WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Newsletter no 29


From the Archive - Newsletter no 29


• Newsletter no 79 dated January 1976

The following is from Newsletter no 79 dated January 1976. Ray Rolt was the editor at the time...

EDITORIAL

STEAM ON THE LINE - AT LAST!

On Sunday, 21st December a "Directors' Special" made a return trip from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back, as some members will have already read in the local papers or seen on national T.V. A full account of the trip is given elsewhere in this Newsletter. It must be about twelve years since steam was last seen on the line. Victor's "chime whistle" must have surprised a lot of people living along the route! More like the "Canadian Pacific" than the Minehead Line!!

As mentioned in the last Newsletter, a limited amount of work was to be undertaken at Bishops Lydeard to enable 'Victor' to be stored in the Goods Shed. At short notice, due to the anticipated arrival of the S. & D. train from Radstock (bound for Williton), the Company decided to arrange for the Directors to travel in the 'brake van' to Minehead, along with a local M.P. and other officials, including Association Committee Members. As this train did not arrive, a B.R. 'brake van' was hired for the occasion. As soon as the coaches are moved onto the line it is hoped to run an 'Association Special' over at least part, if not all, of the line for the benefit of all our members! This will be duly announced in the Newsletter, possibly a 'Stop Press' item, and should give an added incentive to read them from front to back!

Though a 'Directors' Special', this was very much an Association occasion, with 'Victor' owned by a member (on loan to the Company) and restored by members, the track prepared by members, the train crewed by members, and the crossings manned by members, all working under the overall supervision of David Butcher, the General Manager. Our thanks to all the members who contributed to its success.

Unfortunately, as you will see in our Secretary's report, the Company A.G.M. has been deferred, to enable details of the Public Share Issue to be finalised for approval. However, Working Parties are being resumed, which in the main will be concentrated at Bishops Lydeard until confirmation of the outstanding points has been received from the Company, together with a directive on future works. Work will consist mainly of converting the Goods Shed into a workshop and the erection of a 24' x 48' Nissan Hut, generously donated by Govier Properties Ltd., extending the end of the goods shed nearest the station building to provide temporary, much needed, additional covered accommodation. Ultimately, it is proposed to screen this on the platform side with notice boards, for displaying posters of other private lines, as well as our own.

Steve Martin, a member living at Minehead who has been a regular participant in various Association activities, including working parties, is now a Committee Member representing the Minehead Area. He hopes to arrange a meeting at the 'Woodbridge Hotel', Minehead (run by two of our members) later this year. The Committee is now one short of being at full strength. This vacancy is reserved for our Chairman when he is appointed.

Finally, we would like to wish Harry Lee, our Mechanical Engineer, every success in his new job as 'Locomotive Superintendent' of the W.S.R. (as from 1st January, 1976). He intends to continue his present links with the Association.

NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS

In the short term, as mentioned in the Editorial, work will generally be concentrated at Bishops Lydeard for most Departments. This is likely to apply in the long term as well in the Mechanical Dept. and also the P.W. Dept., as any 'Works Trains' will normally start from there.

Mechanical (Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon)

There is no firm programme at present with regard to rolling stock as work will concentrate on establishing the workshop facilities at Bishops Lydeard. Work will normally be in progress on Saturdays and Sundays. Harry Lee

Permanent Way

Working parties are starting again from 1st January, 1976. Certain procedures are being organised differently, and the first to come into operation is the assembly point for volunteers who come to P.W. working parties. PLEASE NOTE: Assemble at Bishops Lydeard Station 9.15 a.m. for all future working parties. A prompt start is essential, especially when 'works trains' are operational. For those unable to make it in time, it is hoped to display a notice in a prominent position giving details of the location of the working party on the line. Graham Harwood

Signals & Telegraph Department

The new year sees the re introduction of full scale working parties. We can provide plenty of work for anybody who can use a paintbrush and has a head for heights - in other words, to stop our signal posts at Blue Anchor rusting away, it is necessary to clean off the rust patches and repaint them. It is hoped to install a new gate wheel in the box at Blue Anchor before long and then we will be able to use the gates properly. However, before long the gates will need the attention of a carpenter, and any offers in this connection will be gratefully received. Working parties will be taking place somewhere on the Minehead to Blue Anchor section on most weekends from now on, so if you are able to lend a hand, just contact me and I will be able to let you have further details. S.A.E. please. Nick Jones

Membership Report

Total membership at the end of 1975 stood at 482, including 10 life members and 13 gift members. Your 1976 Subscription is DUE THIS MONTH. We do not want to include you in our 'Black List' next month, so please send right away to G. Hitchcock [address removed] No Newsletters will be sent after March to those not renewing! Your membership card will be sent with the following month's Newsletter, unless an S.A.E. is included with your renewal.

HON. SECRETARY'S REPORT

Progress in our relationship with the Company continues to improve steadily, thanks to better communication. Soon after my last report, I was pleased to receive a letter from the company Chairman confirming that: (a) the WSRA is the official voluntary support body to the Company and will co-ordinate voluntary support from all other groups accommodated on the line; (b) the Company will first of all look to the Stock Fund to satisfy requirements regarding rolling stock, etc., at a realistic price to be negotiated, before looking elsewhere.

The legal document regarding our use of Bishops Lydeard Station is in preparation and will be ready shortly. Progress on the Honorary Directorship will be made when the AGM takes place. You will read elsewhere of the success of the "Directors' Inspection Train" but may I thank most sincerely those who manned crossings. It may have appeared a somewhat pointless exercise as the train stopped at each crossing, but safety was of paramount importance, Many thanks, too, to the 'workers' who finished the siding to the goods shed while some of us were trying to look 'important'.

I would like to apologise for the non-appearance of the 1976 Programme Cards with the last Newsletter. We have had difficulties over finding a sufficiently large venue at an economic rate. We considered the problem solved, and our printers (Penpaul Press of Falmouth) supplied the cards at short notice in time for distribution, but due to a last-minute hitch, they had to be held back. We are now unable to use the venue noted on the cards, so in the meantime, we will continue to use the 'Crown and Sceptre' Hotel, Station Road, Taunton until further notice. Would you please amend your card accordingly.

OUR FIRST TRAIN - by Nick Jones

Well, we made it at last. Sunday 21st December, 1975 will be remembered by all who have any connection with the Taunton to Minehead line as the day on which we ran our first train. The day was so full of separate 'moments in history' that it is difficult to decide which was the most important. So here is an account of what happened.

At about 2330 on Saturday, 20th December, 1975, our small train - consisting of 0-6-0ST Loco 'Victor', Stores Vehicle 150346 and a Brake Van - was propelled across the 165Ľ m.p. boundary at Norton Fitzwarren, by a Class 09 BR Loco. Here, on a summer-like night the engine was prepared. At exactly 0200 on Sunday, 21st December, the fire in Victor was lit, and the West Somerset Railway 'Steam in Action' story began.

Harry Lee was driver of the day, and he watched over 'Ada' with a loving and proud eye as she was warmed through and steam was gradually raised.

By about 0720, there was enough steam pressure showing to power a movement, and Harry had finished oiling around the engine, so it was all aboard for the 0726 departure for Bishops Lydeard.

On arrival at Lydeard, it was considered necessary to make a trial run with the engine to test the lubrication, so the early morning volunteers, who had turned up expecting nothing more than a hard day's slog to finish the siding into the goods shed, were able to enjoy the special treat of a ride to Williton and back on the 0820 special train from Bishops Lydeard. However, before this run was made, the engine had to be filled up with water from a road tanker kindly lent for the day by E.G. Martin Ltd., Oil Distributors of Westbury (Wiltshire), and driven down to the line by David Butcher, the new company G.M. Steady progress was made on this trial run, and the early hour meant that not too many people were out to watch us, but we nevertheless surprised one or two early risers and some of the animals in lineside fields.

After reforming the train at Williton, we returned to Bishops Lydeard, where the Press (in force), Company Directors, Tom King M.P., Association Members and members of the Public awaited us. It was at this time that yours truly received his big surprise of the day. The trial run - although successful from the lubrication point, of view had shown that Victor was using more water than had been anticipated. This meant that Mr. Butcher would have to leave his job as Guard, and take the road tanker to Williton, to water the engine during the journey. I found myself appointed guard.

Again, we reformed the train, after which the special guests boarded and Roy Hartell took over the Fireman's job from Cedric Dunmall. At 1132 we set off for Minehead. A brief photographic stop was made at Crowcombe, and we were soon under way again.

It would have been pleasant to have been able to steam across the level crossings along the line, but the regulations in these cases require that it is ascertained by the Guard or Shunter that the crossing is clear before the rail movement is permitted to continue. However, I would like to thank all those people who so willingly turned out to help at the level crossings. Their efforts helped greatly in the smooth progress of the train.

To get back to the trip, we took water at Williton, and were soon heading onwards to Minehead. It seemed that each successive station along the line produced a larger crowd, and it was impossible not to be moved by the size of the cheering body of people that greeted our arrival at Minehead. It was estimated that 2,000 people had turned out.

Whilst the guests had lunch at the Beach Hotel, we reformed the train and awaited their return.

To start the return trip, Tom King M.P. gave the 'right away' signal, and we were off at 1525. Everything went perfectly during this return trip - after all, we were gaining experience and the engine was entering into the spirit of the occasion, especially during the ascent of Washford bank, when we were entertained by suitable sound effects.

On arrival at Bishops Lydeard, we said farewell to the guests and shunted the Stores Van out of the train. We then propelled the Brake Van back to Norton Fitzwarren, so that it could be collected by British Rail, returned to Lydeard, and put the engine away in the shed.

To see Victor traverse the siding (which had been completed by Association Members only minutes before) was a great moment for all concerned, particularly so because the work of reinstating the siding had commenced only three weekends before.

Sunday, 21st December, 1975 was a very successful day from the Association's point of view and to all those concerned, the Committee would like to say 'Thank you, you served the railway well'.

OTHER NEWS

The latest news is that the "Somerset and Dorset' train from Radstock should arrive on the line on or about Wednesday, 7th January, so all being well it should be on the line by the time you read this Newsletter. It consists of the 2-8-0 53808, two coaches and restored GWR 'Toad' Brakevan (vacuum fitted) and will be hauled by 'Victor' to Williton for temporary storage.

If anyone would like membership details of the 'S & D Railway Circle', these are available from the Hon. Secretary (Mike Palmer) [address removed] in return for an S.A.E. Association members are Welcome at their meetings.