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|  Somerset in Autumn 2007 - update
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• The WSR Plc have issued the following press release...
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An impressive array of steam and heritage diesel locomotives will be in action at the next special event on the West Somerset Railway – the ‘Somerset in Autumn’ gala on Saturday-Sunday 27-28 October 2007.
The gala, which is deliberately timed to coincide with the school half term holiday, provides the opportunity for the Railway to showcase its own fleet of locomotives, which will be working a very full timetable of trains over the two days. No less than thirteen locomotives are expected to be in action over the course of the event.
This year, the WSR is also taking the opportunity to use three visiting locomotives that have remained on the line following the recent successful Autumn Steam Gala – LMS 2-6-0 No 42968 from the Severn Valley Railway, GWR 0-4-2T No 1450 and the diminutive LB&SCR ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T No 662 Martello from the Bressingham Steam Museum.
Steam engines in action from the resident fleet will be S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No 88, LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44422, GWR 2-8-0 No 3850, the WSR’s own Great Western ‘Mogul’ No 9351 and a pair of GWR ‘prairie tanks’, Nos 4160 and 5553.
Completing the line-up will be an excellent quartet of heritage diesels under the care of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group at Williton – Class 47 No D1661 North Star, Class 33 No D6566, Class 25 No D7523 and Class 14 No D9526.
A full timetable of trains will be in operation on both days of the event, with passenger services running between 09:10 and 18:30 each day. Services will be worked by a varied mix of steam and heritage diesel, and there will be many opportunities for visitors to “swap trains” at the intermediate crossing places at Blue Anchor, Williton and Crowcombe Heathfield in order to sample travel behind a range of locomotives in action each day.
As well as the “whole line” trains operating between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, the timetable will also feature the Great Western auto train hauled by No 1450, a typical branch line train
Full bar and buffet facilities will be available on most train services during the weekend, serving a good range of high quality hot and cold food, tea and coffee, and a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks – including real ale.
A variety of other attractions are planned for visitors attending the ‘Somerset in Autumn’ gala. The Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard, Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust museum at Washford and Blue Anchor Railway Museum will all be open, as will the Taunton Model Railway Group’s base at Bishops Lydeard, which features the excellent Bath Green Park layout. For those with an interest in more modern traction, the excellent Diesel Heritage Centre at Williton will also be open.
A special free bus service will operate linking Taunton Railway Station, the Park and Ride Car Park at Silk Mill – where plenty of car parking is available – and Bishops Lydeard Station, running every thirty minutes on both days, starting at 09:30 from Taunton station. The last return bus will connect with the final train arrival at Bishops Lydeard.
A special steam-hauled evening train will run on Saturday 27 October. This will depart at 18:45 from Minehead, returning at 20:30 from Bishops Lydeard, stopping at Blue Anchor, Washford, Watchet and Williton in both directions to pick-up/set down as required. This train will be hauled by the unique Stanier Mogul, No 42968. Travel on this train is free to holders of a Saturday or Weekend Rover Ticket. A full bar and buffet will be available throughout the journey. In addition, there will be the option of enjoying a Fish & Chip Supper at a cost of £7.00 per person, served on the outward journey, though this must be booked and paid for in advance.
For this particular event, the complete working timetables (which include the loco and coaching stock diagrams) will be posted on the various West Somerset Railway websites in advance of the event.
Undoubtedly the best way to enjoy the ‘Somerset in Autumn’ gala is to purchase a Rover Ticket, which gives complete freedom to travel on the line for the validity of the ticket. Discounted prices apply for all ‘Rovers’ purchased in advance of the event (before 22 October) – Adult tickets, for example, cost £17 and £26 for one and two days respectively. Tickets can be purchased by telephone from Minehead Station and through www.ticketweb.co.uk, using a Credit/Debit Card.
“Our late October gala event again promises ‘lots of trains and lots of locos’ working through the beautiful autumn colours of the West Somerset countryside”, comments Richard Jones, the Chairman of the WSR Special Events Planning Team. “This year we have decided to increase the steam mileage a little to enable us to maximise the opportunity of using the three visiting engines, but modern traction enthusiasts can rest assured that at next year’s event there will be more diesel mileage on offer! Above all we promise a feast of railway action over the weekend, with something we hope for everyone.”
West Somerset Railway Plc
18 October 2007
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This page is not from the official West Somerset Railway website
© Stephen Edge
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