Great Western Coffee Shop

Hey guys... I'm not too sure if this is the right place for this but anyhoo...
I read in Rail Express a few months back about a Local hauled service between Yeovil and Oxford using Class 50s.

Until then I didn't know anything about this... could anyone provide me with any more information?

Cheers, JJ  ;D

Although it may seem strange  i did hear that it was serious, GO-CO were looking at using class 50's although i only think2 are actually main line registered.

If anything i think class 57's   are more likely especially since Virgin have a  few of theirs off lease although with the bad reputation they gained when some of them worked for FGW maybe an alternative may be looked at.

 I suspect that it will all come down to how much it will cost to  lease the loco's with the clas s 67's being very expensive i have heard

Good / sensible place to ask, JJ

I suspect too that you've picked up some "smoke" from Goco - see http://www.goco.coop/train/ which is their latest rail update.  The page includes comment that a couple of elements of the proposal have been refined, and in the process of refining and coming down on a final solution may options are considered.   It was probably one of those fires that raised the smoke that you saw - but judging by what was said by Kate Whittle of the Goco on Thursday (public talk, Swindon) it's extremely unlikely that you would see a class 50 on one of their services.

There is a preserved class 50 based at Yeovil Junction ... not sure if that's one of the one's that mainline registered; I believe it used to be, but have read that less are now mainlined than was previously the case.   As Yeovil - Westbury - Chippenham - Didcot was part of the old GWR main line to Weymouth, it would also be a natural route for a slightly unusual special,  and one for "The North" would probably turn up and head north from Didcot, via Oxford.

Thanks for the info guys  ;D... I suppose we will just have to see how it develops...