The WSR is the local Preserved Railway as as such provides 22 miles of Steam and Diesel traction which rivals any other in the country. There is always somthing going on at this Preservation Centre, and over the years hunderds of photo's have been taken from various events and normal service days!
2005 will also see a regular diesel diagram operating on peak summer services to help cope with the extra loadings.
Regular Diesel Running Days / Galas also help the WSR to appeal to a broad range of Enthusiasts
Photo's in this gallery are plentyful from the years I've been photographing on the line!

Taunton Station has changed a lot over the years, but has always provided a good location in order to record various workings passing through or stopping at the station.
It's also one of the most conveniante places to visit for many of the nocternal services that run during the hours of darkness.
Taunton therefore has an extensive gallery of various trains over the past few years.

40 Steps bridge is situated just to the South of Taunton at Chip Lane near Staplegrove Road.
The bridge spans the entire width if the line, and offers good photographic vantage points for most of the day on all up and down trains.
It's a popular spot with locals for railtours and steam excursions and can get very busy.

I HAVE SET UP THIS SECTION TO LOOK AT THE MANY VARIED VISITORS WHICH HAVE TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN PLATFORM 1 AT TAUNTON OVER THE YEARS.
NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NO IDEA OF WHERE PLATFORM 1 IS AT THE STATION, OR OF IT'S SIGNIFICANCE THEN HERE IS A SHORT EXPLANATION.
PLATFORM 1 IS SITUATED AT THE SOUTHERN END OF PLATFORM 2 AND IS A BAY PLATFORM ON THE DOWN SIDE OF THE STATION. IT GIVES ACCESS TO FAIRWATER YARD AND THE MAIN LINE TO EXETER AND IN YEARS GONE BY WAS ALSO USED TO STABLE TRAINS READY TO DEPART TO BARNSTAPLE AND MINEHEAD!
BELOW ARE MANY OF THE PHOTO'S TAKEN FROM MANY DIFFERENT CONTRIBUTORS
(MY THANKS TO YOU ALL KEEP THEM COMING!!!!)
IF YOU HAVE ANY I DON'T HAVE, OR INDEED ANY SIGHTINGS OF LOCOS/TAMPERS OR EVEN UNITS WHICH HAVE USED THIS PLATFORM OVER THE YEARS THEN PLEASE EMAIL ME BELOW!
PLEASE HAVE A LOOK BACK THROUGH YOUR OLD SPOTTING BOOKS AND PHOTO'S. CAN WE GET ANY STEAM LOCO'S WHICH HAVE BEEN IN THIS PLATFORM?

The TRT (Track Renewal Train) and HOBC (High Output Ballast Cleaner) will be in use at Taunton from the 25th September 2006 for nearly three years. This collection looks at workings in connection with these trains, operating in and out of Fairwater Yard, by many contributing people!

Creech St Michael offers some good photography locations and really came into it's own during the 'foot and mouth' epedemic when places such as Cogload, Charlton and Victory were not able to be utilised.
Creech however has along with everything else become overgrown to the stage where there is now a chesnut tree growing in the middle of the down morning shot.
However this said, some stunning lighting effect and trains have been recorded in Creech over the years and this gallery details just a small selection of those!

Norton Fitzwarren was once an important junction on the mainline to the South of Taunton. Years ago it had it's own station, and was also where lines from Minehead and Barnstaple used to meet.
The Barnstaple Branch has long since gone, but the Minehead line exists as part of the West Somerset Railway, passing through the old site of Taunton Cider (Now disused) and onto the 22 mile preserved railway.
Trains still visit the WSR from the mainline and although Norton doesn't offer as many photographic locations as it used to, it's still used by many and a popular vantange point to watch, film and photograph trains!

Victory Crossing, just to the West of Norton Fitzwarren can offer some good views for photographing+Video, and from the Public Footpath which runs through an adjacent field.
It's not a place I offten frequent, but as and when I do, more shots will appear!

Situated on the Somerset/Devon border, Whiteball is the steepest incline in the area. Shots can be taken from both sides of the tunnel and is always popular with photographers and people with Video Cameras.
Marlands on the Taunton side of the tunnel, now offers some extensive and open views of trains, after a Network Rail cut back over the Winter of 2004/2005. (Comparing how it used to look!)
Whiteball on the Exeter side is now getting very grown up with vegitation but is still a popular location for Steam Enthusiasts in the South West to see a loco hard at work.

Cogload Jn is where the GWML to Bristol splits and the Berks and Hants line to Westbury diverges.
Cogload has long been a focal point for Taunton photograhy due to it's 'classic' flyover. However in recent years the complete disragard by Network Rail for lineside vegiation growth has lead to this shot only being possible in the late evening for trains heading for Taunton from the Westbury direction!
Never the less it's a plesant walk along the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal for a few shots in the evening.

Charlton Bridge was once a fantastic location to photograph and watch trains. Off the beaten tracks in the counrtyside it's situated just to the South of Cogload Jn.
However as with the whole railway network, neglect by Network Rail with regards to lineside vegitation has now meant that photos in certain locations at Chalrton are now nearly blocked by trees!
Charlton however has provided some brilliant photos over the years and still get used on occasions for recording train movements for Taunton Trains

Banklands is a little known location to the north of Cogload Jn, it's only good for Down afternoon trains in general. As most trains use the Berks and Hants these days, it's easy to see why it's little visited!
However from time to time, it's a nice location to use, and is good for down photos around 14:30 onwards most days. Altough being in a cutting shadows can often cause problems if your a fussy photter!

A selection of photos, showing views of Fairwater Yard/ Silk Mills area of Taunton. All photos of locomotives in Fairwater Yard have been taken with permisson or by qualified personnel. Fairwater Yard is operated by Network Rail and should not be entered without prior permission

Now the Taunton Deane Motorway Services, or the M5 in general wouldn't be the first location on everyone's list when they think about going out to photograph a train!
BUT it can happen, many railway companies use lorries to move their locos and coaching stock around the UK for repair and storage every year.
Over the years I've been very lucky to have photographed just a few of the mad locomotive movements on the M5 through Taunton and surrounding area. This gallery is dedicated to just that!

The Somerset Levels covers any photos taken between Langport and Cogload Jn on the Berks and Hants route to and from Westbury

For many years now while running Taunton Trains I've collected many photos and images which have been sent to me by various people from all over the country. It's been decided 'The Retro Gallery' will include a large selection of these images all credited to those people who originally took the photographs.
They feature trains in and around the Taunton area taken during any period before the year 2000.
Should anyone wish to contribute to this gallery please Email me : b.garrett@tiscali.co.uk

Photo's charting the progress of the new bridge bring built at Silk Mills in Taunton over the Main Line. It's situated to the West of Taunton Station. The Silk Mills Road in recnent years has become somewhat of a car park at times. With traffic having to que for over a mile in each direction during busy train periods. This new scheme will provide not only an ease in congestion, but a new photgraph location!
The 'Big Lift' is dur during the early part of April with the full bridge opening in August. Work on the bridge is ongoing 24hrs a day 7 days a week in order for it to keep on schedule.
Photo's shown are by various contributors!

Jeff is another more 'mature' member of the Taunton Railfan Community.

He's also been photographing at Taunton long before I was in short trousers and has many a tale to tell of long evenings spent waiting for trains at the end of Platforms 2 and 5!
I'll let his photo's tell the story!

A selection of photos from the Bathpool and Broomhey areas of Taunton.
Bathpool is situated on the A38 just next to Creech Castle Traffic Lights and the back of Hankridge Retail Park.
It offers good views in the up and down directions, however the A38 is a VERY busy road and traffic may be a problem if you wish to use video.

Dave has been a Taunton regular for many years now, more than I can remember and more than I'm sure he cares to also!
This gallery is a chance to see what we all missed in and around Taunton all those years ago when we were not even a twinkle in the milkmans eye!

From late on Boxing Day 2005 Network Rail began a large week long closure of the mainline between Taunton Station and Cogload Jn.
This gallery has been set up to record the activities and works taking place during the week long track replacement scheme!

Plans have been unveiled detailing the latest round of improvements being made to Taunton Station's car parking layouts and bus interchange facilities. Taunton's growth as a commuter town has lead to the station parking facilities being inadequate for their intended use. It's also the intention of the council to use the station as a transport interchange/ hub.

70 new car parking spaces will be provided on the down side of the station together with a new access road. On the up side of the station a new through route will be created for buses from Killkenny Court together with improved access and walkways for pedestrians.

Bradford on Tone is situated between Taunton and Wellington and has an overbridge and crossing from which photos can be obtained. The roadbridge is a popular cut through for local traffic and care must be taken on this narrow bridge.
However it does offer a couple of reasonable vantage points to photograph trains from.