WSRA Taunton Area Group meetings are suspended, with immediate effect. The WSRA's Facebook page adds:

Unfortunately, attendance in 2016 has not been enough to facilitate an ongoing programme of speakers and events.

Click here for more about the WSRA's Area Groups.

27 September 2016
Details gleaned from WSRA's page on Facebook

The West Somerset Railway will be holding a recruitment day for volunteer Guards and Signalmen at Bishops Lydeard Station on Sunday 27 November 2016. The Railway needs to attract volunteers for these important grades to ensure the line continues to prosper. For those who have been tempted to offer their services but are unsure as to whether these are the right roles for you, the day offers a chance to gain 'hands on' experience of what is involved without any commitment. No previous experience is necessary as full training will be given. Full details.

27 September 2016
Details kindly provided by local correspondent and 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 8 September 2016. The draft minutes are available as a downloadable PDF document.

The next meeting of the Partnership Development Group will be held on Thursday 1 December 2016 in Brunel House, Bishops Lydeard.

26 September 2016
Details kindly provided by Partnership Development Group Secretariat

This Saturday, 1 October, will mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Taunton-Barnstaple line in 1966. However, on 6 and 7 October there will be a chance to once again travel by steam train on the Barnstaple Branch albeit over the short relaid section - about three quarters of a mile - at Norton Fitzwarren during the West Somerset Railway's forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala. And the restored GWR Small Prairie 2-6-2T no 5542, which will work the trains along the revived section, may well have worked to Barnstaple during its time allocated to Taunton shed before withdrawal by British Railways.

26 September 2016
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

Alex, Jess and the Turntable Cafe team are pleased to announce to all new and regular customers that...

...from November we will be open seven days a week, offering a full winter menu including weekday lunchtime specials at reasonable prices.Take away service is also available. Speciality coffees and teas, breakfast baps and traditional breakfast, homemade soups, freshly made sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, paninis and West Country pasties, pies, sausage rolls, cheese & onion slices, ploughmans, salads, with vegetarian options also available. The West Somerset Railway Cream Tea and fresh cakes. On Sundays we will have the Turntable Cafe roast dinner which includes a choice of meats, freshly cooked fresh vegetables, roast potatoes and homemade yorkshire puddings. For takeaway orders call 01643 700404. Many thanks for your custom and support during the 2016 season and we look foward to seeing you all throughout the winter. Alex, Jess and the team.

24 September 2016
Details gleaned from the Turntable Cafe Facebook page

A new booklet from 5542 Ltd will be on sale at the WSR Autumn Steam Gala.

This new 12 page booklet, hot off the press, gives details of the history and work we have undertaken on 233 and also 169 along with some brief details of 5542 and our other rolling stock. Find it at the WSR Gala either on board 233 or at our Sales and Info Stand at Williton. A donation of just £2 (or more) secures. If you can't wait, or can't make it to the Gala, please message using the address on the 5542 Ltd web site for postal details.

5542 Ltd's GWR Small Prairie 2-6-2T no 5542 is already on the Railway ahead a busy time at the Autumn Steam Gala.

22 September 2016
Details kindly provided by local correspondent and 5542 Ltd

Writing on Facebook, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust announce several opportunities to travel in the superbly restored historic Somerset and Dorset Railway first class coach no 4 during the West Somerset Railway's Autumn Steam Gala.

During during the WSR Autumn Steam Gala from 6 to 9 October, our superbly restored 1886-built S&D first class carriage will once again be providing short trips within the Minehead Station area, steam-hauled by our Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon. However, on the Friday and Saturday, we will also be offering the 'sunset shuttle' travelling to Blue Anchor and back.

This special working leaves Minehead at 6.45pm arriving at Blue Anchor 7.05; then departing Blue Anchor at 7.25pm with an arrival back at Minehead at 7.45pm.

Tickets will be available from the Trust's sales stand which will be on the platform at Minehead throughout the Gala.

22 September 2016
Details gleaned from Facebook

The West Somerset Railway Association have published consolidated minutes of the Board Meetings held so far in 2016. WSRA Company Secretary, Paul Whitehouse explains:

These Minutes are now published in full, with redactions where personal information should remain private. They were delayed until the Board was assured that it had full control of the Association's finances, in order not to prejudice continuing negotiations.

The document can be accessed from the WSRA website.

22 September 2016
Details gleaned from the website of the West Somerset Railway Association

The train crew of the Quantock Belle dining train on 18 September 2016 is reckoned to be the youngest ever on the West Somerset Railway. It seems the three very competent young men - Driver Chris Northey, Fireman Harry Howe and Guard James Mills - have a combined age of just 66 years.

19 September 2016
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

The well known steam locomotive LNER 4-6-2 no 60103 Flying Scotsman will head a morning tour of Somerset on Friday 26 May 2017. Leaving Minehead at 9am the train calls at Bishops Lydeard at 10.15am and then makes a circular tour of the county passing Taunton, Bristol, Bath and Westbury with a return to Bishops Lydeard at 1.30pm. Passengers for Minehead will transfer to a WSR train, at no charge, to complete their journey. See the Steam Dreams website for full details.

And later in the day, Flying Scotsman will head a eveniing tour of Somerset. Leaving Bishops Lydeard at 6pm and then makes a circular tour of the county passing Taunton, Bristol, Bath and Westbury with a return to Bishops Lydeard at 11pm. See the Steam Dreams website for full details.

Updated 18 September 2016
Details kindly provided by local correspondent and West Somerset Railway Plc

GWR have issued a poster promoting their train shuttles between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on the weekend of the WSR's Autumn Steam Gala.

Departures on Saturday 8 October 2016:
From Taunton: 09.32, 10.28, 11.25, 1230, 14.10, 14.59, 15.55, 16.55
From Bishops Lydeard: 10.00, 10.53, 11.48, 12.49, 14.28, 15.20, 16.22, 17.20

Departures on Sunday 9 October 2016:
From Taunton: 09.35, 10.29, 11.23, 12.32, 14.09, 14.59, 16.00 , 16.59
From Bishops Lydeard: 10.05, 11.00, 12.00, 12,51, 14.28, 15.20, 16.18, 17.20

In addition the inclusive GWR/WSR combined tickets from GWR stations to the West Somerset can be used for unlimited travel on the WSR on the day they are valid for (day travel only). They can be bought online via GWR.com/WSR but purchasers should make sure they put West Somerset Railway into the destination box (entering Minehead, Dunster etc, will get the Plus Bus deal for travel on Buses of Somerset service 28.)

Further information received from GWR (via WSR Plc) suggests those holding the combined GWR/WSR ticket for one of those days have a choice of the GWR shuttle train or the Buses of Somerset bus between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. For other folk, the fare for the GWR shuttle train between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard is £6 return per adult and £3 per child (no information on single fares).

16 September 2016
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

For visitors to the 2016 Autumn Steam Gala who like a drop of real ale at the end of the day there are two festivals planned for the weekend 7 to 9 October. In Minehead the Kildare Lodge intends to have 20 - 25 beers on sale and also offers food and accommodation. whilst in Taunton the Wyvern Club will offer 15 ales and 3 traditional ciders. It too offers food and is the 2016 Somerset CAMRA Club of the Year.

During the day bottles of beer from Somerset breweries will be on sale and will also be available from the Turntable Cafe at Minehead Station which is now licensed.

16 September 2016
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

We apologise that D1010 is now not required for service on Saturday 17 September. The timetable being operated is orange, which is all steam. Sincere apologies for this.

Reminder our last booked running day is now Saturday 24 September when D7017 is scheduled to be working on the diesel diagram. Why not join us for one last trip of the season?

The Diesel depot at Williton will also be open for all four days of the Autumn Steam Gala from 10am - 5pm, 6 - 9 October, so a good opportunity to come and have a look around.

15 September 2016
Details kindly provided by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group

A visit to the Documents page on the Association website revealed a link to a synopsis of the recent WSRA Board meeting held on 5 September 2016. Seven items are mentioned covering a wide range of topics. Item seven refers to a particularly important development as it concerns the approval of a policy and process for inviting applications from Stations and other Groups for grants. A link to this new policy can also be found on the Documents page.

14 September 2016
Details gleaned from the website of the West Somerset Railway Association

The West Somerset Railway Plc has recently appointed David Horton as Head of Mechanical Engineering responsible for locomotive and rolling stock management. He will be taking up his position from November 2016.

David will take responsibility for supporting the General Manager in overseeing the delivery of operational rolling stock requirements for the WSR, and will also lead the mechanical engineering policy development in line with the WSR PLC Board's Corporate Plan, together with developing the long-term vision for mechanical engineering functions across the WSR family.

David takes the helm from Andrew Forster, WSR's present Chief Mechanical Engineer who is due to retire at the end of October 2016 after many years service to the Railway. Andrew has successfully led many locomotive projects - nos 9351, 7828 and 53808, with many others to his credit.

Paul Conibeare WSR's General Manager said:

We are really delighted that David will be joining our team, bringing as he does a wealth of experience, management and leadership skills which will be invaluable to the WSR family. I look forward to working together to strengthen our capabilities in locomotives and carriages for the future development of England's longest heritage railway.

Full statement.

12 September 2016
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Nine WSRA members have been nominated to stand as Trustee at the AGM on 22 October 2016.

In advance of receiving the AGM papers, members can access each 250 word statement and completed skills audit on the official WSRA website.

12 September 2016
Details gleaned from the website of the West Somerset Railway Association

The Steam Trust have published a website update centring on the internal work being carried out on GWR BCK no 6705, one of the Heritage Carriages Project vehicles. The update includes a series of photographs showing Trust volunteers Ray Walter, Allan Howles, Roger Legge, Derek Blazdell and Greg McNelly working towards the completion of the internal compartments. The Trust is also actively seeking of a suitable upholstering specialist to complete the internal upholstering.

10 September 2016
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

An exhibition of photographs and artifacts linked to the West Somerset Mineral Railway will be held as part of a 'Local History Weekend' at Cleeve Abbey, Washford on Saturday 8 October and Sunday 9 October 2016 between 10am to 5pm. Members of the West Somerset Mineral Railway Association will be there to explain. Normal admission rates apply.

With Cleeve Abbey just a ten minute walk from Washford Station, the exhibition might well be of interest to visitors to the WSR's Autumn Steam Gala 6-9 October 2016.

8 September 2016
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The Quantock Belle will offer a restaurant service at the 2016 Autumn Steam Gala, available on the following trains on Saturday 8 October and Sunday 9 October:

• 9.50am Bishops Lydeard to Minehead - breakfast menu
• 11.55am Minehead to Bishops Lydeard - breakfast menu
• 2.00pm Bishops Lydeard to Minehead - lunch menu
• 3.45pm Minehead to Bishops Lydeard - lunch menu

The full menu for these workings can be downloaded here.

6 September 2016 Updated 12 September 2016
Details gleaned from the website of the West Somerset Railway Association

The official programme for the 2016 Autumn Steam Gala - 6 to 9 October 2016 - promises nine locos in action. The 'guest' locos already listed are:

• LSWR M7 0-4-4T no 30053
• GWR 57xx 0-6-0PT no 4612
• GWR 'Small Prairie' 2-6-2T no 5542

The resident locos shown to be working are GWR 4-6-0 no 4936 Kinlet Hall, GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor, LMS 4F 0-6-0 no 44422 and SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 53808.

Also, Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon will be working shuttle services from Minehead using recently refurbished SDJR coach no 4.

The first two days of the Gala will see Auto coach no 233 running from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren and then along the former Barnstaple Branch. The Auto coach will also be in service on Saturday and Sunday elsewhere along the Minehead Branch.

Mainline operator GWR will provide the shuttle service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on the Saturday and Sunday of the event.

Finally, do make a note that the Quantock Belle dining cars will work some services offering Full English Breakfasts and Hot Lunches.

Update 7 Sep 2016: We note home-based GWR 4-6-0 no 6960 Raveningham Hall has been added to the list.

Official website.

6 September 2016
Details from local correspondent

A fine range of heritage rail traction will be working trains during the Late Summer Weekend event on 3 & 4 September 2016.

Two classic BR-era Western Region diesel hydraulics - Class 35 Hymek no D7017 and Class 52 no D1010 Western Campaigner

And two of best steam designs from the GWR's Swindon Works - GWR 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor and GWR 4-6-0 no 4936 Kinlet Hall.

Plus, one of the two survivors of the unique heavy goods engines designed by Midland Railway's Henry Fowler for the Somerset & Dorset line, SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 53808 and an example of Fowler's once numerous maid-of-all-work goods engines LMS 0-6-0 no 44422.

Also, an example of a diesel multiple unit from the British Railways Modernisation Plan era.

All are reported in fine fettle but of course are subject to availability.

2 September 2016
Details from local correspondent

A BBC World Service report on Britain's heritage railway boom features the West Somerset Railway.

Steam engines departed from regular commercial use in Britain decades ago. But the country now has more heritage railways than anywhere in the world and the industry has a turnover of more than $130m a year. The BBC's George Thomas reports on the volunteer train enthusiasts giving many disused tracks a new lease of life.

2 September 2016
Details from local correspondent