Autumn Steam Gala 29 September to 2 October 2011
1744 © Ashley Dace (via Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0)

No 5029

No 34070 © WSR Plc

No 7828 © Sam Burton

No 5542 © Steve Edge

No 3850 © Gerry Leyman

No 4160 © WSR Plc

No 9351 © Andrew Padfield

No 88 © Lois Cope

Disclaimer...
Most of the information on this page is based on official information [as at ]
Autumn Steam Gala 2011 Engines...
· GNR N2 0-6-2T no 1744
· SR 4-6-2 no 34070 Manston
· GWR 2-6-2T no 5542
· GWR 4-6-0 no 5029 Nunney Castle
· BR(W) 4-6-0 no 7828 Norton Manor
· GWR 2-8-0 no 3850
· BR(W) 2-6-2T no 4160
· WSR 2-6-0 no 9351
· SDJR 2-8-0 no 88
 
All the above is believed correct as at 9 September 2011 and listed in good faith. Not all engines will be working each day. All engines are, of course, subject to availability.
The rostered locos expected for each day:
29 Sep7828, 5029, 5542(a), 1744, 34070, 9351, 3850, 4160
30 Sep7828, 5542(a), 1744, 34070, 88, 9351, 3850; (5029's turns now covered by 88 and 5553)
1 Oct7828, 5542(b), 1744, 34070, 88, 9351, 3850, 4160, 5553(c); (5029's turns now covered by 88 and 5553)
2 Oct7828, 5542(b), 1744(d), 34070, 88, 9351, 3850, 4160. (5029's turns now covered by 88 and 5553)
Notes
(a)No 5542 and Autocoach will operate Minehead to Dunster shuttles on 29 Sep and 30 Sep between 11.40am to 3.40pm; and on 30 Sep works the 6pm Minehead to Bishops Lydeard.
(b)No 5542 and Autocoach will operate Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren shuttles on 1 Oct and 2 Oct.
(c)No 5553 will be shunting wagons at Minehead between 10.40am and 4pm on 1 Oct.
(d)No 1744 will be shunting wagons at Minehead between 12pm and 3pm on 2 Oct.
 
All the above is believed correct as at 15 September 2011 and listed in good faith.
Events and Highlights...
· Guest engines - GNR N2 0-6-2T no 1744, GWR 2-6-2T no 5542, GWR 4-6-0 no 5029 and SR 4-6-2 no 34070 (all subject to availability)
· GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Norton Manor back after overhaul
· Intensive timetable
· Autocoach no 178 on shuttle services between Minehead and Dunster on Thursday and Friday and between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday and Sunday.
· Early morning goods train will operate from Minehead and Bishops Lydeard on 29 and 30 September.
· SR 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton on display in steam at Washford.
· Shunting demonstrations at Minehead with GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 on Saturday and GNR N2 0-6-2T no 1744 on Sunday.
·  All the above highlights, and the information below, are believed correct as at 15 September 2011, detailed in good faith and subject to availability.
Train Timetables...
» Thursday 29 September 2011
» Friday 30 September 2011
» Saturday 1 October 2011
» Sunday 2 October 2011
Please note other trains - empty coaching stock, goods trains, light engines, charter trains - may run. Details will be found in the Working Timetables published with the Souvenir Programme.
Catering...
Refreshments including hot food outlets at most stations.
A restaurant car will serve food as follows:
» Thursday and Friday: lunches, cakes etc on the 11am from Bishops Lydeard and the 1pm from Minehead
Food includes bacon and sausage baps; soup; filled baguettes; jacket potato; pasty; steak pie; ploughman's lunch; apple pie; lemon blossom; bread pudding; pastries and cakes from the trolley. Drinks include tea; coffee; caftiere fresh coffee; hot chocolate; wine; beer; cider; soft drinks; spring water; milk; Fentiman's traditional drinks. These lists are taken from draft menus and all items subject to change and availability.
» Saturday and Sunday: breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas on 9am from Bishops Lydeard; 11am from Minehead; 1pm from Bishops Lydeard and the 3pm from Minehead.
Food includes full English breakfast; porridge; fruit juice; toast; bacon and sausage baps; soup; filled baguettes; jacket potato; pasty; steak pie; ploughman's lunch; apple pie; lemon blossom; bread pudding; pastries and cakes from the trolley. Drinks include tea; coffee; caftiere fresh coffee; hot chocolate; wine; beer; cider; soft drinks; spring water; milk; Fentiman's traditional drinks. These lists are taken from draft menus and all items subject to change and availability.
The Turntable...
At Minehead, watch steam locomotives turned on the fully restored former GWR turntable, whilst taking tea at the Turntable Buffet. There is easy access to view the turning operation.
Museums...
Museums, Model Railways and Gift Shops will be open throughout the line.
Shed Visits...
The DEPG Diesel Depot and Heritage Diesel Visitor Centre at Williton will be open on all four days of the Gala (admission by donation). Come and see the heritage diesel locomotives on display and view the Gala ‘standby’ steam locomotive stabled in the Diesel Depot South Yard.
Please note the West Somerset Restoration Works at the Swindon Shed will not be open.
However, Although the Swindon Shed will be closed, Ray Waldron of West Somerset Restoration has advised that a marquee will be erected in the South Yard in front of the shed which will house traders stands together with a refreshments stall run by Williton Station Staff which will provide sandwiches, rolls, cakes, sweets and hot and cold drinks. Furthermore GWR 4-6-0 no 6960 Raveningham Hall will be on display in the yard. Further exhibits in the yard may be added in due course.
Shuttles...
Autocoach no 178 will work shuttle services between Minehead and Dunster on Thursday and Friday (11.40am then hourly until 3.40pm); and between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday and Sunday (departing Bishops Lydeard at 9.30am, 10.45am, 11.55am, 1.05pm, 2.20pm and 3.30pm)
Lineside Photography...
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. For general information about WSR Photography Lineside Permit click here
Souvenir Programme and Working Timetable...
Now available to order online.
Retail Outlets...
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.
Tickets...
Now available to order online for:
Thursday 29 September 2011
Friday 30 September 2011
Saturday 1 October 2011
Sunday 2 October 2011
Multi-day Pass
Prices and charges are shown on the official WSR website.
Latest Gala News
No 3850 © Alan Turner
30 September 2011
Update: Nos 88 and 5553 will take the place of Nunney Castle for the remainder of the Autumn Steam Gala.
30 September 2011
M5 Junction 25
Latest information is that from 7pm on 1 October to 7am on 3 October (including all of Sunday) all slip roads at Junction 25 of the M5 are closed except for southbound from Ilminster (A358) onto the M5 going towards Wellington only.
Gala visitors travelling to Bishops Lydeard Station via the M5 or the A358 from Ilminster to Taunton are urged to use a different route:
  • From the north on the M5 - use Junction 24 and then the A38 towards Taunton, then, just before Taunton, following signs for the A358 to Minehead.
  • From the south on the M5 - use Junction 26 and then the A38 towards Taunton, then, just before Taunton, following signs for the A358 to Minehead.
  • From the south and east on the A358 towards Taunton - there are no suitable main road alternatives so please allow extra time for your journey.
30 September 2011
Nunney Castle:
WSR Plc have issued the following update. "Due to a lubrication pipe fracturing underneath the locomotive, GWR Castle 4-6-0 no 5029 Nunney Castle is currently withdrawn from Autumn Steam Gala operation. Our engineers will be working on the vehicle to return it to traffic as soon as possible but at this stage it is unlikely to run on for the rest of today or Saturday 1st October. We will update you as soon as we have further news from the Support Crew who are currently working on the engine to get one of the stars for the gala back on track."

26 September 2011
Shunting demonstrations at Minehead with 5553 (Sat) and 1744 (Sun)
21 September 2011
Restaurant car details
19 September 2011
SR 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton on display in steam at Washford
15 September 2011
Expected daily loco roster announced
12 September 2011
Shoot the photographers
9 September 2011
No 34046 withdrawn from the Gala
8 September 2011
Nunney Castle joins the guest list
5 September 2011
Autocoach no178 on shuttle services
31 August 2011
No 6960 will not now appear
27 August 2011
Manston added to list
19 August 2011
Timetables now available
18 August 2011
Souvenir Programme available to order online
18 August 2011
Rover Tickets available to order online
26 June 2011
Initial loco list issued
No 6695 © Alan Turner
No 4160 © Dean Fisher
Shoot the photographers
The efforts of nearly 1000 photographers over the last twelve years have greatly helped the unofficial WSR website to show a wide range of activities on the West Somerset Railway.
And to celebrate that incredible support we have arranged permission to use the Turntable at Minehead. With a steam loco also on the turntable, the idea is to line-up the photographers - and shoot a few pictures of them for a change.
Contributors of photographs to www.wsr.org.uk are invited to a Grand Photographers Photoshoot at the Turntable at Minehead at 12.30pm on 1 October 2011 when the camera will be focussed on a mass line-up of many of the 1000 photographers who have helped this website over the years. Hi-viz jackets necessary for those going onto the turntable.
Attendees might like to arrive on the 11am from Bishops Lydeard and leave Minehead on the 1pm departure. There'll be plenty of time in between for the Photoshoot.
If you are one of the 1000 and can make it, kindly let me know you will be there.
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