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| • A perspective on the history of the branch...
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The next meeting of the WSRA Taunton Group will be held on the evening of Monday 4 February. The speaker, Ian Coleby, will be well known to many as a volunteer on the West
Somerset Railway, as archivist for the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust and as author of the excellent and definitive history of
the WSR, "The Minehead Branch". The title of Ian's talk is, not surprisingly, "WSR History - my Perspective". The meeting is held at 7.45 pm at the GWRSA Snug Bar at the
North East corner of Taunton Station.
31 January 2008
Details from WSRA
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| • Draft Five Year Plan consultation...
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The Railway has published its Five Year Plan for consultation. Chris Austin OBE, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Plc, is looking to the future of the Minehead Branch with
the publication of the 16 page document which is now available online. Comments and suggestions are welcome - please contact the Chairman at the email address shown at the end of the
document. Download the document...
30 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Gradient boards replacement programme...
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Work is now underway on a programme of erecting the replacement gradient boards and posts on the WSR. Not a five minute job. Starting with a study of the gradient profile diagrams. Then a survey of the full 23 miles to identify boards suitable for re-use, missing boards and also noting existing posts. It would seem quite a
number of boards are required. Next the boards have to be purchased - some are straight but others need to be cut in half and angled. The boards are then primed, under-coated and glossed.
Meantime the numbers, probably in excess of 200 are needed, the first batch of 100 have already been cast, and then drilled, countersunk and painted - this work is on-going in railway workshops in
West Wales. Some boards are now complete and ready for fixing to the posts - a task involving walking with armfuls of tools and boards to out-of-the-way places. The work is being carried out by
John Farley and Paul Johnson as a follow up to the erection of the Sound Whistle Boards which the duo completed about a year ago. The first section being tackled is Williton to Crowcombe which
gets underway during January. Thanks to the WSR for making the funding available for this lineside heritage project.
29 January 2008
Details from local correspondent
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| • Evidence from the past emerges at Minehead...
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Time travel at Minehead. As work presses ahead with the preparatory work for the installation of the locomotive turntable on a site at the West Somerset Railway’s Minehead
headquarters, evidence of the former Minehead locomotive shed and the people who worked there has been emerging from the diggings. "We won’t be rivalling 'Time Team' for the range or
excitement of the discoveries", said WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare, "but the diggers have been turning-up a range of artefacts from the shed site, which was closed and
demolished in the 1960s. As expected engineering bricks and items of track work have featured but the biggest engineering relic is the original central mounting pin on which the former turntable was
mounted. A new pin will carry the replacement turntable but we will preserve the original for future visitors to see. On a smaller scale we have found plenty of evidence of the former locomotive staff
and other lost bits of Exmoor including a beer bottle from the long-closed Arnold and Hancocks in Wiveliscombe, a milk bottle from D. Dansie of Minehead and another bottle about which we’d like to
know more. It’s a half pint one and stamped into the glass is 'Bray Valley Clapworthy' and we would be curious to know what it held and who produced the contents. Once the work is complete we
plan to have a display case on the station to house these small items from the past of Minehead and Exmoor". Pictures of the turntable project...
23 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • News about buses for the Spring Steam Gala...
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The Railway have announced more details about the bus services from Taunton to Bishops Lydeard during the Spring Steam Gala. The West Somerset Railway will be operating a
free bus service from Taunton Station (bus stops under the Station Bridge adjacent to the ticket office) and also from the Silk Mill Park and Ride car park. This service will operate from 9.30am each
of the six Gala days at least every 30 minutes up until the last train arrival at Bishops Lydeard each afternoon. Travellers should also be aware that a half hourly service operated by First Group runs
from the bus stop off Platform 2 at Taunton Station starting at 9.03am on all Gala days except Sundays. On Sundays there are services at 9.52am, 11.52am, 1.52pm & 3.52pm. Single Fares on
First Group are £2.70 for adults and £2.05 for children, £4.40 return for adults and £3.25 for children. Visit the Spring Steam Gala page for full details of
the event. Volunteers are required to assist bus passengers at Taunton - details here...
23 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Work to commence at Lydeard Loco...
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Contractors are due to start work at the loco compound at Bishops Lydeard on Wednesday 23 January. The works will see construction of a new locomotive servicing pit and other
works within the existing compound. The pit will be 33 metres long and run beside the existing pit, connecting at one end to the new lead off the up sidings and at the other end connecting with the
track which runs out into the car park, as result part of the track from the existing pit into the car park will be lifted. The existing pit is only 13 metres long so the development will result in
considerable improvement. The designed layout allows for rebuilding of the existing pit to 33 metres long and further works, including a canopy, at a later date.
19 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Rover Tickets for the Spring Steam Gala...
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Rover Tickets for the Spring Steam Gala are now online at TicketWeb. The following types of tickets are on offer - One Day Rovers; Four Day Rovers (covers 13 to 16 March); Four
Day Rovers (both weekends); and Six Day Rovers. There are no Two Day Rovers available online due to many variations, but please note that these are available by phone and post. The Spring Steam Gala runs on 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 March 2008. To book online, please visit the TicketWeb website. Of course you may also book via post - use the Booking Form - or by phone...
17 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Take a Coach to see the Carriages...
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A coach trip to the Severn Valley Railway on Saturday 10 May 2008. At the invitation of the Severn Valley Carriage & Wagon Department at Kidderminster, the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust have arranged a visit to the SVR. A coach will leave Minehead station at 7am, picking up at Williton station,
Bridgwater station and Gordano M5 Services near Bristol. The invitation extends to a private tour of the Kidderminster Carriage Works, which is not normally open to the public, and which is very well
set up for the maintenance of vintage carriages. Several equivalents of the carriages which will be part of the WSR Heritage fleet will be available for inspection. The usual delights of the SVR will then
be available for the rest of the day, including the newly-opened "Engine House" at Highley. Book early as this is bound to be a popular trip! Full details...
15 January 2008
Details from WSSRT
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| • The West Somerset Railway in the East...
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The next station for the West Somerset Railway is Alexandra Palace. The Railway's first foray into the South Eastern market was the "Excursions" Group Travel
Exhibition at the well-known North London venue. John Simms and Martyn Snell, from the WSR's commercial arm set up the exhibition stand publicising not only the WSR but also the Lynton and
Barnstaple Railway, and Exmoor Tourism. WSR Chairman Chris Austin spent most of Saturday on the stand, along with Nik Barrie from the L&BR and Antony Brunt, Chairman of the Exmoor Tourist
Association. It's all part of a busy winter for the commercial team...
14 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • The life history of No 34046...
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Every snippet of information is required by two of the leading lights in the restoration of West Country Pacific no 34046. Stuart Nelhams and Keith Speller have compiled a very
large archive over the last seven years, involving hundreds of hours of research which is still ongoing. Over 200 photos and reams of first hand sightings, footplate anecdotes, engineering history have
been collected with the intention is to produce a book/cd/dvd to coincide with the loco's launch. However, the two archivists would hate to miss anything and request any information about
Braunton by email or posted or delivered to Williton Shed. Also, one of the volunteers working on the locomotive has produced a dvd with 80 minutes of his film of the restoration - copies are
available for £10. Contact details can be found at the West Somerset Restoration website...
13 January 2008
Details from West Somerset Restoration
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| • Meetings, meetings, meetings...
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A very busy behind-the-scenes start to the new year for the WSR. In recent days, West Somerset Railway officers and the Developers of the Station Farm site at Bishops Lydeard
have been involved in a series of meetings and visits about the proposals for the site. The Taunton MP was shown the site and the plans on 4 January; two days later, Parish and District Councillors
were given a presentation and a tour of the site explaining the railway support for the development and the considerable benefits it brings. Copies of the supporting documents given to Councillors
can be found at the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust website; just four days later, representatives of the
Railway and Gadds, the developers, met with Taunton Deane Council's Economic Development Officer; next day, Gadds and the Railway met the Planning Officer and the Head of Planning at
Taunton Deane. Two significant areas remain. Firstly the economic report being prepared by external consultants; secondly is the Conservation Officer's report, which is rather negative. However, the
Chief Conservation Officer at Taunton Deane has scheduled a meeting to take a fresh look at the conservation aspects. The Railway team of Chris Austin, Paul Conibeare and Robin White spent
much time preparing for and attending the behind-the-scenes meetings. The planning process would continue to be assisted by emails of support to the Planning Officer from anyone who has not yet
sent such an email - go to Taunton Deane website. A full account of
the above activity can be found at the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust website, along with full copies of the
supporting documents.
12 January 2008
Details from WSSRT
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| • Robin takes the WSRA Chair...
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Robin White takes the reins at the West Somerset Railway Association. On 11 January 2008, the WSRA Committee invited Robin White to be the next Chairman. The
appointment is effective immediately but Andrew Chatwin (as Vice Chair) will continue to have day-to-day management of WSRA affairs until 4 February to allow a hand over period. Robin has long
been involved with the West Somerset Railway, serving as Operating Superintendent at the time of the very first through train. He is currently a Director of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust and is a very busy Project Manager for the Heritage Carriages Project. In between Robin is a signalman on
the line. What spare time he does have is spent as a barrister...
12 January 2008
Details from local correspondent
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| • Taunton Group Photo Competition winners...
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The Taunton Group of the West Somerset Railway Association held their Annual Photographic Competition at the GWRSA in Taunton on Monday 7 January. During a lively
evening some 81 prints and 89 slides were judged by the members (slides) and Mr Don Bishop ARPS (prints), a professional photographer from Huntspill. Overall winning entry was judged to be a
striking view (by night lighting) of locomotives at Barrow Hill Shed (near Chesterfield) by Tom Adams. This was also awarded the best entry of a railway heritage scene. Second place overall went to
Alan Randle, for a view of a double-headed passenger train near Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway. Full details and results...
9 January 2008
Details from WSRA
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| • Special trains in 2008...
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A new special train for 2008 will be the Mothers Day Special on 2 March. This return train trip with a cream tea promises to be a perfect present for Mums this year. For more
details please see the Mothers Day Special page. Making a welcome return this year will also be the Wildlife Special train on 20 April. This last ran in 2006 and this guided tour of the Railway's flora and fauna by local Naturalist David Bailey from the diesel railcar is a real
eye opener to the wildlife of West Somerset. Details of other special trains are not yet finalised - here is a provisional list of dates:
| 24 May | | Jazz night from Bishops Lydeard
| | 7 June | | Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard
| | 28 June | | Murder Mystery from Minehead
| | 26 July | | Country and Western Evening from Bishops Lydeard
| | 16 August | | Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard
| | 23 August | | Swing Band evening from Bishops Lydeard
| | 6 September | | Murder Mystery from Bishops Lydeard
| | 27 September | | Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard
| | 18 October | | Murder Mystery from Bishops Lydeard
| | 13 December | | Murder Mystery from Minehead
| | 1 January | | Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard
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These dates are not yet available to be booked on and more details will follow...
9 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • A record year for the West Somerset Railway...
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The signs that 2007 was going to be a good year for the WSR have been duly confirmed. When the last trains arrived at their destinations on 31 December the passenger figure
stood at 213,423. Not merely was this an increase of 13,000 compared with 2006 but it represented a major increase in numbers over the previous record year (2005) when numbers reached 203,297.
As 2007 marked the 31st year of running trains this sort of growth reflects very well on every aspect of WSR activity from the way that people are attracted to travel on the Minehead Branch to the
way that these good folks are treated when they are at the Railway. A great result for every WSR supporter. Of course, the counter went back to zero at midnight at the turn of the year and so it
starts all over again...
8 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Jubilee for Spring Steam Gala...
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A very impressive line-up of locomotives is steadily being assembled for the West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala, one of the most eagerly looked forward to events in the
heritage railway calendar. This year’s Gala will again be held over two weekends and span six days in total, on Saturday-Sunday 8-9 & Thursday-Sunday 13-16 March 2008, and is a little earlier than
usual due to Easter falling on the event’s traditional slot in late March. The theme has been confirmed as "British Railways Steam 1948-68" and will seek to tell the story of how the newly
nationalised railways eliminated steam in the space of just twenty years, enabling a good variety of locomotives and train types from across all the former regions of BR to hopefully feature. The Gala
will feature a feast of steam, with at least twelve locomotives expected to be in action, including a number of guest engines being hired-in especially for the event. The highlight for many will be the
appearance of LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 no 5690 Leander, its first appearance in Somerset for over forty years since its days with British Railways when it was based at the former Bristol
Barrow Road shed. The popular engine has worked on a number of heritage railways, and worked charters on the national network, over recent years and is currently based on the East Lancs
Railway at Bury. Other visiting engines so far confirmed are the return of the sole surviving LNWR Super D 0-8-0 no 49395 (now part of the National Collection) and BR(W) 4-6-0 no 7822 Foxcote
Manor from Llangollen, together with two very popular Great Western auto-fitted tank engines – 2-6-2T no 5542 and 0-4-2T no 1450. The Railway has issued a Press Release. And full details including timetables are now available too...
7 January 2008
Details from SEPT
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| • Bacon butties go down well...
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Bacon Butties going down well at Crowcombe Heathfield Station. The Station Team at Crowcombe Heathfield Station decided to produce "Bacon Butties" during the
Winter Steam Festival - a new line made possible by the new kitchen facility. To much surprise and delight, a grand total of 48 were sold, raising much needed funds for station maintenance. The
next major project will the main waiting room, which needs restoring from floor to ceiling. To finance this work, a fund raising evening is being arranged for Friday 20 June 2008. Called
"Midsummer Madness", which will involve a DMU trip to Norton Fitzwarren, possibly on to the new triangle, followed by supper at Crowcombe Heathfield. During supper, Lady Gass will
officially open the new kitchen. Full details available shortly...
7 January 2008
Details from Crowcombe Heathfield Station
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| • WSR images needed for 2009 calendar...
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Yes some folks are already planning the 2009 calendar. An urgent request has been made for colourful, pin sharp, high resolution images of West Somerset Railway subjects for
next year's calendar which will be on sale at the Spring Steam Gala in March 2008. Colin Howard, Manager of the Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead Station, is gathering possible images right now and
needs a few more submissions before making the final selection. Colin says that successful photographers - who will be acknowledged on the calendar - will receive a complimentary copy of the final
printed product but sadly no fees will be paid. Remember, only spanking good pictures make it to the WSR calendars - if you have a couple that fit the bill, why not EMAIL Colin right now. Time is very short on this one!
UPDATE: The response has been overwhelming and many great images have been
submitted and Colin is very grateful to all who responded. However, the deadline for selection has now passed so - please - send no more images. It's all over...
Updated: 7 January 2008
Details from WSR Plc
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| • Temporary access to Minehead Station...
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Work is underway to create a temporary way to the platforms at Minehead Station for pedestrians. Also, the Minehead Station Car Park has now been closed for the next eight or
so weeks to allow for works as part of the overall improvement plan for this area. As part of this work, the normal access route next to the Booking Office will be closed. A temporary access point to
the Station is required and on 2 January, the Friends of Minehead Station were busy on 2 January removing metal railings...
3 January 2008
Details from local correspondent
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| • Toad gets a new coat...
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A new coat for the Toad brake van. Over the festive break it was possible to get the Toad brake (GWR no 68765, built at Swindon in 1942 to Diagram AA20) under cover in the
Minehead Carriage Shed to allow a complete repaint after extensive work over the last two years or so. Most of the up side woodwork is new and there have been major repairs to the down side too.
There have also been two new doors to the veranda made by Phil Cox. Most of the work has been done by Stuart Nelhams with Keith Speller along with Jason who works in the Carriage Shed.
3 January 2008
Details from local correspondent
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| • Winter Steam Festival is great success...
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A total of 1,104 passengers were carried during the Winter Steam Festival on Saturday 29 December. This is an increase of 40.1% on last year's event. In terms of both the total
number of passengers and revenue, the 2007 Winter Steam Festival was the most successful such event held to date. Richard Jones of the Railway's Special Events Planning Team commented
"May I take this opportunity to thank all of you who supported the event in whatever way, which is very much appreciated and makes all the hard work that goes into planning and staging our
special events all the more worthwhile". Please note the 2008 Winter Steam Festival is being held over two days on Sunday-Monday 28-29 December 2008...
2 January 2008
Details from SEPT
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