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| • Dunster by Candlelight special...
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Past-Time Rail have announced the running of a special train to the magical Dunster by Candlelight event. Running on Friday 3 December 2004, the special starts at noon from Weston super Mare, calling at Yatton, Nailsea & Blackwell, Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Trowbridge and Westbury, then non-stop to Dunster. It is assumed this train will be loco-hauled and will run on to Minehead for servicing. More information at the Past-Time Rail website...
26 September 2004 Details from Past Time Rail and DEPG
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| • High Speed Train to the seaside...
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The WSR is going back into the rolling stock storage business (in 2000 the line hosted four FGW MkIIIs for a few weeks). A ex-Virgin Trains HST is planned to arrive at Minehead on 29 September, hauled by a Freightliner class 47. The company has been asked to do this at short notice, and extensive shunting away of rolling stock is underway to accommodate ten extra vehicles. Interesting task given that a major Steam Gala is just days away and repairs to Minehead canopy under way. It is not yet known how long the HST is booked to stay.
28 September 2004 Details from WSR plc and local correspondent
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| • Crown Vetch news
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Slippage of the bank near the headshunt at Washford Station now requires remedial works. But care is required here due to a small colony of the rare Crown Vetch - a small grassland plant first discovered at this spot in 1923 - and so the clump of Vetch was divided. Parts of the root system have been replanted in four sites further down the bank. Some root stock was also taken to be potted on and seed was taken as a further reserve. Hopefully all this effort will ensure the survival of this interesting specimen which is just part of the great diversity of wildlife which helps to give the WSR its special character. More pictures...
27 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Stones roll again...
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Stone trains will again roll on the West Somerset Railway following the very successful carriage of rock for coastal defence works at Minehead in 1998 and again at Doniford in 2000. This time around 1800 tonnes of Mendip rock will be brought from Merehead to Leigh Bridge near Stogumber for use in repairs to a nearby minor road. The first of the three trains will run on 11 October. The Railway is delighted to help minimise the environmental impact - more than 350 small lorries would otherwise be required to carry the load along the narrow and winding Somerset lanes. Map...
23 September 2004 Details from WSR Plc
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| • New volunteers day...
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Twice each year the Association holds a New Volunteers Day, with the aim of giving prospective new volunteers the opportunity to see the Railway at first hand and meet some of the key personnel involved. The next New Volunteers’ Day will be held on Sunday 10 October, starting at 11am at Bishops Lydeard Station. During a trip to Minehead on the train prospective new recruits will be able to find out a lot more about what the Railway has to offer them, and the day will be finished by 4.15pm.
23 September 2004 Details from WSRA
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| • Watchet Station blooms...
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In August, a new rose "Rosa Salvation" was planted at Watchet Station to mark the 120th anniversary of the Salvation Army in Watchet. Meanwhile the Minehead Seahorses team have continued their excellent work and the station now boasts a new "sensory garden" which was planned by Mike Buttel and Dr Eric Robinson. The garden includes fragrant herbs and flowers - including many donated by well-wishers - and is sure to enhance the platform experience for passengers and passers-by.
21 September 2004 Details from WSR plc website
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| • Canopy works to start...
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Work is expected to start very soon on refurbishment of the platform canopy at Minehead Station when contractors move in to carry out some preliminary works. Some alterations to train working is necessary, but the main work starts in earnest on Monday 4 October, thankfully after the extremely busy Autumn Steam Gala. The cost of the work - in excess of £200,000 - will be helped by a hefty contribution from the Friends Of Minehead Station.
21 September 2004 Details from WSR Plc
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| • Busy times at Williton...
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A busy weekend at Williton saw the completion of the painting of the second Catfish wagon - both vehicles will be moved to Minehead in the next few days and may be added to the goods train rake for the Gala shunting demonstrations; a spare voltage regulator from a Class 14 was adapted and fitted to the Class 08 D3462 which will now return to station pilot duties at Bishops Lydeard; a spot of driver training; and some sparks flying as work continues on the 20 ton brake van.
26 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • WSR Mogul is ready to go...
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Interesting to note that the Autumn Steam Gala Souvenir Programme describes the new Mogul as a "WSR" machine. Built by the GWR in 1934 as a 2-6-2 tank numbered 5193, the Large Prairie ended its days on BR in June 1962. Much later the West Somerset Railway company purchased the remains of no 5193 and set about rebuilding into a 2-6-0 tender engine. With the number 9351 - following a GWR tradition for the first of a new class - the Mogul is due to debut at the Gala in unlined GW green livery. The picture by Brian Kearle shows the painting nearly finished.
25 September 2004 Details from WSR plc
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| • Are you going to the next Taunton Group meeting...
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The next meeting of the Taunton Group of the West Somerset Railway Association is on 4 October at the usual venue, the GWRSA near the northeast corner of Taunton Station starting at 7.45pm. Guest speakers this time are the PSOV people making a return visit and showing their latest videos to a packed house. A small admission fee is necessary for this particular meeting.
24 September 2004 Details from WSRA
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| • Food for thought...
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On Saturday 25 September, the Railway is running three dining trains - each with different rolling stock and locos. The "Quantock Belle" will do, unusually, a Minehead-Bishops Lydeard-Minehead turn in the afternoon, with the "Coastal Belle" doing a similar run in the evening. And the evening "Fish and Chip" special starting at Bishops Lydeard completes the trio. The day also sees the normal service trains - four steam-hauled each way - and a "Steam Engineman" footplate experience session too! The "Quantock Belle" stock will also make two empty coaching stock movements, to ensure correct positioning for another turn the next day. Quiet September weekend - no way!
21 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Diesel doings...
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A task to be undertaken is to repair or replace the defective voltage regulator on the Class 08 shunter which is currently out of use at Cotford sidings. In the meantime the Crompton no D6566 will be used as the Lydeard station pilot. The Class 03 shunter received new oil pads to its wheelsets to keep the movement moving freely. The Class 25 "Rat" is still parked in the North Yard at Williton awaiting the return of the defective turbocharger from the specialist engineering company in Liverpool. Western no D1010 received attention to the "B" end fuel rack and associated components. Hymek no D7017 is still working well and at the moment, no known faults are present. On the rolling stock front, the 20 ton brakevan still resides in the shed with many new pieces of timber and wood cladding being fitted; and a brace of "Catfish" wagons in new livery now reside in the yard, and these are due to be collected soon and taken to Dunster for use in the Engineers train.
20 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Diesels in 2005...
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2005 will see certain changes in the timetable patterns of recent years. In 2004, one of the WSR mainline diesels takes over the DMU diagrams on advertised days. This will change next year when, on Fridays and Saturdays from mid-July to the end of August, the diagram that starts with the 11.25am from Bishops Lydeard will be diesel hauled. With a Diesel Gala in May, a strong diesel image at the Grand Trains event in October and the usual regular turns such as the Fish and Chip Specials, it looks as though 2005 has much to interest the modern image enthusiast.
14 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Balmoral lands a problem of the nicer kind...
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For many years the Railway was operated combined steamer/train journeys with the Waverley organisation and these generally cause few problems. However on Saturday 11 September a call from the ship, the "Balmoral", at lunchtime announced the landing of 228 passengers at Watchet Harbour to catch the 4.28pm service to Bishops Lydeard. Normally the Railway would expect between 50 and 100 passengers so swift action was called for. Nine coaches and a "big" engine would be required for the 3.55pm ex Minehead. The re-positioning required BR class 4MT 2-6-4T no 80136 which was swopped at Williton with GWR 2-6-2T no 5542. Thus the 3.55pm from Minehead consisted of nine coaches and Class 4 hauled. This train left Watchet full. Just another Autumn Saturday...
14 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Signal box meets car...
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On Saturday evening at about 7.30pm a car proceeding from Watchet towards Minehead somehow managed to collide with the bottom of Blue Anchor Box between the locking room door and the wicket gate. Thankfully the young driver escaped uninjured although the Box suffered some dislodged bricks and movement of the locking room door frame.Train services operating in conjunction with the CAMRA Beer Festival were not affected.
14 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Real Ale success...
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The fifth Real Ale Weekend run by Somerset CAMRA is reported to be the best yet! Sold about 90 per cent of the beer, which equates to 4 pints per customer - that's a whacking 5600 pints and 1400 customers...
13 September 2004 Details from Somerset CAMRA
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| • Santa Express...
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New for 2004! Santa will travel on the train and meet the children as the Santa Express makes its way from Bishops Lydeard to Williton and back on 11, 18 and 22 December 2004. As with the ever-popular Santa Steam Specials, which take children to meet Santa at his Station Grotto, booking is essential for the Santa Express too. More on the full range of Santa Trains on the Santa Specials 2004 page...
12 September 2004 Details from WSR Plc
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| • Container relief for CCT...
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The recent sighting of a metal container on a Conflat wagon at Minehead has sparked jokes about a new freight traffic for the Railway. Truth is, this container is to be used by the Friends of Minehead Station as a storage facility whicn will, in turn, free up the well maintained maroon-liveried Covered Carriage Truck (CCT), which, being vacuum braked, is passed for use on the running line, where it will add interest and variety.
12 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Kinlet Hall for Gala performance...
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The cancellation of a mainline charter duty in late September has led to GWR Hall 4-6-0 no 4936 "Kinlet Hall" remaining on the WSR for the time being. Subject to confirmation, the loco will therefore be available for the Autumn Steam Gala from 30 September to 3 October - bringing the total to eleven steam locomotives for the event...
11 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Work to start on the bridge at Silk Mill
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The long-awaited Silk Mill bridge will soon be a reality when work starts at the end of October. The £14.5 million project will see a bridge over the existing three main line tracks and the trackbed of the former up relief. The latter is essential to future plans for developing the connection from the West Somerset Railway to Taunton and beyond. The bridge will also span the former bed of the Grand Western Canal just to the south of the main line. A car-park-and-bus-ride facility will also be built. Sadly, the remnants of the original Silk Mill will be demolished to make way for the new northern approach road. Map...
10 September 2004 Details from Somerset County Gazette
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| • Powerful visitor...
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One of the last steam locomotives to be built for British Railways at the end of the 1950s will be operating steam trains on the West Somerset Railway on Sunday 19 September. The locomotive in question is a 9F class 2-10-0 no 92214, which is normally based at Butterley in Derbyshire. It was one of a class of 251 locomotives, first introduced in 1954 and intended for heavy freight work. However they were also able to work passenger trains at over 70 mph. and as a result worked such trains as the "Pines Express" and the "Red Dragon". No 92214 has been hired for a short period by the WSR. On Sunday 19 September it will work the 10.25 and 2.10 trains from Bishops Lydeard and the 12.15 and 3.55 from Minehead. After that it will feature in the West Somerset's Autumn Steam Gala between 1-3 October...
10 September 2004 Details from WSR Plc press release
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| • Old law prevents station taxi rank...
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A Williton resident took elderly and disbled friends on the train to Minehead but was disappointed to find no taxi rank outside the station to take the party into the town centre. It seems a law of 1847 allows hackney carriages to park only on appointed ranks in Minehead. Upon hearing about the Williton party's plight,the West Somerset District Council and taxi operators have begun talks to find a possible solution. Maybe the Railway Company's own blueprint for developing the area will be consulted. It is interesting to consider how taxis - motor or horse-drawn - served the station in the past...
10 September 2004 Details from Somerset County Gazette
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| • 9F to haul special train...
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Celebratory Train" is now scheduled to be hauled by BR 9F 2-10-0 no 92214. A good choice, since the 9F locos were outstandingly successful on the SDJR. No 92214 will be on the WSR for the Autumn Steam Gala. For more information about the special train, contact SCR150@sdrt.org
2 September 2004 Details from SDRT
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| • Campaigner and the Catfish...
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Western diesel hydraulic no D1010 "Western Campaigner” saw action on the railway on both days of the weekend. The loco ran light engine from the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group shed to Bishops Lydeard to collect the stock to form the 9.40am stopper tp Minehead. This particular diagram includes two Minehead-Williton round trips, with the loco having to run-round the coaching stock at Williton station for the back working to Minehead. The loco performed well on the Saturday and retired back to the shed at DEPG for the night. However, the next day at Minehead, whilst working a similar diagram, as lunch-time approached, the mighty Western didn’t want to play. Valiant efforts were made by her crew to resolve the problem. Meantime Hymek D7017 was made ready at Williton and in the early afternoon a loco swap was carried out and the Hymek performed the rest of the diagram. Also, at Williton, the DEPG team have done a marvellous job on the repainting and detailing of the Catfish wagon. The second Catfish is now lined up and ready for the same treatment..
6 September 2004 Details from local correspondent
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| • Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival...
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Real Ale
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The fifth Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival extravaganza in partnership with the West Somerset Railway will be held on 11 and 12 September 2004 at Minehead Station. The festival will again feature at least 35 real ales and ciders, many from award winning local Somerset breweries such as Cotleigh, Cottage, Exmoor, Glastonbury, Moor and RCH. In addition to these will be a selection from around the British Isles, showcasing the incredible diversity in flavour and style produced by the ever expanding army of micro breweries. More...
17 July 2004
Details from Somerset CAMRA
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| • Mogul no 9351 raises steam...
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The "new" Mogul no 9351 emerged into the bright September sunshine for the initial steam test. We understand the test today was successful and that the boiler inspector is due on 2 September. Despite the obvious work remaining - paintwork - and the less-obvious tasks that will inevtiably follow running-in, it is quite clear that the Railway has produced a remarkable machine during the rebuild from ex-GWR Large Prairie no 5193. More pix...
2 September 2004
Details from local correspondent
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| • Belle sells well...
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Tickets were released today for the "Quantock Belle" Dunster-by-Candlelight and Christmas trains. The Candlelight trains sold out within twenty nine minutes - an all time record. Bookings are heavy on the Sunday Christmas "Belle" trains with over 76% sold already. What wonderful news for the hard-working "QB" people. For more about the "Quantock Belle", please click here...
1 September 2004
Details from WSRA
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| • October Steam Gala update...
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Subject to final availability, the locos confirmed for the event are nos 6412, 5542, 5553, 80136, 9351 plus visitors LBSCR Terrier no 32678, GWR Pannier no 9466 and GWR Large Prairie no 5199. Exciting fresh news is that negotiations are under way, and verbally confirmed, for BR 9F no 92214 from Butterley to pay a visit. The event timetables have been completed and diagrams drawn up. Highlights being the Terrier on short passenger trips between Minehead and Blue Anchor on Thursday 30 September and Friday 1 October and full line goods train from Minehead with no 9466 on Thursday 30 September and from Lydeard with no 9351 on Friday 1 October. The Auto train appears with no 6412 on the Saturday and Sunday with most workings between Lydeard or Crowcombe and Norton Fitzwarren. Over the weekend the Terrier is booked for the Dunster shunt and one round trip to Blue Anchor.
21 August 2004
Details from Special Events Planning Team
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