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| • Next Taunton Group meeting...
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The next meeting of the Taunton Group of the West Somerset Railway Association is at 7.45pm on Monday 4 April. The guest speaker is Mr Brian Aston, from Cornwall, with the topic "Mainline Steam over the Years". As usual, members and non-members are welcome. The venue is, as usual, the GWRSA at the North East end of Taunton Station.
29 March 2005
Details from WSRA
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| • Chimney fire at Williton...
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The celebrated "Bristol & Exeter Railway" chimney top at Williton Station - designed to the Italian-style popular at the time of the building of the Station in the early 1860s - enjoyed some close attention from the local fire brigade on 28 March after a minor fire in the chimney flue. It is not thought the structure suffered any lasting damage. More pictures...
29 March 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Heritage Bus to Dunster Castle...
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Once again the Railway operated a free service from Dunster Station to the Castle and Village over the Easter weekend using a Leyland PS1 LFM302 displaying the elegance of the Weymann bodywork - with Balfour Beatty house style embellishments. The bus was supplied to Crosville Motor Services in 1950. Interestingly the bodywork carries MCW makers plates.
28 March 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Busy times for Signalling Gang...
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Recently, two compensators and two cranks were replaced by the Signal & Telegraph Gang at Williton which should help to ease the problems when it gets hot in the summer. Apparently an extra four inches were gained. The Gang were out on 27 March at Crowcombe Heathfield dealing with too many leaves in the equipment. Rollers, compensaters and points were cleaned which make the working a bit easier for the Signalmen. Two weeks ago a traffic light was replaced at Roebuck Gate having been struck many times by passing large road vehicles. The light was moved back behind the fence line to keep it clear of the road. It now seems the other one on the Up side has also been hit and will require similar treatment.
27 March 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Brauhaus Belgian Beers...
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An opportunity to sample 24 of Belgium’s finest beers aboard an evening steam train on the award winning West Somerset Railway on Saturday 16 July 2005. 24 specialist Belgian beers and a full buffet for £29.50 per person - contact Allan Hastings on 01425 616734 or info@brauhaus.co.uk. Please book early, this is peak summer season, accommodation will be hard to find nearer the date - Brauhaus have secured concessionary rates at hotels.
26 March 2005
Details from Brauhaus
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| • Woodcombe Lodges...
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Visitors to the Railway looking for a peaceful place to stay might like to learn about Woodcombe Lodges, situated on the western edge of Minehead, "...in a tranquil rural setting on the edge of the National Park...the lodges and cottages stand in a beautiful three acre garden, with outstanding views towards the wooded slopes of Exmoor".
25 March 2005
Details from Woodcombe Lodges
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| • Gala success...
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The Spring Steam Gala weekend was a very successful event with some 8000 passengers carried over the period 17-20 March. On Saturday 19 March the Railway was at full capacity, as was the vintage bus link between Taunton railway station and Bishops Lydeard. The Railway's sales outlets and buffets were also very busy indeed with On-Train Catering having to order more "emergency supplies" from Cotleigh and Exmoor Breweries to meet demand. The book launches for "Ticket To Minehead" and "Legends Of The Somerset and Dorset Railway" also went like the proverbial bomb with over 300 copies being signed and sold.
Gala pictures...
22 March 2005
Details and text from WSR Plc
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| • WSR features on new West Country Steam DVD...
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Nigel Worth writes "West Country Steam is a family concern making diary format videos since 1999. They have sold well in railway associated outlets such as the Buffer Stop shop at Minehead Station. Steam is my passion which I inflict upon my long suffering wife and two girls. Technology moves on and with VHS sales in decline we have released the 2004 edition of West Country Steam on professionally mastered DVD - which includes an extra half hour feature." There are superb shots of steam on the West Somerset Railway on the DVD which, at £14.99 each, will be available from the Buffer Stop at Minehead Station from 5 March 2004...
2 March 2005
Details from West Country Steam Videos
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| • Castle Swop...
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Gala visitor GWR 4-6-0 no 5051 "Earl Bathurst" leaves the WSR on Sat 26 March to head a Taunton-Plymouth-Bristol railtour working, after which it will continue light engine to Didcot. Meantime, sister loco no 5029 "Nunney Castle" arrives on Monday 28 March after hauling a Bristol-Taunton railtour for stabling only. It is not expected no 5029 will work WSR trains. "Nunney Castle" and GWR 4-6-0 no 6024 "King Edward I" depart together on Saturday 23 April on a Taunton-Par-Taunton working. No 5029 is expected to continue light engine to Bristol the same evening, but no 6024 will return to the WSR - facing Taunton this time - before finally leaves the WSR on Saturday 14 May with a working from Minehead to Worcester.
22 March 2005
Details from www.uksteam.info and WSR Plc
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| • Foxcote Manor...
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Representatives of the Foxcote Manor Society presented a framed print of no 7822 to the West Somerset Railway's Managing Director, Mark Smith, on Sunday 20 March as a token of thanks for the excellent welcome given to the Society. Appreciated by many passengers and onlookers, the locomotive gave a superb performance over the weekend of the Spring Steam Gala. More Gala pictures.
21 March 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Photographic exhibition...
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Long-time supporter Malc Stacey has arranged an exhibition at Taunton Library of his photographic works. The display of all of Malc's extensive WSR collection will be available for viewing from Monday 21 March until 2 April 2005 including 40 plus of the footplate crews in framed black and white format. For more information please contact Malc by email...
26 January 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • WSR is best...
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On Thursday 17 March Paul Appleton, representing Ian Allan, unveiled the "Independent Railway of the Year 2004" plaque at Minehead. Paul said: "Each year Ian Allan and his team visit and receive reports on every independent railway in the country and, at the end of the season reports are compared and a winner emerges, for the Ian Allan Publishing Railway of the Year Award. The judges had no hesitation in agreeing that the West Somerset Railway has achieved a very high standard in all areas. In short, the judges said that the West Somerset Railway have shown initiative, imagination and enterprise, in attracting visitors to their railway in record numbers during the year.
18 March 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • The Stone Log...
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Although the West Somerset Railway is seen by many as a premier heritage line with steam haulage to the fore, it is good to be reminded of other less-glamourous yet spectacularly successful workings. Despite the incongruity of seeing modern freight trains mixing with steam hauled seaside specials, the Stone Trains remain a lasting testament to the whole point of having a railway serving the local community. In three separate contracts, the WSR rails carried thousands of tons of stone - an huge benefit to the local environment. The story has been superbly captured in words and many pictures by our friends at Taunton Trains which is well worth visiting to review the story of a heritage railway still doing the old jobs...
16 March 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • The Friends help out...
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Readers Halt Bookstall Manager, Frances Bristow, presented Mark Smith with a cheque for just over £25000 on 14 March - a donation towards the canopy works at Minehead Station plus the cost of refurbishing the under-canopy lights which was carried out by the contractor. In addition there was a sum to cover the purchase of sufficient corrugated sheeting for the small canopy which FOMS hope to refurbish next winter. A further presentation of around £13000 will be due soon for the new chimneys on the station building. Only the one at the bookstall end remains to be done and should be finished in a day or two. All these monies have been raised by FOMS over the past six years or so, in addition to that already spent on various works around the Station. It was fitting that the presentation be made by Mrs Bristow as the Readers Halt account for over 80% of FOMS fundraising.
14 March 2005
Details from FOMS
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| • The Butlins Link...
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Thirty years ago saw the removal by rail from Minehead of the steam loco "Duchess of Hamilton". On 13 March 1975 LMS Pacific no 6229 "Duchess of Hamilton" left Minehead hauled by Class 25 diesel no 25 059 and travelled slowly along the closed Minehead to Taunton branch line. The loco was en route to Swindon for restoration as part of the National Collection of historic locomotives in the care of the National Railway Museum. More...
11 March 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Another chance...
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If you missed the sight and sound of both GWR 4-6-0 No 6024 King Edward I and 4-4-0 No 3440 City of Truro in action at the Railway's immensely successful Spring Steam Gala, or would like another opportunity to see and travel behind these two fine engines, both will be working passenger trains on the WSR again over the Easter weekend. No 3440 will work the 10.15am and 2.55pm from Minehead, and the 12.25pm and 4.40pm from Bishops Lydeard on 26-27 March. Meantime, no 6024 will work the 10.25am and 2.10pm from Bishops Lydeard, and the 12.15pm and 3.55pm from Minehead on 26, 27, 28 March.
21 March 2005
Details from WSRA
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| • Last minute Gala news...
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All guest engines are now on the Railway and should be working as listed in the working timetable within the Souvenir Programme (£2.50 each from Stations during the Gala); the special Gala free bus link will operate from the Down side of Taunton Station only; and a reminder that the schduled First Bus services will run as usual (note travel on First Bus is not free). Also, motorists might like to know that the A39 may be closed to the east of Williton Bridge and also further east at St Audries. For more details on roadworks in the area, please visit Somerset Roads to avoid being help up and missing your train...
16 March 2005
Details from WSR Plc and local correspondents
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| • A Regal Arrival...
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One of the stars of the forthcoming Spring Steam Gala GWR 4-6-0 no 6024 "King Edward I" brought a thirteen coach excursion to Minehead on Saturday 12 March. The special had originated at Chester. At the rear, a class 50 diesel, no 50049, provided power for the coaches. Often for heavy through trains, a WSR pilot engine is added at Bishops Lydeard but the "King" was not assisted over the severe West Somerset gradients. The diesel ran back to Bishops Lydeard with a support coach and later hauled the excursionists back to the Welsh Marches. More pictures and a fabulous Video Clip by John Crocker...
14 March 2005
Details from local correspondents
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| • Somerset Big Breakfast and Pasties too...
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Good news, good news, for Gala visitors. The smart and attentive "Quantock Belle" staff will be serving morning diners from a fine breakfast menu including the famous Somerset Big Breakfast. At 1 o'clock it's all change for a lunchtime fayre which offers a Chilli dish, the Quantock Brunch and, yes, the legendary Traditional Cornish Pasty which is not to be missed. Check out the Spring Steam Gala Quantock Belle Menus for details of Gala trains with these super dining services. An "must-do" for every Gala visitor...
10 March 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Parking at Blue Anchor, Bishops Lydeard and Minehead
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Car-borne visitors to the popular Blue Anchor Station are advised in the latest WSR Journal that parking near the station will be nigh impossible for some time due to the last phase of the Blue Anchor Sea Defence Project. The road is reduced to single line with traffic lights along the stretch from the station to the caravan park. Clearly the best way to get there is by train. Also, due to limited parking at Bishops Lydeard, even with the overflow car park in use, Spring Steam Gala visitors are advised to consider leaving the car in Taunton and using the Free Heritage Bus service to Bishops Lydeard Station. And at Minehead, we suggest using the Vulcan Road Car Park - a short stroll along the footpath by the signal box to the Station itself - as the Station Car Park is likely to be full to bursting.
12 March 2005
Details from WSR Journal and WSR Plc
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| • Extra Gala trains...
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On the Thursday of the Gala, 17 March, there are extra departures from Minehead at 2.50pm and from Bishops Lydeard at 11.25am and 5.25pm. More details about these trains when available. Also during the Gala, on the Friday, when the 11.30am ex Lydeard goods arrives at Dunster, the train will be drawn back into the yard by a loco which has been sent up earlier from Minehead. More about the Gala....
5 March 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Walter's Picture Book...
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Joining a springtime frenzy of publications, Walter Harris has produced a full colour photographic booklet showing scenes at Crowcombe Heathfield, where Walter is long-time joint station master. There are 43 shots (mostly two to a page) at this most attractive location with a mixture of Gala visitors, EWS Class 37 on a stone train, service trains and much more. The cost is £3.50 at Crowcombe Heathfield Station or £4.00 including p&p from West Somerset Railway, The Buffer Stop Shop, The Railway Station, Minehead, TA24 5BG.
1 March 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Ticket to Minehead...
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"Ticket to Minehead - The West Somerset Railway Recalled" is the title of a new book on the former Taunton to Minehead branch line, which will go on sale at the West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala on 17-20 March 2005. The content of the book by Alan & Christine Hammond and Richard Derry is all about the human side of life on this former Great Western Railway branch - a theme, which, until now, has been often neglected in other publications about the line. It is a fascinating read, with many memories from staff, evacuees, local people and much more.
3 March 2005
Details from WSRA
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