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• One of the very best steam events on the planet...
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The West Somerset Railway Autumn Steam Gala has established itself as one of the heritage railway events of the year.
The 2008 event promises to live up to the very high quality successful Steam Galas held over recent years. If you have never sampled a WSR Autumn Steam Gala you just don’t know what you’re missing!
The Autumn Steam Gala runs over four days from 2 October to 5 October 2008.
Up to ten engines are expected to be in steam and working trains at the Gala, many of which are being brought in especially for the event...
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| | · | SR 4-6-2 no 34007 Wadebridge [T]
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| | · | SR 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton [M]
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| | · | GWR 0-6-2T no 6695 [M]
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| | · | GWR 0-6-0PT no 9466 [M]
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| | · | LNER N7 0-6-2T no 69621[T]
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| | · | S160 2-8-0 no 5197 [T]
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| | · | GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 [T]
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| | · | BR(W) 2-6-2T no 4160 [M]
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| | · | WSR 2-6-0 no 9351 [M]
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| | · | SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 [T]
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| | · | GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 [M]
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[M]=facing Minehead [T]=facing Taunton.
All the above believed correct as at 30 September 2008, listed in good faith and subject to availability. Not all engines will be working each day. Peckett 0-4-0ST no 1788 "Kilmersdon" will be in steam giving shunting demonstrations at Washford. All engines are, of course, subject to availability.
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| | · | An absolute feast of steam
| | · | Up to ten locomotives in action
| | · | Several guest engines – including nos 34007, 9466, 6962, 6695, 5197 (all subject to availability)
| | · | Very intensive timetable
| | · | Shunting demos at Washford
| | · | Sheds and workshops at Williton and Minehead open for inspection
| | · | Bar/Buffet car facilities on most trains
| | · | Lots of additional attractions and events
| | · | Wide range of Rover tickets available - cheaper if booked in advance - details soon
| | · | Museums, model railways, gift shops, refreshments
| | · | Frequent free bus service linking Taunton Railway Station, Silk Mill Park-and-Ride and Bishops Lydeard Railway Station (car parking at WSR stations will be very limited)
| | · | Special Souvenir programme available
| | · | Taunton Model Railway Group's base at Bishops Lydeard will be open
| | · | Lots of photographic opportunities
| | · | All-in-all, a superb value-for-money day out for all the family
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All the above highlights, and the information below, are believed correct as at 18 July 2008, detailed in good faith and subject to availability.
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The popular service of breakfasts and hot meals – together with a bar and buffet service – will be available.
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| | · | Breakfast
| | | Breakfast is served daily until 12:30pm
| | | The QB Big Breakfast £6.50
| | | Orange or Grapefruit Juice
| | | Egg, Bacon, Sausages, Tomatoes and Baked Beans
| | | Toast and Marmalade
| | | Tea or Coffee with a complimentary refill
| | | all prices include a First Class supplement and VAT
| | | a table service of real ale, lager, cider, wines, spirits and soft drinks is available from your steward
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| | · | Luncheon/Afternoon
| | | Luncheon/Afternoon is served daily from 12:45pm
| | | Quantock Brunch - Egg, Bacon, Sausages, Baked Beans or Tomatoes, New Potatoes or Hash Browns - £5.00
| | | Traditional Cornish Pasty - served with Baked Beans and New Potatoes - £4.00
| | | Baked Potato - served with Cheese or Baked Beans - £3.50
| | | Spotted Dick - served with Custard or Cream - £2.50
| | | Somerset Cream Tea - Scones, Strawberry Jam, Clotted Cream and Tea - £2.50
| | | Tea or Coffee with a complimentary refill
| | | all prices include a First Class supplement and VAT
| | | a table service of real ale, lager, cider, wines, spirits and soft drinks is available from your steward
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The Quantock Belle service is available on these trains...
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| | · 2 October |
11.00am and 2.30pm ex Bishops Lydeard
12.45pm and 4.15pm ex Minehead
| | · 3 October |
9.40am and 2.10pm ex Bishops Lydeard
11.25am and 4.00pm ex Minehead
| | · 4 October |
9.40am and 1.10pm ex Bishops Lydeard
11.25pm and 3.00pm ex Minehead
| | · 5 October |
9.40am and 1.10pm ex Bishops Lydeard
11.25pm and 3.00pm ex Minehead
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The QB Great British Breakfast will be available until 12.30pm. After 12.45pm, a choice of hot lunches, brunches and cream teas will be offered.
Buffet and bar facilities will be available on most train services during the weekend, serving a good range of high quality hot and cold food, tea & coffee and a range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Washford station, the base of the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, will be a focal point of activity throughout the event. Shunting demonstrations will feature on several days, and many items of historic rolling stock will be on display – including a genuine S&D wooden-bodied coach undergoing restoration. The excellent station museum will be open, as will the replica Midford signalbox – whilst the example of the peat works narrow gauge railway is well worth a look! The Gauge Museum on platform 1 at Bishops Lydeard will be open – come and see the many exhibits and displays of railway interest. The unique 1897-built Great Western Railway sleeping car no 9038 will be on display, and there will be lots to see and do to maintain your interest while you wait for your train! Blue Anchor Railway Museum will also be open.
The sheds at both Minehead and Williton will be open during the Gala - a unique opportunity, as access is normally very restricted to the public on safety grounds. Minehead shed will be open between 10am and 5pm on both Saturdays and both Sundays. Come and see engines ‘resting’ on shed in between their duties, and visit the workshop and view work on the overhaul of BR(W) Manor Class 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor. At Williton, the yard area will be open on both Saturdays and both Sundays. 10am to 5pm. Progress can be viewed on GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412. The workshops of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group, together with the Diesel Heritage Centre will also be open, with several heritage diesel locomotives on display. The chance to see work proceeding on a number of our historic Great Western coaches should also not be missed.
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• Lineside photography...
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A reminder that access to the lineside and other areas away from the public areas is restricted to those with a valid Lineside Photography Permit. More information...
Richard Derry will be signing copies of his Irwell Press books at Blue Anchor whilst Alan Hammond will be signing copies of his Somerset and Dorset Railway titles in the shop at Minehead.
Down the years Pete Waterman has been a regular visitor to the West Somerset Railway Steam Galas. Sometimes riding the trains and on other occasions on the footplate of engines with which he is closely associated such as the "Super D" and GWR "Small Prairie" no 5553. However, on Saturday 4 October, Pete will be exercising his penmanship in Minehead Station Shop, signing copies of his book A Train Is For Life as part of the programme for the Autumn Steam Gala. There will be two sessions, 10am. to Noon and 2pm to 4pm.
The book is about the wonderful collection of model railways that Pete has acquired over 50 years and features an amazing range of locomotives and rolling stock from some of the country's leading model-makers. Certainly in some of the illustrations it is necessary to look twice or thrice to make sure that the picture is of a model and not of the "real thing".
The book costs £19.99 and is a 160 page hardback published by Ian Allan. Anyone who would like a signed copy of Pete's book but cannot get to Minehead on 4 October can order one by ringing 01643 700387.
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• Souvenir Programme and Working Timetable...
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A special souvenir programme – which will include complete working timetables and the engine/rolling stock diagrams for all six days – will be available.
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• Bus service - Bishops Lydeard and Taunton
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A special free bus service linking Taunton station, the Park and Ride car park at Silk Mill and Bishops Lydeard station will run at least every 30 minutes on all four days of the Gala. The service will start from 9.30am collecting from under the Taunton Station bridge each day, with the last bus connecting with the final train arrival at Bishops Lydeard.
The Railway’s principal shops at Minehead and Bishops Lydeard will both be open throughout the Gala – offering a wide range of gifts, souvenirs, books, videos etc – and shops at several of the intermediate stations will also be open. The excellent “Reader’s Halt” bookstall, situated on the platform at Minehead, will also be open. A small number of sales and information stands will also be present.
Please note that no privilege ticket, free pass and voucher facilities are valid at the Autumn Steam Gala. Ordinary fares apply to all passengers. More details soon...
Discounts are available on Rover Tickets purchased in advance- use the Booking Form. Rover Tickets allow you the complete freedom of the line and purchasing them is the best way of enjoying the Gala.
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• All-day meal service...
| The famous Quantock Belle all-day hot meal service - together with a bar and buffet service - will run during the event.
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Autumn Steam Gala 2-5 October 2008
