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News from September 2006...


				• Green light for Norton Triangle...


				The West Somerset Railway Association plans to build a turning triangle on land it owns adjacent to the Norton Fitzwarren junction with the main line are about to reach another significant milestone with the imminent start of construction on site. Association Chairman Humphrey Davies was keen to thank Association members and others who have been generous with their support and went on to say "This project is a win for rail and for the environment. The material we need for the triangle will be recycled aggregate, delivered by rail, with no impact on local roads. The project will allow us to handle more charter trains from the main line network, as well as to turn our own engines, and is an important milestone in the development of the railway. I urge visitors to keep clear of the fenced area, and of course never to walk on or near the railway line. The best way to see the site is from the train." There is a simplified plan showing The Triangle, and the full Press Release... 25 September 2006 Details from WSRA


				• Porterbrook to hand over 47840...


				The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group have released a press release concerning Class 47 no 48740. "Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited, a subsidiary of Abbey National plc, is pleased to announce that following discussions with the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group at the West Somerset Railway, an agreement has been reached for the handover of Class 47 locomotive no 47840. The locomotive has recently received repairs to its Sulzer 12LDA28C power unit including replacement of the "B" bank fuel camshaft and its associated follower by Brush Traction in Loughborough. Work was also carried out on the exhaust system and a refit of the dual braking system. The locomotive will now be able to work with both air and vacuum braked rolling stock..." Full press release... 28 September 2006 Details from DEPG


				• Recalling happy days at Bishops Lydeard...


				A visitor to the West Somerset Railway relived happy memories after the war years when she lived in the Station Masters house at Bishops Lydeard. Phyllis Hayes, aged 99 years, paid the nostalgic visit with friends and travelled to Minehead and back. Phyllis spent happy years at Bishops Lydeard when her husband Richard was Station Master there between 1946 and 1951. Visiting the old Goods Shed - now the Gauge Museum - she was able to recall the supplies coming in for the Buffer Depot in the post war years and the constant outgoings of sugar beet and other local produce to the national system. She re-called the very deep snow of 1947 and how cold it was. Phyllis recalled her young son watching steam engines shunting, cycle rides to Bishops Lydeard village on balmy summer days and the horses that went by train from the nearby stud farm... 28 September 2006 Details from WSRA


				• Road up in November...


				The first quarter mile of the Minehead Branch is due to be improved. Following the recent track re-lay of the first half mile of the West Somerset Railway by WSR engineers is a re-lay of the Network Rail owned section from the WSR boundary to just short of the ladder junction at Norton Junction. The new work will be carried out in November by Network Rail who will require possession of the section from Bishops Lydeard. Movements on and off the Minehead Branch - other than Network Rail's engineer trains - will not be possible during the re-lay period although this will not affect any planned events according to WSR Plc. 24 September 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• The Minehead Branch...


				Of immense interest to railway historians and local folks alike, a new book on the history of the West Somerset Railway will be launched early next month during the Autumn Steam Gala. "The Minehead Branch 1848-1971" will be launched at 7pm on 6 October at the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard Station where all are welcome. Over the two following days, the author, Ian Coleby, will be signing copies at The Station Shop at Bishops Lydeard. The book covers the line from its inception and construction in the 1850s until its closure in 1971. It contains more than 350 photographs and probably represents the largest collection of pre-preservation pictures of the railway, including many broad gauge images. The 392 page book also includes an extensive and comprehensive narrative, scale drawings of all the structures and buildings and a reproduction of the 2-chain survey redrawn especially for the book. There are detailed appendices that support the text, including a description of all the block sections, list of more than 600 ex-employees, tables of bridges and so on. "The Minehead Branch" retails at �24.99 - available from the Station Shop at Bishops Lydeard or all good booksellers or from the publishers The Lightmoor Press. Clearly the definitive history of the Minehead Branch! 21 September 2006 Details from WSRA


				• Change of plan for "Lord Nelson"...


				A Christmas Holiday by the sea for a new favourite. In a change of plan SR 4-6-0 no 850 "Lord Nelson", undergoing running-in after a heavy overhaul, will remain on the line until late October, and will star at the Grand Trains Extravaganza. A possible trip to Bury follows - for fitting of the on train data recorder equipment which is necessary for future mainline duties - and then a return to Somerset in time for the winter season trains. Finally, "Lord Nelson" will head the rescheduled "Trafalgar Express" in early January 2007. 19 September 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• The Green Train Cometh...


				The Green Train is to make several visits to the Railway over the next few days. On Thursday 28 September, the ten coach Green Train will run from Barrow Hill Depot to Bishops Lydeard arriving at around 5 o'clock, and then run on to Minehead, headed throughtout by a Class 47 and a Class 31 diesel locomotive. The set will be internally cleaned and tanked, and then re-marshalled as a nine coach rake. Next day the slightly reduced rake will head for Salisbury via Westbury, leaving Minehead at around 1 o'clock. The following day, the stock returns to Minehead behind a steam-hauled excursion from London Victoria, then returns, diesel-hauled from Bishops Lydeard, to London. On Monday 2 October, the Green Train comes back to Minehead, and after re-forming, most coaches will remain on the line for use during the Autumn Steam Gala, when it will form Set E mostly behind, appropriately, "Lord Nelson"... Updated 27 September 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• Crompton is moved to Williton...


				After being out stationed at Minehead for a few months, Crompton Class 33 diesel-electric no 33057 was moved to Williton on 23 September. The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group dragged the Crompton back to the South Yard at Williton using the Class 14 no D9526 which saw its third outing in as many weeks! Work will be carried out on no 33057 - for the time being, the loco is berthed on Number One Road outside the old Goods Shed. 24 September 2006 Details from local correspondent


				• A Local Service...


				At last, the chance to travel by train between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. For two days only during the Autumn Steam Gala, local folks and Gala visitors alike can travel betwen these two stations, for a mere £5 return, thanks to First Great Western who are laying on six trains a day on 7-8 October in connection with the West Somerset Railway's Autumn Steam Gala. For the departure times of these trains, to be operated using a modern First Great Western Class 158 train, please click here... 21 September 2006 Details from FGW and WSR Plc


				• From Broad Gauge to Broadband...


				The Railway is keeping up with new technology with the completion of a computer network upgrade at Minehead Station to full broadband specification. In line with the WSR policy of using local suppliers wherever possible the contract for the work was placed with Edward Martin Computer Systems of Williton and the job was completed at the start of the second week in August. West Somerset Railway General Manager Paul Conibeare commented on this latest development. "Although the heart of our business is the operation of vintage trains under the control of time-honoured operating systems we are ever-mindful of the need to embrace new ideas and technology in the spirit of Brunel and the other great engineers of the Victorian period.". To mark the formal handover of the installation Eddie Martin handed over a laptop computer to Paul Conibeare on 16 August at Minehead Station. 21 September 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• A future return for an old favourite...


				The recent return to steam of an old favourite has raised hopes of seeing the loco back on the WSR. Following a heavy overhaul, carried out at the South Devon Railway, BR(W) 2-6-2T no 4160, after running-in at the Buckfastleigh-Totnes line, went "on tour", visiting the Bodmin & Wenford Railway; back to the SDR; then onto the Mid-Hants Railway; and will end up at the Bluebell Railway, where it will remain until February 2007. It is hoped the loco will return to the WSR soon afterwards - negotiations are in progress but not yet finalised. 19 September 2006 Details from WSRA (and 4160 Ltd)


				• Taunton Group meet on 2 October


				A selection of steam videos will be shown at the next meeting of the WSRA Taunton Group. The event is on Monday 2 October at 7.45pm at the GWR Staff Association building, close to the north-east corner of Taunton Station. The evening sees a return visit of Karl Jauncey, with a selection of his ever-popular Mainline Steam Videos, from PSOV productions, with some of the dramatic shots and locations that the team manage to find, usually with West Country bias... 19 September 2006 Details from WSRA


				• Taunton-Bishops Lydeard-Taunton Shuttles...


				First Great Western and the West Somerset Railway have released the times of the shuttle trains between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard during the last two days of the Autumn Steam Gala in October. On Saturday 7 October 2006, the shuttle trains - likely to feature the WSR-liveried Class 158 unit - will leave Taunton 8.40am 9.30am 11.40am 1.50pm 2.55pm and 4.30pm; and will leave Bishops Lydeard at 9.05am 11.05am 1.20pm 2.25pm 4.05pm and 5.00pm. On Sunday 8 October, the shuttle trains will depart Taunton at 10.25am 11.32am 1.55pm 2.55pm 4.32pm and 5.30pm; and will leave Bishops Lydeard at 11.00am 1.20pm 2.20pm 4.05pm 5.00pm and 6.25pm. Journey times are expected to around twenty minutes each way. The return fare on these FGW Shuttles is expected to be �5 (not confirmed). These shuttle train workings will dovetail into the Auto Train workings between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren during the Autumn Steam Gala... 18 September 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• A Day Out with Teddy...


				Back in the heady days of the British Railways Modernisation Plan the small Class 14 Diesel Hydraulic was designed to replace the typical branch line steam locomotives. Sadly, many of those branch lines were later closed under the Beeching Plan. But the Class 14 locos - known as "Teddy Bears" remain in preservation. On 16 September, in conjunction with the CAMRA Real Ale festivities at Minehead, the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group provided the traction in the form of Class 14 no D9526 on the 9.40am and 2.50pm trains. Limited to only three coaches the loco and train looked the ideal branch line local service. D9526 was driven by Julian Bracchi, ably assisted by secondman Jon Tooke. During the layover at Minehead, the Class 33 no 33057 was shunted from the bay sidings in readiness for its planned move to the DEPG yard at Williton in the next few days. 17 September 2006 Details from local correspondent


				• News from FoMS...


				The Friends of Minehead Station - FoMS - continue their good work in maintaining the fabric of the largest WSR station. In the recent newsletter, we learn that the Readers Halt shop is on target to once again exceed takings, although the brisk trade runs the risk of running short of paperbacks and magazines, so more donations are welcomed. A good Summer Fair resulted in raising almost £500 and now FoMS are planning the Christmas Fair. Meantime, routine maintenance continues apace... 13 September 2006 Details from FoMS


				• The Barney Branch remembered...


				5 October 1966 was the day on which the railway between Taunton and Barnstaple closed as part of the Beeching Cuts and for the first time since 1873 communities such as Wiveliscombe, Dulverton and South Molton had no trains to link them to the rest of Britain. To mark the anniversary and to evoke the days when steam trains called at bustling stations and quiet halts on their way across Exmoor the West Somerset Railway is making the first day of the Autumn Steam Gala into a commemorative occasion with trains being worked by types of Great Western Railway engines that would once have been familiar daily sights on the Taunton - Barnstaple line and the Exe Valley line between Exeter, Tiverton and Dulverton. There will also be a GWR "Auto-Train" headed by a small tank engine to invoke memories of the "Tivvy Bumper". There will be seven passenger trains in each direction between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, plus demonstration goods trains to bring back further memories of the lost days of the country railway. The Autumn Steam Gala continues on 6-8 October with bigger engines "joining the fray" and more trains operating over the line. 12 September 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• Lord Nelson returns to service...


				After a long overhaul lasting nearly 20 years by the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society the Southern Railway express steam locomotive no 850 returned to hauling passenger trains on the West Somerset Railway when it double-headed the 12.15 departure from Minehead with British Railways 4MT 2-6-4T no 80136. No 850 "Lord Nelson" was built in 1926 and was one of 16 locomotives, named after British admirals, that headed heavy express trains on the SR - such as the Channel boat trains and the "Atlantic Coast Express". After withdrawal from service in 1962 the loco became part of the National Railway Museum collection and was a regular performer on main line excursion trains in the 1980s. Once running-in on the WSR is complete it will return to mainline duties. The engine should next see service on the West Somerset on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 September when it will work the 10.15 am and 2.00 pm from Minehead and the 12.25 pm and 4.10 pm from Bishops Lydeard. "Lord Nelson" will also have a starring role during the Autumn Steam Gala. 12 September 2006 Details from WSR Plc


				• The Trials of Lord Nelson...


				A evening run from Minehead to Blue Anchor and back for SR 4-6-0 no 850 on 8 September was a sight to please and excite a good many interested folks. The return to steam for "Lord Nelson" has been eagerly awaited since the engine was moved from Eastleigh to Minehead for finishing touches and extensive running in, prior to embarking on a series of mainline railtour duties. The test run seemed to be successful and augers well for a starring role for the ex-Southern Railway express locomotive at the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala. 12 September 2006 Details from local correspondent


				• Trip for Teddy Bear...


				Class 14 no D9526 was pressed into action on Saturday last. The "Teddy Bear" was used to transport the Permanent Way Department's "Weltrol" wagon from Williton to Dunster yard. After retrieving the wagon from Williton North Yard, the loco and modest load was recessed into the South Yard to await a path. The very short train gained admiring glances during the non-stop run to Dunster. The train was propelled back into the Goods Shed and the wagon uncoupled, providing, perhaps, the first time that the Class 14 has been photographed in the Shed at Dunster. Thereafter, the loco travelled light engine to Minehead, and to save a path on the return, D9526 piloted the DMU service train as far as Williton, where it cut off and went back to the DEPG yard. 12 September 2006 Details from local correspondent


				• Clearing the way...


				The Cutting Back Gang have been very busy at Norton Fitzwarren. Vegetation is being cleared from the area destined for the ballast due to be delivered by later this year. A major track renewal programme on the Berks & Hants and Great Western Main lines over the next two years will see a High Output Ballast Cleaning (HOBC) train lift, clean and replace several hundred tons of ballast during a shift returning to its base to offload the spent ballast at the WSR's Norton site. During the cutting back, GWR 4-6-0 no 6024 "King Edward I" passed by on a trip from Old Oak Common to Bishops Lydeard... 12 September 2006 Details from local correspondent

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