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| • Change of plan for Council developments...
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The official WSR website reports "News of the changes to the plans for a new development of Offices by West Somerset District Council on car parking land adjacent to Minehead Railway Station have reached the WSR. Managing Director Mark Smith commented, 'The West Somerset Railway, its members and supporters are naturally relieved to learn of the Council’s decision not to progress with their developments adjacent to Minehead Railway Station. We believed that the Civic Offices and speculative office blocks would have overwhelmed the site, hemming the Railway in and preventing any future development. We were especially concerned by the pressures on car parking both for our passengers and visitors to the town. The challenges now facing the Councils, the DIRECT action group and the Railway are to work together to promote developments especially on the Market, Station and Vulcan Road sites that will enhance the appeal of this very special town and its very special railway.' Other correspondents suggest the withdrawal of a contribution by Somerset County Council of around £1million towards library improvements may be one of the key factors in the decision by the District Council. Local "protest" groups are, of course, delighted. The proposed retail development at Vulcan Road, behind the signal box, remains on the cards.
27 May 2005
Details from WSR Plc and local correspondents
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| • Days Out with Thomas...
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The Days out with Thomas weekend - 2-3 July 2005 - looks like being a busy time. Bookings for the first three - Duck, Henry and Sodor express - of five Days out with Thomas specials from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on both days are fully booked. Seats are available on Daisy and "The 12.40". For details, click here or phone Minehead 01643 704996. Seats are available on most other special trains on other dates - see Themed Trains
13 May 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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| • June Specials...
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Two of the major support groups are each arranging a special train in June. The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, based at Washford and owners of the mighty SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 nearing completion at Minehead, have their "Steam Special" running on 18 June. Meantime, the owning group of ex-GWR 2-6-2T no 5542, Locomotive 5542 Ltd, are promoting their "5542 Midsummer Evening Special" scheduled for Saturday 25 June 2005. Please use the above links to find out more...
31 May 2005
Details from SDRT and Loco 5542 Ltd
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| • Association win heritage award...
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The West Somerset Railway Association have won a Local Heritage Initiative award of £22,540. The award is to fund over a one year period an "Archive Project" which is to digitally photograph records, drawings, books, etc. that are held in the Gauge Museum and create an indexed database that will be attached to the railway's website in order to assist students studying our railway heritage.
More...
25 May 2005
Details from WSRA
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| • Wonderful wildlife...
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One of the best floral displays on the railway at this time of year has to be the strip of land alongside the lines between the Minehead Station and Seaward Way. Over 140 flowering plants (which in turn encourage insects, slow worms, birds and mammals) have been identified - all encouraged by a strip of ground left unmown also all the little nooks and crannies and rough bits it is difficult to get the mower over. Passengers only get a fleeting glimpse of much of this but passers-by - both locals and visitors - use the parallel footpath in considerable numbers so the area is a "shop window" for the WSR in many ways. More pictures...
25 May 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • 2004 was a very good year...
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In his annual summary to shareholders, the WSR Plc Chairman, Chris Austin, reports an excellent year. Highlights include another record year for passengers, the award of Independent Railway of the Year and the return to steam of Mogul no 9351. Also of equal mention are the many lower profile projects, such as the signalling works, which contribute in no small way to ongoing improvements to the way the Railway operates. At Minehead, the long-awaited renovation of the canopy was started, whilst at the other end of the line, the WSRA announced the purchase of 33 acres at Norton Fitzwarren which will help long-term development of the Railway. The Annual General Meeting of the WSR Plc on 25 June is sure to be an upbeat affair. May we at www.wsr.org.uk take this opportunity to thank everyone, including the passengers, for making 2004 such a success.
21 May 2005
Details from WSR plc
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| • Holiday Monday on a Seaside Branch Line...
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Bank Holiday Monday 30 May looks to be a busy day for the West Somerset Railway. On top of the normal Gold Timetable, a Railtour is due to arrive from the North West. This excursion, which starts at Acton Bridge, will be formed of a Fragonset/Merlin Class 47 and up to thirteen coaches which will involve some slight re-arrangement of the timetable to accomodate. Whilst all this is going on, the PS Waverley will be calling at Minehead Harbour with some passengers making there way home via the Railway and road coaches from Bishops Lydeard, the numbers on this could be anything between 20 and 200 as numbers are not confirmed until the ship is at sea. Whilst being a busy day. this is what being a seaside branch line on a Bank Holiday Monday is all about...
22 May 2005
Details from WSR plc
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| • The Railway now starring...
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Tim King has kindly compiled a list of currently available DVDs of films and TV programs featuring the West Somerset Railway to a lesser or greater extent.
| · | 'A Hard Day's Night' 1964 Price £6.97 (normally £19.99)
More...
| | A special 2 disc edition of the classic Beatles first movie with
documentaries and interviews. The first 15 minutes was shot on a train
between London and Minehead. See the Beatles page for more about the filming and lots of pictures.
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For details of DVDs of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardobe", "Poirot", "The Belstone Fox","Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em" and "The Land Girls", please click here
14 May 2005
Details from local correspondent
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| • Friends report a good winter...
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Friends of Minehead Station have publsihed their Spring 2005 Newletter which reports successful conclusions to two major renovation projects - the canopy enjoyed a major overhaul and a full set of stone chimneys now stand proudly atop the main building. Of course, there are always more tasks on the list including the older canopy alongside the main building. During special events, the Friends are very busy, and would especially welcome extra hands over the Days out with Thomas weekend on 2-3 July. New members are also very welcome - contact the Friends at FoMS, The Railway Station, Minehead TA24 5BG.
12 May 2005
Details from FoMS
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| • WSR helps Academia...
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Heritage Railway Magazine report "An increase in incoming specials on Britain’s longest heritage line, an all-round higher frequency of service trains, and the lengthening of the operating season are just some of the proposals which stem from a new study compiled for the West Somerset Railway by consultants Manchester Metropolitan University, and subsequently used as a basis for study by its tourism management students – who may one day head up Britain’s all-important tourist industry."
8 May 2005
Details from Heritage Railway Magazine
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| • Seeing triple again...
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The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group have announced a "world exclusive" - three Class 73 electro-diesels will work together in multiple on Sunday 8 May during the WSR Diesel Gala on the 12.20 from Bishops Lydeard and 3.05 from Minehead. This triple-header continues a bit of a West Somerset Gala tradition to the delight of passengers and linesiders...
6 May 2005
Details from DEPG
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| • Every little bit helps...
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The WSR Plc write "Patient research by DIRECT the Save Minehead Campaign group has revealed an error in the Consultants' report on the need for additional retail development in Minehead. The consultant had neglected to include the Tesco store in their assessment of current provision. This error has severely devalued the whole basis of the Report, as it will be very difficult to justify the need for additional retail space in the town. It has caused severe red faces in the Council and ought to promote a major re-think of their whole scheme as so much of the required finance was expected to come from the premium price expected by selling the Vulcan Road site for retail." More...
2 May 2005
Details from WSR Plc
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