hill on route to Taunton with the 6Z25 empties from Minehead. (Photo: Alexander Martin-Brown)
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13th December 2010 EWS liveried Class 66 No. 66174 passes Leigh Woods Crossing with the 6Z25 empties from Minehead
(Photo: Peter Slater) |
22nd December 2010 EWS liveried Class 66 No. 66018 prepares to depart Bishops Lydeard with the final empty train from Minehead to Taunton & Whatley Quarry (Photo: Cameron Walker)
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