The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Taunton Train Yard
British Rail Class 35 no. 7017 Diesel Engine and the locomotive Vulcan await their fate at Taunton Train Yard
In partnership with:
Overview
The lightweight diesel locomotives with hydraulic transmission known as Hymeks were the choice of their day in 1955 under the British Railways Modernisation Plan. The Hymeks were given a more elaborate livery than many of the contemporary British Railways diesel classes but between 1971 and 1975 they were withdrawn from service among fears some diesels had been hastily rushed into service. The diesel engine quietly awaits its fate alongside a steam engine named Vulcan.
The W.G. Bagnall Victor/Vulcan/Valliant locomotives are used in industrial service from 1951 to 1973 at the Port Talbot site, the names a reference to the RAF V bombers then entering service. Replaced by diesels Victor 2996 and Vulcan 2994 go to Austin Motors at Longbridge before being bought by the heritage West Somerset Railway (WSR) where they return to service in 1976-7. They gain the nickname of Camel Class as the locomotives have a short wheelbase with long overhangs ensuring a less than smooth ride. D7017 is now operational after being fully restored its Brunswick Green colour, Vulcan went to the Stephenson Railway Museum and Victor to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.
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