From the WSRA Review Panel's Facebook page, "The Review Panel has been asked who can make written submissions and how we define 'interested parties'. The Review Panel takes the description at face value and attaches no special meaning to it. So the answer is literally anyone, or any organisation that is interested in the future of the WRSA and has something relevant to say or just simply wants to express a personal view. It cannot be stressed highly enough that it is via the written submissions that the Review Panel can have access to a full and wide range of views both from within and outside the WSRA." Email your written submission to wsrareview@gmail.com

30 July 2015
Details provided by the Review Team via Facebook

Try the steam hauled brake van rides on the Barnstaple Branch during the Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally at Norton Fitzwarren on 1 and 2 August 2015. The Taunton to Barnstaple line was a casualty of the Beeching Report and trains stopped running on the line in 1966. But in 2014 travelling on a short section became a reality when the small saddle tank steam locomotive Kilmersdon hauled two brake vans and gave visitors to the Rally the chance to once again travel along part of the former GWR branch line. And in 2015 Rally visitors have a further opportunity. The brake van ride is just £2 per adult and £1 per child. More about the Rally.

29 July 2015
Details provided by the Rally Committee

Enjoy a steam train ride from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead for a connecting coach link to this magical annual event in the medieval village of Dunster. There are two trains on Friday 4 December 2015 and three trains on Saturday 5 December 2015. A limited number of fish and chip meals are available on the 5.30pm departure from Bishops Lydeard on each evening which will be served to passengers at their seats after the train has set off. The fare includes the train rides to and from Minehead and the coach between Minehead Station and the event at Dunster. This is a very popular event so advanced booking is strongly recommended. Bookings for the trains can be made on line via www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

29 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Writing in the latest West Somerset Steam Railway Trust newsletter, Trustee John Jenkins explains "The Williton scheme will convert all the signal lamps to Light Emitting Diode (LED) units. There are many such units on the main line and failure/light degradation is almost unheard of, as well as power consumption being greatly reduced. The standard LED unit completely replaces the lamp case, but does not look particularly historic, so for signals in close public view at Williton the Trust has agreed to contribute to 'retro-fit' LED units (shown opposite) which will fit inside the traditional lampcase and not look out of place. When alight the LED unit will also directly operate the traditional signalbox repeater, as there is insufficient heat to operate a pyrometer." Our thanks to John Jenkins for permission to reproduce part of his article.

28 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

This very popular annual event will once again have as its centrepiece a display of formation aerobatic flying by the RAF Red Arrows team. This takes place at 2.30pm and other aerial excitement is provided by the Red Devils parachute team. There are craft and charity stalls, live music and entertainment throughout the day. The roads in the area are very busy indeed when this event is on and the West Somerset Railway will be operating a special timetable.

28 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Issue 4 of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust newsletter is now available. The feature article by one of the Trustees, John Jenkins, looks at the signalling heritage aspects of the Williton Loop project. Also included are reports on the AGM, progress with 6705 and emerging plans for Bishops Lydeard. To view the newsletter please click here or visit the Steam Trust website.

27 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

Watchet is holding its Summertime Festival with a fine programme of events in the old harbour town between 8 and 15 August 2015. Many events can be reached by using the West Somerset Railway trains. Watchet Station is in the heart of the town.

27 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

We have received the confirmed results from the WSRA AGM/EGM as follows...

Trustee elections
Ian Aldridge 824
Ian Coleby 1243
Nigel Adams 1295
Barrie Childs 1222
Paul Johnson 767
Rodney Greenway 691
David Randles 747

Other resolutions
Resolution 7 1104 216 197
Resolution 8 1178 99 248
Resolution 10 (i) 865 617 45
Resolution 10(ii) 649 829 58
(the three values are votes 'For' 'Against' 'Abstain')

26 July 2015
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Association

A reminder of the times of the train shuttle between Bishops Lydeard and the Rally. It is free to travel on this special shuttle service. The shuttle train stops at the platform adjacent to the Rally at Norton Fitzwarren. A three coach diesel mulitple unit (DMU) is used with plenty of room for passengers and pushchairs. The journey takes ten minutes.

The DMU leaves Bishops Lydeard Station for the platform at Norton Fitzwarren at 9.45am, 10.20am, 11am, 11.40am, 12.15pm, 1.50pm, 2.30pm, 3.05pm, 3.52pm and 4.45pm.

The DMU leaves the platform at Norton Fitzwarren for Bishops Lydeard at 10am, 10.40am, 11.15am, 11.55am, 1.25pm, 2.10pm, 2.45pm, 3.20pm, 4.10pm and 5.00pm.

Full details of the 2015 Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally

26 July 2015
Details provided by the The Rally Team

Reports from local correspondents suggest Ian Coleby and Ian Aldridge have been re-elected as a Trustees whilst Barrie Childs, Nigel Adams and Paul Johnson have been elected to the Trustee Board for the first time.

We also understand EGM Resolution 10i (the Trustees asking for a mandate from the membership to pursue the freehold of the West Somerset Railway) was carried and EGM Resolution 10ii (the member-led call to remove six of the Trustees) was lost.

25 July 2015
Details provided by local correspondents

Martyn Snell, Chairman of the Friends of Minehead Station, reports "Today many of the past and present volunteers who keep Readers Halt up and running met at Minehead Station where they presented a symbolic cheque to Paul Conibeare in the sum of £350,000, the amount raised and spent (or will be spent) on the infrastructure of Minehead Station This has been raised over the 17 years the Halt has been in business and I thank everyone who has helped on the Halt during this time and for the many folks who have given the items we have sold. Without both groups of people, Minehead Station would not look as is does today." Thanks also to John Simms of WSR Plc for help with this rather nice news.

24 July 2015
Details provided by the Friends of Minehead Station and West Somerset Railway Plc

The award winning Quantock Brewery is relocating to a home that is actually in the Quantocks and will be based in the Broad Gauge Business Park adjacent to Bishops Lydeard station. And the good news for WSR staff who enjoy good beer is by showing a staff identity card a 10% discount is on offer. Meanwhile on 15 August the brewery is holding an Open Day from 11am onwards. The full range of Quantock's beers will be on sale together with Harry's Cider and the Brewery Shop will be open. A BBQ will serve Quantock Ale Burgers, Quantock Stout and Stilton Sausages, Roasted Pork and Funky Chicken. Entertainment includes the West Somerset Morris Men, Birds of Prey Rescue Centre on display and "introducing Miss Siobhan McGonigle singing the Vintage Years". Click here for open day poster

24 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

For WSRA members who may be following recent events, we have received from Robin White a transcript of the judgement of HHJ Denyer on Whitehouse v West Somerset Railway Association and others at Bristol Civil Justice Centre on 21 July 2015. Robin adds "Paul Whitehouse is my client in this matter and he has asked me to make this transcript available publicly to anyone who wants it." Click here for transcript.

24 July 2015
Details provided by local correspondents

The West Somerset Railway will be running a coach link between Dunster Station and Dunster Steep Car Park on Wednesday 29 July, the date of the Dunster Country Fair. It is a short walk from the Steep to Dunster Show Ground and the car park is on the edge of the medieval village. Travel on the coach is free to West Somerset Railway passengers. Please note that this coach is separate from the one running in connection with the Dunster Castle Express on that date. The coach, from Ridlers of Dulverton, will leave Dunster Station at 10.30, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00 and 17.00 and the Steep at 11.00, 12.30. 13.30, 14.30, 15.30, 16.20 and 17.10.

24 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The Review Panel has received a number of requests to extend the deadline for written submissions. As the Review Panel regards these as very important and wishes to ensure that everyone has had reasonable time after notification to make their contribution, the final date for the receipt of submissions will now be Monday 10 August 2015. This should not affect the overall timetable for the review process. The Review Panel will be providing an update on progress made so far as part of the Association's Annual General Meeting on Saturday 25 July. A reminder that the email address for submissions is wsrareview@gmail.com

23 July 2015
Details provided by the Review Team via WSRA

We understand the injunction called by WSRA member Paul Whitehouse against the termination of his membership was lost at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday 21 July 2015. A representative of Paul Whitehouse reports "Paul notes the judge's comments that the process applied to him was 'woefully inadequate' and that, absent the special legal protection afforded to charities, the judge would have granted the injunctions he sought. He also notes the very unusual costs order made by the judge in his favour." The WSRA have provided a brief statement: "First and foremost, we are pleased that the judge ruled in favour of the Charity on a substantive point of law...We will fully take note of comments made by the judge with regard to procedure." (We will provide a link to a full statement when available). Please note we have not received an independent report on the proceedings.

22 July 2015 (updated 23 July 2015)
Details provided by local correspondents and WSRA

Ryan Pope will be leading a team of volunteers to restore a GWR Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van at Williton's Swindon Shed. The group will meet every Thursday at 5pm onwards where everyone of all abilities is welcome. Built in 1913 the van will be available to run in the heritage fleet set on the West Somerset Railway once complete. Ryan said "It will be a good project to work on that should not take too long to complete. The volunteers will then be able to see something finished running on the railway that they helped restore." If you would like to get involved, new volunteers or old, please contact Williton on 01984 633547. Thank to Paul Searle for the story and picture.

22 July 2015
Details provided by the West Somerset Restoration

The Rally Committee write "The Rally is just two weeks away now and we are all working very hard to make it a success for our exhibitors and for our visitors. Lots of preparation work is going on at the site - for example construction of a platform for the brake van rides. Would you like to be part of our team? We need volunteers who can direct traffic in our car parks over the weekend and stewards to direct visitors on site. If you can spare a few hours on either day then our Volunteer Coordinator, Graham, would like to hear from you. Call him on 01823 270524 after 6pm for a chat, or email your details to wsrarally@gmail.com "

The 2015 Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally is held at Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton on 1 and 2 August 2015.

17 July 2015
Details provided by the The Rally Team

Times are now up at uksteam.info for the Railway Touring Co's first West Somerset Steam Express on Saturday 25 July 2015, headed by BR 4-6-2 no 70000 Britannia. There will be no diesel locomotive involved. The excursion leaves London Paddington at 8.06am. uksteam.info also suggest it is possible, but not yet certain, that Britannia will head right through to Minehead where it will be turned and serviced, rather than come off at Bishops Lydeard with a WSR steam loco taking the train to its destination. For more details click here. Thanks to uksteam.info for the information.

17 July 2015
Details provided by the uksteam.info

uksteam.info report "On Tuesday 14 July, an incoming Steam Dreams mainline charter is due to run from Gravesend to Minehead via Guildford and Newbury. I believe that it will be topped and tailed by a pair of West Coast diesels on the mainline. At Bishops Lydeard (12:40-13:10), a WSR steam loco will be added at the front. The train with 3 locos will then run to Minehead - one of the advantages of the long platform at Minehead. The steam loco will be turned at Minehead and will then head the train back to Bishops Lydeard (18:25-18:35) where it will be detached. The last time a similar train ran the diesels where a Class 37 and a 47. The steam loco will probably be one of 3850, 4936 or 6960." Thanks to uksteam.info for the report.

14 July 2015
Details provided by the uksteam.info

Amongst the papers for the forthcoming West Somerset Railway Association's Annual General Meeting on 25 July 2015 is the proxy form. Resolution 6 asks the membership to vote for up to five candidate Trustees. But we at wsr.org.uk advise those members planning to use the proxy form to delay making their votes. There is some confusion over how the votes "against" a candidate are used in the reckoning. We are not sure if the "against" votes are deducted from any "for" votes for a particular candidate. We have asked the Company Secretary for the definitive answer and the reply says the question is being reseached. When we get the answer, we will post it on this page.

13 July 2015
Details from wsr.org.uk

The Committee of the Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally have once again invested in the good old back of a bus to further promote the event. That's why the striking posters have started appearing on the Buses of Somerset in the local area.

There's still plenty of time to buy tickets for the event - buy online and get entry to the Rally on both days for the price of one. Another online option is the combined ticket giving access to ne day at the Rally and one day at the Taunton Flower Show which is held the following weekend.

The 2015 Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally is held at Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton on 1 and 2 August 2015.

13 July 2015
Details provided by the The Rally Team

Amongst the papers for the forthcoming West Somerset Railway Association's Annual General Meeting on 25 July 2015 is a document headed "Meet the candidates standing for election or re-election..." The membership is asked to fill five vacant places. There are no less than eight candidates. To support their bid, each candidate has provided a statement of up to 250 words for the document to help the membership to decide. We have put these statements on a special page on this website.

Members are reminded to vote for up to five candidates and no more. We recommend members use all five votes, even resorting to the abstain column if not sure of the candidates, otherwise the appointed proxy is permitted to use the remaining unallocated votes. Best advice is to ensure a mark against five candidates.

9 July 2015
Details from wsr.org.uk

The times of the train shuttle between Bishops Lydeard and the Rally are now available. It is free to travel on this special shuttle service. The shuttle train stops at the platform adjacent to the Rally at Norton Fitzwarren. A three coach diesel mulitple unit (DMU) is used with plenty of room for passengers and pushchairs. The journey takes ten minutes.

The DMU leaves Bishops Lydeard Station for the platform at Norton Fitzwarren at 9.45am, 10.20am, 11am, 11.40am, 12.15pm, 1.50pm, 2.30pm, 3.05pm, 3.52pm and 4.45pm.

The DMU leaves the platform at Norton Fitzwarren for Bishops Lydeard at 10am, 10.40am, 11.15am, 11.55am, 1.25pm, 2.10pm, 2.45pm, 3.20pm, 4.10pm and 5.00pm.

Full details of the 2015 Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally

9 July 2015
Details provided by the The Rally Team

Next month brings the chance to enjoy two of Taunton's great family events - and at a discounted price! First up is the West Somerset Railway Association's Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally which takes place at Norton Fitzwarren on 1 and 2 August; then the following week Vivary Park hosts the Taunton Flower Show on 7 and 8 August. Sometimes, the dates of these two great events clash - but not this year and fans will have plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely visit to both. Even better is the discount on joint tickets - go to either www.steamrally.org.uk or www.tauntonfs.co.uk or tickets can be purchased from the Taunton Visitor Centre.

7 July 2015
Details provided by the The Rally Team

The WSRA Review Panel met for the second time on Tuesday 30 June 2015. The Review Panel is made up of Robin Coombes as Chairman, Brian Fraser representing the Reform Group, Simon Stretton representing the WSRA, Andrew Forster representing WSR Plc, Martyn Snell representing the volunteers and Ryan Pope representing young volunteers. To ensure that the Panel is fully representational it is seeking female and/or younger representatives so ensure its future orientation.

The Panel has issued invitations for written submissions on the WSRA its role and future purpose. Any interested party can make these.

The Review Panel has also agreed on the methodology on which the WSRA shall be reviewed. The assessment of capability methodology is based on one developed by the UK Government Cabinet Office and was the model used to review the ORR (Office of Rail Regulation now Office of Road and Rail) in 2012. The reason for using this is that it is a well established, tried and tested process and unlikely to be challenged that it is not independent and comprehensive.

The Review Panel will now be establishing key lines of inquiry which it will be developed once the written submissions have been received.

Ryan Pope the Review Panel member for young volunteers said he was "delighted to be a member of the Panel and that it was a great opportunity to gain an insight into how all the various aspects of the railway relate to each other and looking forward to it making an important contribution to the railway's future success."

Written submissions are to be emailed to wsrareview@gmail.com and to be returned no later than Monday 27 July 2015. After this there will naturally be a period for evaluating the responses, then during August invitations will be sent out asking those whom the Review Panel wish to interview and present evidence to attend.

Please see the detailed guidelines for submissions.

7 July 2015
Details provided by the WSRA Review Panel

Tim Stevens, Powderham Signal Box Exhibit Manager writes "The Powderham signal box exhibit in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard will again be in action on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August from 11am to 4.30pm. Come and experience the sights and sounds of a small but busy signal box in the days of steam. We are happy for visitors to participate, so if you fancy a bit of 'bell-bashing and lever-heaving', now's your chance! We were pleased to welcome two new volunteers at the Mixed Traction Weekend, who will hopefully become regular signalmen/guides. However we are always keen to recruit more volunteers (to give the 'old stagers' a rest!), so if you are interested, please contact me, Tim Stevens, Powderham Signal Box Exhibit Manager 01778 349003 or 07907 246394."

6 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The West Somerset Railway Plc have issued a statement about the voting at their recent 2015 AGM. "There appears to be, in the public domain and on national websites, a total misrepresentation of the number of votes and proxy votes at the PLC AGM on Saturday 27 June 2015. As Company Share Registrar and Acting Chairman of the meeting, this document shows the correct information as related at the AGM and as per the records and will be included in the official minutes." [issued by David Baker, WSR Plc Company Share Registrar/Director/Vice Chairman]

3 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Back by popular demand at this year's rally are the brake van rides along the former Barnstaple branch line. They will be hauled by Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon - which was the last working steam locomotive in the North Somerset coalfields - now owned by the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust. The ride gives a superb panoramic view of the Rally site and should not to be missed. Don't forget if you buy online, the Day Rally ticket is valid for both days of the event. Full details of the 2015 Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally

3 July 2015
Details provided by the The Rally Team

Sue C Medcalf, author of 'Itchybald Scratchet', will be signing copies of the children's books at Bishops Lydeard Station on both of the Day out with Thomas weekends. The series of books about Itchybald Scratchet starts with Itchy facing the twin threats of a badger cull and housing developments by the Upples (the badger name for people). Sue lives in Bishops Lydeard and has an interest in badgers and wildlife in general, along with their behaviour and habitat. Call in during normal shop hours 9.30am - 5.30pm - for a chat with Sue.

2 July 2015
Details provided by the West Somerset Railway Association

The West Somerset Railway Plc are encouraging its supporters to vote for the Watercress Line in Hampshire which has reached the final of the National Lottery Awards 2015. A vote for the Watercress Line, who have long being very supportive of the WSR, before 29 July could mean they win a £2,000 cash prize to support their project and they could appear at a star-stuuded BBC One event. Voting is easy at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or call 0844 8369673.

2 July 2015
Details provided by West Somerset Railway Plc