Good news 1: The West Somerset Railway has for many years charged half-price for passengers aged 5 to 15 ('Santa' and 'Thomas' events excepted) but in 2016 this will be extended to cover the age range 5 to 17 with effect from the start of the new operating season in February. The WSR recognises that with the raising of the school leaving age people aged 16 are not economically active and are therefore introducing the 'young person' ticket for the wider range of ages.

Good news 2: During the Somerset and Dorset Railway themed Spring Gala there will once again be a special fares deal on Sunday 6 March 2016 and Sunday 13 March 2016. On those dates passengers aged 5 to 17 will be able to travel on any journey, including day rover tickets, for a flat rate of £2 when accompanied by a full fare paying adult or senior citizen. The Gala has a line-up of seven guest steam engines representing classes which worked on the Somerset and Dorset and much more information can be seen at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or obtained by calling 01643 704996 (Monday to Friday). Discounted advanced price rover tickets for the event are on sale via www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or 01643 704996.

31 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

John Simms, the West Somerset Railway's Publicity Officer, reports:

The weather held off for the two days December 28th and 29th and we had a successful Winter Steam Festival. Four steam engines were in action, 4160, 4936, 6960 and 7828 with seven trains a day in each direction and we carried 751 passengers on the first day and 810 on the second. [pictures here]

Trains are running on 30 and 31 December and on New Year's Day.

Also please note the Turntable Cafe at Minehead station will be closing between 2 and 9 January 2016 after which it will reopen on a daily basis for the rest of January.

30 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The Secretary of the Partnership Development Group has kindly provided the draft minutes of the meeting ot the Group held on 30 November 2015. Along with the standing items, the Groups received an update on Plc Director and Manager Positions which include Colin Howard appointed as Head of Commercial Services; news of an Economic Plan for Minehead which includes a potential Taunton to Minehead rail link; and an update on development planning at Washford, Williton and Bishops Lydeard. The minutes are available as a downloadable PDF document. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 18 February 2016.

30 December 2015
Details kindly provided by Partnership Development Group Secretariat

The volunteer steam raisers, as usual, will be up very early over the next few days getting the West Somerset Railway's steam locomotives ready for service on the Minehead Branch. Trains run every day until and including New Year's Day. And on 28 and 29 December 2015 no less than four of Swindon's finest specimens - nos 4936, 6960, 7828 and 4160 - will be in action during the Winter Steam Festival with seven departures from Bishops Lydeard and from Minehead. The first train leaves Bishops Lydeard at 10am and from Minehead at 9.50am.

Meanwhile, Quantock Brewery - adjacent to Bishops Lydeard Station - will have its doors open to visitors on 28 and 29 December 2015, the two days of the Winter Steam Festival. The Brewery's premises include a licensed bar with all real ales are priced £2.50 a pint.

The Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead and the Station Shop at Bishops Lydeard will both open daily between 27 December 2015 and 1 January 2016.

27 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Ian Aldridge, the organiser of the excellent Taunton Group meetings, explains:

Regrettably I have to postpone the West Somerset Railway Association Taunton Group meeting on 4 January 2016 as I am unable to get the necessary technical equipment together. The meeting will now take place on 1 February 2016. I offer my apologies to all concerned.

24 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

Ahead of the March events to mark the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the celebrated Somerset and Dorset line, Minehead Station's Buffer Stop Shop has in stock a couple of model items of interest.

One is a 4mm model of 'West Country' class no 34006 Bude. Back in March 1966 Bude was one of the pair of air-smoothed Bulleid Pacifics which worked the final special train over the S&D. It was especially cleaned for the sad occasion so the pristine appearance of the model makes it look the part.

The other is ideal for someone looking to start out from the train set stage. 'The Somerset Belle' is a freight train digital control set which features a 3F 0-6-0T in SDJR blue livery. The S&D did have a stud of these tanks, built by Bagnall, allocated to Bath and Radstock for shunting although they were known to the enginemen as 'Bagnalls' rather than the more common 'Jinties'.

The Buffer Stop Shop will be open daily between 27 December and 1 January. Or just ring 01643 700387.

24 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The West Somerset Railway Association has posted a copy of the Review Report (which is also available on the WSRA website at www.wsra.org.uk) to those members who have not provided an email address to the Association. A letter from the Acting Chairman, Frank Courtney, can be read in full here. The covering letter also includes an opportunity for members to offer help to the Association by way of co-option, or by sharing knowledge and experience, or by volunteering their time. In the letter, Frank Courtney also seeks feedback from the membership:

I will be pleased to receive comments on the report, or on any other aspect of the Association, which should be sent to me at frank.courtney@wsra.org.uk

Offers of help and support would also be welcome by email to manager@wsra.org.uk

24 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

John Irven, Chairman of West Somerset Railway Plc, has issued an end of year statement which can be read in full here.

And following further opportunities to look in detail at the recently published WSRA Review Report, the WSR Plc has also issued a further statement which can be read in full here.

23 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The Southern Gateway Group (part of the pan-railway Partnership Development Group) has been diverted from looking at the long term development of Bishops Lydeard by the urgent need for relocation of the workshop facilities at Brunel House, due to unexpected termination of the lease. WSR Plc Director Ric Auger adds:

A planning application has now been submitted by the Plc for a temporary building on the Station Farm site adjacent to the new road, replacing the open barn. All being well the move should take place towards the end of 2016.

The picture on the left shows the type of temporary building being considered.

22 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The WSR's Publicity Officer, John Simms, writes:

Two of the planned 'guest' locomotives for the 2016 Somerset and Dorset commemorative gala (March 5th & 6th and 10th to 13th) are now confirmed. 34053 Sir Keith Park will be coming from the Severn Valley Railway and 34070 Manston from the Swanage. Thanks go to the locomotive owners and the host railways for making a Bulleid presence at the Gala possible.

21 December 2015 at 11.45am
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

A special board meeting was convened on 19 December 2015 to consider several matters including the election of a Vice Chairman. Following nomination, Ian Coleby was elected unanimously to the position, bringing a wealth of experience from his own career and from his service as a long standing volunteer on the WSR and previously as trustee of the West Somerset Railway Association. John Irven, Chairman of the WSR Plc said :

It is with very great pleasure that we recently welcomed Ian Coleby to the board of the Plc with specific responsibilities for the volunteers portfolio, which he will continue to hold alongside his new position as vice chairman. This role provides key support to the chairman and board, particularly on strategy and in chairing our operational executive committee. Ian's reputation for integrity and interest in our history and heritage is well recognised within the WSR family, and I know he will play a vital role in helping shape and guide our future.

20 December 2015 at 11.45am
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

A notable milestone this weekend for the West Somerset Railway. WSR Operating Superintendent Steve Martin recalls a rather special day forty years ago:

On 21 December 1975 Bagnall 0-6-0ST no 2966 Victor departed from Bishops Lydeard with the 'Directors Special' formed of the WSR Company's 'Fruit C' van and a hired BR brake van. BR must have pushed the formation from Taunton yard to a position under the high voltage cables where the first match was struck in the firebox of a WSR Loco, presumably BR had provided a full tank of water. The Driver was Harry Lee with Fireman Roy Hartle and Guard Nick Jones. A number of Directors including Chairman Douglas Fear and a number of Association committee members including John Wood and myself travelled at least in one direction. Pictures of the day indicate the level of public interest.

19 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

In response to the Review Report, the Trustees have determined that they will all retire at the next Annual General Meeting. In addition, Peter Chidzey, Chairman; David Williams and Ian Aldridge, Vice-Chairmen, have stood down from their posts, but currently remain as trustees. Michael Rowe and Frank Courtney have been co-opted to the Trustee group, and further co-options will be announced shortly. Frank Courtney has been elected as Acting Chairman.

Frank Courtney writing in a recent WSRA e-newsletter says:

Michael and I, together with Jacquie Green, Association Manager, and Simon Stretton, Chairman of WSRA (Promotions) Ltd, are currently working through aspects of management and will also be formulating draft plans for the way forward, on which members will be fully consulted. We are working closely with the West Somerset Railway PLC, the railway operators, and other stakeholders in the railway.

Frank concludes:

I am sure you will appreciate that this is a difficult period for the Association. A strong and vibrant membership organisation is a crucial element in the West Somerset Railway, and we very much hope you will support us in taking the Association through the present period, to a long term successful future.

19 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

In an recent West Somerset Railway Association e-newsletter, Jacquie Green, WSRA Manager, reports:

Congratulations to our four Apprentices who, under the watchful eye of Engineering Manager Ray Waldron, have completed their courses and 'graduated'. Phillip Berry-Roper is going on to work for a Restoration Company in Bristol and we wish him all the best in his new job. Ryan and Liam Pope and Duncan Hensley will be staying on at West Somerset Restoration and using their skills to benefit the West Somerset Railway.

May we add our congratulations to Duncan, Phill, Liam and Ryan, and of course Ray.

19 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

The cab roof was refitted to Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway class 7F 2-8-0 no 53808 on 17 December 2016. Andy Forster, WSR's Chief Mechanical Engineer adds:

With the firebox lagging and cladding in situ, work is now concentrated on the boiler barrel lagging and cladding. All is on target for completion in mid-February ready for the West Somerset Railway's grand Somerset & Dorset Gala on 5, 6, 10,11,12, 13 March 2016.

18 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Footplate rides are available during the 2015 Winter Steam Festival. Just one participant per trip with all trips starting from Minehead Station.

Monday 28 December 2015

• 11.45 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard aboard GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor
• 12.45 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard aboard GWR 4-6-0 no 6960 Raveningham Hall

Tuesday 29 December 2015

• 12.45 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard aboard GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor
• 13.45 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard aboard GWR 4-6-0 no 6960 Raveningham Hall

£150 for single trip - book by calling 01643 704996

18 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Work started on erecting the steel framework of the GWR-style "Ash Shelter" at Westridge, Bishops Lydeard on 16 November 2015. The design is based on GWR practice and provides a roofed building with partly open side walls. Spanning the existing two pit roads at the loco compound, the building will be over 36m long and nearly 11m wide and will bring an end to open air stabling of steam locomotives at the southern end of the line.

18 December 2015
Details kindly provided by local correspondents and West Somerset Railway Plc

Colin Howard, Head of Commercial Services at West Somerset Railway Plc, is seeking high quality, high resolution images of scenes on the Railway for the 2017 WSR calendar. Yes, work starts early on such items! Colin will be pleased to receive suitable images at colin.howard@wsrail.net

16 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

There are many ways to enjoy a birthday but when Harry Howe reached his 18th birthday on Sunday 12 December 2015, his way of celebrating was one of the more unusual.

Harry carried out his first turn as a fireman on the West Somerset Railway, working on the Santa Special trains between Bishops Lydeard and Crowcombe Heathfield. He was firing GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor on the three departures from Bishops Lydeard. Harry began working on the WSR as part of the Railway's youth group, the 'Trackers' and is now working as an apprentice in the locomotive department at Minehead, taking traditional engineering skills forward into the 21st Century.

On the Latest Pictures page, placed side by side, are a couple of photographs of Harry; one was taken many years ago when he visited Santa, and the other taken on his birthday.

15 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Three local schemes were among the 77 successful projects in bidding for awards from the £3 million Coastal Revival Fund set up to help communities to start the work to bring back into use buildings and assets which have suffered years of disrepair.

Minehead's Enterprising Esplanade has won £20,000 for its waterfront initiative. The project will refurbish existing Edwardian buildings, create new trading posts and visitor attractions, and improve links to the South West coast path.

In Watchet, the Onion Collective has been successful in winning the maximum grant available - £50,000 - to create a rope walk pathway leading from the Boat Museum building, alongside the West Somerset Railway towards the East Quay harbourside area and Splash Point to refurbished Victorian Pleasure Gardens.

The Friends of the Steam Coast Trail have won £24,000 from the Coastal Revival Fund to provide feasibility studies into studies into extending the network into Minehead, and how to encourage cyclists around Watchet.

The West Somerset Railway is sure to benefit from these projects which will clearly enhance the experience for the Railway's visitors. Read the full news item.

15 December 2015
Details gleaned from website of West Somerset Council

The WSRA Trustees issued a statement on Tuesday 15 December 2015. Here is the covering message...

The West Somerset Railway Association Trustees met yesterday and considered the recently published Review Report (the Coombes Review).
 
The Trustees resolved that they would all stand down at the next Annual General Meeting. Further, the Chairman (Peter Chidzey), and the two Vice Chairman (Ian Aldridge and David Williams) would stand down from their respective roles, with immediate effect, but remain as trustees until the AGM. Frank Courtney will take up the role of Acting Chairman. In addition the Trustees will be co-opting Michael Rowe with immediate effect, and will be seeking further co-options (and other support) in the near future. (There will be a wide circulation of invitations to join this work.)

Download a PDF of the full statement.

15 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

Visiting steam locomotives:

• BR 4MT 2-6-4T no 80072 - will be attending, with thanks to the Llangollen Railway.
• SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 53809 - the overhaul is progressing well at Butterley in preparation for the locomotive's visit; some pipework and painting remaining to be done. No 53809 is owned by the 13809 Preservation Society.
• LMS Black Five 4-6-0 no 45379 - will be attending, with thanks to Mid Hants Railway.
• SR 4-6-2 no 34053 Sir Keith Park - will be attending, with thanks to the Severn Valley Railway and Southern Locomotives Ltd.

In addition, negotiations are in the final stages for the visit of a further two typical S&D locomotives to complete the line-up.

From the home fleet:

• SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 53808 - boiler now back in the frames and work progressing to complete the locomotive in February.
• LMS 4F 0-6-0 no 44422 - boiler overhaul at LNWR now complete and being tested ready for return to frames.
• Ex-Somerset coalfields Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon

And...S&D six wheel first class coach no 4 is progressing towards completion and likely to carry paying passengers for the first time since the 1930s.

14 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

As at Friday 11 December the remaining Santa Express trains are now completely sold out but some places do remain on the ones from Minehead on 22 and 23 December. Santa Special trains from Bishops Lydeard are also getting thin on the ground, particularly after Saturday 12 December. Seats remain on trains from Minehead on the 19, 20 and 22 December.

For those who would like a 20 mile steam train round trip but not in the company of excited children there are Sherry and Mince Pie train tickets available from on trains from Bishops Lydeard on 12, 13, 19, 20 December, and from Minehead on 22 December.

To check availability and book see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or call 01643 704996. Tickets may be available to purchase on the day at station booking offices.

11 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

After running for some years now in the famous Prussian Blue livery of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, Fowler-designed SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 88 is now in the advanced stages of its heavy overhaul. This week saw the boiler lifted back onto the frames and work started on preparing the tender for the repaint into BR black livery. All is on schedule for completion well in advance of the forthcoming Spring Steam Gala on 5, 6 and 10, 11, 12, 13 March 2016 which has a Somerset & Dorest theme remembering the 50th anniversary since closure in 1966 of that much loved line. The 7F is owned by the Washford based Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust.

10 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

As has been the tradition at the WSR's Somerset & Dorset galas in the past, the eleven stations along the line will be renamed to represent former S&D locations, purely to give an extra feel to the event.

Don Bishop, from Special Events Planning Team, adds...

Our thanks to Norman Barker and John Baines at RAMS for their help with getting these [running-in boards] made.

9 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The West Somerset Railway will stage an additional gala day for readers of 'Heritage Railway' magazine on Wednesday 9 March 2016 in between the two gala weekends. Readers of 'Heritage Railway' who turn up at WSR ticket offices with two vouchers that can be collected from the magazine in forthcoming issues will be able to purchase a 1 day rover ticket for just £10 (valid on 9 March 2016 only). A standard train service will operate on this date with suitable S&D locos working all trains.

9 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

This year's Winter Steam Festival takes place on 28 and 29 December 2015 and features a quartet of Swindon steam in action - GWR-designed 2-6-2T no 4160 (which comes out of traffic for overhaul in January), GWR 4-6-0 no 4936 Kinlet Hall, GWR 4-6-0 no 6960 Raveningham Hall and GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor. There will be an hourly train service from each end of the line with departures starting at 9.45am and the last trains leaving at 3.45pm. More details.

9 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Following the release of the WSR Review Report, the Chairman of the Association, Peter Chidzey, made this comment on the covering letter:

The key recommendation of the Review...is that all the trustees should resign before any development can be instigated. As you would expect we are very disappointed indeed with this recommendation and do not feel it is justified. We are also very disappointed that the report has not seriously addressed what direction the WSRA should take in the future (which was the focus of the review terms of reference, drafted by the Reform Group and agreed by the Members), allocating only four and a half pages of a sixty page report to this important aspect.

Meanwhile, Geoff Pateman, Company Secretary on behalf of the West Somerset Railway Plc Board has provided this statement:

The WSR Plc welcomes the publication of the report of the Coombes review of the WSRA, and recognises the significant effort and professionalism of the panel members and those who have contributed to its production and publication. The Plc has contributed fully to the review and intends to continue its co-operation with dissemination, evaluation and consultation over the report's implementation.

Members of the Association will understand that the urgent need for their comments about the contents of the Review Report. Following that, the membership will be asked to decide on the measures the Trustee Board put forward for implementing the Review's recommendations. This is the proper process as agreed by the membership at the general meeting held in May 2015.

7 December 2015
Comments kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association and West Somerset Railway Plc

The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) would like to announce that Warship no D832 will be returning in 2016 to its home on the East Lancashire Railway after an extended vacation in the West Country. The DEPG say:

The locomotive is owned by the Bury Hydraulic Group and first came to the West Somerset Railway back in 2009 for an extended stay. We have taken care of it at Williton, treating the loco as one of our own over the years and running it during many of the annual diesel running turns. The Bury Hydraulic Group feel the time is now right for the locomotive to return home and the intention is that the loco will depart the WSR by road after our June Mixed Traction Weekend (10, 11 and 12 June 2016) where it will be appearing for one last time. We are obviously sad to see its extended visit come to an end, it is an excellent locomotive that has performed well over the years on the WSR delighting a number of enthusiasts. Equally though we are pleased that the time is right for the loco to return home to our friends at the Bury Hydraulic Group. We look forward to continuing to work with the Bury Hydraulic Group and our other fellow preservation groups in the future, perhaps welcoming the loco back for Galas in future years.

6 December 2015
Details kindly provided by Diesel and Electric Preservation Group

A reminder of the next WSR Association's Taunton Group meeting is at 7.45pm on Monday 7 December 2015 when Peter Triggs will present 'Steam in the West'. The venue is, as usual, at the GWSA Club Station Approach, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2EV. Contact Ian Aldridge WSRA Vice-Chairman 01823 430194 or email ianaldridge62@talktalk.net

6 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

The 2016 West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala will mark the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Railway over the six days 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 March 2016. And the month of March will also mark the 40th Anniversary of the start of WSR passenger services in the 'preservation era' and to celebrate this a special commemorative ale will be produced.

It will be brewed by Quantock Ales whose brewery and shop can be found adjacent to Bishops Lydeard Station and will be launched at the Gala at 5 March 2016. On that date and between 10 and 13 March, Quantock Ales will have a sales stand on the platform at Minehead Station and will be selling the beer from the cask. For the rest of the year it will be available exclusively in bottled form from the buffet cars on the WSR trains (which will also stock it during the Gala) and from the brewery shop.

The beer has yet to be named but it will be a golden ale with a 4.2% gravity. Commemorative goods including souvenir glasses will also be produced and will be sold throughout 2016 from the Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead and the Quantock Brewery shop.

Discounted advanced price rover tickets for the event are on sale via www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or 01643 704996.

5 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The General Meeting of the West Somerset Railway held in May 2015 considered and then passed a resolution calling for a "review of the purpose, objects, structure and activities of the WSRA" (the full text of the resolution can be read on the WSRA Review page) and with that process initiated, run and now completed, the Review Panel delivered their final report to the Trustees on 1 December 2015. At that point, the resolution calls for the Trustees to present the Panel's final report "in its entirety to the WSRA membership". By post is the only certain method to ensure delivery to all members. Meantime, for those members on the internet, the WSRA has released the Review Report as a PDF document which is also available on the WSRA website at www.wsra.org.uk

4 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

In 2016, members of the West Somerset Railway Association will find changes to the concessions they receive for travel on the WSR's trains. The key change is the introduction of a straightforward discount of 25% off the adult fare on normal public WSR services. Other fare classes - for example senior, child, family - are already discounted and will not attract the 25% concession which also does not apply to fares during special events and on special trains, or for online ticket purchases. This will be in line with the WSR Plc's revised organisational concessions. We understand the WSR Plc will carry the cost of discount. There are a number of transitional arrangements which are well explained on page 15 of the Association's latest Journal no 151. The WSRA's younger members who, through age, move from 'junior' to 'adult' membership, might note in 2016 the Plc will increase the upper age range for child tickets - now to be called 'young person tickets' - from fifteen to seventeen (see news item for more information)

Whilst this signals the end of "free travel" for WSRA members, there are many benefits to the new system. The 25% reduction on the adult fare on normal WSR services offers more opportunities for the WSRA member to travel at a discount on the West Somerset; it greatly reduces the complex administrative overheads of the current system for both the WSRA and the WSR Plc, it avoids difficulties with accounting for gift aid (see the Journal article mentioned above for details) and it negates the otherwise necessary step of a huge increase in membership fees. We (wsr.org.uk) are convinced most members will consider their help for their Railway figures higher than the benefits of membership.

3 December 2015
Details compiled with kind help from West Somerset Railway Plc and West Somerset Railway Association

A statement by Steve Williams, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Partnership Development Group:

James Stubbs confirmed that there were no variations to previous discussions over the lease arrangements. SCC was working with the Plc to finalise the commercial issues. Steve Williams added a further meeting was planned for early December 2015.

James Stubbs tabled a proposed amendment to the Terms of Reference for PDG to be an agenda item for the next meeting. He presented a proposed process to be followed should the freehold become available in the future. The current Leader of the council had indicated that it was not for sale whilst he was the Leader and if it did become available it would be to the 'Railway Family'. Under these proposals PDG would decide on the preferred bidder. Charlie Field (who will be replacing James Stubbs as the SCC Representative on PDG from the next meeting) added that opportunity sales of small areas alongside the Railway would be included and decisions taken by PDG as to whether their disposal would impact on Railway use. The matter would be discussed in more detail at the next meeting. An amended version of the ToRs and process sheet would be circulated prior to the next meeting. Members were asked to consult their Groups before the next meeting in readiness for the discussion.

We thank Steve Williams for his permission to publish this statement.

3 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

A Somerset and Dorset themed steam gala would not be the same without the presence of a Stanier 'Black 5' 4-6-0 or its later development as the Standard 5MT. Therefore the West Somerset Railway is pleased to announce that (subject of course to availability) no 45379 - based on the Mid Hants Railway - is now added to the line-up for the WSR's Spring event which will take place over the weekend of 5-6 March 2016 and on 10, 11, 12 and 13 March 2016.

Discounted advanced price rover tickets for the event are on sale via www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or 01643 704996.

2 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The WSRA Review Panel have issued this comment on their facebook page:

The Association Trustees have received a copy of the Review Report by the promised date of 1 December 2016. The Chairman of the Review met with a number of the Trustees today in Bristol. The Trustees had comments on several issues of factual accuracy; this is an entirely normal part of the process. The Review Chairman agreed as due process these must be considered by the Review Panel and any error of fact corrected, a final version of the report will be submitted as soon as practically possible to the Trustees and not later than Friday (4th December 2015). The Trustees gave their commitment that the Report would then be immediately published in full as required by the Resolution. It is understood that the Trustees will then seek comments from the membership on the Review Report and its recommendations.

1 December 2015
Details kindly provided by the WSRA Review Panel

Travel by steam train in the dark to the Dunster by Candlelight event. Catch the train at Bishops Lydeard for the non-stop run to Dunster Station and take the walk up to the village, or stay on the train to Minehead for special bus link to the event. Steaming through the dark was once commonplace but now a rare and very different experience for the 21st century. Give it a go! Likewise, the West Somerset Railway Carol Trains also steam through the dark, stopping at intermediate stations for carolling.

The special Dunster by Candlelight trains run on 4 and 5 December 2015 and there are a few seats left on all of the trains. The only Carol Train with remaining seats is the 7pm from Minehead on Monday 7 December. Seats for both can be booked online from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or call 01643 704996.

1 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

As of Tuesday 1 December, the Santa Express trains from Bishops Lydeard were approaching sell-out for the rest of the month and the remaining available seats from the southern end of the line are on the trains this coming Saturday (5th) at 10.10am, 12.25pm and 2.45pm, plus a small number on the 2.45pm on Sunday 6 December. There are presently a number of available seats on the Santa Express from Minehead on the 22 and 23 December.

There are still Santa Special seats available on dates in the lead up to Christmas. For Sunday 6 December, there are a good number of seats on the 3.10pm Special from Bishops Lydeard but these will probably sell quickly. Bookings can be made online via www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or by calling 01643 704996.

1 December 2015
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc