wsr.org.uk

News from April 2006...


				• Brunel and the WSR


				As part of the Brunel 200 celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the legendary engineer, the Railway has recently published a new booklet, Brunel and the West Somerset Railway. The booklet - compiled by John Simms - is designed to put the involvement of Isambard Kingdom Brunel with the original construction of the line from Norton Fitzwarren to Watchet in its context, and outlines what visitors to the WSR today can still see of the original line. Available from WSR retail outlets, the 40 page booklet retails at �2.75, or �3.50 by post. 22 April 2006 Details from WSRA and WSR Plc


				• FoMS break GBP100K barrier


				The volunteer-manned sales outlet on the platform at Minehead Station, Readers Halt, has just passed a significant revenue-raising milestone. Just ten minutes before Readers Halt closed for business on 13 April, the total sales figure since opening in the mid 1990s reached �100,000 and in the remaining ten minutes a further �2 of magazines were sold taking the overall figure to �100,002. This is a magnificent achievement, of which the Friends of Minehead Station (FOMS) are very proud. The revenue has enabled FOMS to carry out a number of important works on the Station as well as funding the day to day maintenance and restoration. Here's to the next �100,000! 13 April 2006 Details from FOMS


				• Yeovil trip for No 4561


				WSRA-owned ex-GWR locomotive no 4561 will be transported to Yeovil Pen Mill for display as part of the Pen Mill 150 event on 29 July. The event is one of many in the West Country celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The "Small Prairie" will removed from the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard where it has been on display since withdrawal in the late 1990. The WSRA will also have a stand at the event - volunteers required! On return, the loco is expected to go to Williton, rather than back into the Gauge Museum, ready for overhaul in due course. 13 April 2006 Details from WSRA


				• Norton Fitwarren Junction upgrading...


				The long-awaited work of upgrading the signalling at Norton Fitzwarren Junction to passenger standards is due to commence on Monday 10 April. From that date, with exception of Tuesday 11 April, until Sunday 21 May no movements onto or off the branch will be possible. The points at Norton Fitzwarren will be disconnected, scotched and clipped for normal running on the main line. This is to facilitate the removal of redundant equipment and the installation of new equipment. The majority of the work will be carried out by the contractors, Amey, on the Network Rail and WSR side, with the WSR installing the special signal release instruments at Taunton and Silk Mill. The main working area extends from Milepost 165¼ to the Junction. These dates may be subject to change. Subject to satisfactory commissioning overnight on 20-21 May, the new arrangements will come into force. 9 April 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• A feast of trains at WSR30...


				A reminder of a special event - WSR30 - to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the reopening of the West Somerset Railway is being held throughout this coming Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May. Locomotives rostered for use during WSR30 are nos 5553, 6412, 9351, 80136, D6566, D7523 and the Class 115/117 dmu, with many other items of stock on display along the line, including the bay platform at Minehead. The WSR normally publishes a special souvenir programme for its principal special events, but on this occasion is delighted to publish the full working timetables, which include the engine rosters, which can be accessed below. · Saturday 29 April · Sunday 30 April · Monday 1 May 28 April 2006 Details from WSRA


				• Taunton Group visit Woody Bay


				The May meeting of the Taunton Group of the West Somerset Railway Association will be held on Exmoor. The Group have arranged a trip on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway and are due to gather at Woody Bay Station, located on the A39, half way between Blackmoor Gate and Lynton - a mile to the east of Parracombe - at 6.30 pm on Bank Holiday Monday 1 May for an evening steaming just for the Group. The Depot should also be open. The nearby Old Station Inn at Blackmoor Gate has been tipped off of a possible invasion of Somerset folk later in the evening. If you plan to attend it is important to contact the organiser by email... 25 April 2006 Details from WSRA


				• Rat run on WSR


				To the delight of diesel fans, a Rat will run during the West Somerset Railway 30th Anniversary Weekend at the end of April. The WSR-based Class 25 diesel locomotive D7523 - a class of locomotive nicknamed a "Rat" - will be in action on Saturday 29 April, Sunday 30 April and Monday 1 May. D7523 will haul the 9.35am and 2.55pm from Bishops Lydeard, and the 11.10am and 4.45pm from Minehead. Further diesel interest will be provided by Crompton Class 33 no D6566 which will work a demonstration freight train on the Monday. Thanks to the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group for the information. 17 April 2006 Details from DEPG


				• Park Royal for Minehead


				One of the first items to work on the revived West Somerset Railway back in 1976 is to return to Minehead. In readiness for the forthcoming 30th celebrations, and before it leaves the line for a new life in Cornwall, the Park Royal Class 103 DMU is being smartened up at Williton so that folks can have a look around this WSR veteran when berthed at Minehead at the end of April. Then in early May, the DMU will be moved by rail to Bishops Lydeard, and then onwards to Helston by road haulage. 16 April 2006 Details from local correspondent


				• It was thirty years ago...


				Thirty years ago, and following frenetic restoration work in 1975-6, the line between Blue Anchor and Minehead was re-opened for passenger traffic on 28 March 1976. Three years later the service was extended to Bishops Lydeard and nowadays the West Somerset Railway has developed into a leading heritage railway and a major West Country tourist attraction. To celebrate, over the May Day Weekend, the Railway is laying on a "mini-gala" with over a dozen trains each way on 29-30 April and 1 May. The event will see Nos 6412, 80136, 9351 and 5553 in steam and in action. The DMU and a diesel locomotive will complete the line-up. The recently restored Great Western Railway 2-8-0 no 3850 will be on display, along with Hymek D7017 and one of the original Park Royal DMUs, and the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway heavy goods locomotive no 88 - superbly finished in the famous SDJR prussian blue livery. A vintage bus will ply between Dunster Station and Village on 30 April and 1 May. All subject to availability. For timetables, visit the Train Times page... 8 April 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• Did you video this train...


				Well-known wildlife artist David Shepherd is seeking some video footage of Black Prince. More specifically, footage of the loco leaving Bishops Lydeard on 26 March on the 10am to Minehead which David would like to use for his talks and shows across the world. Of course, the WSR would enjoy good mentions and good publicity. David is joint owner of the ex-BR Class 9F 2-10-0 no 92203 "Black Prince" and, from all accounts, throughly enjoyed travelling on the West Somerset aboard the superbly restored locomotive. Several videographers were known to be out and about and if anyone can help, could they please contact the Railway on 01643 704996 or email to wsomerrail@aol.com in the first instance. 5 April 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• A Look at the Early Days...


				Anyone unable to get to the recent Taunton WSRA meeting missed a real treat. WSR volunteer Barrie Childs reports "I didn't set foot on the Wizzer until 1989 but over the years have avidly read most of the WSRA Journals, back as far as Vol 1 No. 1, in an effort to catch up. No amount of reading can possibly make up for not having been there, however Nick Jones's excellent presentation last night certainly conveyed the flavour of those heady late 70s days and entertainingly filled out many of the half-remembered stories. Lots of the people around the railway in those days were present and chipped in with a few embellishments as the slides triggered those memories. It was also very pleasing to note those who put so much effort in the early days but are sadly no longer around were rightly remembered and acknowledged. Surely nobody in 1976-79 could possibly have imagined the gala event we have just staged. Anyway, thanks to Nick and of course to Peter Darke for hosting the presentation. I had been looking forward to this for some time and was not disappointed!" 4 April 2006 Details from local correspondent


				• Railtour stock stored at Minehead...


				The SRPS rake of maroon-liveried coaches, much used for mainline railtour duties, is now stored in sidings at Minehead. The Scottish Railway Preservation Society's stock arrived on 4 April from Old Oak Common hauled all the way by Class 47 no 47712 which later returned light engine. It is the third time in just a few weeks that this rake has visited the Railway - first during the first Gala weekend when "Tangmere" brought a special from London; then, returning to bolster the WSR's own coaching stock for the remainder of the Gala. It will be a short stay, however, as the coaches will leave - steam-hauled - on 11 April for the next turn of mainline duty 4 April 2006 Details from local correspondents


				• Steam-powered Fish and Chips...


				The first Chippie of 2006 will run on the evening of Saturday 6 May leaving Bishops Lydeard at 6.45pm. In a change from previous years the Fish and Chip trains will be hauled by steam engines in 2006. A meal of fish and chips, together with a glass of wine, will be served at table during the outward journey to Minehead, where we will arrive at approximately 8pm. A vegetarian option is also available. After about an hour in the seaside town of Minehead, the special train will return to Bishops Lydeard. More... 2 April 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• After the Gala...


				Following problems with leaking tubes, the visiting Somerset and Dorset Railway Class 7F 2-8-0 no 53809 will now return to Butterley for attention. The loco will not now appear at the special event at Washford on 8-9 April alongside resident sister engine, no 88. On 1 April, two visiting locos nos 45440 and 76009 travelled up to Taunton to head a railtour to Plymouth and back. The big Class 9F engine, no 92203, was noted passing through Taunton on 31 March by road en route for Toddington. Ex-GWR engines, somewhat sidelined during the recent weeks, have returned from various stabling sidings to Minehead and the WSR will begin to assume its Great Western air once again... 1 April 2006 Details from various correspondents

wsr.org.uk

On this day...

Information not available for today's date...

Search the news archive...

Go to the Wizzle news search

The old news...

The news pages before May 2015 will appear in the panel on the left and may not render correctly due to changes in styling over the years. Also, some of the links may not work due to the target information having been removed from servers. News pages from May 2015 onwards will overwrite this page.

2022 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

2021 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec