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Locomotive turning at Winter Steam Festival
The Railway have released locomotive and turning information for the Winter Steam Festival. The details can be found on the Winter Steam Festival page and will visitors to view locomotives being turned on the turntable at Minehead during the event on 29 and 30 December. Photographers always like to know if the locomotive on the next train is chimney first and will be pleased to see the list shows the locomotive on each train and whether the locomotive is running chimney first or tender/bunker first.
22 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Come and meet Bill Pertwee at Bishops Lydeard Shop
Actor and author Bill Pertwee will be at Bishops Lydeard Station Shop on 2 January. Bill, known to millions as ARP Warden Hodges, will be signing copies of his latest book "Dad's Army - the making of a television legend". This fully revised guide, published by Conway, includes biographies of the whole cast of actors on "Dad's Army", full episode listing, as well as new appendicesto cover recent musuem openings, restored episodes from the BBC archives and anniversary celebrations also featured. Come along to the Shop at Bishops Lydeard Station between 12.30pm and 4pm on 2 January 2010 and meet Warden Hodges himself!
22 December 2009
Details from WSRA
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Update on the Williton Footbridge Project
The planned surveying was carried out at Williton on a non operating day in November. Chris van den Arend, Station Master at Williton explains "There were two surveys. One of the Station area and in particular the ground around where the footbridge would go. Station staff had dug pits into the ground on both sides of the line so that the sub soil could be examined. The other survey was of the steelwork of the bridge itself. We have now received the drawings which we shall need, amongst others, for the planning authorities. The next, and slightly scary, stage, is to await an estimate of the costs from a South Wales firm who are used to such work. We shall find out how much more we need to raise to complete at least the first stage of erection - almost certainly an appeal. In the New Year copies of the plans will be displayed, probably in Williton Up Waiting Shelter, together with a picture of the 1874 footbridge to which this ex Trowbridge bridge will be the successor, and in the same position. For those who are interested in the work, particularly bridges, please see the website of the consulting engineers Cass Hayward LLP of Chepstow"
16 December 2009
Details from Williton Station Master
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No 2874 is on the move again...
GWR 2-8-0 no 2874, currently at Minehead, is on the move again. No 2874 was purchased by the WSR Plc in 2008 and moved from South Wales to West Somerset. It was later sold to the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd group. On Wednesday 16 December, the locomotive will be departing the WSR for pastures new at the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd's base in the Midlands for storage. It will be some time until detailed examinations take place on nos 2874 and 3845 (the latter is due at the group's base in June) eventually leading to decision as to which engine will be restored first. Meantime, the group are busy restoring a tender to go with BR(W) 4-6-0 no 7820 Dinmore Manor - this work is taking priority to ensure the tender is ready when the overhaul of Dinmore Manor is complete.
14 December 2009
Details from Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd
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A few seats on the Minehead Santa Specials
There are still seats available on the Minehead - Blue Anchor Santa Specials this coming Sunday 13 December. The departure times from Minehead are 10.20am, 12.05pm and 1.55pm and the costs are £8 for each adult and £8 for each child (under 1's travel for £2). Tickets can be booked in advance by ringing 01643 704996 with credit/debit card details (all are accepted except AMEX) and tickets will be held for collection at Minehead. The office is open on Friday and Saturday for advance booking - and on Sunday it will be a case of come along and pay on the day. Please note Sunday's trains from Bishops Lydeard are sold out so if you want a trip to see Santa or just a steam ride in the winter sunshine then the Minehead - Blue Anchor trains are the available option.
10 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Update on the Spring Steam Gala 2010
A lack of available British Railways Standard locomotives has led to a change in the theme of the event. The Special Events Planning Team report "Sadly we have established that there will be no nominally operational standard locomotives of the 73xxx, 75xxx or 76xxx types which makes it very difficult to stage a British Railways Standards-only Gala. Thus we have decided to amend the theme to the 'Standards Era' that will allow us to use other locomotives that were in service of British Railways during the period from 1950-1964." The Team confirm BR 4-6-2 no 71000 Duke of Gloucester will attend. Negotiations are at an advanced stage for the booking of nos 78019 and 80104, whilst discussions continue over nos 92203 and 92212. From the home fleet, nos 4160 and 5553 are available, nos 88 and 9351 will be on "Thunderbird" duties. Sadly, continuing winter maintenance prevents GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 from attending, likewise SR 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton due to preparations for mainline service in 2010. A new hourly timetable is being developed for this event. Whilst the Quantock Belle will run on all six days of the event, there will be no "silver service", although bacon butties will be available at a seat in the "Belle" coaches. A leaflet will, hopefully, be published by the end of December.
10 December 2009
Details from Special Events Planning Team, WSR Plc
Picture: © Paul Anderson via Creative Commons licence
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King Edward I guests at the Winter Steam Festival
GWR King Class 4-6-0 no 6024 will be the guest steam engine at the forthcoming Winter Steam Festival. The Special Events Planning Team have confirmed King Edward I will arrive on the Minehead Branch in the next few days and will go to Minehead for attention prior to the Winter Steam Festival including the provision of the necessary steam heating. When the locomotive allocations have been finalised, details of which engines will be using the turntable and chimney-first running will be published. Visit the Winter Steam Festival page for more details of the event on 29-30 December 2009.
10 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Old Steamer bottle label wins award
A WSR steam engine has helped a local brewery to win an award. Cotleigh Brewery has won many awards for its advertising and marketing designs and their latest winning design is a beer bottle label which portrays a steam engine at work. The beer is "Old Steamer" and the award has been made by the Labologists Society, a dedicated group of beer label collectors who have also carried out much research into the history of the British brewing industry. The steam engine portrayed in the Somerset countryside at the head of a WSR passenger train is a Great Western 1930s-designed "Mogul" no 9351 built by the West Somerset Railway in the early part of this century, although the design dates from the 1930s. The picture shows Fredrik Domellof of Cotleigh Brewery and John Simms of WSR. The next opportunity for WSR passengers to sample "Old Steamer" will be the post-Christmas trains including the Winter Steam Festival.
10 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Station Masters required for two West Somerset stations
Station Masters are needed for Crowcombe Heathfield and Dunster Stations on the West Somerset Railway. After 35 years Walter Harris and Michael Hodge have decided to retire from the role of joint Station Master at Crowcombe Heathfield Station at the end of January 2010. Meanwhile a further fifteen miles down the line, from 3 January 2010 Station Master Chris Dowrick is retiring after 22 years at Dunster Station. Chris was ably assisted by Colin Dowrick during this period. The Railway is currently seeking applications in writing for the posts to include a current CV to the General Manager at Minehead station or via email. Closing date for applications is 15 January 2010.
8 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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Mainline stock stabling begins at Bishops Lydeard
Two Class 57 locomotives brought four Intercity coaches to the Minehead Branch on 7 December. The working paves the way for crew training in connection with the stabling at Bishops Lydeard of stock to be used on the Taunton-Cardiff service from mid-December. The consist was tailed by Class 66 no 66844 which had worked the empty stock from Eastleigh to Westbury where Class 57 locomotives nos 57315 joined and led the train to the West Somerset Railway. The Class 66 then returned to Taunton. It seems neither the Class 57s or the Intercity stock will be used only for crew training which takes place over the next few days and will not be used on the actual passenger services, operated by GBRf, which start next week. Thanks to Taunton Trains for much of the above information.
8 December 2009
Details from Taunton Trains, local correspondents and WSR Plc
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Busy making plans for Thomas 2010
It may be months away but the team organising the Friends of Thomas Weekend on 3 and 4 July 2010 are already working on the plans. Thomas the Tank Engine is important to the Railway for a number of reasons. First, it encourages a new generation to be excited by real steam trains, in a familiar context; secondly, revenue from the Weekend really helps fund vital Railway projects; and thirdly, it provides a couple of days with a difference, and some entertaining times. On the West Somerset the Thomas weekend offers families with young children an opportunity for an excellent day out with even more on offer than usual. The Railway are hoping to have a number of new innovations and experiences for young children at the 2010 event. As ever, the "Thomas Team" would welcome additional help with the planning and management of the event - contact the Team via email.
5 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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The Iris Horn Waiting Room takes shape
The Restoration and Maintenance Squad (RAMS) at Bishops Lydeard Station have been given the green light to go ahead and build the Iris Horn Waiting Room over the winter months. If all goes to plan the building will be up and finished in time for the start of next season. A great big thank you to everyone who donated as every little bit donated in Iris's memory helped in getting this project on the move. From "The Buzzard Chronicle": Newsletter of the Friends of Stogumber Station. Pictures of the waiting room under construction can be seen on the Latest Pictures pages.
3 December 2009
Details from FoSS via WSR Plc
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Already a record year for the Railway
The Railway reports more passengers on the Minehead Branch in 2009 than in any other year. The December edition of the WSR newsletter "Online" carries this item: "The two days of operations on 7 and 8 November brought some good loadings to the Railway and helped to keep the passenger figures graph climbing to the point where we can now say that 2009 is the best to date since we re-opened in 1976. The figure year to date stood at 214,308 compared with 213,423 for the whole of 2007 [the previous best year]. The pre-booked December trains have sold well and the figure when we reach the end of the 12th month should be very impressive."
3 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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A citation for the Minehead Turntable
An award for the WSR at the National Railway Heritage Awards held in Merchant Taylors Hall in London on 2 December. The Minehead turntable was shortlisted in the Volunteers' Award category, and whilst the North Norfolk Railway were worthy winners for their Holt Signal Box, the West Somerset Railway received a citation as runner up. Chris Austin's picture shows Pete Waterman presenting the citation to the WSR's Mark Smith (Chairman) and Paul Conibeare (General Manager).
2 December 2009
Details from WSR Plc
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