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| • A new kitchen for Crowcombe Heathfield...
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The new kitchen at Crowcombe Heathfield Station is ready for action. The Station Staff at Crowcombe Heathfield have praised the contractor, David Cross and his team for an excellent job, well executed in difficult conditions. Joint Station Master Ted Cubitt comments "We are now open for tea and coffee and so on, and we look forward to welcoming friends old and new." And just in time for the AUTUMN STEAM GALA...
28 September 2007
Details from Crowcombe Heathfield Station
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| • Nos 3440 and 3802 confirmed for Gala...
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A pair of former Great Western Railway steam locomotives will be visiting the West Somerset Railway to star at the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala on 4-7 October. The two locos are the world famous 4-4-0 no 3440 City of Truro and ‘2884’ Class 2-8-0 no 3802. "After the disappointment of losing the Bullied ‘West Country’ Braunton, we are delighted that we have been able to conclude arrangements for the two locomotives to visit the line for next month’s Gala", comments Richard Jones, Chairman of the WSR’s Special Events Planning Team. A total of twelve steam engines will now be in action working passenger trains at the Autumn Gala, representing three of the four former “Big Four” railway companies – Great Western, Southern and London Midland & Scottish. See AUTUMN STEAM GALA page for full details. The WSR is very grateful to the National Railway Museum, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Llangollen Railway and Great Western 3802 Limited for their assistance in facilitating the visit of Nos 3440 and 3802. In addition, visitors to the Autumn Steam Gala will be able to see several steam locomotives on display at Williton – SR 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton, GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412 and GWR 0-6-2T no 6695, the latter arriving from the Swanage Railway for a contract repair this winter. Progress with the overhaul of BR(W) ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor can also be viewed inside the workshop at Minehead. Richard Jones comments: "We look forward to welcoming people to our Autumn Steam Gala to see this impressive gathering of steam locomotives on the West Somerset Railway for what promises to be a four-day feast of steam!"
25 September 2007
Details from SEPT
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| • A case of wrong line working...
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No 813 arrives and departs within minutes. A case of so near, so far, perhaps when GWR 0-6-0ST no 813 arrived at Bishops Lydeard by road on 25 September. The arrival had WSR staff scratching their heads and checking the AUTUMN STEAM GALA leaflet to see is the loco was a last minute guest for the October event. No sooner had the diminutive engine arrived than it left, following a smart reversing move by the low loader driver. No 813 was destined for the East Somerset Railway not the WSR. A case of wrong line working of a different kind...
25 September 2007
Details from WSRA
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| • Stanier Mogul no 42968 arrives...
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First Gala guest engine arrives in Somerset. The unique Stanier-designed Mogul 2-6-0 no 42968 has arrived on the West Somerset Railway well ahead of the AUTUMN STEAM GALA on 4-7 October when it will share duties on the Minehead Branch with another ten locomotives. Stranded at the Severn Valley Railway's northern terminus, after heavy rainfall in July damaged and severed that railway in several locations, it had been feared the cramped surroundings at Bridgnorth might prevent the visit to Somerset but happily the Mogul was successfully loaded and moved by road lorry.
25 September 2007
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Dramatic videos on offer at WSRA meeting...
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Exciting, dramatic videos of mainline steam will be shown at the next meeting of the Taunton Group fo the WSR Association. On Monday 1 October the Group has its second meeting of the autumn, at the usual venue, the GWRSA Snug Bar, north east corner of Taunton Station, featuring a further screening of Mainline Steam Videos by PSOV. This is usually a rather dramatic display by a well-equipped team of some superb mainline action, for which they always seem to be able to find some superb locations and excellent light. As usual, the evening is due to start at about 7.45pm. There will be a good variety of videos for sale.
25 September 2007
Details from WSRA
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| • City of Truro returns for the Gala...
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No 3440 returns to the West Somerset Railway for the Autumn Steam Gala. We are awaiting confirmation but it looks as though the celebrated locomotive GWR 4-4-0 City of Truro, famous for being the first locomotive to be officially recorded as exceeding 100mph, will head a star cast of eleven engines at the Gala on 4-8 October 2007. Also just announced is the visit of GWR 2-8-0 no 3802 - sister of resident eight-coupled no 3850. Not one but two surprise guests to help cover for Braunton which will not be ready for the event. More on the AUTUMN STEAM GALA page...
23 September 2007
Details from SEPT
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| • Autumn Steam Gala update...
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More Gala information is now available. GWR 4-4-0 City of Truro will work alone on the Thursday with a five coach maximum load and will double head with another locomotive during the rest of the weekend. Those wishing to photograph or travel on passenger trains with the diminutive LBSCR A1X Terrier 0-6-0T no 662 Martello up front will need to attend on the Thursday or Friday of the Gala as during the weekend it will be shunting at Dunster Good Yard. GWR 0-4-2T no 1450 will now have two auto coaches in tow - the usual No 178 plus the South Devon's Carmine & Cream No 225. And more good news, LMS 2-6-0 no 42968 is now staying on the WSR throughout October including an appearance at the Somerset in Autumn weekend. Finally, GWR 2-8-0 no 3802 will make a brief visit from the Llangollen Railway before moving on to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. All the above subject to availability of course. More on the AUTUMN STEAM GALA page...
23 September 2007
Details from SEPT
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| • Autumn Gala Virgin shuttle times confirmed...
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Virgin shuttle train times now confirmed. On the Saturday and Sunday of the AUTUMN STEAM GALA, Virgin Trains will be operating a special shuttle service directly between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard, using one of their Class 220 Voyager units. A separate fare is payable for travel on this service. Fares between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on the shuttle trains are now available. The single fare is £2.50 per person and the return fare is £5.00 per person. Departure and arrival times are shown on the AUTUMN STEAM GALA page...
21 September 2007
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Yuletide Special Steam Enginemans Course...
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How about this for an early Christmas present. A Yuletide Special Steam Enginemans Course. On 11, 12, 13 December this year there is a unique opportunity to drive LBSCR A1X Terrier 0-6-0T no 662 Martello for a round trip from Minehead to Williton and return with a single Southern Region coach in tow. There will be three people per course. There is no firing for course participants as there is only room for three on the footplate. A meal will be available in the Brunel Buffet and is included in the price of £250 per person. Why not try this unique course taking place in December? For details of how to book this course please call 01643 700398 or email or you can download the booking form...
20 September 2007
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Stanier Mogul confirmed for Gala...
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The West Somerset Railway is delighted to be able to confirm that the Stanier Mogul no 42968 will be appearing at the Autumn Steam Gala. Following agreement reached with both the Severn Valley Railway and the Stanier Mogul Fund – LMS 2-6-0 no 42968 will be joining the line-up at the AUTUMN STEAM GALA. “The ‘Stanier Mogul’ – which will be visiting Somerset for the first time – will be an impressive sight on the line and is sure to be popular with visitors to the event”, comments WSR General Manager, Paul Conibeare “and we are all looking forward to seeing this unique engine in action.” No 42968 is the only preserved example of its class, forty of which were built by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway at Crewe Works in the mid-1930s to a design by William Stanier, which were a development of the earlier mixed-traffic Crab 2-6-0s. After a rather uneventful career, during which time it was based at various sheds, the loco was withdrawn from Wigan Springs Branch in January 1966 and sent to scrap at Woodhams Brothers’ yard at Barry Docks in South Wales. The Stanier Mogul Fund successfully purchased the 2-6-0 in 1973, and it has been based on the Severn Valley Railway ever since. After restoration from scrapyard condition, it was successfully steamed again in 1990 and entered passenger service the following year. See Press Release...
13 September 2007
Details from SEPT
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| • No 34046 will not appear at the Gala...
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With great regret, the WSR Special Events Planning Team have announced the Southern Railway Pacific no 34046 is not fit to run at the forthcoming Gala. Following a successful run from Williton to Crowcombe Heathfield on 19 August, on the return it was clear that one or more axleboxes were running hot. On inspection at Williton, three axleboxes had indeed run hot. The motion was dismantled and the loco lifted off its wheels. A new design of axlebox pads has been sourced. Unfortunately a small longitudal crack was discovered in the rear driving axle - not a simple or quick task to repair. It was of course not visible in the earlier stages of the restoration, and it also does not show up on ultrasonic tests as it is a longitudal” crack. The team considered if the repair could be carried out using modern techniques but this has not been possible. Of course, the WSRA restoration team will deal with the problem in a throughly professional manner. This means that Braunton will not appear at the Autumn Steam Gala on 4-7 October, and is unlikely to see service until at least early 2008. Of course, everyone on the Railway is bitterly disappointed and equally very sorry that this magnificent locomotive will not star at the Gala. See Press Release...
13 September 2007
Details from SEPT
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| • Late availability Steam Engineman Courses...
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Due to cancellations, the Railway have several Steam Engineman Course places available. Two places on Stage One on 11 and 12 October at £325 each; one place on Stage Three on 15 October (£250); one place of Stage Four on 9 and 17 October (£350 each); and two places on the Special Stage Three from Minehead on 9 November at £250. Contact the Railway on 01643 700398 or download the Booking Form or visit the Steam Engineman page...
12 September 2007
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Progress on the new kitchen at Crowcombe...
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News on the new kitchen at Crowcombe Heathfield Station. Work started on Tuesday 28 August with the stripping out of all the old equipment and fitments. The lath and plaster walls were stripped together with the plaster from the outer walls to allow for damp proofing. The floor and joists have been replaced. The electrical installation is having a major overhaul. Damp proofing and plastering are now complete, with repainting starting soon. The new kitchen units are due to be delivered in a day or two and the folks at Crowcombe Heathfield Station are aiming to have completion by Friday 21 September and will soon be offering tea from the best kitchen in the West.
11 September 2007
Details from Crowcombe Station
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| • Reminder about public meeting at Bishops Lydeard...
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A reminder about the forthcoming meeting about the proposed Bishops Lydeard development. Plans for a new museum and carriage shed at Bishops Lydeard station as part of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust’s (WSSRT) Heritage Carriages Project will be revealed at an informal public meeting in the village hall organised by the Parish Council in September. Representatives of the WSSRT will be on hand in the hall from 9.00am until 10.45am to explain the plans to local residents on Saturday 15 September. A questions and answers session will follow. The morning promises a good insight into the details of the development and everyone is welcome to attend...
11 September 2007
Details from WSSRT
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| • Coal tank due at Williton for repairs...
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A classic Great Western coal tank due to visit the WSR Association engineering base at Williton for mechanical work. GWR 0-6-2T no 6695 which is normally based at the Swanage Railway will soon visit the Spa Valley Railway in the South East of England. It is then due to leave on 26 September for West Somerset for attention to axleboxes and hornguides at Williton. It is due back at Swanage for their Santa season. There are no plans to feature the locomotive at the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala line up...
9 September 2007
Details from local correspondent
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| • No 5542 to return to the West Somerset...
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A favourite locomotive to return to the West Somerset Railway in 2008. A extensive works programme to be carried out on GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 at Buckfastleigh during the Autumn and Winter and will be completed by 28 February 2008 when agreement has been reached for the loco to make a welcome return to the West Somerset Railway. It is scheduled to stay in Somerset until about 15 April and should see operation for at least 15 days, and possibly as many as 28. The above period includes next year's Spring Steam Gala when the Small Prairie should be in operation during most days. Following the six week WSR visit it is expected that the loco will return to the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway for the summer season. The Directors of the Locomotive 5542 Ltd are pleased to have been able to reach agreement for the loco to spend a period on the WSR during 2008 and hope it will go some way to redressing its absence during the last two years. With the ten year overhaul on the boiler now little more than three years away the loco must see use on every possible occasion before April 2011 to help recoup the very large investment planned for this coming winter's work program.
4 September 2007
Details from 5542 Ltd
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| • The Railway sponsors a Show Garden...
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Gangers help construct a railway-themed show garden. Members of the WSR Plc Permanent Way Gang were asked to assist with a Show Garden at the recent Amateur Garden Show held at the Bath and West Showground over the weekend 31 August to 2 September. The WSR Plc was very happy to sponsor the garden at this prestigious event and David Dunster and John Bonner were enlisted to help the garden’s designer, Julian Compton of Landart Designs, Ilminster put the rail part of the garden together. The garden was awarded a Large Gold by the judges and also won Best in Show, unusual for a show garden up against so many floral stands. Paul Conibeare, WSR General Manager said "The Company was pleased to assist Julian and the Railway’s name was put in front of yet another potential market. Well done to all involved"
3 September 2007
Details from WSSRT
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| • Public meeting about Lydeard development...
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Local residents get chance to discuss the proposed Bishops Lydeard development. Plans for a new museum and carriage shed at Bishops Lydeard station as part of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust’s (WSSRT) Heritage Carriages Project will be revealed at an informal public meeting in the village hall organised by the Parish Council in September. Representatives of the WSSRT will be on hand in the hall from 9.00am until 10.45am to answer questions and explain the plans to local residents on Saturday 15 September. Then, from 11.00am until 12.45pm, WSSRT Heritage Carriages Project Director, Robin White will present the Trust’s plans and answer questions from the floor in a meeting chaired by Parish Council Chairman Joanna Lewin-Harris. It is hoped that a representative from local property developers Gadds will also be in attendance since the new museum and carriage shed is part of a wider development recently submitted by Gadds.
3 September 2007
Details from WSSRT
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| • Announcing Great Western Steam Railways...
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And now for the Great Western Steam Railways. The heritage steam railways of the West Country are teaming up to give the romance of steam train travel in the region a greater profile at home and abroad - and boosting local tourism at the same time. A new joint marketing organisation called "Great Western Steam Railways" (GWSR) has just been set up to put the major steam rail lines in Devon, Somerset and Cornwall firmly on the national and international map. The South Devon Railway, the West Somerset Railway and Bodmin & Wenford Railway are at the centre of the new group – with the Dartmoor Railway as an associate member. For full details, please see the recent press release...
2 September 2007
Details from GWSR
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| • Western Chord reaches Barnstaple formation...
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The Barnstaple formation is reached. The Western Chord of the Norton Triangle has finally reached the original Barnstaple Line formation after weeks of delay due to the waterlogged state of the ground in the area. The chord has been joined to the old formation in the extreme corner of the WSRA land ownership and the first layer of ballast is already in place. A short length of the Barnstaple branch trackbed has also been cleared and a ballast bed laid. Track will be laid on this new formation later in the year and attention will now switch to the Eastern Chord once the culvert headwalls have been cast - no easy job with the ditches still running half full of water at a time of the year when they would normally be bone dry! Elsewhere on the site the earth 'batters' are being added to finished sections of the embankments to allow seeding and plant growth to become established.
2 September 2007
Details from WSRA
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| • A couple of diary dates for new volunteers...
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A couple of dates for new and prospective volunteers. The WSR Association is holding two sessions aimed at prospective volunteers. The first is a "Workshop" on Sunday 9 September when new volunteers are invited to meet up at the Gauge Museum, Bishops Lydeard Station, at 10.45am, with a brief introduction about the role of the WSR volunteer, followed by an induction course. Information about the various sections and departments will be available before the session closes at 12.20pm. The second is a longer, all day affair, on Sunday 14 October. The day startes at 9.30am, and the agenda includes an introduction to the role of volunteers on the Railway; how the Railway is organised; a tour of Bishops Lydeard Station; a round trip to Minehead by steam train, during the journey, working members of the Railway will introduce themselves and tell you about the different tasks and work that are available, including training arrangements; at Minehead there will be opportunity for a brief look at the workshops and station areas; alternatively, visitors interested in working on the diesel fleet, or working on carriage and locomotive restoration may leave the train at Williton to see the workshops there; on return to Bishops Lydeard there will be an Induction Course; the day will end at about 5pm. Please telephone Bishops Lydeard Station 01823 433856 to let us know which event you wish to attend - you will be very welcome to either or both...
2 September 2007
Details from WSRA
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| • WSR Station Gardens make the national press...
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The West Somerset Railway Station Gardens are featured in the latest edition of Amateur Gardening. The weekly magazine sent along a reporter who spent an August day in the company of WSR naturalist David Bailey of Ilminster, and his wife Jennifer, visiting several locations along the line. Wildlife on the embankments was not overlooked either! At Stogumber, with its splendid gardens, the entourage was met by Station Master Iris Horn. In all, the feature is spread across five pages of the magazine. This website has been foremost in promoting the Station Gardens as an attraction in their own right and the Amateur Gardening article is testament to the huge potential created by our small army of gardeners. A big thank you to everyone...
2 September 2007
Details from local correspondent
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| • It was twenty years ago today...
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Is it really twenty years ago that SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 88 was first restored to working order. Dave Williamns, long-time WSR driver, was one of the many that helped get the 7F back in steam in August 1987. Restoration first started some time before that at Washford. A major impetus came when the loco was re-wheeled at Washford then towed to Minehead to complete restoration. Dave led a major role in the work along with Malc Kershaw,Chris Powell, Don Haynes, Alan Pakes, Terry Potter, Dave Kane, Nigel Smart, Dave Hallett and many others. Driver Dave Williams was the first to move the 2-8-0 in steam after re-build and fittingly drove the loco on service trains twenty years later on 19 August 2007.
2 September 2007
Details from local correspondent
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| • An excellent Bank Holiday...
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A busy Bank Holiday for the WSR. Along with many other attractions in South West England the West Somerset Railway had an excellent August Bank Holiday Weekend as holiday makers and day trippers took advantage of the sunshine to get out and about or to visit the seaside. "We had every available coach in service over the three days", said WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare, "and the flow of passengers coming for a day on the beach or to go exploring the countryside meant that we needed all the train seating we could muster. When we added the figures together we had carried 4,357 passengers over the three days on the trains, which is an increase of 16% on last year, whilst our Bank Holiday vintage bus service between Dunster Station and the village carried 315 visitors on the Sunday and 273 on the Monday. The Bank Holiday passenger figures were our best for over five years and overall our August results seem to have mirrored the general pattern for the South West with matters improving as the month has gone on. And after the general pattern of the summer it was lovely to see passengers walking towards the trains with sand on their shoes rather than wrapped up in their waterproofs."
1 September 2007
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Braunton runs again...
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No 34046 steams through the West Country again. During the evening of Sunday 19 August, Southern Railway West Country class 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton made its first run in steam since October 1965 when it ran from Williton to Crowcombe Heathfield and back. Although the Up run was uneventful, unfortunately two hot boxes developed during the return and are having to be dealt with in Williton Works. Braunton has been restored from scrapyard condition for its owner by the West Somerset Railway Association at the Swindon Shed, Williton, and the locomotive will star at the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala 4-7 October 2007.
1 September 2007
Details from WSRA
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| • Perishables for Minehead...
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Perishables by train for Minehead, again. Since the early days of the Readers Halt bookstall at Minehead Station, the Friends of Minehead Station (FoMS) have benefited from regular generous donations of fruit and flowers from Don Gay, a Bristol shopkeeper friend of Kathy and the late Brian Nott. These were normally brought down by Don on Sunday visits to Minehead but since the Butlin’s Express has been running he has found this an ideal way to get his donations to FoMS. On 18 August, on arrival at Bristol Temple Mead, two boxes of chrysanthemum plants and a large box of bananas were loaded into the guard’s van for sale at Readers Halt next day and, no doubt, will have all gone before the day is out! FoMS express sincere thanks to Don for his support over the years!
1 September 2007
Details from FoMS
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