The West Somerset Railway on the Web

 This was the WSR News - July to September 2003

For more news from April to June 2003 click here   To go back to the main News page click here

Special Events in 2004... The WSR has now fixed its programme of special events for 2004... 25-28 March Spring Steam Gala on a Cambrian Railway theme 7-9 May Diesel Gala featuring visiting locomotives 3-4 July Days Out With Thomas 7-8 August Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally at Bishops Lydeard 13-14 August Diesel Gala featuring home-based locomotives 11-12 September CAMRA Real Ale Festival at Minehead Station 1-3 October Autumn Steam Gala 23-24 October Grand Trains Extravaganza - Steam & Diesel Weekend 3-4 December Dunster by Candlelight 29 December Winter Steam Festival A special, enhanced timetable will be in operation at most of these events. Full details of each event will be published on this website in due course. 26 September 2003  Details from WSRA	In high summer...  ...and deepest winter
Wagons in the news... The WSRA website reports, "The Railway has purchased a further 'Dogfish' wagon, a 24.5tonne example, no 983909, for permanent way use. A few minor repairs are required before the wagon enters full service. It is hoped to repaint the line’s fleet of five ballast hoppers in matt black over the coming close season - all we need now is a BR 'Shark' brake van to go with them. Meanwhile, the restoration of 813 Fund-owned GW ballast wagon no 80669 has been completed to a very high standard, and the wagon will make its public debut on the demonstration goods train at the Autumn Steam Gala, together with the D&EPG’s bauxite-liveried 'Vanfit' No B784676." 26 September 2003  Details from WSRA	No 80669 at Minehead  © Alan Grieve
The Exmoor Express A comprehensive excursion which starts from London Paddington at around 7.25am, diesel-hauled to Bishops Lydeard, where a WSR steam engine takes over for the last twenty miles to Minehead. After a couple of hours by the Somerset seaside, the train leaves Minehead at 1.50pm, headed by GWR 4-6-0 no 4936 "Kinlet Hall" and piloted as far as Bishops Lydeard by a WSR steam engine. The "Hall" then heads north via Bristol to Gloucester, where a diesel locomotive takes over for the run back to London. · For details, visit the web site of Past-Time Rail at http://www.past-timerail.co.uk/exmoor%20express.htm. 17 September 2003  Details from local correspondent	Kinlet Hall  © Stephen Edge
New WSR web site... WSR volunteer guard Jon Tooke has created a new web site at www.wizzer.me.uk. The site is nicely arranged by theme - steam, diesel and so on - for the display of Jon's photos of the Railway, some taken during his very regular volunteering turns. Jon often manages to photograph the Railway's less usual angles and the results are well worth a look. Be sure to return for regular updates, as his excellent web site is not static by any means... 14 September 2003  Details from Jon Tooke	www.wizzer.me.uk  © Jon Tooke
Virtual WSR is nearly there... New images from the new train simulation program can be seen at the RAILWAVES.COM web site. Progress with this extremely detailed and professionally designed product - which will run on Microsoft's TrainSim software - is nearing completion. The basic scenery is now in place along the whole 23 miles of track from Norton Fitzwarren Junction to Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. If you have any queries or suggestions regarding the route, or comments about the screenshots, please send an e-mail to wsrproject@railwaves.com - Railwaves welcome feedback... I understand that even my treasured walnut tree at East Combe is featured! 14 September 2003  Details from Railwaves	Cab view  © Railwaves
Best kept stations... Crowcombe Heathfield and Dunster are joint winners of this year’s Best Kept Station Award. Bishops Lydeard was runner-up with Watchet being Most-Improved, Stogumber the Most Attractive Garden and Minehead Best Floral Displays. 8 September 2003  Details from WSR Plc	Crowcombe Heathfield  © Stephen Edge
Steam auto-train... The WSRA's web site reports that "...the main highlight of the Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala – which, for the first time, is being held on the first weekend in October, in what will now become its regular future ‘slot’ – will be the recreation of the Great Western auto train. This proved extremely popular at the 1996 Autumn Gala, when 14xx 0-4-2T no 1450 was used. This time, ex-GWR auto trailer no 178 – built at Swindon in 1930 and now owned by Mike Little, having recently undergone an extensive overhaul – will be hauled in ‘full auto mode’ by both 0-6-0PT no 6412 and 2-6-2T no 5542 over the course of the event. Both engines are being fitted with the necessary ‘auto gear’ at the bunker end in time for the event. This will rekindle memories of West Country branch lines in times gone by." 18 August 2003  Details from WSRA web site	No 6412 will operate the auto-train  © Roger Bailey
WSRA Taunton Area Group meeting... The WSRA's Taunton Area Group meetings are normally held on the first Monday of the month at the Great Western Staff Association Club (at the north east corner of Taunton station) – starting at 7.45pm. On 6 October, Karl Jauncey and Dave Richards will entertain with "“Main Line Steam” - a PSOV video presentation. For full details of Taunton Area Group meetings please contact Peter Darke - telephone 01984 656222 or fax 01984 656747 or email peter.darke@virgin.net. 26 September 2003  Details from WSRA
No 5542 for Night Shoot Photographic Evening Local locomotive, GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 has been confirmed as the star performer at the "Night Shoot" photographic evening at Dunster Station on 4 October 2003. This event is part of the Autumn Steam Gala Weekend. Approximate times are 7pm to 10pm and admission to the platform will be £6.50 per person. For more details of the Gala, please CLICK HERE... 17 September 2003  Details from 5542 Ltd	No 5542  © Stephen Edge
No 1369 to appear at the Gala... Agreement has been reached with the South Devon Railway for the small pannier to haul goods wagons only. It will be working at the Minehead end of the line and will face Bishops Lydeard. The outside-cylindered ex-GWR pannier has visited the Railway before - in 2000 during the 21st Anniversary Event which celebrated the opening to Bishops Lydeard in 1979. 25 September 2003  Details from WSR Plc	No 1369 on an earlier visit  © David Randles
It was twenty eight years ago... A significant anniversary in resident locomotive no 5542’s history is looming. On Thursday 25 September 1975, ex-GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 was unloaded from a low loader at Bishops Lydeard after the trip from Barry Scrapyard. Sister locomotives also arrived on the line around that time - no 4561 on the previous Tuesday and no 5521 on the following Sunday. The purchase price of each loco was £3,800 +VAT. The WSRA Newsletter of the time reported "...whilst 5542 looks rather a sorry sight, with final restoration a long term project, 4561 and 5521 make a brave show in their ‘Brunswick Green’ livery, with black smokebox and chimney and Red buffer beams, set off with the Gold WSR emblem on the side tanks and replica ‘Brass’ numberplates (now removed for safety!).". Nos 4561 and 5542 have, of course, been rebuilt to full working order, thanks to the dedication of just a small army of restorers. Work on no 5521 continues at the Flour Mill works in the Forest Of Dean. 21 September 2003  Details from 5542 Ltd and local correspondent	No 5542 in rust in the late 1970s  © Stephen Edge
No 5553 arrives for Gala... Guest locomotive, GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 has been sighted standing in the loco compound at Bishops Lydeard (see photo on the right). The engine is one of several guests booked for the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala on 2-5 October 2003. Regular WSR observers will note the loco faces Minehead this time - no doubt delighting photographers... For more details of the Gala, please CLICK HERE... 21 September 2003  Details from local correspondent	No 5553  © Jon Tooke
Washford Steam Open Day This event - arranged and run by the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust - will be held at the Trust's base at Washford Station on Sunday 28 September 2003 between 10am and 5 pm. A survivor from the days of the Somerset Coalfields, no 1788 0-4-0ST "Kilmersdon", built in Bristol by Peckett, will be in steam, with shunting displays every hour on the hour... In contrast, the much-larger main line steam engine, the ex-British Railways 4-6-0 no 7820 "Dinmore Manor" - one of the resident WSR locos - will be on display in light steam. A narrow-gauge peat works engine and truck will be operating giving a visual reminder of the once very busy industrial railway systems on the peat moors of Somerset. The excellent Somerset & Dorset Railway Museum will be open, along with the signalbox and shed. And a special one-day sale of railway books videos and other items all with 20% (or more!) off marked prices... · Visit www.sdrt.org.uk for more details... 17 September 2003  Details from Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust	Kilmersdon  © Tom Hall
Cutting back continues at Roebuck... During the weekend of 13-14 September, the Association's Cutting Back Gang were out in force at Roebuck Gate and several large sycamores fell victim to the chain saws .Such is the dedication of the gang who eschewed the temptations afforded by the CAMRA Festival at Minehead! Although the essential lineside clearance work continues throughout the year the main activity is from autumn through to spring - because there is less disturbance to wildlife, less disturbance by passing trains and more volunteers are available as there are fewer trains, signal boxes, stations and so on to be staffed. The dates of the monthly work parties can be found on this web site, the WSRA web site, the internal newsletter OnLine and the WSRA's Journal. Full details can be obtained from Keith Sandford, WSRA Administrator on 01823 433856 or email WSRA@btconnect.com. Keith is a member of the gang during his spare time! A representative of the gang will be in attendance at the next New Volunteer Day starting at 11.00 am at Bishops Lydeard Station on Sunday 12 October. 14 September 2003  Details from local correspondent	The Cutting Back Gang at work  © Lumber Jack
A message to our valued contributors... Due to various crashes of the computer - which has finally died despite any quantity of sticky plaster, rebuilds, bribery, transplants, brain replacement - I am aware of several contributions of text and images that, whilst making it to the hard disk, then failed to be backed up. Therefore, if you feel I have overlooked your contribution, please resend. I hope the present machine behaves itself for the foreseeable future... 14 September 2003  Details from www.wsr.org.uk
Filming at Williton... WSRA web site reports "BBC Television spent the day at Williton station on Friday 29 August filming scenes for an adaptation of Anthony Trollope’s "He Knew What He Wanted", which will be screened on the BBC next April. Stars of the drama include John Alderton, Joanna David, Geraldine James, James Bolam, Geoffrey Palmer and Bill Nighy. Most of the filming was done on the Down platform and in the area around the North Yard, with the scene doubling-up as the Somerset & Dorset and somewhere in the Alps...thanks to the to-be-added computer graphics. Set in the 1860s, a rake of three vintage coaches were hired from the Vintage Carriages Trust (based at Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway) for the filming, which were moved to Bishops Lydeard by road and then transported to/from Williton by a Class 33! No 7820 Dinmore Manor – suitably disguised – was also provided for the filming." "WSR train services operated normally during the day – filming breaks being taken whilst trains crossed at Williton – though the two Minehead-Williton dmu services were terminated at Watchet." Also reported was the renaming of Williton to "Lessborough" for the day... 9 September 2003  Details from WSRA and local correspondents	Vintage coaches at Williton  © Jon Tooke
Two more guest GWR locos for Gala... Two ex-GWR tank engines – 0-6-2T no 5637 and 2-6-2T no 5553 – will both star at the Autumn Steam Gala on 2-5 October. No 5637– which is making its first visit to the WSR and is believed to be the first of that wheel arrangement to run on the current WSR – appears courtesy of the East Somerset and Swindon & Cricklade Railways – whilst no 5553, a member of the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust fleet, will be making a second visit to the line. It is also hoped these will be joined by a third Great Western tank engine, negotiations for which are currently in progress. 21 August 2003  Details from WSRA	No 5553 is returning to WSR  © Stephen Edge
Auto-train adds more interest to Gala... The main highlight of the Autumn Steam Gala will be the recreation of the Great Western auto train. This proved extremely popular at the 1996 Autumn Gala, when 14xx 0-4-2T no 1450 was used. This time, ex-GWR auto trailer no 178 – built at Swindon in 1930 and now owned by Mike Little, having recently undergone an extensive overhaul – will be hauled in full auto mode with both 0-6-0PT no 6412 and 2-6-2T no 5542 at different times over the course of the event. Both engines are being fitted with the necessary auto gear at the bunker end in time for the event. This will rekindle memories of West Country branch lines in times gone by. 20 August 2003  Details from WSRA	Auto-trailer no 178  © James Faulker
Passenger figures running high... To the end of July, the Railway had carried a total of 96,992 passengers in the year to date, compared with 88,116 over the same period in 2002. 18 August 2003  Details from WSRA web site
Deltic now for December... Due to engineering work on the West Coast main line, the proposed visit of one of the popular English Electric ‘Deltic’ diesel locomotives, on a charter to Minehead, which was originally to run on 6 September, has been postponed to 30 December 18 August 2003  Details from WSRA web site
No 5542 to be auto-fitted... The owning group of GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 have agreed that the loco can be fitted with 'Auto Gear' for use with the visiting Auto Trailer at this years Autumn Gala. It is proposed that the equipment is fitted to the bunker end only at this stage. Details of the duration of the visit of the Auto Trailer are not known at this stage but hopefully some new and different travel and photo opportunities will be available. 1 August 2003  Details from 5542 Ltd	No 5542 which will be auto-fitted  © Stephen Edge
Quantock Belle Christmas Trains filling fast... Massive bookings made on the first day of the release of the Christmas programme of the WSRA's "Quantock Belle" dining train. Within ninety minutes the "Belle" for the "Dunster by Candlelight" event was sold out! And the three Christmas "Belles" are already 52% full... Seems quite a lot of people were waiting patiently for the green light... 19 August 2003  Details from WSRA	Happy diners aboard the Quantock Belle  © WSRA
Hot weather brings out the crowds... Sunshine and soaring temperatures brought record crowds to the 17th Annual Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally at the Station Fields, Bishops Lydeard. After a week of dismal weather the skies cleared and thousands of visitors were treated to scorching summer weather on both Saturday and Sunday. For more on this story, please click here. 19 August 2003  Details from WSRA	Horse Bus at the Rally  © Steve Huddy
Minehead Canopy This impressive structure is believed to have been installed at Minehead in 1934. However, the stanchions are of a design used by the GWR from 1890-99 and there are two types at Minehead. Some appear to have been used previously as centre supports, and are configured to take rainwater drain pipes, others have previously been used in the same type of construction. The PW team are presently excavating to the base of one of the stanchions and, at 5'6" below platform surface, the base has yet to be revealed... Comparing the photographs of Minehead with those from other locations, Minehead never had decorative beading on the end valances, nor on the eaves parallel to the platforms. The guttering is fixed by a non-standard method which has not offered protection from the weather resulting in rather severe and ugly corrosion. In a word it appears to have been done "on the cheap" The Railway now faces with rather interesting problem. Repair it as installed, or add the embellishments that were typical of the GWR practice elsewhere? Thanks to Adrian Vaughan for his help with the above... 31 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	Digging into history  © Alan Grieve
Ex-GWR Stables to go? In the corner of the old locomotive yard at Minehead, was a brick built stable, used to house the "railway" horse, and latterly, the delivery lorry. The stable now stands isolated from the remaining railway buildings and is used by the local boxing club. Can anyone provide any more on the history of this building and its various railway uses? The proposed construction of a new three-storey building for the West Somerset District Council may well spell the end for this surviving artefact of the old days. By the way, the horse provided the power for the local GWR parcels delivery cart. 28 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	Ex-GWR Stables at Minehead  © Alan Grieve
VIP makes a private visit... The Chairman of the Strategic Railway Authority, Richard Bowker, paid a private visit to the West Somerset Railway on Saturday 26 July. He joined the Directors for a special lunch to celebrate and thank Dennis Taylor's tenure as Chairman, and was given conducted visits along the line and to the workshops at Williton and Minehead, accompanied by Chris Austin and David Morgan (Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the West Somerset Railway plc). 28 July 2003  Details from local correspondent and WSR Plc	SRA Chairman visits WSR  © SRA and Mark Pike
E-auction raises tidy sum... WSR volunteer guard and regular contributor to this web site, Jon Tooke, has announced the results of the auction of a number of railway artefacts held to raise funds for the ex-GWR locomotive, no 5542, now in service on the Railway. The range of this equipment was vast with items ranging from as small as a wallet for ID cards up to full uniforms and waterproof clothing. First refusal was offered to members of the Railway, with many items being purchased, before the remainder was offered for auction on the E-Bay auction web site. Jon reports the tidy sum of £254.55 has been raised - a very creditable amount indeed. A cheque will be presented to Mr John Wood, Chairman of Locomotive 5542 Ltd during the Autumn Steam Gala in October. A full report is now available - please click here. 27 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	Some of the items  © Jon Tooke
Somerset Real Ale Festival... Once again, the Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival comes to Minehead Station. Over the weekend of 13-14 September, the festival will be featuring over 30 real ales and ciders, from award-winning local Somerset breweries such as Cotleigh, Cottage, Exmoor, Glastonbury, Moor and RCH. In addition to these will be a selection from around the British Isles, showcasing the incredible diversity in flavour and style produced by the expanding army of micro breweries. CAMRA plan to have a locally brewed festival special or two and feature beers from Somerset brewers, some of which can be difficult to find within the county. A weekend to look forward to! More... 22 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	No 5542 forms the 2003 logo
Additional service announced... Due to a large increase in demand, an additional service will operate between Bishops Lydeard and Williton to provide a connection with the 2.50pm Minehead to Williton service. These extra services will run on Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays during August commencing on Tuesday 12 August and also on Sun/Mon 24-25 August. Crompton diesel-electric no 33048 will haul a four coach rake departing Bishops Lydeard at 2.50pm and leaving Williton at 3.55pm for the run back to the southern terminus. 7 August 2003  Details from WSR Plc	No 33048 gets a regular run  © Matt Cambourne
New Bishops Lydeard arrival... A nice piece of news has winged this way. On Sunday 4 August Kevin Weston's partner, Jackie Quick was taken into maternity. At 6.50 pm she gave birth to a boy, weight 6 lbs 14 oz. The boy will be named Robin Leslie Frederick Weston. Jackie works on the Quantock Belle as one of the chefs. The previous evening, a steam traction engine rumbled down Mount Street in Bishops Lydeard - clearly breakout attempt from the Rally going on at the Station - and brought Kevin out with his camera and may have convinced young Robin that it was soon time to find out what all the noise was! 5 August 2003  Details from a delighted Kevin Weston	Just like the old days in Lydeard  © Kevin Weston
A right old Swindon bash in August... A two-day feast of diesel-hydraulic power on 8-9 August 2003. The successor to the old Great Western Railway, the Western Region, upheld the tradition of "doing things their way" at Swindon Works and constructed diesels with hydraulic transmission when everyone else built diesels using electric motors to transfer power to the wheels. The weekend will see three preserved examples of the Swindon products hard at work on an ex-GWR branch line. The full timetable is now available. Oh, and ex-GWR steam locos will also be in service! More... 24 June 2003  Details from local correspondent	Diesel Hydraulic to the fore  © Jon Tooke
Kinlet Hall arrives... GWR 4-6-0 no 4936 "Kinlet Hall" has arrived- via road haulage - at Bishops Lydeard for the summer season and will share the work with resident locos nos 5542 and 7820 and long-term visitors nos 5224 and 80136. Photographers may care to note that the loco faces Minehead. 23 July 2003  Details from local correspondents	No 4936 ready to leave Tyseley for WSR  © Martyn Bane
Hymek and Western working on same day... On Sat 26 July, both WSR-based examples of main-line diesel-hydraulic locos will be in service. "Western Campaigner", no D1010, gets the early turn, working the diagram normally handled by the DMU, only to hand over to 'Hymek' no D7017 at Williton in the mid-afternoon. D7017 also heads the 6.50pm from Bishops Lydeard, the "Fish and Chip Special". 22 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	No D1010 at Minehead
Long day ahead... The Railway is bracing itself for a very long operating day on Saturday 26 July. Although built around the standard "green" timetable, several special workings will add considerable interest. First, the "Western" D1010 will depart Williton at 8.40am light engine to Bishops Lydeard where it will work the DMU diagram before handing over to the 'Hymek' D7017 [see above story]. The evening will see no less than three dining trains out on the line - the steam-hauled "Coastal Belle" (7.15pm ex-Minehead) and "Quantock Belle" (7.15pm ex-Bishops Lydeard), and the 'Hymek' hauled "Fish & Chip Special" (6.50pm from Bishops Lydeard). D7017 will be the last to shed, finally arriving back, light engine, at Williton at 11.40pm. 22 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	The Quantock Belle
"Kinlet Hall" is due next week... It seems the long-awaited arrival of "Kinlet Hall" is now scheduled for 22 or 23 July. The ex-GWR 4-6-0 is reported by the "Kinlet Hall" web site to be "at the West Somerset Railway from 23 July" and this expectation is confirmed by the Railway. No 4936 is making a return visit following a very successful spell on the Railway back in 2001 and is much needed for the very heavy high summer trains . 19 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	No 4936 ready to leave Tyseley for WSR  © Martyn Bane
Wagon progress at Washford... The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust's 7 Plank Mineral Wagon Project Team are making great strides. Everything under the wagon is now complete with the exception of the safety straps for the brake rods. The steel for the straps is on site and will be fabricated and fitted over the next few weeks. The Team will finish fitting the planking and make up the end and side doors over the next few months and then before it can be painted they have all the small parts like 'Horse Hooks' to fit. The Team are looking for the spring plates for labels and hope someone can help... The Wagon Team is Peter Davis, Edward Lobjoit and Gerry Leyman. 18 July 2003  Details from Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust	Nearly there  © Gerry Leyman
No 5542 reaches 75... A special train to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the introduction to service of GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 will run on 13 September 2003. If you would like to travel on this celebration train at a fare of just £6.50 return, with big savings for group bookings, please EMAIL 5542 Ltd for further details. The train will depart Bishops Lydeard at about 12.45pm for Minehead, returning at about 6pm. Visit the CAMRA festival at Minehead Station and sample the ale brewed to celebrate 5542's return to steam, or visit the town for shopping or sightseeing. 19 June 2003  Details from 5542 Ltd	No 5542 at Williton  © Kevin Weston
Hot work at Roebuck... Regular correspondent, Lumber Jack, reports... "Hot work indeed for the "Cutting Back" gang of stalwart WSRA volunteers removing the jungle that was fast enveloping the inner edge of the line round Roebuck Curve during the weekend." "Seasoned observers of the gang’s usual efforts may comment on the less impressive than usual pile of logs at the lineside (awaiting collection for resale as firewood or building timber – the gang is self financing). The visible legacy of much sweated labour in 85° temperatures with high humidity unfortunately belies the effort and pain required to deal with a dense jungle of bramble intertwined in unsaleable elder – nice flowers, nice fruit, useless timber. And the apparent shadow in the accompanying photo is more indicative of ineptitude on the part of the photographer than it is of any solace from the blistering heat." 14 July 2003  Details from Lumber Jack	Roebuck Furnace  © Lumber Jack
More Signalling Gang works... The Railway's hard-working Signalling and Telegraph Gang have spend four days at Blue Anchor re-aligning the point rodding to the Minehead-end of the crossing loop. Kevin Weston, the Signal Engineer for the Railway, has kindly provided a report and pictures, giving us a fascinating insight into this often-unseen, but essential task. Click here to view the Report. 10 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	Works at Blue Anchor  © Kevin Weston
Chairman is interviewed on BBC Radio... Chris Austin, WSR Plc Chairman, was interviewed by Simon White of BBC Somerset Sound on 4 July about the proposed building of new District Council offices on land immediately adjacent to Minehead Station. Barrie Childs has very kindly provided a transcript of the interview. Click here for the full text. 9 July 2003  Details from local correspondent
Chairman's Report... Chris Austin addressed the shareholders of the WSR Plc on 28 June and praised the leadership of his predecessor, Dennis Taylor, and also expressed his concerns over the proposed Council developments adjacent to Minehead Station... "In his address to the AGM of the West Somerset Railway held at the Regal Theatre in Minehead on June 28th the new Company Chairman Chris Austin took the opportunity to look back on another successful year for the WSR..." For more on the Official Press Release, click here... 8 July 2003  Details from WSR Plc	Chris Austin (left) and Dennis Taylor
New web site for the Dinmore Manor Fund... There is now an excellent web site dedicated to the work of the Dinmore Manor Fund, owners of no 7820 which has worked very consistently for a number of years on the West Somerset. A visit to www.dinmoremanor.co.uk will reveal the progress on another GWR designed locomotive, no 3850 which is undergoing restoration in Minehead and Tyseley, Birmingham. 5 July 2003  Details from Dinmore Manor Fund	Dinmore Manor at Leigh Bridge  © John White
Conserving the railway and natural heritage.. Derek Head is working on the renovation of a third lineside hut. The other two huts are much the better in appearance to our passing passengers and also are now structurally sound. As some of you may know, I have a soft spot for swallows and I am delighted to learn from Derek that all his works are carried out with concern and sympathy for the families of these wonderful birds. So much so that swallows are continuing to nest in the all three huts. 5 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	Lineside hut  © Stephen Edge
Minehead Station Car Park to go... On the evening of 30 June, the West Somerset District Council agreed to locate their brand new "centralised" office on the site of the existing car park next to the main building at Minehead Station. The alternatives - keeping the existing offices at Williton and Minhead, or replacing the existing Williton site with a centralised office - were calculated as costing the local taxpayer more than the approved scheme. In a Press Release, the District Council suggest the development could lead to "...expansion of tourism facilities around the railway, which could include a turntable...". The text also states that "..worries about our new offices impinging on the railway’s plans for expansion are now shown to be unfounded...". Neither statement is qualified by fact in the press release. We have received a drawing, produced by the District Council, of the proposed development. Click here to view... 1 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	© Getmapping
Vintage Vehicle and Steam Fayre The West Somerset Railway Association’s Vintage Vehicle and Steam Fayre is now starting the “run in” for its 17th annual event, held on 2 and 3 August at Station Fields, Bishops Lydeard. With vehicles as varied as a 1915 Model T Tourer entered by a local owner from Bishops Lydeard to the precocious Morris Minor 100’s entered by drivers across the southwest there is something for the motor enthusiast to see. A sample of other interesting vehicles are a 1935 Alvis Silver Eagle, 1930 Morris Cowley flat nose and a rare 1931 BSA ‘V’ twin. A graceful 1958 Jaguar XK150 has also been entered into the classic car section of the rally. However ‘The Cat’ which returns to Bishops Lydeard will not be recreating the advertising blurb of the year (1958) 'You don’t say watch my dust, but watch my rubber as the tyres sing when you drive this speed Queen of the road' Another interesting vehicle in the line up is a 1952 Jowett Javelin saloon car. Made by Jowett Cars of Bradford between 1906 and 1954. The Javelin was powered by a 1486cc flat four watercooled engine with twin carburettors. There is still time to enter car exhibits for the rally. Details are available from Rob Lindley on 01823 433315 6 June 2003  Details from Norman Hawkes	A Star of the Rally    Fire Tenders at the Rally
The Black Pig sails north... Not the Captain Pugwash variety, but ex-GWR 2-8-0T no 5224 - affectionally known on the WSR as the "Black Pig" - has left Somerset by road for the Midlands. The loco will appear as one of many guest engines at Barrow Hill's "Great Western" event this weekend. Readers will be pleased to learn that the loco - a member of the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust fleet - will return to this Railway after the weekend. 11 July 2003  Details from WSRA web site	No 5224 at Watchet Bridge  © Stephen Edge
Hymek roars into action... Fans of the Maybach Music will be interested to note that "Hymek" no D7017 is rostered for the diesel schedules on 12-13 July starting with the 9.40am Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. The diesel-hydraulic also gets to head the evening Chippie from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back on Saturday 12 July. 9 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	Maybach Music
Ragwort... Ragwort seems to thrive on the lineside of the West Somerset Railway. Whilst the bright yellow flowers might seem attractive, the plant is said to be poisonous to animals including grazing livestock. At least one of our volunteers has been pulling ragwort from the lineside for a number of years and reports that the plant seems slightly less common this year. This important work will help stop the spread of Ragwort to neighbouring land where it could really create some problems. For more on Ragwort, visit "Ragwort - the Facts" from the Donkey Sanctuary, who know a thing or two about this. 9 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	The offending plant
A look back at the Sea Defence Works... The Environment Agency have looked back at the Minehead Sea Defence Works project of a few years back. The Railway, of course, played a major role providing the route for the stone trains hauled by English, Welsh, Scottish Railway locos from Mendip. In all around 100,000 tonnes were hauled down to Minehead on WSR metals. Click here for a link to the PDF from the Agency. 2 July 2003  Details from local correspondent	The new sea wall  © Environment Agency
Passenger figures doing very well... The Railway report "Up to the end of June we had carried 67472 passengers in the year to date compared with 63344 at the same stage of 2002. This leaves us some 6.5% up on a year on year comparison." 1 July 2003  Details from WSR Plc
More Class 56 loco hauled specials... Whilst details of two festive events have been finalised - the Carol Trains and Dunster-by-Candlelight Specials - the Railway have announced that Pathfinders Tours will be running two Class 56 diesel-hauled excursions to the Candlelight event on 5-6 December 2003. One excursion is scheduled to run to Dunster and Minehead from Cardiff and the other from Worcester. Update: On 2 July, we checked with Pathfinder Tours who could not confirm the above excursions. But watch this space... 1 July 2003  Details from WSR Plc	Previous class 56 hauled excursion  © Stephen Edge
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