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Farewell to the Scot
No 6100 bids farewell after an eventful visit to West Somerset. The race to complete LMS 4-6-0 no 6100 Royal Scot to working condition; the journey by road from Crewe to Somerset, interrupted by a tyre fire en route which subsequent fire damage; and much midnight oil burned by the dedicated team, all this effort resulting in a starring performance during the last four days of the Spring Steam Gala, to the delight of thousands. Now the loco is to leave the WSR but not before working one more passenger train. It is planned to use Royal Scot on the 2.15pm, double-heading with the rostered locomotive, from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday 31 March. No 6100 will then proceed to the servicing yard for removal by road transport in due course.
30 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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The QB at the MTW
Good news for those who enjoy fine food aboard trains on the West Somerset Railway. Just as hundreds enjoyed fine food whilst travelling on the Quantock Belle during the recent very successful Spring Steam Gala, the same opportunity is available during the Mixed Traffic Weekend which runs from 12 to 14 June. The QB Big Breakfast will remain priced at £6.50 (£7 with Bury black pud) for the MTW and for subsequent gala operations this year. Seats cannot be reserved in advance - best to be early to be absolutely certain of a seat. To take advantage of the copious free beverage refills and extra toast and marmalade it is recommended remaining on board for the full trip! Further details will be added to the Mixed Traffic Weekend page in due course, and for details of the main Quantock Belle dining services please click here.
30 March 2009
Details from The Quantock Belle
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More guests at the Westridge B&B
Two more steam locomotives to spend the night on the WSR. Not content with a number of visiting locomotives during the recent Spring Steam Gala, the West Somerset Railway will, subject to expected plans, host GWR 4-6-0 no 5029 Nunney Castle and BR 4-6-2 no 70013 Oliver Cromwell at its Bishops Lydeard locomotive servicing facility situated at Westridge. No 70013 arrives from Southall at 2.15pm, followed by Nunney Castle from Tyseley at 3.10pm on 4 April. Both engines depart together tender first with coaches the following morning, for rail tour duty from Westbury via Taunton to Par on Sunday 5 April. Thanks to UK Steam for this information. Visit UK Steam for full details.
Update: Due to power signalling problems at Taunton, the locos will not visit the WSR. Updated 1 April 2009.
30 March 2009
Details from UK Steam
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The Mixed Traffic Weekend
Good progress with several diesel locomotives ahead of the Mixed Traffic Weekend is reported. The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group say "The fault with one of the engines on Warship no D832 has now been rectified. It was found to be a cracked valve seat. Hymek no D7017 is fixed and is currently undergoing a series of test runs. Work is still required on Western no D1010. Good progress continues on re-building the engine. We look forward to welcoming several visiting guest locomotives and hopefully newly-built steam locomotive Tornado. Over the Mixed Traffic Event as well as the full length passenger service, there will be a DMU shuttle at the Minehead end of the line. Several goods trains are also expected to run. One of the highlights is sure to be the non-stop runs planned from Allerford Junction through to Minehead on two days. Join us for some early Summer Maybach music in the Quantocks!"
30 March 2009
Details from DEPG
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The West Somerset - Past and Present
The second Past and Present volume has been published along with a companion DVD for the new book. In the eight years since the first Past and Present Companion on the West Somerset Railway was published, developments have continued apace on the Minehead Branch. This second volume therefore not only presents an entirely new selection of past views but pairs them with up-to-date photographs, demonstrating the great strides that have been made during the last thirty years of the preservation era. The author, David Williams, is also the WSR Journal Editor and is therefore well placed recount the ongoing story of the line. The book and DVD are available at the Minehead Shop and can also be ordered online via the official WSR website.
27 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Taunton-Bishops Lydeard Gala Shuttle Bus...
Times of the free Gala shuttle bus are now available for the second weekend. The shuttle bus between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard Station during the first weekend of the Spring Steam Gala are shown on the Spring Steam Gala page. For those catching the Gala shuttle bus at Taunton Railway Station, please note the bus will stop under the Railway Bridge on leaving Taunton station by way of the exit adjacent to the ticket office. There is no need to cross the road. The bus will then head for Silk Mill Park and Ride and then Bishops Lydeard Station.
27 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Royal Scot runs to Minehead
On Tuesday 24 March, LMS 4-6-0 no 6100 ran light engine from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. The trip for Royal Scot was undertaken with several stops during which the locomotive thoroughly checked over. The following day loaded test runs were made. The loco was seen near Williton at sunset with seven coaches in tow. The loco will work the 11am from Minehead on Thursday 26 March. All seems set for a gala performance over the rest of the Spring Steam Gala. Keep an eye on the WizzerTweet news to the right of this page.
26 March 2009
Details from local correspondents
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An update on Royal Scot
Royal Scot has been in steam on Tuesday 24 March and after testing around the station site it is planned to work light engine to Minehead later. Once at Minehead, LNWR staff from Crewe will inspect the locomotive with the intention of a loaded test run to Williton on Wednesday 25 March 2009. An update will be issued on the official WSR website on Thursday 26 March at noon with more details as for its use during the weekend. Also, keep an eye on the WizzerTweet news to the right of this page.
24 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Royal Scot at Bishops Lydeard
No 6100 has arrived at Bishops Lydeard. Resplendent in maroon, LMS 4-6-0 no 6100 Royal Scot has been overhauled at Southall and Crewe, the work only very recently completed. The hoped-for appearance of the classic LMS locomotive at the Spring Steam Gala may still be possible, but has been hampered by a fire on the road trailer bringing the loco to West Somerset from Crewe. The loco has itself suffered some fire damage and it is not been able to assess its fitness to run. The locomotive was undergoing inspection and preparation on Monday 23 March at Bishops Lydeard. Keep an eye on the WizzerTweet news to the right of this page.
24 March 2009
Details from local correspondent
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Gala gets off to a great start
Fine sunny weather brought out the crowds for the first weekend of the Spring Steam Gala. Full of daytrippers and enthusiasts, the trains ran between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead passing lots of photographers all keen to get the master shots of the resident and visiting steam locomotives. It is difficult to tell which was the favourite but the first-ever appearance on the Minehead Branch of a streamlined East Coast Main Line "Streak" - ex-LNER 4-6-2 no 60019 Bittern - probably topped the poll. The Spring Steam Gala continues on Thursday 26 March until Sunday 29 March.
24 March 2009
Details from local correspondents
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Gala guests just keep arriving
Another Gala guest has arrived at Bishops Lydeard. Southern Railway West Country class 4-6-2 no 34028 Eddystone travelled by road from the Swanage Railway . No 34028 is one of two of Bulleid's light pacifics to appear at this year's Spring Steam Gala, joining sister locomotive home-based Braunton . Both lost the original streamlining when rebuilt by British Railways. On 19 March, around lunchtime, a rake of coaches from Riviera Trains will arrive from Eastleigh. The rake will augment the WSR's own coaching stock during the Gala which is expected to be very busy.
18 March 2009
Details from local correspondents and WSR Plc
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The Minehead webcam goes live
A webcam has been installed at Minehead Station. Following discussions led by WSR volunteer Keith Bird, agreement was reached between WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare and Mark Welch from fiNETra, a streaming webcam now beams images of Minehead's main platform to the internet. Despite several setbacks, Keith Bird successfully managed the project to completion and is heartily thanked for his hard work. A company specialising in live streaming, fiNETra now have many webcams across the country, with Minehead being the very latest. To see the images, visit the Minehead webcam page.
18 March 2009
Details from local correspondents, Finetra and WSR Plc
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The Flockton Flyer DVD is released
A new DVD celebrates the role played by the West Somerset Railway in a favourite TV series. Enjoy a nostalgic look back at the early days of the West Somerset Railway when the line, the rolling stock and staff played key parts in the Southern TV childrens series the Flockton Flyer. The DVD is on sale at the Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead and then, for a month only, special prices will apply for this item from the Shop - buy and collect for a special price of £14.99, or just £15.99 to buy and have the DVD posted. Ideal timing for visitors to the Spring Steam Gala and a great way to see how the Railway has changed over the years. The creation and release of the DVD owes a great deal to a long campaign by Nick Jones, who was the Railway's Operating Superintendent at the time of the filming. Nick tells the story of the Flockton Flyer and a narrative on each of the twelve episodes on the Flockton Flyer pages on this website.
18 March 2009
Details from local correspondents
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New arrivals galore...
The last few days have seen four steam locomotives arriving on the Minehead Branch. At the weekend, LMS 4-6-0 no 45231 arrived by road at Bishops Lydeard. On Monday 16 March, GWR 4-6-0 no 4936 steamed down from Birmingham, arriving to a happy audience at Bishops Lydeard in superb sunshine. The next day, even more crowds turned out for the arrival of LNER 4-6-2 no 60019 Bittern which had steamed to Somerset from Hampshire, via Reading. No 60019, being the first of its class to shine the West Somerset rails, then proceeded slowly to Minehead, with the crew checking clearances en route, and passing BR(W) 4-6-0 no 7821 Ditcheat Manor at Williton which had just been delivered by road for restoration by its new owners, the WSR Association. Nos 45231, 4936 and 60019 are in Somerset for the Spring Steam Gala which starts this coming weekend.
17 March 2009
Details from local correspondents
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Norton Shuttles during the Gala...
The popular Norton Shuttles will be running again during the Spring Steam Gala. The shuttle - with GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 - operates on each of the two weekends leaving Bishops Lydeard on 21 March at 9.35am, 10.20am then every hour until 3.20pm, then 4.10pm; the same departure times on 22 March except there is no 4.10pm. On the second Gala weekend the shuttle leaves Bishops Lydeard on 28 March at 9.15am, 12.20pm, 1.05pm, 2.10pm, 2.55pm, 3.35pm. On 29 March, the times are the same as the previous Sunday, that is, 9.35am, 10.20am then every hour until 3.20pm. The round trip to Norton and back takes around 35 minutes. There is no station at Norton Fitzwarren but passengers will get good views of the works at the Norton Triangle.
16 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Raveningham Hall comes to Williton...
The rolling-chassis of GWR 4-6-0 no 6960 Raveningham Hall has arrived at Williton. For more information, please see the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway website. Other reports suggest Raveningham Hall will carry out running-in testing later in the summer but this has not been confirmed.
Amended 15 March 2009
Details from WSRA and local correspondents
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Taunton-Bishops Lydeard Gala Shuttle Bus...
Times of the free Gala shuttle bus are now available for the first weekend. The shuttle bus between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard Station during the first weekend of the Spring Steam Gala are shown on the Spring Steam Gala page. For those catching the Gala shuttle bus at Taunton Railway Station, please note the bus will stop under the Railway Bridge on leaving Taunton station by way of the exit adjacent to the ticket office. There is no need to cross the road. The bus will then head for Silk Mill Park and Ride and then Bishops Lydeard Station.
13 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Turning times during the Gala...
The Railway have released the expected times of turntable usage during the Spring Steam Gala. The turning times for each day:
| 21 March | 9.43am 45231; 11.42am 34028; 2.10pm 88; 3.05pm 34046 |
| 22 March | 11.50am 34046; 2.10pm 45231; 6.23pm 6695 |
| 26 March | 11.35am 4936; 3.05pm 45231; 5.30pm 6695 |
| 27 March | 10.44am 5553; 10.44am 88; 11.40am 4936; 2.10pm 34028; 6.23pm 34046; 6.55pm 45231 |
| 28 March | 1.20pm 34046*; 2.10pm 3850*; 3.10pm 88*; 4.10pm 34028; 5.20pm 45231; 5.47pm 4936 |
| 29 March | 11.42am 4936; 12.51pm 45231; 12.51pm 34046; 2.38pm 88 |
Please note turns are 180 degrees except * 360 degrees; nos 60019 and 46100 are currently above the permitted load for the turntable at Minehead and will therefore not be turned during this event; and that operational requirements may result in unforeseen changes.
13 March 2009
Details from SEPT
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WSR staff and volunteers meeting on 14 March...
The next WSR Liaison Meeting takes place this weekend. Another opportunity for staff and volunteers to meet the Directors of the West Somerset Railway Plc and the West Somerset Railway Association takes place at Bishops Lydeard Village Hall from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Saturday 14 March. David Morgan will be in attendance to answer questions about the investigation into Rail Grinding and his Report, and there will be opportunities to raise other matters of interest or concern. All working members paid or volunteer are cordially invited to attend for information, comment and lively discussion.
13 March 2009
Details from DEPG
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Hymek D7017 back in action...
Major news from Williton is that Hymek no D7017 has enjoyed a successful test run. Around 5pm on 7 March, after the team from the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group made minor adjustments, the Class 35 loco was coupled to Class 47 no D1661. The pair proceeded towards Blue Anchor with the Hymek doing most of the work. It was a magical moment with silence from the team left behind as D7017 powered up properly for the first time in years. Maybach music resounding over the Quantocks once again! Further test runs are expected on the next few days. D7017 is now the only working Hymek. Sister locos nos D7018, D7029 and D7076 are currently out of traffic.
13 March 2009
Details from DEPG
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Latest Spring Steam Gala news...
No 6024 will not haul trains during the Spring Steam Gala. GWR 4-6-0 King Edward I suffered a cracked firebox and despite the best efforts of its dedicated support crew, the engine will not be able to run. The King will be on static display in the Yard at Williton. In similar vein, the work on LMS 4-6-0 no 46100 Royal Scot has gone on for longer than expected, although once again the team tackling the job have been going flat out, and the engine did pass its steam test on 11 March. This means that it may only see action on the second weekend of the Gala 26 to 29 March. However the locomotive will be on display at Bishops Lydeard over the first weekend. The rostered locos for each day has been amended as follows:
| Date | Facing Minehead | | Facing Bishops Lydeard |
| 21 March | 60019, 45231, 34028, 5553 | | 9351, 6695, 4936, 34046, 88 |
| 22 March | 60019, 34046, 5553, 88 | | 9351, 6695, 4936, 34028, 3850, 45231 |
| 26 March | 46100, 60019, 6695, 4936, 45231, 88 | | 34046, 34028 |
| 27 March | 46100, 60019, 5553, 88 | | 34046, 34028, 3850, 6695, 4936, 45231 |
| 28 March | 46100, 60019, 34046, 34028, 45231 | | 88, 6695, 4936, 5553, 3850 |
| 29 March | 46100, 60019, 34046, 45231, 4936 | | 88, 6695, 5553, 3850 |
The above details are provided in good faith and correct as at 13 March. Click here for full details of the Spring Steam Gala.
13 March 2009
Details from SEPT and WSR Plc
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Bittern and Kinlet Hall to arrive next week
Two main line steam locomotives will head for the Minehead Branch on 16 March. LNER 4-6-2 no 60019 Bittern and GWR 4-6-0 no 4936 Kinlet Hall are due to arrive separately, by rail, each with its support coach, at Bishops Lydeard in readiness for starring roles during the Spring Steam Gala. This six day event runs on 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 March. Bittern will be the first East Coast Main Line "streak" to appear on the West Somerset Railway. Update: Bittern is now due to arrive on Tuesday 17 March.
Updated 11 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Flailing the lineside again
The West Somerset Railway lineside has enjoyed a good trim. In good time for the Spring Steam Gala the rail-mounted flails from Dingle Brothers have been busy trimming the lineside during the last two weeks of February. After Dingle’s machines have passed through, the tidy lineside mimics the British Railways days in the 1950s. The contrast seven months later in October when nature has had some chance to reassert itself is very marked. Comparison of photographs taken during the Spring and Autumn Galas illustrate the effect.
8 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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More information about future special events
The publicity brochure for the summer Gala will be available in a few days. The Mixed Traffic Weekend is scheduled for Friday 12 June to Sunday 14 June. For this event three visiting diesel hydraulic locomotives and a visiting steam locomotive have been provisionally booked to complement the Williton-based diesel-hydraulics in bringing "Maybach Music" back to the Quantock Hills. Looking further ahead, the Autumn Steam Gala will hopefully be a feast of GWR traction to bring back memories of the glorious past here in the South West pre-1948. Planning is already underway and approaches are being made to various GWR locomotive owners to establish availability for the event.
7 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Coaches hired-in for the Spring Steam Gala
An extra rake of coaches for the Spring Steam Gala. To provide more coaches for the Spring Steam Gala, the Railway has hired an eight coach dual brake ETH set that includes a generator brake coach and a buffet car plus six TSOs to maximise seating from Riviera Trains. Mostly chocolate and cream livery except for two maroon coaches.
7 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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More information about the Members Day on 8 March
The WSR Assocation Members Day on 8 March has attracted huge interest with over 600 due to attend. And with 90% of Members wishing to travel from Bishops Lydeard, the WSRA organisers are asking Members and Guests to use the DMU to prevent overcrowding on the steam-hauled trains. The first three coaches at the Minehead end of steam-hauled trains will be reserved for fare-paying passengers, with the rear five coaches available for Members. Departures from Bishops Lydeard for Minehead are 10.25am, 11.08am (DMU to Williton and back), 12.30pm, 12.55pm DMU to Minehead, 2.25pm, 4.15pm and 4.57pm DMU. The Norton Shuttles leave Bishops Lydeard at 9.47am, 10.35am, 12.15pm & 4.23pm. The WSRA sincerely apologise to all Members who wished to attend but had their applications turned down, which was necessary to avoid exceeding train capacity.
6 March 2009
Details from WSRA
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Looking for a lift to Williton...
A drawing board looking for a lift. Claire Sheppy of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust's Heritage Carriages Project explains, "We have been offered a professional drawing board and stand which in conjunction with Gareth Winter of the West Somerset Restoration team I have arranaged to be able to have for both the WSSRT team members and members of the West Somerset Restoration Team to be able to use in the Office in the former concrete works site at Williton. It is currently at Hursley (five miles south west of Winchester) but is too big to be brought to Williton by car. Is there anyone with a lorry or van (or motor caravan) who is planning on coming down to the WSR in the fairly near future who would be prepared to call to collect it and then bring it to Williton please? If so could you please reply with contact info to the WSSRT email address at info@wssrt.co.uk "
6 March 2009
Details from WSSRT
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Excellent increase in half-term passenger figures
For the West Somerset Railway the half-term holiday period proved a successful launch pad for the 2009 operations with both passenger numbers and fares revenue up by some 23% compared with 2008. "It's a good start", said WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare "but there is a long way to go before the end of this year and we do not know whether the economic downturn will hit passenger figures during the key peak period in the summer. We ran one steam train and one diesel railcar train during half-term, giving four trips each way over the line and some of the steam services in particular were very well-loaded."
1 March 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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