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 This was the WSR News - January to March 2003

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Jubilee visit called off The owners of LMS 4-6-0 no 5690 "Leander" have regrettably had to withdraw the engine from the Cross Country Event, on 10,11 May 2003, due to continued leaks in the firebox which require further attention. And so the long-awaited visit of a Midland red engine continues. A replacement and appropriate and "guest" steam engine is being actively sought by the Railway. 25 March 2003 Details from WSR Special Events Planning Team	No 5690 visit off... © Ray Brown
Wildlife Trains 2003 The trimming of the lineside is vital for proper conservation of the flora and fauna that abounds on the longest nature reserve in Somerset. And what better way of seeing the wildlife than aboard one of the several Wildlife Specials being lined up for 2003. A train chartered by the Somerset Wildlife Trust runs on 13 April - tickets at £10 each are available only from the Trust ( ring 01823 451587). Another popular event is the Wildlife Special organised by the Friends of Minehead Station on 17 May - tickets are £11 each for this evening train along with the public Wildlife Specials from Bishops Lydeard on 18 May and 14 June. You can get full details from the Minehead Office on 01643 704996. 2 March 2003 Details from WSR Plc	Wildlife Train
Teddy Bear Picnic The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group's Type 1 Class 14 Locomotive no D9526 is scheduled to be re-launched into traffic on the WSR on Saturday 12 April 2003, for the first time since 1994, with a four-coach train Special - including a buffet car - leaving Bishops Lydeard at 11.35am and arriving at Minehead at 12.45pm. The return trip leaves Minehead at 1.40pm with arrival at Bishops Lydeard at 2.55pm. The Return Fare is just £10 for the Special - a forty mile round trip - or even better value is the Day Rover at only £12. 23 February 2003 Details from Diesel and Electric Preservation Group	Teddy Bear no D9526 to return  © Colin Girle
Standard Tank to return... Reports suggest the popular ex-British Railways Standard Tank no 80136 will return to the Railway in April or May when repairs being carried out at Crewe are completed. The loco is likely to stay in West Somerset until at least 2005. The Class 4MT 2-6-4T first appeared on the line as a Spring Steam Gala guest in 2001, and quickly became a favourite with footplate crews and passengers alike. A perfect design for hauling the lengthy summer trains over the severe West Somerset gradients, the return of no 80136 will be welcome sight... 12 January 2003 Details from local correspondent	Coming back... © Alan Grieve
Fireless loco needs a Friend The WSR Plc report that the owner of the Fireless loco, Bagnall Fireless 0-4-0F no 2473 "Huntley & Palmers no 1" which has been parked for a good few years down the Norton road wishes to dispose of it to a group or individual able to give it a good home. The missing parts are safely in store so restoration is a distinct possibility. Anyone able to take it over and carry out the restoration should contact Mark Smith at Minehead (01643 704996) for more details. 2 March 2003 Details from WSR Plc	Bagnall Fireless 0-4-0F  © David Randles
Toy and Train Fair returns... Local collector Chris Dyer will be reviving a tradition this year when he brings back the Minehead Toy and Train Sale. The event, expected to attract dealers from all over the UK, will be back on the timetable after a gap of several years, but at a new venue. The sale, scheduled for 10 August, will be held on the platform at Minehead Railway Station and is being promoted in conjunction with West Somerset Railway. Chris, who is based in Minehead, said he expected the combined resources to attract large numbers of visitors. "There has always been a strong public demand for the return of the Minehead sale, not to mention keen interest from traders who always found it a well-supported and busy event." 28 February 2003 Details from Somerset County Gazette	Hornby Trains  © Transvaal Meccano Guild
Virgin Voyager to spend a weekend on WSR Virgin Trains is generously providing one of its four-car Class 220 Voyager units, No 220 008, to the WSR for use at the CrossCountry Gala Weekend on 10-11 May. The unit will be renamed "Somerset Voyager" in a special ceremony at Minehead Station at 11:00 on the Saturday – which promises all the usual glitz and sparkle of a Virgin naming ceremony! Thereafter, the Voyager will operate normal service trains on both days – WSR Rover Tickets will be valid for travel on these services. A special timetable will be in operation over the weekend – and Rover Tickets can be purchased in advance at discounted prices. The Voyager will also be joined by ‘guest’ LMS 4-6-0 No 5690 "Leander", together with two other WSR steam engines, Nos D1010 "Western Campaigner" and D6566 – and, hopefully, by a Class 45 ‘Peak’ and a Brush/Sulzer Class 47. 23 February 2003 Details from WSRA web site	Virgin Voyager 220
Special train to celebrate no 5542 Sunday 23 March is a special day for a group of enthusiasts who have waited 24 years to celebrate the restoration of a steam locomotive which was once a familiar sight in Taunton and West Somerset. A special train will leave Bishops Lydeard for Minehead along the West Somerset Railway and will carry many of those who have supported the project financially over the years and their guests in celebration of the achievement of returning a once derelict steam engine to full working order. 17 March 2003 Details from Locomotive 5542 Limited	No 5542  © Stephen Edge
No 5553 doubtful for Gala Small Prairie ex-GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 suffered some damage when it was involved in a minor collision whilst on the Cheddleton line in Staffordshire. Engineers at the Churnet Valley are working hard to effect repairs in time for no 5553 to make its scheduled journey to West Somerset for the Gala. The loco was a popular WSR visitor during the Autumn Gala in 2002. GWR 0-6-0PT no 5786 from the South Devon is now booked for a whistlestop visit - just in case no 5553 is unable to travel... 15 March 2003 Details from local correspondent	Doubtful visitor  © Stephen Edge
Superb result on Washford Bank Lumber Jack has kindly sent a picture of the suberb looking track and trackside on Washford Bank just west of the accommodation bridge known by some as "Halscombe Bridge" and points out the various efforts in the vicinity over the last few weeks. First, the whole trackbed and track have been replaced, the ditches on the top of the cutting cleared out, the "water chute" repaired and restored, the mechanical flails have trimmed the cutting sides within reach and the Lengthsmen have already hand-cleared the scrub on the nearside cutting top. An excellent collection of works that whilst occuring all the time at various place along the line, rarely happens in the same stretch at the same time... 14 March 2003 Details from local correspondent	Superb lineside  © Lumber Jack
WSR and Thomas make the BBC news The West Somerset Railway featured heavily in Jon Kay's report about the allegation that the "Thomas The Tank Engine" stories have too many train wrecks and is putting kids off going on normal trains. There were some good shots of Minehead Station and on the train. The Railway's Martyn Snell popped up for a few words. The feature was on the tail end of the 6 o'clock news on BBC One on 11 March. 12 March 2003 Details from local correspondent	Thomas and WSR make the BBC News
200th tree planted Among the routine responsibilities of the Friends of Minehead Station is the upkeep of the land between the line and the boundary fence from the station buildings as far as the level crossing at Seaward Way. This area is kept free from litter, the drainage ditch kept clear and the grass kept mown but otherwise nature reigns. Careful timing and management produces the optimum results and we now boast 138 identified species of flowering wild plant and a proportional variety of insects, birds and mammals – the latter including badger, fox and otter – YES, otter. Not many stations can boast that! Today saw another milestone in the planting of the 200th tree in the embryonic hedge at the ‘country’ end... Back in 1998 a leylandii hedge was planted alongside the market site, leaving the stretch alongside the play area, where the fence is in need of regular repair. The solution was obviously another hedge, but leylandii would be unsuitable here as the public path which parallels the fence is an important viewing area, beloved of photographers and nostalgic locals, and providing a first glimpse of the line for many a holidaymaker who may not otherwise have realized there was a railway at Minehead. The choice was therefore to go for the natural look and as two FOMS members work also on local nature reserves a ready supply of local saplings was available free; the management plan on the reserves dictating the removal of large numbers of regenerating ash, oak, field maple, hazel, hawthorn, holly, spindle, hornbeam, and whitebeam.. With bramble and briar, buddleia, tutsan and sycamore already growing in places on site work started three years ago on establishing the new hedge. Although it still looks patchy in places it has already proven its worth in reducing damage to the fence and intrusion of litter from the nearby supermarket and fast food outlet. It looks good, provides home for many birds and insects and a fabulous crop of blackberries in the autumn. 12 March 2003 Details from local correspondent	The good work starts to take effect   © Lumber Jack
Signal & Telegraph Gang busy at Dunster On 6 March 2003 the Railway's Signal & Telegraph Gang were at Sea Lane Level Crossing, Dunster taking delivery of their new crossing cabinet which arrived by rail from Williton behind no 33048. The short works train included the travelling crane which was used to lift the cabinet to the waiting base by the trackside. The cabinet is used to control the road traffic lights and railway signal lights as trains approach and pass over Sea Lane. The opportunity was taken to lift unused signal posts laying at the same location and remove for renovation and eventual re-use elsewhere. For more pictures, visit the SEA LANE page. The Gang then moved on to remove the old bracket signal at Dunster West Level Crossing, but this relic of the twin single lines between Dunster and Minehead seems happy where it is...for pictures visit the DUNSTER WEST page. 6 March 2003 Details from local correspondent	Sea Lane Crossing  © Alan Grieve
Pannier Tank lined up for Gala The South Devon Railway-based ex-GWR 0-6-0PT no 5786 is lined up to visit the Railway for the Spring Steam Gala on 28-30 March - a precautionary step as the re-visit of GWR Small Prairie 2-6-2T no 5553 is subject to repair work being completed in time. Either way, it is good to see the Railway is being pro-active is seeking to a huge collection of smaller engines for the Gala which has a Branch Line theme... 5 March 2003 Details from local correspondent and U N Attributable	No 5786  © Mark Dewell
Another "Preview Day" train... Thursday 27 March 2003, the day before the Gala, will also see trains running that will be available to the public and for the arriving enthusiasts. There will be a morning run between Minehead and Williton in addition to the afternoon departures from Minehead for Bishops Lydeard at 2pm and 4.50 pm with a Bishops Lydeard to Minehead at 3.30pm. 2 March 2003 Details from WSR Plc
Gala loco confirmations Confirmed! The visits by the ex-LSWR M7 0-4-4T No 30053 from Swanage, ex-GWR 0-6-0PT no 5764 from the Severn Valley, and ex-GWR ‘Small Prairie’ no 5553, owned by the Waterman Railways Trust and currently at Cheddleton, to the Spring Steam Gala on 28-30 March 2003. Two other engines – Ivatt 2-6-2T no 41312 from the Mid-Hants and ex-GWR ‘Large Prairie’ no 4141, currently at Llangollen, are also expected to attend the event. Hopefully we shall see eleven engines in steam at the GALA. 29 January 2003 Details from WSRA	No 30053 - a Gala visitor! © Mark Pike
Special pre-Gala special workings... There will be two special workings on 27 March 2003 - the day before the main Spring Steam Gala. A Down train - steam hauled - will leave Bishops Lydeard at 3.30pm, which will connect with First Southern National buses from Taunton Railway Station (Station Road) at 2.10pm (service 28) or 2.39pm (service 28A). For those already in possession of a two or three day Gala Rover ticket, travel on the 3.30pm steam train will be free, else, normal fares apply. There is also one Up train leaving Minehead at 4.50pm. Both trains call at all stations en route. Subject to availability, the Railway expect to field nos 4141, 4160, 5224, 5542, 5764, 6412, 7820, 30053 and 41312, and hope that at least one more loco to be added to the list. 12 January 2003 Details from WSR plc
Running repairs for running-in board In an extremely miserable rainy day, with water dripping everywhere from the platform canopy, the Wednesday FOMS working party were cracking on today with the refurbishment of the Minehead running in board. This was taken down by a party of six some weeks ago and has been given a new frame, sealant and a repaint. Being extremely heavy it will be reinstalled with the help of the Operating Department crane, hopefully in two weeks time. Meanwhile, in the workshop, Ken Mardell was sanding a new video storage unit made for use in the Minehead Buffer Stop shop. See News Pix page. 5 March 2003 Report from local correspondent	Minehead Running In Board  © alan Grieve
Long Day for Tidy Train Gang Lumber Jack reports, "On Saturday 1 March around 30 stalwart volunteers turned up to staff the Annual Tidy Train, which trundles the length of the line collecting the debris from PerWay and S&T activities for sale to a scrap merchant, and the proceeds of the WSRA Cutting Back Gang's efforts for sale to a log merchant; together with the worst of the lineside litter that has accumulated in a couple of notorious blackspots." "Meanwhile the volunteers slaved to load some 35 tonnes of logs and 25 tonnes of rail chairs in ever worsening weather and then unload the logs at Dunster before the eventual cold and sodden return to Bishops Lydeard at 8.20pm that evening was effectively unrecorded - apart from the indifferent picture attached." "It was therefore hardly surprising that only about 10 volunteers turned up on Sunday 2 March to complete the collection of rail chairs, about another two tonnes, and then unload the whole lot into waiting skips - a less than glamourous, but essential, activity. At least the weather was kinder and the task was finished by lunchtime. So what did the volunteers do then? Go home and have a hot bath and relax after two days hard labour? No! WSRA volunteers are made of sterner stuff. They had a hurried sandwich or two and decamped to Crowcombe Heathfield to clear a bit more of the invading scrub on the down side of the approach from Bishops Lydeard." "As a footnote, on the Sunday, 30% of the workforce were ladies, who had also worked all of the Saturday..." 3 March 2003 Report from local correspondent	Tidy Train in heavy rain  © Lumber Jack
A Trio of Silver Passes One of the nicest of official duties for the Managing Director is to present a Silver Pass to long-serving volunteers and members of staff. On 2 March 2003, Mark Smith trekked out to Watersmeet Bridge to meet up with the Permanent Way Gang and interrupted their work to present no less than three Silver Passes. The picture shows from the left, Pat Hayes, Mick England and Roger Hayes having just received their Silver Pass for loyal service from Mark Smith (behind). 3 March 2003 Details from local correspondent	Silver Passes  © JA
Flailing about... Each Spring, a largely unseen event happens as the tampers and the flails roam the rails, ensuring the permanent way is in good order and trimming the ever-rampant foliage on the adjacent cuttings and embankments. This year’s visits will take place in the week beginning 10 March with ever chance the line will look its very best when thousands of visitors and passengers arrive for the Spring Steam Gala. 2 March 2003 Details from WSR Plc
Photo shoot at Bishops Lydeard Bishops Lydeard Station will be "transformed" into Yeovil Junction on the evening of Saturday 29 March for a photographic session. It is hoped to have two locomotives - ex-LSWR "M7" 0-4-4T no 30053 and ex-GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 - representing the joint nature of the steam days at Yeovil Junction, in steam and posed in suitable photogenic locations around the Station. The Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard will wheel out several items of Southern Railway origin to help create the effect. And a uniformed porter has been signed up as a member of the cast... Starting at 7.30pm, the photo shoot costs just £6.00 per photographer. Just turn up on the night. 24 February 2003 Details from local correspondent	No 30053 © Mark Pike
A May Visit for Jubilee The "steam" focus during the CrossCountry Gala Weekend on 10-11 May 2003 will be ex-LMS ‘Jubilee’ Class 4-6-0 No 5690 "Leander", which has just returned to steam after heavy overhaul at Bury. This is certainly the first time a ‘Jubilee’ has run on the Minehead branch and – resplendent in LMS red livery – is sure to be a popular attraction on the line. The photograph on the right is ©Ray Brown and courtesy of www.jubilees.co.uk. 22 February 2003 Details from www.wsra.org.uk	No 5690 "Leander" © Ray Brown
Ticket cabinet gets the treatment Alan Grieve reports from Minehead: "Some time ago FOMS were able to provide the Friends of Kidderminster Town Station with the 20 ton weighbridge from the Travis Perkins yard in Minehead, which had been offered to us by Travis Perkins but there was nowhere on Minehead Station we could place it. Since then they have kept in touch and, having recently been fortunate enough to receive lots of items from Birmingham Moor St. Station, which is being refurbished, they offered us a twelve drawer GWR Ticket Cabinet which they had no use for. I had already realised that the existing Ticket Cupboard in Minehead Booking Office would probably not hold all the tickets for the start of the 2003 season . And so a trip to Kidderminster saw the cabinet collected." "After a few weeks drying out in the FOMS workshop we were able to free a number of drawers which were stuck and refurbishment work began. It has now been painted and Gordon Harris has applied a scumble (brush grain) finish which the Kidderminster lads tell me was the correct decor. The cabinet now sits proudly in Minehead Booking Office and is already providing much needed extra drawer space and putting the existing furniture to shame." "Incidentally the Friends of Kidderminster Town Station have a good interesting website at www.kfriends.org.uk." 24 February 2003 Details from local correspondent	The restored cabinet in position  © Alan Grieve
The "Small Mogul" taking shape On 15 February, the completed rebuilt boiler of no 5193 was returned from the boilermakers, Pridham of Tavistock, and lowered by crane into the frames of the former GWR "Large Prairie" tank engine. It will be recalled that no 5193 is being restored as a "Small Mogul" complete with tender, as an example of a locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway but never actually built. The Railway Company add "..other recent work on the project has included the fabrication of a new cab and the likelihood of an entry into traffic later this year remains good." 22 February 2003 Details from WSR Plc web site	No 5193 waiting for the boiler   © Alan Grieve
Tales of the Old Railwaymen A local correspondent writes, "I thought your readers might like to know about the excellent book by Tom Quinn, 'Tales of the Old Railwaymen'. It contains some of the best black and white railway pictures I have seen, and includes a chapter on the late Harry Horn who persuaded me to join the WSRA many years ago. The book is published by David and Charles" [ISBN: 0-7153-0544-1 and costs around £17.99 at, for example, www.bigfamily.co.uk or perhaps at the Railway Shops at Minehead and Bishops Lydeard] 21 February 2003 Details from local correspondent	Tales of the Old Railwaymen
Quantock Belle All Day Gala Breakfast All day breakfast will be available on the following services: Saturday 29 March 9.15 from Bishops Lydeard 10.50 from Minehead 12.40 from Norton Fitzwarren 3.05 from Minehead Sunday 30 March 10.00 from Bishops Lydeard 12.15 from Minehead 2.05 from Bishops Lydeard 4.00 from Minehead No seats will be reserved - just walk on and enjoy! 19 February 2003 Details from local correspondent	Enjoying the Fare
Candlelight Express 2003 now in doubt Official sources suggest the popular excursions from Bristol to Dunster and Minehead in connection with the annual Dunster by Candlelight event are now not likely to run in 2003. The "Candlelight Express" has for several seasons been organised by Cheshire Railtours using a chartered HighSpeed Train. Now it seems that First Great Western who have previously provided the HST have pulled out of the charter business leaving Cheshire Railtours with a trainload of passengers but no train. We can only hope that a solution can be found... 16 February 2003 Details from local correspondent	Candlelight Express at Minehead in 2001 © Stephen Edge
Washford Steam Up! Ex-Great Western Railway 2-6-2T no 5542, Peckett 0-4-0ST no 1788 "Kilmersdon" and the Stothert & Pitt Steam Crane are all expected to bein steam at Washford this coming Tuesday, 18 February, for part II of theThorough Boiler Examination. All are welcomed to witness the "event"... 16 February 2003 Details from Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust	Kilmersdon at Washford © Tom Hall
Virgin Cross Country Weekend news... A Minehead correspondent reports Mark Smith and Richard Jones in deepest conclave with three members of the Virgin Trains public relations team for no less than four hours yesterday. They emerged from the office for some detailed inspection and measuring of the platforms and were overheard discussing fine and wet weather options. Confirmation of attendance at the Cross Country weekend - 10-11 May 2003 - by three generations of Cross Country trains is reported to be the goal of today's discussions...more anon. 12 February 2003 Details from local correspondent	Virgin Territory © Virgin Trains
The Tidy Train rolls again... A steam-hauled Tidy Train will run on Saturday 1 March but could be the only such in 2003. This is due to the low amount of materials to collect from the lineside reflecting an increasing tendency to collect and dispose of material on a more regular basis leading to a neater, tidier and safer railway. This years train will run from Bishops Lydeard, leaving at 9.30am sharp. We will collect from Combe Florey (chairs), Turks Castle (logs), and Washford Bank (chairs andsleepers) plus any other materials that come to light. We shall run on to Dunster to offload the logs before returning to Lydeard about 5 o'clock. Chairs will be offloaded into skips in the yard at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday evening, or more likely Sunday morning, so a few able bodies would be welcome on Sunday. We will also be cutting back at Crowcombe on Sunday 2 March. Please come along to help if you are available - ensure you have a valid and current WSR Plc pass. 9 February 2003 Details from WSRA	Tidy Trackside © Stephen Edge
Countdown to a million miles 5542 Ltd report: "No 5542 had travelled 987429 miles in service for the Great Western Railway and British Railways. Keep track of her progress as she approches her millionth mile of service to the British public. If you would like to win a Limited Edition print of no 5542 on shed at Moorswater together with sister loco no 4566 then enter our 75th birthday 'Mileage' competition. Just email your estimate of the total recorded lifetime miles of no 5542 at the commencement of duties on 2 August 2003. The nearest to the actual figure will win the print. Maximum number of entries per person is five. Closing date 30 April 2003. No correspondence will be entered into, and the Chairman's decision is final." 9 February 2003 Details from 5542 Ltd web site	Approaching 1000000 miles © Stephen Edge
Free tea in 2003... In 2002, the On Train Catering Department introduced a novel idea whereby customers could buy a special pottery mug for just £5, which then entitled the purchaser to free tea/coffee/lemonade for the whole of the season - as long as they produce their mug! This excellent idea is being repeated for the 2003 season – with no price increase! The offer is available on all WSR operating dates in 2003, from the start of services on 22 February until 4 January 2004. All you have to do first is visit one of the Railway’s buffet cars, handed over your £5, and the mug is yours…! 9 February 2003 Details from WSRA web site	A shot of last year's mug © Jon Tooke
News from Railwaves Railwaves report... "We're now over half way along the route in terms of scenery construction and placement - with the process speeding up all the time as more "generic" items are added to our library. We have been developing the route in more detail than we originally anticipated would be possible and are now looking towards a release in the early summer of this year." For more on the excellent progress of the forthcoming West Somerset Railway Train Simulator visit the Railwaves.com web site at www.railwaves.com. 8 February 2003 Details and images from Railwaves	Train Sim Class 50 at Lydeard © Railwaves.com
Washford Steam Up 1-2 March 2003 A chance to view two steam locomotives and see the parts usually reserved for the crew. Visit the footplate, chat to the driver and ask all those questions about steam engines you always wanted to. Recently restored locomotive GWR 2-6-2T no 5542, along with Peckett 0-4-0 'Kilmersdon', will be available for your close inspection, together with other examples of recent wagon restoration work. Shunting demonstrations will take place during the day. There are also two restored signal boxes and various other museum items of railway interest to view. Admission is by a small donation to Washford projects. Light refreshments will be available. All items and events subject to availability. This event is staged jointly by The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust and Locomotive 5542 Limited. 2 February 2003 Report by 5542 Ltd	5542 at Washford©John Hind
Merrymaker to Minehead Hertfordshire Railtours are running a Merrymaker on Saturday 29 March 2003 to the West Somerset Railway for the Spring Steam Gala, from London Finsbury Park, Ealing Broadway, Slough and Reading. The Merrymaker train will run right through to Minehead, giving a break at the resort of over three hours. In addition you can travel on the WSR Steam trains at half price, so you have total flexibility at minimum cost. We will give you timetable details on the day to enable you to plan your afternoon as you wish. The Merrymaker will call at Bishops Lydeard and Dunster in both directions, widening your options still further. Classic buses. These will run, free of charge, between Dunster station and the picturesque Dunster Village, notable for its castle, parts of which date from the 13th century, and 18th century working waterwheel. The Standard fare to Minehead is only £24.50 (Junior £12.25). First Class Gold is £89.00 (£336 for a party of four) including the Great British Breakfast, morning coffee and a four course dinner.  · London Finsbury Park depart 07:40 arrive back 21:35  · Ealing Broadway depart 08:20 arrive back 20:55  · Slough (for M25) depart 08:40 arrive back 20:35  · Reading depart 09:10 arrive back 20:10 1 February 2003 Details from Hertfordshire Railtours	Earlier visit of a class 67...©"Dauntless"
News from the Gauge Museum A historical document - sure to interest many - is undergoing expert conservation at Somerset County Council's Museums Service. It is a "Journal", belonging to the Bishops Lydeard Station Master dating from 1890 to 1920 and was saved from destruction by a railwayman at the time of the closure of the Minehead Branch in 1971. Now in the care of the Curator of the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard, the sixty page document will be returned in time to be placed on view during the forthcoming Gala on 28-30 March. Thereafter, it will be available for viewing by appointment only. Also just arrived is a Great Western Railway poster from the 1930s advertising the then newly opened Minehead Swimming Pool - perhaps the present Railway should produce a poster for the replacement AquaSplash fun pool? 13 February 2003 Details from the Gauge Museum	The Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard
The Railway's Education Department Very busy behind the scenes, this joint WSRA/WSR Plc Department, sets out to promote the Railway for educational visits. Members of the Department ensure visiting school parties get to see, discuss and experience a wide range of topics to help with the requirements of the National Curriculum - including Art, Drama, History, Geography and of course Science. Recent activities have involved a mock World War Two Evacuees carriage, with the visiting schoolchildren being encouraged to wear period clothing, with a talk from a real evacuee relating his own childhood experiences. The Department are attending a event at Crealy Country Park near Exeter on 14-16 February to further promote this "backroom" activity which does so much to enrich the knowledge of our children and, at the same time, helps safeguard the future of the Railway with the prospect of new volunteers... 13 February 2003 Details from the Gauge Museum	The original Act of 17 August 1857
Turks Castle stormed and captured Fine weather and a bumper turn out meant that the WSRA Cutting Back Gang this weekend opened up the green tunnel that the cutting through Turks Castle had become in recent years. The job proved greater than anticipated as the jungle had hidden exactly how much timber there was 'our side' of the fence - a fence which stretches further away from the running line at the summit of the hill than anyone could have imagined, and which was not apparent on the recce. Nonetheless all the Down side was cleared and heavy inroads made into the overgrowth and undergrowth on the Up side. See the NewsPix Page for before and after shots from the North, a few of the gang taking a refreshment break - and I defy anyone to say it was not well earned - and the unwarranted (but not unwelcome) intrusion into the proceedings of a certain Birthday Jolly in honour of a certain Sentinel. Suffice it to say that a vast amount of saleable timber resulted from our efforts so the item relating to the Tidy Train on 1 March is very apt - there will be a lot to load - but 'many hands make light work' as they say. And don't forget the unloading on the Sunday... Also, the Cutting Back Leader, David Holmes, would like to add, "All in all a very good weekend, with lots achieved - the very scenery changing...perhaps we ought to advise Railwaves that their scenery model is out of date! Please record my thanks to all involved and to Martin & Gill for giving up their garden for a car park!" 10 February 2003 Details and story from Lumber Jack	Turks Castle sans "tunnel" © Lumber Jack
Sentinel makes the summit... The Williton-based Sentinel shunter 0-4-0 DH16 - maintained by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group - was thrirty-nine years old on 8 February and celebrated on the day with a run from Williton to Crowcombe Heathfield and back. The Rolls-Royce engined locomotive had a tanker and a "Toad" brake van in tow during the climb of about 350 feet to the summit at Crowcombe Heathfield. For more pictures of the Birthday Bash, please see the NewsPix pages. 8 February 2003 Details from DEPG and local correspondent	Sentinel DH16 at Crowcombe © JA
Diesel Gathering at Washford The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust report... "On Tuesday 4 February, Washford became the venue for an impromtu diesel Gala! On the Tuesday, the Trust's Ruston shunter was busy moving Kilmersdon in preparation for a boiler examination, whilst Class 25 D7523 "John F Kennedy" and the ex-ROF Barclay shunter operated the PW train. The following day, Wednesday, there were long faces all round, as the Barclay failed to start, despite the persuasive influence of several experts! " For more on this intriguing tale, please visit the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust website 8 February 2003 Details and images from SDRT	Busy scene at Washford © Peter Cattermole
Rare views of the line in 1972... A set of nearly thirty slides has been unearthed which show the line "sleeping" in 1972. This was just a year of so after the line was closed by British Railways. As can be seen in the "appetiser" picture of Bishops Lydeard (right), the encroachment of nature had begun but still had a good three or four years of growth to go before the railway pioneers started to reclaim the track for eventual re-opening. The remainding slides will be scanned and processed in the coming weeks, and then provided to this web site for display next month. The copyright of the pictures has not been established - if anyone can help, please email us. 4 February 2003 Details and image from local correspondent	Bishops Lydeard in 1972
The Marketing Machine rolls on... This is the time of year when much effort is put into generating new business for the railway during the coming season - and longer term too. Staff visit many tourism shows and talk to coach operators and 'Days Out' organisers, such as the programme secretaries of local clubs and groups - W.I.s, Pensioners' Associations and the like. There are also events for Tourist Attractions to meet and swop brochures and talk about mutual co-operation. All this effort is driven by the redoubtable John Simms and has paid off handsomely over the years. This year's hectic programme of such events kicked off at Weston-super-Mare on Saturday 1 February with the 13th Bakers Dolphin 'Days Out' Show - as a coach operator with a catchment area covering most of North Somerset this is an ideal event as we are in comfortable reach, for a day out, of all the clubs and similar in that area. The picture shows John Simms and assistant 'ready for action' just prior to the arrival of the first coach load of potential customers. 2 February 2003 Report by Lumber Jack	Marketing at Weston©Lumber Jack
Tunnel to be removed... OK, we all know the West Somerset Railway does not have a tunnel in the usual sense, but it seems that nature has created one at Turks Castle, between Stogumber and Williton which will receive the attention of the Cutting Back Gang over the weekend of 8-9 February 2003. The site is a narrow steep, short cutting where the trees have grown together over the track to form a tunnel. The aim of the weekend will be to clear as much as possible off the top of the cutting, one side on the Saturday and the other side on Sunday. All hands are welcomed - please EMAIL if you fancy a day or two in the countryside. Confirmation that a Tidy Train is needed on 1 March is awaited from Minehead. There are a few logs plus some sleepers from Combe Florey and the results of the re-lay at Washford. Watch this space for news. 2 February 2003 Details from local correspondent	Boscastle approaching Turks Castle
Douglas the Useful Truck A bit of a play on characters and personalities in a well-known story book, but we thought you'd like to learn about how the Friends of Minehead Station (FOMS) restored a Douglas Truck and how they'd like to find a new home for the historic vehicle... For full story, pictures and contact details, please CLICK HERE 28 January 2003 Details from FOMS	Douglas Truck  © Alan Grieve
New web site for DEPG... A much improved web site has been launched for the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group at www.freewebs.com/depg/ and is a very valuable addition to the family of WSR-related sites on the Internet and promises to bring us much more information about the goings-on at Williton where the DEPG are based. The site is stuffed out with technical details of the various items of motive power along with a super gallery section showing off these beasts in glorious colour. 27 January 2003 Details from DEPG	DEPG web site
Trevor gets his log... On Sunday 12 January Trevor Barnett at the helm of D7523 transported brash from the Cutting Back Gang's efforts in the cutting just down from Watchet Station out to Doniford for burning, where the smoke from the fire would not upset the local residents. On one of several trips he spotted a saleable log among the brash and admonished the bonfire crew to make sure it was saved for return to the log pile at Watchet. So, on his next trip he was presented formally with 'his' log - the picture shows Janet Dixon making the presentation. 27 January 2003 Details from local correspondent	Janet Dixon and Trevor Barnett © Lumberjack
John Madeley Kevin Weston writes: "At 7am on Friday last, John Madeley, my predecessor as Signal Engineer for the WSR, died. His funeral will be at North Curry Parish Church on Friday 24 January at 2.30pm with a burial in the churchyard." "John came to the WSR around 1988 after taking early retirement from BR. Since John Jenkins left in 1983, the work of the WSR S&T was seen by many as something that was not that important but it was tolerated. As a professional signal engineer, John Madeley gave the S&T the credibility that it had been lost since 1983. His first project was Minehead signal box in 1990, together with the associated works for Seaward Way crossing in 1992. This proved to be a turning point for signalling on the railway as it was then seen that signalling on the WSR was a requirement if the railway was to expand. This was followed with Crowcombe in 1994. I came to the WSR in 1996 as Maintenance Engineer and I took over from John as head of department in 1997. We continued with the opening of Bishops Lydeard in 1998, John carried on as our locking designer and tester for this project. His last major work for the railway was designing and testing the locking alterations at Williton for the new ground frame." "John was born in 1931 and he started to work for BR(WR) S&T Department in 1948 (the story is that he was officially employed by the GWR during 1947 but that he did not start work until 2 January). I am not sure if this is true but I have no reason to doubt it. He rose through various grades in the drawing office at Reading, becoming a Section Leader (New Works) in 1971. His greatest challenge was the relocking of Shrewsbury Severn Bridge Junction (180 levers) in the 1960's. The then moved to the Bristol office as a Principal Technical Officer, where his work was the day to day maintenance and alterations to lever frames in the west of England area. He was also involved in running courses on design and testing of locking." "I had worked with John on a number of occasions on BR. During my time on installation and maintenance, I assisted with John's testing of several lever frames where alterations had taken place. The first I can remember is the alterations to Yeovil Junction (about 1980) where I first observed how John was able to go through the frame without seeming to think about it. I was also able to assist him when he carried out a maintenance test on Westbury North (99 levers), there was no panic about him and he was able to fit in between trains and use some of the train movements to perform tests. His manner of testing frames had not changed when he came to the WSR." "Since his retirement, he continued to carry out consultancy work, his last was as part of the team here at DEG designing the new signalling for the Belfast to Bangor line." "His non-railway activities included playing the organ at various local churches." "He was a true railwayman and I know that he will be sadly missed by all those who knew him." 23 January 2003 Report by local correspondent
Busy day for the FOMS team... A very busy day on 15 January 2003 for the FOMS work party, finishing off the Blue Anchor platform barrow ready for delivery, and a start made on decorating the Managing Director's office. Meantime, paint was stripped from a twelve drawer GWR ticket cabinet which we were kindly given by the Friends of Kidderminster Town Station (SVR) who had salvaged it from Birmingham Moor Street. This will be put into use in Minehead Booking Office by the time the annual ticket supply arrives from Dunster next month, thereby relieving the pressure on the existing drawer space which we have outgrown with the explosion in passenger numbers in recent years. The picture on the right shows Doug Carter, Fred Bland, Gordon Harris and Ken Mardell (from left to right) hard at work in the FOMS workshop preparing the cabinet for painting. The Kidderminster lads say that the correct finish is 'brown scumble' so we are going to have a go at getting it right! We haven't found any markings on the woodwork but the hinges are stamped GWR. 15 January 2003 Report from FOMS	FOMS at work © Alan Grieve
News about "Braunton" The January OnLine reports: "December 23rd was the third anniversary of the arrival of the boiler at Roger Pridhams in 1999! Hopefully we shall see it back at Williton during the first half of 2003 when we shall be able to make a start on fitting all the cab controls and associated pipework. Meantime work continues on the chassis - the lubrication pipework is virtually finished at long last, thanks to the dedication and patience of Jack Randle aided and abetted by Pete Wootten. Parts for the mechanical lubricators and drive linkages are progressing steadily, preliminary checks have been made for alignment of the slide bars, and all the main parts for the fabrication of the tender frame stretchers and dragboxes have been delivered..." 9 January 2003 Details from WSR OnLine	Braunton needs your support...
Pannier Tank is home The WSRA-owned ex-GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412 arrived back at Bishops Lydeard at about 2.15pm on Tuesday 31 December - it had travelled from the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway at Toddington in light steam to allow the loco to run to Williton on the same day. No 6412 departed Lydeard at around 5.15pm with coaches "Aries" and "Phoenix" from the "Quantock Belle" set - also needing attention at Williton Works before the new season. The WSRA plan to have no 6412 available for WSR use by 14 February. 2 January 2003 Details from WSRA	No 6412 in 1976 © Roger Bailey
Gala guest engines Reports on the WSRA web site suggest that verbal approval has been received from the Severn Valley Railway for a first time visit by one of its two GWR 57xx 0-6-0 pannier tanks – either no 5764 or no 7714. On the cards too is the possible return of three engines – GWR ‘Large Prairie’ no 4141 (from Llangollen), GWR ‘Small Prairie’ no 5553 (Waterman Railways Trust) and the Ivatt ‘Mickey Mouse’ 2-6-2T no 41312 (from the Mid-Hants line). Also being targeted is the Drummond M7 0-4-4T no 30053, which is expected to return to steam after overhaul on the Swanage Railway early in 2003. All being well, this will be the first time that an M7 has been seen on the Minehead branch. More on the SPRING STEAM GALA. 2 January 2003 Figures from WSRA web site
Record broken yet again... When the last trains ran on 31 December, the Railway had carried 172,457 in 2002, thus setting yet another new record! This is an excellent reward for all those who have given time and money to help the Railway in a thousand different ways since reopening in 1976. The Railway has lost several long-serving people to the great waiting room in the sky in the last year or two, and I believe our lost friends will be looking down with broad smiles on the success of their "baby", now at the very top of the heritage railway league. 1 January 2003 Figures from WSR OnLine	A record year
Bargain Gala Rover Tickets now available... Until end of January 2003, early birds can get a useful discount on Rover Tickets for the 2003 Spring Steam Gala which is held on 28-30 March 2003. A booking form is available on this web site on the SPRING STEAM GALA 2003 page. But you MUST be quick as this discount is available during January... 1 January 2003 Details from WSR Plc
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