FIRST THROUGH MOVE for OVER 5 YEARS!! Class 59 NAMED at East Somerset Railway!

Action in the vicinity of Cranmore station today to see the rarely traversed section of track between Merehead Quarry and Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway where Freightliner Class 59 59201 arrived from the mainline for a private naming ceremony!
This is the first time since 2019 a train has worked this section of track, and the locomotives new name ‘Westbury Power Signal Box 1984-2024’ was proudly unveiled, before VIP dignitaries were treated to a trip on the heritage lines DMU set. Inclement weather followed with some heavy downpours but that didn’t deter spirits and once the VIP ceremony had finished, we were able to access the platform and have a look at the newly named Class 59!
Great to see this stretch clear of lineside vegetation and being used again, with a railtour headed by D1015 ‘Western Champion’ due next month, and long term plans for a split line proposal in the pipeline, certainly exciting times ahead at the East Somerset Railway!
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[@gledhir]

great reminder for me of traversing the line into East Cranmore n HST "Engines and Elephants" tour. Also Thomas day with my young son all a long time ago

[@kgc20goober]

Great to see she's still got her bell from her national power days under the name of vale of York.

[@derekdee9592]

Great move publicity foer East Somerset railway

[@airvisualltd3838]

love the 59 in that livery - yes as already asked, what is the significance of the bell ??

[@22pcirish]

EMD have attached a bell to the first of each class for the UK market. The exception being 66799, it gets one as it was the last class 66 to be built.

[@airvisualltd3838]

Ooh OK nice one

[@yeojohn]

Why the bell? Is it functional?

[@AndreiTupolev]

The 16-645 sounds so much more beefy than the 12-710

[@22pcirish]

@@AndreiTupolev Four extra cylinders does that.

[@AussiePom]

Looks like a Wisconsin Central colour scheme.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Genesee & Wyoming, they're everywhere these days