60103 Flying Scotsman, 37240, 47237, 47848,47802, 47812, Midland Pullman, Britannic Explorer & MORE

A mad day in the Taunton area and along the Minehead with no less than x5 consecutive railtours running through the region! There have been a couple of occasions recently where we have had x4 railtours in one day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WnOPKob6ag&t=1240s and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnwoH7N_cqE&t=247s but today saw 5 in the mix with alot to keep track of!

We begin the video at Bishops Lydeard where the luxury Britannic Explorer sleeper we saw arrive yesterday evening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvnX6FRphDs is seen heading down the line to Norton Fitzwarren with 66706 ‘Nene Valley’ + 66744 ‘Heart of Wessex’, while 7802 'Bradley Manor' is steamed up for WSR services.

We then see the second railtour of the day arrive in the shape of the Railway Touring Companies West Somerset Steam Express which should have been hauled by either 34028 'Eddystone' or 35028 'Clan Line' however sadly the advertised steam haulage did not materialise on this railtour resulting in a pair of WCRC top and tailed Class 47s 47237 and 47848 hauling the train which we see arriving and departing Bishops Lydeard bound for Minehead. Quite ironic that all of this years West Somerset 'Steam' Express excursions have been diesel hauled!

Following the 47s at Bishops Lydeard we hot foot it to Taunton for the Midland Pullman short set which having worked down yesterday, was working the Dreaming Spires Pullman Penzance to Oxford and return today with 43059 ‘Loch Shiel’ and 43050 ‘Loch Morar’, and pauses briefly before continuing its journey.

Signal failure in the Worcester and Cheltenham area impacted the final two railtours of the morning having a knock on impact to the World famous LNER A3 60103 'Flying Scotsman' on it's Stourbridge Junction to Bristol Temple Meads Fox and Edwards excursion, and the Railway Touring Companies second tour of the day the Cornish Branchliner, both of which managed to claw back some time but were running late by the time the reached Taunton. While the 'Flying Scotsman' tour stopped at Taunton, the Cornish Branchliner overtook and WCRC 47812 + 47802 are seen passing Fairwater Yard, before we move onto Bishops Lydeard where, after watering at Norton Fitzwarren, a late running 60103 'Flying Scotsman' passes through with a short stop before heading all the way to Minehead, with Transrail liveried 37240 acting as tail gunner.

We catch the Scotsman passing Williton and again through Washford before arriving at Minehead where the crowds had gathered in the rain, and the WCRC 47s were patiently waiting their return path to London Paddington. We see the 47 tour depart, while 60103 comes of for servicing at Minehead the reattached to the train. It transpired that the turning manoeuvre would in fact take place at Norton Fitzwarren with the entire tour being dragged back by 37240 with the Scotsman on the rear, running down to Norton and around the triangle chord on the Allerford Branch, before 60103 'Flying Scotsman' would take charge for the return leg to Bristol. We catch the train passing Blue Anchor, Crowcombe Heathfield and Bishops Lydeard before arriving at the Norton Triangle ready for turning.

Meanwhile the Cornish Branch Liner and Midland Pullman returns both pass Norton Fitzwarren, before we see the Scotsman turned, and restart the journey back to Bristol Temple Meads then onto Stourbridge Junction, with one final shot at Downend near Puriton on the outskirts of Bridgwater as the A3 powers into the fading light back to Bristol, bringing to an end a comprehensive and awesome day of railtour action! | 19.09.2026

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