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| • Awards for WSRA publications...
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The WSRA has scooped two major "industry" awards in the annual Heritage Railway Asscociation Publications Competition. The WSRA membership leaflet - a glossy well-illustrated colour effort - has gained the "Best Publicity Material", and the quarterly Journal has retained the "Steam Railway Trophy" for magazines with more than 500 circulation. The awards were presented on 31 January 2004.
31 January 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • GWR Toplight Coach for sale...
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The Association is looking for a new home for a GWR toplight coach currently stored at Williton after having been used as a mess room and office for several years. The coach, numbered 2578, was built at Swindon in 1914 as a standard 57ft eight-compartment corridor third coach. After being condemned in 1956, it was converted to a camping coach and renumbered 9889, serving at Marazion and St Agnes in Cornwall, and later at Blue Anchor, where it remained until the closure of the Minehead branch in early 1971. After initial preservation at Washford, the coach was moved to Williton, latterly serving as a mess coach for volunteers. Currently no volunteer resource is available to restore it, so it is being offered for sale to a good home for restoration. Potential buyers are invited to contact the WSRA via email.
31 January 2004
Details and words from WSRA
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| • Weekend and Midweek Breaks...
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The Railway, in conjunction with the Yarn Market Hotel at Dunster, is offering a number of unique opportunities in 2004 to experience a nostalgic visit to the WSR combined with elegant and comfortable accommodation in the very centre of the picturesque village of Dunster. Full details of this year’s programme of Weekend and Midweek Breaks can be found on the West Somerset Railway Association web site.
31 January 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • Tickets galore...
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All tickets with a usage over 150 per annum are pre-printed but below that figure there is no printing plate and they are hand stamped. The remaining stocks are held at Minehead in reserve, together with the stocks for Minehead Booking Office.
28 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • Crash scene exercise...
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The Railway has participated in an exercise designed to test the reaction of the Avon & Somerset Police in the aftermath of a major railway incident, and also involving the Ambulance and Fire Services. On Wednesday 28 January, after weeks of meticulous planning, a staged and realistic crash scene was created at Bishops Lydeard Station supposedly after a train had run into a minibus on an ungated crossing. Casualties and bodies from the road vehicle littered the trackside, the train driver suffered shock and several rail passengers were also "injured" - all make believe of course, courtesy of Casualty Union. The Royal Marines camp at Norton Camp being used as a "mortuary". The Lethbridge Arms pub and the village hall were also utilised during the exercise which is due to finish on Thursday 29 January. Approximately 500 people are taking part in the exercise. The main point of the day was to see how the Police would deal with such a scene, but it also provided the Railway practise dealing with such a situation.
28 January 2004
Details from WSR Plc and WSRA
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| • Signal and Telegraph team hard at work...
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When ready, all components will all be loaded onto the Weltrol truck and, with the S&T "BG" van, will travel to Minehead as early as possible in February to commence the really hard work...
26 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • Steam Engineman Courses in 2004...
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Ever fancied driving a steam locomotive? The West Somerset Railway offers a range of courses which will put you in the driving seat quite literally with a goods train or a rake of passenger coaches in tow. Depending on the course, you will drive for either three, ten or twenty miles. Full instruction is given by expert drivers. Many places on the course are already taken so you will need to book quickly. For full details of the Steam Engineman Courses in 2004, please CLICK HERE including the new Auto Train course...
20 January 2004
Details from WSR Plc
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| • New Volunteers Day...
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The next New Volunteers Day will be on Sunday 18 April 2004. This is an excellent way of finding out about the various tasks undertaken for the Railway by volunteers. A well structured day with speakers from many departments who will be available for informal chats during the event. The activities start at 11am at the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard Station.
18 January 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • More locos confirmed for Spring Gala...
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We understand terms have been agreed for the hire of Ian Riley's LMS Black 5 no 45407 (running as no 45157) and BR Standard 4 2-6-0 no 76079 for the Spring Steam Gala on 25-28 March 2004. They will arrive on the WSR under their own steam on 24 March from the East Lancs Railway and leave 29 March bound for the North York Moors Railway. Merlin Rail will be operating these train movements. The train consist will also include a dead class 37 diesel in tow from Ian Riley's fleet as this is required at the NYMR - however this loco will not work on the WSR but simply be stabled for the weekend probably at Bishops Lydeard. More loco hires are under negotiation and we will bring news as and when confirmed.
12 January 2004
Details from WSR Special Events Planning Team
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| • Awards for WSRA publications...
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The WSRA has scooped two major "industry" awards in the annual Heritage Railway Asscociation Publications Competition. The WSRA membership leaflet - a glossy well-illustrated colour effort - has gained the "Best Publicity Material", and the quarterly Journal has retained the "Steam Railway Trophy" for magazines with more than 500 circulation. The awards were presented on 31 January 2004.
31 January 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • Weekend and Midweek Breaks...
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The Railway, in conjunction with the Yarn Market Hotel at Dunster, is offering a number of unique opportunities in 2004 to experience a nostalgic visit to the WSR combined with elegant and comfortable accommodation in the very centre of the picturesque village of Dunster. Full details of this year’s programme of Weekend and Midweek Breaks can be found on the West Somerset Railway Association web site.
31 January 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • Tickets galore...
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All tickets with a usage over 150 per annum are pre-printed but below that figure there is no printing plate and they are hand stamped. The remaining stocks are held at Minehead in reserve, together with the stocks for Minehead Booking Office.
28 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • Crash scene exercise...
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The Railway has participated in an exercise designed to test the reaction of the Avon & Somerset Police in the aftermath of a major railway incident, and also involving the Ambulance and Fire Services. On Wednesday 28 January, after weeks of meticulous planning, a staged and realistic crash scene was created at Bishops Lydeard Station supposedly after a train had run into a minibus on an ungated crossing. Casualties and bodies from the road vehicle littered the trackside, the train driver suffered shock and several rail passengers were also "injured" - all make believe of course, courtesy of Casualty Union. The Royal Marines camp at Norton Camp being used as a "mortuary". The Lethbridge Arms pub and the village hall were also utilised during the exercise which is due to finish on Thursday 29 January. Approximately 500 people are taking part in the exercise. The main point of the day was to see how the Police would deal with such a scene, but it also provided the Railway practise dealing with such a situation.
28 January 2004
Details from WSR Plc and WSRA
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| • Signal and Telegraph team hard at work...
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When ready, all components will all be loaded onto the Weltrol truck and, with the S&T "BG" van, will travel to Minehead as early as possible in February to commence the really hard work...
26 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • The WSRA Taunton Group
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The next meeting in Monday 2 February, at the usual location - GWR Staff Association, north east corner of Taunton Station - starting at 7.45pm. The main presentation is "I would not normally show these, but.." with the ever-popular Peter Gray, who has an amazing collection of excellent steam photographs taken in Western Region days. Many good photographers will retain shots "for the record" in their files that have some particularly interesting feature, but are spoilt by some artefact such as a pylon emerging from the boiler outline, and would not normally be displayed in public. This is Peter's chance to show some of these shots unashamedly. Also, the publication of a new book on the early days of the WSR will be announced. Also, there will be news of an exhibition - 'When there was steam' by Peter Triggs - to be staged in the Public Library in Paul Street, Taunton on 1-5 March.
26 January 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • A quiet weekend at Minehead...
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Well, maybe not. The weekend at the country end saw a guards training course; members of the Friends of Minehead Station clearing out outgrown shrubs from platform flower beds; coaching stock receiving the annual "deep clean"; the station shop doing a roaring trade; office staff busily packing envelopes as part of the annual marketing exercise whilst answering a stream of telephone enquiries; volunteers working on a number of projects in the loco shed and a constant procession of inquisitive members of the public looking at the new pointwork being constructed by the civil engineer as part of the new crossover which will avoid the need for shunt release of locos arriving at the head of a train using the bay platform.
26 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • Steam Engineman Courses in 2004...
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Ever fancied driving a steam locomotive? The West Somerset Railway offers a range of courses which will put you in the driving seat quite literally with a goods train or a rake of passenger coaches in tow. Depending on the course, you will drive for either three, ten or twenty miles. Full instruction is given by expert drivers. Many places on the course are already taken so you will need to book quickly. For full details of the Steam Engineman Courses in 2004, please CLICK HERE including the new Auto Train course...
20 January 2004
Details from WSR Plc
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| • New Volunteers Day...
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The next New Volunteers Day will be on Sunday 18 April 2004. This is an excellent way of finding out about the various tasks undertaken for the Railway by volunteers. A well structured day with speakers from many departments who will be available for informal chats during the event. The activities start at 11am at the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard Station.
18 January 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • Railway is pleased to help...
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The SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE reports that the "West Somerset Railway has raised £700 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and St Margaret's Hospice thanks to its carol trains. In early December, the WSR operated two carol trains between Minehead and Williton and one between Bishops Lydeard and Williton. People took along hampers and drinks and when the train stopped at the stations traditional Christmas songs were played on the platform performed by local brass bands. Mark Smith, WSR managing director, said: 'The popularity of the carol train seems to grow with each passing year and it is very pleasing for us to be able to put something back into the local communities. The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is always grateful for any donations."
16 January 2004
Details from the SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE
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| • More locos confirmed for Spring Gala...
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We understand terms have been agreed for the hire of Ian Riley's LMS Black 5 no 45407 (running as no 45157) and BR Standard 4 2-6-0 no 76079 for the Spring Steam Gala on 25-28 March 2004. They will arrive on the WSR under their own steam on 24 March from the East Lancs Railway and leave 29 March bound for the North York Moors Railway. Merlin Rail will be operating these train movements. The train consist will also include a dead class 37 diesel in tow from Ian Riley's fleet as this is required at the NYMR - however this loco will not work on the WSR but simply be stabled for the weekend probably at Bishops Lydeard. More loco hires are under negotiation and we will bring news as and when confirmed.
12 January 2004
Details from WSR Special Events Planning Team
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| • Philately launch at Minehead
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Minehead Station was used, on 9 January, as the location for the West of England launch of the first special Royal Mail stamps of 2004, providing a fitting backdrop for the stamps, which commemorate 200 years of steam locomotive history. Amongst the engines featured on the stamps is a Great Western Railway designed "Manor" class locomotive - no 7802 depicted on the Severn Valley Railway - and the WSR's flagship loco no 7820 "Dinmore Manor", a sister to no 7802, appeared at the launch. For more about the stamps, visit click here
10 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • Cabling works underway...
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In addition, the existing equipment installed in Minehead Signal Box will be transferred to Williton allowing immediate installation of Electric Token equipment for the Blue Anchor to Williton Section using BT Lines. It will also be necessary to install an Up Outer Home Signal at Williton to comply with modern day requirements. The timescale for completion of this part of the job is mid summer 2004.
7 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • Prompt start made on winter maintenance
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Looking ahead a few days to 10-11 January, the Cutting Back gang will be working around the lineside hut near Crowcombe Bridge. Future working parties include a Valentine's Weekend special at Turks Castle and the annual Tidy Train on 6 March. For details of the Cutting Back activities, please email the Leader, David Holmes.
6 January 2004
Details from local correspondents
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| • Bay loop reinstated...
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Those with good memories will remember that when the current Company took over, the pointwork for the Bay loop was still in place but was removed during the remodelling of the trackwork at Minehead in 1977..
6 January 2004
Details from local correspondent
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