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| • The Protest Train...
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The Railway put on a special train today in connection with a protest march to the main offices of West Somerset District Council. The train was doubled-headed by nos 5542 and 9351 and carried hundreds to Williton Station for a march along Long Street and to witness the delivery of a petition to the Council. The event, witnessed by local MP Ian Liddell-Granger, was arranged by "Direct", a Minehead-based pressure group opposed to the Council's planned developments at Minehead. The Railway, of course, is also concerned about the proposals which could, among other things, dramatically reduce the amount of visitor car parking in the town.
26 February 2005
Details from local correspondents
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| • Night Photographic Shoot at Gala is cancelled...
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Further to earlier reports, the Evening Shoot planned during the SPRING STEAM GALA, on Saturday 19 March is now off - primarily due to outstanding work on the lighting under the refurbished canopy. Apologies for raising expectations for the evening event. The planned lineup of four GWR 4-6-0 locos at midday is, however, going ahead.
23 February 2005
Details from WSRA and WSR Plc
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| • Lineside Photography Permits ...
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The Railway issues Lineside Passes which allow photographers access to most non-public areas. A valid Lineside Pass opens up nearly all of the twenty three miles of the highly scenic West Somerset Railway, most of which is well away from public areas such as platforms and bridges and footpaths. The cost is very reasonable and the revenue helps maintain Britain's longest heritage railway. Full details on the Lineside Photography page...
22 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • West Somerset District Council Car Park Strategy...
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The Council have prepared their Car Park Strategy. The Railway have now commented formally to the Council because of the likely negative impact on the railway. The Railway say "The conclusions are flawed, and throughout, the potential of the railway to contribute to a transport solution has been ignored, as has its needs as a major tourist attraction and its role in driving the local tourist economy." Full text of the formal response...
25 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • The Washford Three...
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On 23 February, visitors braving a cold easterly wind at Washford would have been warmed by the sight of three locomotives in steam. The people's favourite, GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 along with Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST no 3437 "Isabel" (in the final stages of restoration) and Peckett 0-4-0ST no 1788 "Kilmersdon" pose outside the shed at the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust's base.
24 February 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Replacement chimneys revealed...
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On 23 February, the contractors erecting the replacement chimney stacks at Minehead Station completed the first three and moved their scaffolding along the roof, revealing the finished product. The workmen were not impressed by a suggestion that they "weather" the new stonework with something, such as manure, that would encourage the growth of lichens and mosses...
24 February 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • The Protest Train...
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A special train has been chartered by “DIRECT”, the local lobby group, as part of the public protest against the proposed building of West Somerset District Council Offices, Minehead Town Council Offices, Registry Offices, Social Services Offices, a Library and Retail Superstore Developments on the car parks adjacent to the Railway at Minehead. The train leave Minehead at 11.15am for Williton for a march to the West Somerset District Council offices to deliver a petition. The Railway supports this protest and, as the Managing Director sums up in a letter to staff, "...the proposed development will reduce accessibility and the availability of car parking at Minehead Station. It will not enhance our ability to attract visitors to Minehead and aesthetically will overshadow our increasingly impressively restored Victorian station buildings". More...
22 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • On the road with the WSR Publicity Machine...
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John Simms and his publicity team are on the road promoting the Railway at various trade shows - from Dorchester on 6 February through to the NEC Birmingham in the first week of March. Although these shows are mainly aimed at the Group Travel market, which helps to fill trains out of the main season, they also provide an opportunity to promote special events to potential individual visitors. These shows, together with the leaflet swop meets (where tourist attractions literally do that - ie swop publicity leaflets so we can help each other with publicity duing the season), also enable useful contacts to be established with other heritage railways and tourist attractions. With six shows in the space of a month quite a team is involved and a fair tonnage of paper changes hands!
21 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Midday and Night Photographic Shoots at Gala...
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During the SPRING STEAM GALA, on Saturday 19 March from just after midday through to 1.45pm nos 7822, 4936, 5051 and 6024 will be lined up for photographs on Minehead shed, with viewing from the platform, to present the four surviving classes of GW 4-6-0s together. City class no 3440 is due to arrive at 12.47 and will then be added to the line up albeit facing the opposite direction. No additional charge for this event. Further to earlier reports, the Evening Shoot is now OFF - mostly due to outstanding work needed the lighting under the refurbished canopy. Apologies for raising expectations.
13 February 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • More on the Spring Steam Gala...
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· The "Quantock Belle" dining car set will be serving a cafeteria menu on the 10.00 and 2.05 trains from Bishops Lydeard and the 12.15 and 4.00 from Minehead on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There will also be buffet cars available on most other trains.
· Ring 01643 704996 and ask for a Gala Information Pack - information about accommodation providers, plus timetables, booking forms, lineside photographic pass application forms and lots more information...
· Discounts for Rover Tickets if purchased in advance. More...
2 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • HST power cars ...
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The move of two HST power cars to Minehead for storage, planned for 28 January, but cancelled when the rostered diesel locomotive Class 47 no 47150 failed on a previous working, has been rescheduled for 1 March. The special working, 5Z43 will leave Bristol St Philips Marsh at 7am arriving at Minehead around 9.20am. The Class 25 diesel loco, no D7523 will follow the special, block by block, and then a rearrangement of HST vehicles will take place at Minehead using D7523. Main reason for the shunt is to clear Bay siding no 1, currently full of HST stock, to allow the Bay Loop to be used.
22 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Roll up for the Log Train ...
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The Log Tain will be running on 26 February collecting the results of cutting-back over the winter - at Newton Road, Bicknoller, Sampford Brett and Castle Hill - taking the logs to Dunster for onward transfer to the log merchant. There is a service train running from Minehead arriving Williton at 11.45am and leaving at approx 1pm This is in connection with the protest against the WSDC offices planned for the Mart Road car park at Minehead and there will be time for "loggers" to join the protest if wished. The log train timings will be earlier than previously announced - now leaving Bishops Lydeard at 9.30am arriving at Williton by 11.45am; then departing Williton at 1.30pm to arrive at Dunster at 2.10pm for unloading. The empties go on to Minehead where WSR 2-6-0 no 9351 will be attached for the run back to Lydeard - estimated arrival between 4.30-5.00pm.
18 February 2005
Details from WSRA
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| • Brake van restorers need a hand...
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With restoration underway at Dunster Shed of the ex-GWR Toad brake van no 68765, help is particularly needed for Sundays 13 and Sunday 20 February. The plan is to work on the brake van at Dunster from 9.30am to around 5pm. Work is under cover and no previous skills needed, just willing hands! Work continues during the week too. The aim is to have it completed for the SPRING STEAM GALA and join the already splendid fleet of wagons so far restored. If you would like more details or are able to assist please contact Stewart Nelhams or Keith Speller via the minehead office on 01643 704996.
11 February 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Funding appeal for Odney Manor...
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The WSR PLc have launched an appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828 "Odney Manor" back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway. Cash donations are required and for subscribers, a number of benefits are available. All donations of at least £20 will receive a commemorative "Odney Manor" certificate; for donations of £200 and £1000, the certificate plus two tickets for the "Odney Manor Return to Steam Celebration Train" awaits, whilst for £1000 donations the two tickets are First Class Dining seats plus a trip round the workshops. Top treatment for donations of £10000 who receive four First Class Dining tickets on the Celebration Train, plus a full day Steam Engineman course driving and firing "Odney Manor" and arrangements to visit the loco during overhaul. For full details and conditions, look out for the leaflet or ring 01643 704996 for more details.
10 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • EKT commissioned...
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For the first time in 34 years the sound of block bells ringing out over Williton Station was achieved at 2.10pm on Saturday afternoon. With effect on Monday 7 February, Electric Token Block working will be in force between Blue Anchor and Williton and Train Staff and Ticket Working withdrawn. The team, led by John Jenkins, managed a faultless changeover which involved hundreds of electrical alterations and connections at both Blue Anchor and Williton and was finally passed as fit for use at 2.30pm on Sunday 6 February.
6 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Pride of the Great Western Video/DVD
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Andrew Fisher Video Productions are planning to have a video/dvd-r dedicated to the West Somerset Railway’s "Pride of the Great Western" Spring Gala on release by 11 April, only three weeks after the Gala ends on 20 March. It is intended that the video/dvd will have a running time of approximately 90 minutes and will feature action taken on all four days of the event, 17-20 March, plus some "extras" taken around the main days of action. Advance orders are being taken by the Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead. The video or dvd will cost £14.99 (post free) and if you would like to order call 01643 700387 with your credit/debit card details. Alternatively orders with cheques should be sent to the Buffer Stop Shop, West Somerset Railway, Minehead, TA24 5BG.
4 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Pathfinders at Bristol...
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The next meeting of the Bristol Group of the WSRA is on 22 February at 7.30pm with a talk by Richard Szwejkowski of PathfinderTours. Richard will describe the task of arranging steam and diesel tours - now all the more difficult with the changes to the national railway network. Ranging from Enthusiast Tours to Day Excursions, European Tours and Luxury Days, the complexity of planning and executing such events is staggering. Admission to the meeting at BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton is £2 per person including raffle tickets. All members and non-members very welcome, ample parking, refreshments available from BAWA bar.
8 February 2005
Details from WSRA
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| • Makeover for Roebuck Gate Crossing...
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The surfacing at Roebuck Level Crossing is being relayed - starting Monday 7 February - and should be completed before the end of the week. At the same time one of the road traffic lights will be moved slightly to prevent it being damaged by large road vehicles using the crossing - a problem suffered the last few years.
6 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Norton news...
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Julie Higginbottom from the consultants working with the West Somerset Railway Association today submitted a formal application to Taunton Deane Borough Council in connection with the development of the land acquired last year at Norton Fitzwarren. The application is for the formation of new embankments and railway lines to form a triangle for the turning of railway locomotives and stock. More...
4 February 2005
Details from WSRA
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| • Merlin magic..
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Overlooking Blue Anchor Bay with great views of the Railway and just a few steps from Blue Anchor Station, Merlin House Holiday Apartments seems to be an ideal location for anyone visiting West Somerset and of course the Railway. As the brochure says "...with fantastic photo opportunities from your apartment and garden". More...
4 February 2005
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| • More on the proposed Minehead developments...
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Discussions between the representatives of the Railway and West Somerset District Council continue but the WSR Board remain very concerned over the plans to build a large new set of Council Buildings in the immediate environs of the station which will crowd and overshadow the station and greatly reduce the car parking in its environs. Other plans in preparation will include the loss of Vulcan Road car park, with implications for Dunster by Candlelight amongst other things. The local disquiet about the impact on the town is not confined to the Railway and the letters pages of the local press have been filled with letters about the schemes, the greater proportion opposing them. On 26 February a special "Protest Train" will run from Minehead to Williton for protestors to walk through the streets of the town which currently houses much of the WSDC offices and show their objections to the plans.
2 February 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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