18th April 2021
Welcome back, friend! Returning to the south west after almost 5 years since its naming at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway, Colas Rail Freight Class 56 no. 56302 "PECO The Railway Modeller, 1946-2016, 70 Years" approaches Wick bridge at 15.16. The train is the 6F27 14.36 Westbury Down T. C. to Crediton and is carrying sleepers for the Meldon branch. With a load of 1302 tonnes and a train that is 1176 ft long, the consist comprises FEA x 2, JYA x 1, KRA x 13 and another FEA x 2. 18 wagons in total. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/plqS9lRdE84
This was no doubt an unexpected and welcome surprise. The Grid had worked south to London (and possibly to Dollands Moor) a couple days previously with two track machines, which were presumably going over to the continent. It then worked light engine from Wembley to Westbury, via Bristol and Taunton, yesterday (Saturday) in order to be in position for this working to Meldon. By all accounts the loco is staying on the branch until the following Friday, whilst track is relayed on the Meldon branch prior to the Okehampton passenger service starting. Another Class 56 was due to pass this spot later in the day, top and tailed with a Colas 66 on a train to South Wales, via Taunton, but sadly I had to let that one pass. But it was good to see 56302 again - it seems to have spent most of the past 5 years in the North of England, and Scotland!
Post script: in the end 56302 stayed in Devon for almost a month, based out of Okehampton, hired to Network Rail as a “super shunter” during track laying work on the branch. After working a train back to Westbury during the early hours of Friday 14th May it later headed back to base at Nottingham Eastcroft light engine.
This was no doubt an unexpected and welcome surprise. The Grid had worked south to London (and possibly to Dollands Moor) a couple days previously with two track machines, which were presumably going over to the continent. It then worked light engine from Wembley to Westbury, via Bristol and Taunton, yesterday (Saturday) in order to be in position for this working to Meldon. By all accounts the loco is staying on the branch until the following Friday, whilst track is relayed on the Meldon branch prior to the Okehampton passenger service starting. Another Class 56 was due to pass this spot later in the day, top and tailed with a Colas 66 on a train to South Wales, via Taunton, but sadly I had to let that one pass. But it was good to see 56302 again - it seems to have spent most of the past 5 years in the North of England, and Scotland!
Post script: in the end 56302 stayed in Devon for almost a month, based out of Okehampton, hired to Network Rail as a “super shunter” during track laying work on the branch. After working a train back to Westbury during the early hours of Friday 14th May it later headed back to base at Nottingham Eastcroft light engine.
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Also in: Curry Rivel (Oathe, Wick), Somerset
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