| The CAMRA Real Ale Weekend in September |
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The main sponsor this year is Yeovil Ales, another one of the award winning breweries in Somerset and as always the ordering of beer, staffing of the Festival etc will be done by members of the Campaign for Real Ale, mainly from the Somerset Branch. The event will be open 11am to 11pm on Saturday 7 September and midday to 4pm on Sunday 8 September. When the taps open on the Saturday there should be over 100 different ales on offer. The emphasis will be on the products of the brewers within this county but expect a wide selection from other parts of Britain showcasing the incredibly wide range of tastes and styles within the field of cask-conditioned ales. Food will be available from the Turntable Café and a pasty van outside the station during the day and there will be a hog roast on Saturday night. Live entertainment will feature the duo "No Fixed Abode" between 8 and 10 on Saturday night. The Sunday afternoon seesion has become something of an event within an event over the years with the "Tone Valley Jazz Band". Lots more information about the event at west-somerset-railway.co.uk
29 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc 
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| The Mixed Traction Weekend - what is it? |
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Well, it is three days of the year when the vast majority of the trains on the West Somerset Railway are headed by vintage diesel locomotives. Please note on 7 June there will be no steam engines in action at all, whilst on Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June the majority of the trains will be diesel hauled with the 10.55am and 2.45pm from Bishops Lydeard being steam hauled as will the 12.45pm and 4.45pm from Minehead. Two visiting diesel locomotives have been hired in for the event. These are WSR debutees Class 24 no 24081 and Class 37 no 37215. The rest of the diesel fleet will provided by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group. For those who want to try their hands briefly at driving a diesel locomotive at Minehead station there will be "Driver for a Tenner" on all three days. There will also be a diesel shuttle link between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard railway stations on Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June operated by First Great Western. Rover tickets giving the freedom of the line for one, two or three days can be purchased in advance for a discounted price from west-somerset-railway.co.uk where more information can be found.
29 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Bank Holiday bus link between Dunster Station and Dunster Village |
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A vintage bus link using vehicles from the fleet of Crosville Motor Services of Weston-super-Mare will operate between Dunster Railway Station and the entrance to the Castle (for visits either to the Castle itself or to explore the medieval village itself with its small shops, water mill, tea rooms, Priory, pubs, Dolls Museum and Tithe Barn, plus the old Yarn Market building) on May Bank Holiday Sunday 5 May and Monday 6 May. The departures from the village will be from the village square. Travel on the buses is free to West Somerset Railway ticket holders or passengers travelling from the village to catch WSR trains. Holders of WSR tickets can obtain reduced admission to the Castle and its grounds and on both days the Taunton Garrison will be re-enacting part of the siege which took place during the English Civil War and there is also a Meet the Housekeeper – Victorian Manners meet and greet on both days. Full details...
26 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Another chance to travel by rail between Bishops Lydeard and Taunton |
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A diesel train service will operate between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard stations as part of the West Somerset Railway's 2013 Mixed Traction Weekend. First Great Western will operate the seven trains each way service over the two days. The price per passenger is £5.00 return (no concessions or vouchers) and full fare only. For full details including train times please click here...
24 April 2013
Details from WSR Plc via Facebook
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| The Great Railway Treasure Hunt |
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The Peter's Railway Treasure Hunt is a free competition involving visits to heritage railways and is for children of 14 years or under. The First Prize of £500 will be awarded to the entrant who has collected the most correct answers over the summer. There is a Runner Up prize of £250. Another prize of £250 will be won by the entrant who has visited the most railways or museums in the Hunt. The more heritage railways visited during the summer, the more points can be win. The West Somerset Railway is one of the participating heritage railways and there is the chance to win a WSR standard travel Family Day Rover ticket. Full details...
24 April 2013
Details from WSR Plc via Facebook
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| Sunday becomes Yellow and not Green |
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Thanks to a regular visitor to this website, we are told the West Somerset Railway will operate a Yellow Timetable on Sunday 5 May 2013 rather than the published Green Timetable. And again thanks to a message from the same visitor we also understand Class 33 no D6575 will haul the 11.05am departure from Bishops Lydeard and the 3.05pm from Minehead. Thanks again to our regular visitor for alerting us to this change.
23 April 2013
Details from regular visitor to this website
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| Debuts for two heritage diesel locos during Mixed Traction event |
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The locos concerned are Class 24 no 24081 from the 24081 Locomotive Group and the Growler Group's Class 37 no 37215. Neither of the classes concerned has been a regular performer on passenger services over the WSR in the past. For fans of the Class 33 Cromptons the Mixed Traction Weekend will feature the last workings of Class 33 no D6566 before it is withdrawn for a major overhaul. Classmate no D6575 will also be in action. For the full details of the event please click here.
22 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Testing times for Class 35 Hymek no D7017 |
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Following major engine repairs Hymek no D7017 undertook running-in testing on Saturday 20 April 2013. As part of a loaded test run, the popular diesel-hydraulic loco ran from Williton to Bishops Lydeard, with Crompton Class 33 no D6575, to collect coaching stock destined for Minehead for essential attention. All was going well with Hymek on the climb to Crowcombe Heathfield until the travelling fitter reported that a water leak had been found on one of the main pipes. During a booked stop at Crowcombe Heathfield the loco was failed. No D6575 took over the diagram, later shunting the Hymek into Williton's South Yard, continuing to Minehead, back to Bishops Lydeard and finally to its base at Williton. Happily, Hymek no D7017 is now repaired and a new date will be set for another test run.
22 April 2013
Details from local correspondent
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| The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Fireman Sam |
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The popular children’s character "Fireman Sam" will be at Minehead Railway Station on Saturday 4 May as the West Somerset Railway holds another "Meet and Greet Day". There will also be other attractions at Minehead station. The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service will be present with a vehicle for visitors to see and there will be members of the service to talk to and to discuss the highly important matter of fire safety with. Vintage buses will give free trips around Minehead during the day and there will also be free face painting on offer. Train tickets can be obtained in advance or can be purchased on the day of travel. Full details.
22 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Train services for St George's Day 23 April 2013 |
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It is still possible to travel behind Class 33 diesel locomotive no D6575 as a non-dining passenger on the Quantock Belle on St George's Day. Seats will be available in the bar car and tickets can be purchased from the train crew on the day of travel. Departure time from Bishops Lydeard is 1pm with arrival at Minehead at 2.48pm. The return leaves Minehead at 4.55pm and the train is due back into Bishops Lydeard at 6.07pm. In addition there are four steam-hauled trains from each end of the line during the day with a well-stocked buffet car whose range of beers includes "Old Steamer", specially produced by Wiveliscombe's Cotleigh Brewery. Tickets for the regular service trains can be purchased at station booking offices or from travelling ticket inspectors on the trains.
21 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Real time information for trains on and off the Minehead Branch |
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The availability of open data from Network Rail has allowed third-party websites to provide detailed information about train movements. One of the best of these websites is realtimetrains.co.uk which has an efficient search facility. This can be tailored to provide an instant view of scheduled train movements between Network Rail and the West Somerset Railway as can be viewed here (opens in a new window).
19 April 2013
Details from local correspondent
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| News from the Norton Triangle |
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The site is currently receiving two ballast trains a day for a week or so. Consisting of twenty wagons or more, the trains originate from Network Rail track works in the Castle Cary and Somerton area. Unlike the usual High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC) trains which self-unload, these trains require the West Somerset Railway Association contractors to use heavy machinery to grab the ballast from the open wagons and to move it away. When these trains arrive and stop at Norton Platform, the single locomotive is uncoupled and run round its train via Allerford Junction, the East Chord and Barnstaple Junction, making good use of the Triangle, before rejoining its train which is then shunted beyond Allerford Junction and then forward onto the Triangle to the unloading area. As each wagon is emptied, the train is moved forward, eventually onto the East Chord. When completely unloaded the train proceeds along the East Chord to Barnstaple Junction and onto Norton Fitzwarren Junction and Network Rail. And next week, following a trial a few days ago, a HOBC with a single loco will use the Triangle to turn - using the full extent of the quarter-mile long Allerford headshunt. Maps and Detailed map
17 April 2013
Details from local correspondent
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| WSR Discussion Forum breaks 200-member barrier! |
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The unofficial web-based discussion Forum has signed up its 200th member. The Forum, exists for discussion of WSR news, events, and anything to do with the WSR.
The original version of the Forum was started in 1999 as an adjunct to this website. Steve Richardson and Steve Sagrott took over in 2010 and Paul French and Robin White, long time WSR supporters and volunteers, stepped forward to host and moderate the present version in 2012. They said "We are proud to be present custodians of the Forum, which has proved useful over a number of years. The forum is open to anyone who volunteers on, works on, or just loves the WSR. The usefulness of the forum is illustrated by the fact that in the last few days we were able to put Crowcombe station in touch with a member with the technical skills to solve the problems with the station webcam in a location of poor broadband. We have members all over the UK and abroad and it allows them to keep up with happenings on the WSR. Often controversial matters are discussed, and members feel very passionate about our wonderful railway. All we expect is courtesy to other Forum members. If you love the WSR, why not join the Forum?" The Forum can be found at here  . Membership is free and it takes only moments to sign up. The Forum even has its own membership badge, available from Dunster station in person or by post, for £3.
17 April 2013
Details from WSR Discussion Forum
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| News about the Taunton Group meetings |
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The West Somerset Railway Association have issued an update about the meetings of the Taunton Group. Full details can be found on the Association website. Taunton Group meetings are generally held on the first Monday of every month, unless stated otherwise, at the Great Western Sports and Athletics Club, Station Approach, Taunton at 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start. Organiser Ian Aldridge reports "The event on 4 April - a presentation by David Oldham - proved to be an outstanding evening, we are grateful to David and Ryan for putting on an excellent display of railway footage of specials in 2012."
14 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Association 
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| Easy to use maps for walks from WSR stations |
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Just right for planning a walk from a West Somerset Railway station are three large scale maps showing the area around the WSR stations. Based on Ordnance Survey mapping and part of Yellow Publications "Around and About" Yellow Maps series, the laminated map is printed at a scale of about four inches to one mile, and each comes with a scale ruler to help with distances and walk times. One map covers Minehead to Washford; the next shows Washford to Stogumber; and the last includes Crowcombe Heathfield and Bishops Lydeard. Available at £4 each from the Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead Station.
13 April 2013
Details via Facebook from West Somerset Railway Plc 
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| The Illustrated Railway Children book by Edith Nesbit |
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Along with the Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead Station, the Station Shop, Bishop Lydeard is selling "The Illustrated Railway Children" book by Edith Nesbit on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis and Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital charities. The cost of the book is £16.99. All money received for this book will go to the above charities, so please give generously. Full story...
12 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Association
and West Somerset Railway Plc
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| The Great Railway Treasure Hunt |
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If bringing children to the West Somerset Railway be sure to grab a copy of the Treasure Hunt quiz sheet. The Treasure Hunt is run in collaboration with Peter's Railway. and there are prizes to be won, including a extra "local prize" of a Family Rover ticket worth £45 provided by the WSR itself. For full details click here and for a downloadable quiz sheet click here.
12 April 2013
Details via Facebook from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Half price tickets with Local Residents Railcard |
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Sighting the Beatles from the window of a West Somerset Railway train is no longer likely although there are lots of other splendid sights to be seen. And those who live in the TA1, TA2, TA3, TA4, TA21, TA23 and TA24 postcode areas can enjoy a generous discount on standard travel trains on the West Somerset Railway by purchasing a Local Residents Railcard. The Local Residents Railcard - it costs £10.00 per person - provides each cardholder with half price travel on the West Somerset Somerset Railway and lasts for two years from the date of issue. Please note there are conditions and restrictions. More information.
10 April 2013
Details via Facebook from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Video of the 2013 Spring Steam Gala released on DVD |
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The latest DVD offering from Oldham Video Productions features the 2013 Spring Steam Gala. The DVD costs £17.00 and features Auto Coach no 178, Steam Rail Motor no 93 and visiting engines Sir Lamiel, USATC S160 and GWR 2-6-2T no 5542. The DVD lasts 80 minutes and is also available in blu-ray at a cost of £20.00. Postage and packing is £1.00 to the UK. Contact the Buffer Stop Shop on 01643 700387 or shop@wsrail.net or call at Minehead Station.
9 April 2013
Details via Facebook from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Author calls for reinstated Taunton-Minehead rail service |
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The popular call for a regular rail service between Minehead and Taunton has again been echoed. In the book "The Great Railway Conspiracy" author David Henshaw examines the Beeching legacy and the number of axed lines that have since reopened. Henshaw says "Reconnecting Minehead to the national network would transform the railway into a genuine commuter route to Taunton and Bristol, as well as bringing visitors direct to Minehead, while cutting traffic congestion on the A39 in the process" although he doesn't seem to have explained the economics and practicalities of how such a service would be achieved. Meantime, the WSR continue to have talks with train operators looking at a possible future rail link between the Minehead Branch and Taunton. More details on the Somerset County Gazette website.
9 April 2013
Details from Somerset County Gazette
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| Two future Quantock Belle coaches arrive at Williton |
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Two new vehicles have arrived at Williton recently which will eventually enter service with the Quantock Belle dining set. WSRA Chairman, David Williams, reports "The first is FO 3131. The vehicle is in need of some restoration and it is planned to work on it as a largely volunteer project over the next two years. The plan is to overhaul the vehicle to the standard which we expect for the Quantock Belle going forward, and to bring the other vehicles into line with that once it is operational. Once completed, it will be possible to withdraw other vehicles in the set for major maintenance or overhaul and insert the new vehicle into the existing set, allowing the Quantock Belle to run throughout the season without losing capacity. The second vehicle is former BSK E35408 which was latterly in service with Balfour Beatty. This vehicle is a useful acquisition in that it is generator fitted, which will allow greater power supply on board the dining train and therefore allow items such as freezers to be added. The Association is committed to providing the Railway with a quality dining train that is continually improving and this vehicle is another acquisition that will, in due course, allow that to happen."
6 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Association
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| The Red Arrows to return to Minehead in August |
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After a year away the world-famous Red Arrows aerobatic display team will be returning to Minehead on Wednesday 14 August 2013. It is believed the display will be in the morning. More information including train times and other arrangements for the day will be published when available. Given the popularity of this event and the numbers of likely rail passengers, it is expected to be a very busy day. An excellent video of the previous display at Minehead is here.
4 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Taunton to WSR shuttles during Mixed Traction Weekend |
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Timings are now available for the mainline diesel unit shuttle service between Taunton Station and Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 8 June 2013 and Sunday 9 June 2013. This service provides a rare opportunity to travel off the mainline from Taunton onto the West Somerset Railway. Please click here for shuttle timings.
3 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Passenger figures so far this year... |
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Figures released today by West Somerset Railway Plc will give encouragement to all workers and supporters of the railway. The WSR Plc say "Despite the disappointments of the Spring Steam Gala [due to bad weather] we finished March having carried 17,225 passengers compared with 16,579 at the same point in 2012. However that does of course include the whole of a cold but dry Easter Bank Holiday weekend so we will have a clearer picture of the way things are going at the end of April." Despite the caution, this result serves to show that the railway continues to offer an attractive day out for all.
2 April 2013
Details from West Somerset Railway Plc
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