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EyeWitness - 17 March 2001
Two main line steam specials
Jon Tooke reports:
1Z43
This was the reporting number of the Charter from London Paddington run by Past Time Rail Limited. The train was made up of the rail charters services BN91 Blood and Custard coaching set. The loco, 4936 ran with the headboard of " The Exmoor Express".
The return leg of this charter, reporting number 1Z44 was hauled from Bishops Lydeard by an EWS class 67 67007 (...the names Bond!), this loco ran light from Bristol Barton Hill EWS depot with a reporting number of 0Z97, the loco stabled by the water tower at BL awaiting it's stock for the return.This was the very first time that a class 67 locomotive had visited the WSR.
1Z96
This was the reporting number of the Charter from Derby hauled by 5029 Nunney Castle. Unfortunately, this loco was declared a failure prior to the departure, so an EWS ReS class 47 47761was put inside the train loco to provide the motive power from Derby to Bishops Lydeard. The train was organised by Pathfinder Tours, and ran as "The Exmoor Coast Express" It was formed of Riveria Trains CPO1 stock in Chocolate and Cream livery. The class 47 came off at BL and this and the generator car stabled by the water tower to be joined later by the aforementioned class 67.
The charters return journey as train reporting number 1Z97 with just the class 47 in charge was somewhat delayed at BL due to there being a problem with the ETH. The train was seen passing Taunton station some 25 minutes down.
Contributed by Jon Tooke 18 March 2001