| A three year agreement for the Quantock Belle dining train... |
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West Somerset Railway Plc and the West Somerset Railway Association are pleased to announce that a Service Level Agreement has been reached to secure the operation of the Quantock Belle fine dining train for the next three years. Both organisations believe that this agreement provides a foundation for the long-term future of the Quantock Belle  on the railway.
The directors of the Plc and the trustees of the Association are confident that this agreement continues the development of the working relationship between the two organisations for the benefit of the whole Railway.
John Irven, Paul Conibeare, Susan Kaufman, Peter Chidzey.
31 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc
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| News from the Association... |
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The West Somerset Railway Association, the charity that supports the West Somerset Railway, has announced an extra Christmas Lunch special on the first class dining train the Quantock Belle on 30 November 2014 - please ring 01823 433856 for reservations. The Association also runs regular monthly meetings in Taunton with the next due on 3 November; full details here . And the Association Shop at Bishops Lydeard Station advise "From the week commencing 3 November (when no daily trains are timetabled) the Shop and Cafe at Bishops Lydeard Station will be open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. On special event days during November and December the Shop will open as normal to coincide with the departure of the first train and remain open until the last service has departed after which it will close. Customers wishing to mail order can still do so by emailing us at wsrashop@btconnect.com We can also still be contacted on 01823 432125 or fax 01823 430570 during this period."
31 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Association
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| Photographs wanted for the 2016 calendar... |
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It is the time once again to be thinking about calendars, but for the retail department at West Somerset Railway's Minehead Station, it is the year 2016 that gets the focus. Colin Howard has sent out a call for high quality, high resolution images to be submitted for consideration for the 2016 West Somerset Railway calendar. The railway's calendars are very popular - no surprise as the calendars always have a fine selection of excellent images of the line. We know many photographers read these pages and we hope they will look out two or three of their very best WSR images and then send by email to Colin at shop@wsrail.net as soon as possible.
30 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Branch Line Society enjoy a trip around the Norton Triangle |
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Members of the Branch Line Society (BLS) travelled from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren aboard three brake vans hauled by diesel shunter Class 09 no 09019 on Sunday 26 October 2014. After stretching their legs at Norton Platform and viewing members of the volunteer permanent way gang preparing the pointwork for the forthcoming bay platform road, the BLS members boarded the vans and the train continued to Barnstaple Junction where it reversed onto the former Barnstaple Branch. Now relaid to Allerford Bridge, this three-quarter mile stretch - known as "The Barnstaple" - forms the southern chord of both triangles and also a headshunt long enough to hold a full length High Speed Train or a twenty plus wagon High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC). The BLS special then accessed the West Chord (much used over the years by HOBCs emptying spent ballast) via Orchard Junction, before rejoining the WSR's main line at Allerford Junction, just north of Norton Bridge. For a detailed map of the Triangle area, please click here and then click the "NF" button, or see this map on the archived website.
27 October 2014
Details provided by local correspondent
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| Tickets on sale for 2015 Snowdrops and Steam excursions |
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One of the finest annual sights of Exmoor is the wonderful display of spring flowers in remote Snowdrop Valley near Wheddon Cross. The Snowdrops and Steam excursions in February 2015 leave from either Bishops Lydeard Station or Minehead Station then alight the train at Williton Station for the moorland journey by road coach to Wheddon Cross, then either walk the one mile (takes around 30 minutes) to Snowdrop Valley or travel on the special Snowdrop Valley Bus. Full details of Snowdrop & Steam excursion .
24 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Bishops Lydeard Station remembers... |
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As part of the launch of the local 2014 Poppy Appeal a special train will run on 24 October from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead (see news item below). Stations along the route will be decorated. At Bishops Lydeard Station it was felt appropriate to honour the men of the Great Western Railway who gave their lives in the Great War. Station volunteer Harry Kirkland added poppies to the inscribed poster rescued from Swindon Works and housed in the Gauge Museum.
23 October 2014
Details provided by local correspondent
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| Chris Bolt is the new Finance Director of WSR Plc |
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The WSR Plc have announced the new Finance Director is Chris Bolt. Currently the Treasurer of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, Chris, who is an Economist BA, comes with wide experience including a civil service career in public policy and economic regulation, plus work as an independent regulation advisor to several national and regional organisations, as board director in the private sector, as a regulator then becoming Chief Economist then non-executive Chairman of Board of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), and as a member of Heritage Railway Association legal services committee, writing guidelines for corporate governance for heritage railways.
22 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Notes from the recent WSR Plc Stakeholders Meeting |
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The WSR Plc have issued the notes from the recent meeting for its stakeholders - staff and shareholders - held at Bishops Lydeard Village Hall on 18 October 2014. Topics included a operational review for the current year, the 2015 budget, an update on the freehold/leasehold, news about the proposed stakeholders group (the Partnership Development Group) which plans to meet for the first time on 30 October. The meeting concluding with a question and answer session. For a PDF of the meeting notes please click here.
22 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc
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| The Poppy Day Appeal and the West Somerset Railway |
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The Somerset and Bristol 2014 Poppy Launch will feature The Evacuation by way of a special train which will leave Bishops Lydeard Station at 11am on 24 October for a "journey of surprises - there will be fun - there will be music - there will be ration packs" arriving at Minehead Station at 12 noon. The stations of the West Somerset Railway will decorated with bunting by the Somerset and Bristol Royal British Legion who will also decorate the train, including a very large poppy on the smokebox of the rostered locomotive, GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Norton Manor. When the train arrives at Minehead, the Royal British Legion Band will play on the station before the guests go to the Golf Club for lunch. The train will later leave in the mid-afternoon and return the guests to Bishops Lydeard.
18 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc
& Somerset and Bristol Royal British Legion
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| Restoring the former Up side entrance at Blue Anchor |
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It started with an old photograph of Blue Anchor Station and a visit by the General Manager who, without asking, hinted that the Friends of Blue Anchor Station might like to restore the long disused entrance to its former glory. According to the latest WSRA Journal, the Friends now have a project to replace the current hedge with railway-style picket fencing with a gate and a path up to the station building, just as shown in the old photograph. A contractor will be used for some of the works with volunteers doing the rest. It is not clear from the report whether this work will be cosmetic or whether visitors may once again go through the gate and up the garden path to the station's waiting room. (Comment from wsr.org.uk: we hope the improvements might persuade the local authority to provide a new wide pavement round to the Driftwood Cafe. But maybe that's a hope too far at present.)
16 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Association via the Journal
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| Ever thought of volunteering on the Quantock Belle? |
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Come and find out all about volunteering on the first class Quantock Belle dining train. The West Somerset Railway Association say "Volunteers are wanted for catering work on the . We have vacancies for kitchen staff, dining stewards, wine waiters, bar staff. No experience is required, but enthusiasm is essential. If you're interested, please come and find out more at Bishops Lydeard Station between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 8 November, 2014. A light lunch will be provided. Please book your place in advance by email to Q-belle@talktalk.net or call 01823 431311. We hope to see you there."
14 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Association
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| The West Somerset Railway chosen to launch new Exmoor Flag |
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The Exmoor Flag Project Team is currently planning a dramatic launch day on 29 October 2014 where the new Exmoor Flag will be announced to the world. The day will start with a unique historic unveiling ceremony, with the winning Exmoor Flag - to be chosen from the five finalist designs shown on the left - arriving on a majestic West Somerset Railway steam locomotive at Minehead Station around 11.40am. Everyone welcome! Members of the launch team for the Flag will be boarding the train at Dunster Station to hand out small versions to passengers. They will be joined by Exmoor personality Johnny Kingdom who will be travelling on the train from Dunster to Minehead. There will be a reception in the Turntable Cafe at Minehead station and at 11.55am Robin Ashburner will present Flags to Exmoor Mayors. The new Exmoor Flag will then embark on a grand tour of the region in a Quantock Heritage vintage bus, distributing flags to towns and villages for them to have their own celebration. The flag launch day is kindly being sponsored by local organisations and firms, including the West Somerset Railway and the Turntable Cafe. For full information visit the website of the Exmoor Flag Project.
13 October 2014
Details provided by the Exmoor Flag Project via Twitter
and West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Lantern project at Crowcombe Heathfield Station nears completion |
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The Restoration and Maintenance Squad (RAMS) have installed a replica GWR lantern, made by Steelway, on the main station building at Crowcombe Heathfield. Theexisting globe lights will be taken down once the new light has been wired up. All the swan neck lights, hopefully, will find a new home on the Station Farm development in due course, where they will compliment the existing lighting on Bishops Lydeard Station. Meanwhile, news has reached us that Tim Stanger will be retiring as Station Master at Crowcombe Heathfield at the end of the year. Many will join us in thanking Tim for turning in a very productive three years in charge. The good news is that Tim will continue as a volunteer at the station. See news and pictures on the station's website at www.fochs.org.uk
12 October 2014
Details provided by the Friends of Crowcombe Heathfield Station
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| Passenger figures to the end of September |
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The remarkably good weather in the last month seems to have brought plenty of visitors into Somerset and South West England. Writing in the staff magazine, Online, the Railway say "We carried 21,886 passengers in the month taking the running total for the year to date to 161,914. With a nice flow of bookings coming in for the Festive Season trains we look to be on course for an end of year figure around the 200,000 mark which after the problems at the start of the year with the 'flood' mythology will be a good result. Meanwhile the Autumn Steam Gala brought in 4,675 passengers over the four days compared with 4,773 in the 2013 event."
12 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Christmas Dinner aboard the Murder Mystery Special in December |
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A rather special team has been created for a rather special train in December. The Railway's Catering Services have announced "We are very pleased to have reached agreement with the West Somerset Railway Association for the Quantock Belle catering team to provide a traditional Christmas dinner for our 13th December Murder Mystery train." Order tickets online.
11 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Plc via Facebook
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| The results of the WSRA Grand Summer Draw |
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The West Somerset Railway Association Grand Summer Draw took place on Saturday 13 September 2014 at 2pm at Bishops Lydeard Station. The lucky winners are listed on the WSRA website. The WSRA would like to thank all those who took part.
10 October 2014
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Association
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| West Somerset Railway enjoys a successful Autumn Steam Gala |
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The West Somerset Railway enjoyed a successful 2014 Autumn Steam Gala over the four days 2 to 5 October with 4685 passengers travelling. This was marginally down on the figure (4773) for the corresponding 2013 event and the WSR was satisfied with the results. The theme of the Gala was a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the closure of Taunton locomotive shed in October 1964 and this meant that the four days heavily featured the products of Swindon Works. The guest engines featured were 14xx 0-4-2T no 1450, Small Prairies nos 4566 & 5542, Manor no 7820 Dinmore Manor and 57xx Pannier no 4612. These were joined by WSR residents nos 4936, 6960, 7828, 4160, 3850 and 88 (the latter made one trip over the line on Saturday and Sunday, planned to be its last Gala appearance before March 2016) whilst Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon was shunting at Washford Yard.
10 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Plc
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| West Somerset geography question defeats University Challenge students |
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A set of bonus questions about heritage railways proved too much for contestants on the University Challenge episode shown on 6 October 2014. The team from Durham, otherwise having a very successful time in front of Jeremy Paxman, were stumped by the question "One of the longest heritage lines, which heritage railway links Bishops Lydeard with Minehead via Crowcombe Heathfield and Blue Anchor?" eventually answering "East Suffolk". The episode can be viewed on the BBC iPlayer for a limited period. Points should be awarded to Jeremy Paxman for his perfect pronunciation of the word "Lydeard"...
10 October 2014
Details provided by local correspondent
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| GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 to move on to pastures new... |
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It seems the ex-GWR heavy goods engine, no 3850, will not be working on the Minehead Branch after its heavy overhaul which starts in May next year. A report in the latest Journal by the owners Dinmore Manor Locomotive Fund, suggests the WSR Plc have indicated they do not wish to hire the engine after the expiry of its current boiler ticket. And so a rather successful spell for the loco on the West Somerset seems to be drawing to a close. With another regular 2-8-0 engine, SDJR 2-8-0 no 88, also due for heavy overhaul in 2015, it is possible the Railway will be worked without an eight-coupled loco in the fleet for the first time in many a year.
10 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Association Journal
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| The West Somerset Railway Association issue Journal no 147 |
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Journal number 147 has just been issued to members of the West Somerset Railway Association. Long-serving editor David Williams has packed the 80 pages with the usual wealth of information and updates along with topical photographs. The regular features are there - the latest general railway news, updates from each of the ten stations, membership news and issues, detailed updates about the loco fleet and special events. On a sadder note, three of the railway's characters who passed away in the last few months are quite rightly remembered in a final tribute to their efforts and dedication to the West Somerset Railway; the lives of a great many supporters will have been enriched by working alongside Chris Dowrick, John Farley and David Rouse.
7 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Association
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| Slot head screws required for heritage projects... |
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John Baines of the Railway's Restoration and Maintenance Squad (RAMS) asks "Do you have any 10, 12 or 14 gauge slot head countersunk screws in steel or brass longer than 1 inch, in the back of your shed that you are reluctant to throw out? Well a solution is at hand. The restoration guys at RAMS need slot head screws to maintain that original heritage look to wagons and buildings and would be delighted to receive donations of slot head screws." Please contact John Baines on 01823 431312 Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays or leave a message.
7 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Association
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| News of the next West Somerset Railway Stakeholder Meeting |
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The next West Somerset Railway Stakeholder Meeting will take place on Saturday 18 October at 1.30pm in Bishops Lydeard Village Hall, Mount Street, TA4 3LH. Geoff Pateman adds "As always all staff, volunteers and shareholders are warmly encouraged to attend. This will include a review of 2014 and looking forward to 2015. As always the PLC encourages feedback from the floor and will end with a Q&A session where those attending can ask questions on both the topics formally covered or on anything else. If there are any particular topics you wish to see covered at the meeting or if there are any subjects on which you wish to take the lead on then please contact Geoff Pateman, Company Secretary on g_pateman@wsrail.net."
6 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Plc
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| Progress report for Mark 1 coach no 4419 |
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A number of Association members have asked for a progress update on the overhaul of West Somerset Railway Association owned coach no 4419. David Williams, Chairman of West Somerset Railway Association, reports "Work had temporarily stopped as the vehicle had been on holiday at Minehead whilst the headshunt at Williton was relaid. The vehicle has now been returned to Williton and progress can now resume. The work scheduled for the next few weeks includes flooring to be laid, assembling seat frames, varnishing the inside of the vehicle, internal painting of the roof, installation of printed circuit boards and other electrical work and fitting of split pulley dynamo. The final stage of the project will be completing the upholstery, installation of batteries and charger and application of the decals on the outer side of the vehicle. We will then be able to progress to the Fitness to Run examinations and, subject to satisfactory testing, no 4419 should be ready to enter traffic in the first part of the 2015 season."
4 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Association
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| Former Taunton Driver Cyril enjoys a footplate ride on the Railway |
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On Thursday morning, 2 October, an elderly gentleman appeared on Bishops Lydeard Station with a young friend. He was proudly wearing a GWR tie and told us that his name was Cyril and at 94 years of age he wished to climb onto the footplate of a steam loco for one more time. It appears that he was a driver at Taunton steam shed when it closed. The station staff took him to GWR 0-4-2T no 1450 which was attached to the Autocoach. Cyril duly climbed aboard. Driver Nelson McKrackon rapidly phoned Inspector Merv Hebditch and agreed that Cyril could ride on the footplate to Crowcombe Heathfield and back. The smile on his face was reward for all concerned. Harry Kirkland who also worked on Taunton shed, was on the station and met up with Cyril. How wonderful to re-unite old colleagues and old locos. What a wonderful railway we have! Thanks to Bishops Lydeard Station volunteer Keith Sims for this lovely story.
3 October 2014
Details provided by local correspondent
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| Halloween sold out - but Auto seats still available... |
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With the Railway having decided to put a toe in the water with some Halloween operations this year it is pleasing to be able to report that the evening operation for 31 October 2014 has sold out. Meanwhile, for this weekens, there are still some seats left on the Auto Train leaving Bishops Lydeard at 8pm on Saturday 4 October for Minehead. These will be available to purchase over the counter at Bishops Lydeard Booking Office in the morning - the booking office should open around 7.30am. Full details of the Gala...
3 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Plc
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| All is in place for a cracking Autumn Steam Gala 2-5 October 2014 |
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All visiting locos and auto coach have now arrived and the home fleet is also all available. Renumbering and naming is slowly being carried out to former Taunton shed locos, ready for the event and most engines will carry 83B shedplates. There are a good number of sales and promotional stands to visited at Minehead Station. Minehead loco shed will be open for visitors on Saturday and Sunday. A wreath will be added to the smokebox of No 4932 Hatherton Hall on the 2.45pm ex-Minehead on Friday afternoon, after the gathering at the Beach Hotel of former Taunton shed staff, to mark the closure of Taunton shed to steam some 50 years ago. A number of places are available for footplate trips along the full length of the line on selected services (contact the Minehead Office for further details). Places are also available in the WSRA-owned former Taunton Inspection Saloon which will be added to some services over the weekend, a small supplementary fare is payable and booking in advance is advised. And there are also places available on the two 'long run' auto trains being run, the first from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on Saturday morning and from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard on Sunday afternoon. These trains are usually very popular so booking in advance is also recommended for these services. Full details of the Gala...
1 October 2014
Details provided by the Special Events Planning Team
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| Visit the Railway and Gift Shop at Bishops Lydeard during the Gala |
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The West Somerset Railway Association's Railway and Gift Shop at Bishops Lydeard Station will have a number of special promotions running during this week's Autumn Steam Gala being held from Thursday 2 October to Sunday 5 October. Once again the Shop will be hosting 'meet the author' book signing sessions. Also over on platform 1, WSRA staff and volunteers will be selling a range of donated railway memorabilia with all monies going towards the upkeep of Bishops Lydeard Station. For full details of the special promotions and other Railway and Gift Shop news please see the WSRA website.
1 October 2014
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Association
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