Kate Beard, Retail Manager at WSRA Promotions, reports...

As usual we shall have an attractive range of special offers over the Gala at the Station Shop, Bishops Lydeard.

There will be an additional 10% off the marked price of all Model Railway items other than those already marked with a 'Reduced' label and 15% off the price of all military, maritime and aviation book titles not already marked 'Reduced'. Our Book Department will also have a good selection of second hand out of print railway titles and a range of new titles at around half the publisher's price. If you are looking for back numbers of historical railway magazines, we shall have many available, including several years of Backtrack magazine.

The shop will be open half an hour before the first train departure on each of the four days and will close at 6pm each day. The cafe will open at the same time as the shop, but will close at 4.30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 4.15pm on Sunday to allow our staff to undertake cleaning duties.

29 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

Assembly work continues on GWR Auto Trailer no 169 at the Swindon Shed at Williton. The original galvanised steel sheets, which are now over 90 years old, are being trial fitted on the new oak frames.

Meantime, Locomotive 5542 Ltd have announced:

We have been invited by our SDRT friends at Washford to set up our sales and information stand at their 'Somerset Coal Fields Remembered' event (during the WSR's 2017 Autumn Steam Gala). Come and see us, say hello, and find out the latest happenings with GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 and Auto Trailers GWR no 169 and BR(W) no 233.

28 September 2017
Details kindly provided by Locomotive 5542 Ltd

The WSR's Gala Planning Team remind us:

At our 'Bath & Beyond" Gala, we have a pair of S&D 7Fs and a brace of Manors along with a LMS 4F, BR Standard 4, GWR 57xx Pannier and our Modified Hall (the only green engine at this year's Autumn Gala!). This interesting mix represent locos types often seen in and around Bath on either the Midland/Somerset & Dorset route into Green Park Station or the Great Western route through Bath Spa Station. Come along and enjoy the sights and sounds of steam from another part of our lovely county of Somerset.

Meanwhile. the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust have announced a four day special event at the Trust's base at the WSR's Washford Station during the Autumn Gala. 'Somerset Coalfields Remembered' will feature ex-Somerset coalfield Peckett 0-4-0ST no 1788 Kilmersdon in steam with Barclay 0-4-0ST no1219 along with ex-NCB lorries. Something not to miss - be sure to go by train as parking is limited.

Full details of the Autumn Steam Gala.

27 September 2017
Details gleaned from facebook pages of West Somerset Railway Plc and Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust

The 45th Annual General Meeting of the West Somerset Railway Plc was held at the Hobby Horse Hotel, Minehead on Saturday 24 June 2017.

The Minutes are now available.

26 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The Quantock Belle dining cars will form part of set 'D' during the 2017 Autumn Steam Gala. Full English Breakfast will be available aboard the following trains, served until 3pm each day.

Here is the menu for the 'QB' Quality Breakfast at £8.00 per person:

• Orange or Grapefruit Juice
• Fried Egg, Lean Back Bacon, Pork Sausage, Hash Browns, Baked Beans, Tomato
• Toast and Marmalade
• Tea or Coffee with complimentary refill
• Bury Black Pudding (optional extra at £1)

Additionally, the Quantock Belle First Open coach no 3108 Meteor (included in set 'D') will offer non-dining First Class accommodation throughout the event, for a small supplement fare.

25 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Kate Beard, Retail Manager at WSRA Promotions, tells us about a great achievement by two volunteers.

Liz and Bob Ellis - both longstanding buffet train catering volunteers - have just completed 1132 miles in 17 cycling days from Lands End to John O'Groats.

24 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

Nigel Clark of the 6695 Loco Group writes:

6695 was re-wheeled on Friday 22 September 2017 at Williton in a team effort of West Somerset Restoration and 6695 Loco Group. This is a big step forward in the overhaul and we can now continue to rebuild the loco with many parts which have already been refurbished. The major job now is the boiler for which we urgently now need to raise in the region of £100k to be able to complete.

24 September 2017
Details kindly provided by 6695 Loco Group

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust say:

Minehead Signal Box closed in 1966. Since then the original cast iron signal box name plate has been in private hands. The owner has now offered the West Somerset Railway the chance to acquire this relic, which is in original condition, just as it was removed from the signal box. If the funds can be raised, the plate will pass into the ownership of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, who will ensure that it is kept available for posterity.

Read the full story and how to help

24 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

The West Somerset Railway Association have announced:

Online membership renewals are now available via our website. Not a member? No problem, you can join up here too!

23 September 2017
Details gleaned from the facebook page of the West Somerset Railway Association

On one of the wettest days in Roadshow history, over 2,000 visitors queued to see Fiona Bruce and the experts sheltering under the canopy at Minehead Station, which is run by West Somerset Railway. Objects brought to camera include a bracelet made from jewels once owned by the last of the Romanovs, the Russian royal family, photographs from the day The Beatles came to film 'A Hard Day's Night' and a bronze by sculptor Rodin...

This episode of 'Antiques Roadshow' will be shown on BBC One at 8pm on 1 October 2017.

22 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Goods trains during the 2017 Autumn Steam Gala will run at these times on each of the four days:

• Thursday 5 October
• 9.00am from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead
• 11.37am from Minehead to Blue Anchor
• 12.05pm from Blue Anchor to Minehead
• 1.47pm from Minehead to Blue Anchor
• 2.15pm from Blue Anchor to Minehead
• 5.20pm from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard

• Friday 6 October
• 8.25am from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead
• 11.37am from Minehead to Blue Anchor
• 12.05pm from Blue Anchor to Minehead
• 1.47pm from Minehead to Blue Anchor
• 2.15pm from Blue Anchor to Minehead
• 5.20pm from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard

• Saturday 7 October
• 8.30am from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead
• 7.20pm from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard

• Sunday 8 October
• 9.25am from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead

Please note these trains do not carry passengers.

22 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Now available from the Buffer Stop Shop in Minehead - Hornby BR Class A3 4-6-2 no 60103 Flying Scotsman in Brunswick Green livery with TTS Sound £220. Limited stock available.

22 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Nigel Clark of the 6695 Loco Group writes:

We are currently in discussion with several boiler contractors with a view to making a decision and getting work underway on that soon. Our sales and information stand will be on Minehead Station for the Saturday and Sunday of the Autumn Steam Gala; please come along and say hello to Gary and John.

21 September 2017
Details kindly provided by 6695 Loco Group

It seems like an all 'Great Western Day' on the West Somerset Railway on Saturday 23 September 2017. From the WSR's current steam fleet, nos 6960 Raveningham Hall, 7820 Dinmore Manor and 7822 Foxcote Manor will be in action. The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group's mighty diesel-hydraulic no D1010 Western Campaigner will operating on the 'Maybach Memories' services. And if that were not enough, an incoming charter travelling from Oxford to Minehead in the form of a High Speed Train courtesy of current train operators, GWR. Come and witness and travel behind a fine range of working Great Western designs, with the first three departures from Bishops Lydeard headed by appropriate and representative motive power from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

21 September 2017
Details kindly provided via West Somerset Railway Plc

The creation of new platform benches and the refurbishment of old benches continues apace on the West Somerset Railway with the project enhancing the heritage look to the stations at the same time as providing quality welcome resting places for visitors. On 19 September 2017, three recently completed 10ft benches, each with three GWR 'shirt button' supports, were moved to the stations at Minehead and to Williton. Redundant non-GWR benches were collected along with some GWR 'scroll' types which will be refurbished by the Railway's RAMS team at Bishops Lydeard.The day also saw the WSRA's van deliver a non-railway bench to a private purchaser in Llangennech in South Wales. Well done to Robin White and all the volunteers involved in this project.

20 September 2017
Details gleaned from report by a local correspondent

On the Saturday and Sunday (7, 8 October) of the 2017 Autumn Steam Gala, the workshops at Minehead will be partially open to visitors for a look behind the scenes. The diesel shed at Williton will be open on all four days but unfortunately the Swindon shed at Williton will not be open to the public. Taunton Model Railway Group will offer a last chance to see their award winning 'Tamerig Central' layout at Bishops Lydeard Station between the Friday and Sunday and there will be a model railway sale at Watchet station in the morning of Saturday 7 October. Details of other things to see and do and where to eat and drink can be found in the souvenir programme which can be ordered in advance from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk. Discounted Rover tickets, allowing passengers to travel as they wish, can be purchased via 01643 704996 or www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk Rovers, single and return tickets can also be purchased on the day of travel at station booking offices. On Sunday 8 October (only), young persons aged 5 to 17 can travel for a flat fare of £2 if accompanied by an adult or senior citizen.

18 September 2017
Details kindly provided via West Somerset Railway Plc

With the main WSR season entering its last few weeks there are three more 'Maybach Memories' days to go. To mark 40 years since the end of the mainline careers of the Western Region's diesel hydraulic locomotives D1010 Western Campaigner is due to work this weekend - 23 and 24 September 2017 - and Hymek no D7017 (back from Old Oak Common Open Day and the Great Central Railway Diesel Gala) on Saturday 30 September. The first 'Maybach Memories' departure from Bishops Lydeard is at 11.05am (Saturday) or 11.50am (Sunday) and the trains will do two round trips over the line. Discounted day rover tickets can be purchased in advance from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

18 September 2017
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

The West Somerset Railway Association's Board is sorry to announce that Bill Knell has had to resign for personal reasons.

A reminder that the Association's Annual General Meeting is just two weeks away. It will be held at 2pm on Saturday 30 September 2017 at the Village Hall, Bishops Lydeard. Members who are unable to attend are encouraged to return completed proxy forms as soon as possible.

16 September 2017
Details gleaned from website of the West Somerset Railway Assocation

Dave Horton, Head of Mechanical Engineering reports on a successful conclusion to the search for a replacement Autumn Steam Gala guest locomotive followng the cancelled visit of the expected BR Class 5 Camelot:

Care of our friends at the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway who have very kindly come to our aid at the 11th hour - BR Standard Class 4MT no 75014 Braveheart. We think this is a rather good substitute for the Standard 5!

15 September 2017
Details kindly provided via West Somerset Railway Plc

Dave Horton, Head of Mechanical Engineering reports:

Unfortunately neither of the guest locos booked for the Autumn Steam Gala can now make it. BR Class 5 no 73082 Camelot cancelled due to paperwork issues and SR West Country no 34046 Braunton cancelled due to ongoing repairs. But instead the Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Plc and SVR Pannier Tank Fund have very kindly agreed to lend us freshly-overhauled GWR 0-6-0PT no 7714. Now just to find one more loco...

13 September 2017
Details kindly provided via West Somerset Railway Plc

After Flying Scotsman makes its last runs over the WSR on 12 September there will be a short gap until the Railway welcomes another famous visitor. (Normal train services will operate in-between). Peppa Pig will be making her annual appearance at Minehead station on Saturday 16 September. As well as Peppa appearing at intervals throughout the day there will be a children's entertainer on the platform, free face painting, free crafts and free vintage bus trips around the town. If the weather is kind a bouncy castle should also feature. Train times from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead will leave at 10.20am, 11.05am, 11.50am and 12.40pm. Fuller information can be seen at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

12 September 2017
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

We understand BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 no 73082 Camelot will not attend the WSR's Autumn Steam Gala as expected. The 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society say on their Facebook page:

The Society have regrettably had to postpone the proposed visit of 73082 Camelot to the West Somerset Railway in October. The visit has been deferred because we were not able to complete the arrangements in good time prior to the departure of the locomotive at the beginning of next month. It is hoped that this visit can be rearranged for a suitable date in 2018.

11 September 2017
Details gleaned from the Facebook page of the 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society

The WSR's souvenir booklet to mark the visit of Flying Scotsman is on sale price £4 from Minehead Station Shop (shop@wsrail.net or 01643 700387). It has 22 pages in full colour with a history of the famous locomotive, information about the Railway and the loco fleet including those included in the WSRA Locomotive Fund Appeal and plenty of photographs.

8 September 2017
Details kindly provided by a local correspondent

New at Stogumber Station - each group ordering one of Station's famous cream teas now get a free postcard to send. The Station menu includes bacon baps (during galas and special events); soup; pasties; cream teas; toasted teacakes with butter and jam; a selection of cakes, biscuits, chocolates and sweets; coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juices, water, canned drinks. The Station Tea Garden can also be used as a venue for celebrations and gatherings - contact the team for details.

6 September 2017
Details kindly provided by a local correspondent

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group is organising a special excursion train with Great Western Railway. On Saturday 23 September 2017, the High Speed Train will start at Oxford and travel via the Cotswold Line to Worcester Shrub Hill before reversing to travel via Bristol, Taunton, Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe, Williton, Watchet, Blue Anchor and Dunster en route to Minehead. The train can be boarded at all stations between Oxford and Worcester Shrub Hill.

6 September 2017
Details kindly provided via West Somerset Railway Plc

The Trustees of the West Somerset Railway Association have invited members to the 22nd Annual General Meeting to be held in the Village Hall, Bishops Lydeard, TA4 3LH on Saturday 30 September 2017 at 2pm. Of particular interest is a Special Resolution seeking to replace the existing Articles of Association (the proposed new Articles are available for download from the WSRA website).

4 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust have taken delivery of newly upholstered seats for BCK no 6705 - blue for the first class seats and red for the third class ones.

The remaining seats have now been sent away to be covered.

4 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust have put together a special display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard on Flying Scotsman - both the locomotive and the train. The display will be there until the end of September. The museum and model railway will be open every day that Flying Scotsman is running (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 September 2017).

4 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

The West Somerset Railway offer this good advice to those who wish to go out and watch the specials on 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 September 2017. The Railway say:

It is vital that we do our best to ensure that where possible, we avoid issues on the highways and direct people to suitable spots where parking is permitted. We have been very fortunate that some local land owners have kindly opened their fields for car parking. The fields are situated either in walking distance from the stations or with fantastic opportunities to see the locomotive on the line. The land owners will charge £5 for each vehicle and some have even offered camping spaces for overnight parking which can be pre-arranged. Access to Minehead Station and Bishops Lydeard Station will be limited to train ticket holders only, whilst access to our intermediate stations will be charged at £2 per person on the day only. Please be aware that there is limited capacity on our stations.

For all the information relating to car parking and station access for the Flying Scotsman specials please visit the official WSR website

3 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

We understand the locally-based Quantock Brewery in partnership with the West Somerset Railway Plc have produced a special edition ale to celebrate the visit of Flying Scotsman in early September. Called the 'Flying Hopsman', the limited edition ale will be available from 5 September 2017 at the brewery's shop near Bishops Lydeard Station. It will also be sold on the Quantock Belle dining trains due to be hauled by Flying Scotsman.

3 September 2017
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

The West Somerset Railway's Acting Head of Commercial Services, Sam White, has commissioned a new poster for the Railway.

The finished product clearly has all the hallmarks of a long tradition of railway posters having excellent artistic quality.

2 September 2017
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

The West Somerset Railway Association have published a synopsis of the latest Trustee Board meeting on 30 August 2017. Topics covered include the Taunton Model Engineering Club, the Journal, the Steam Rally, and the future of West Somerset Restoration.

1 September 2017
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

This weekend sees the Late Summer Weekend event on the West Somerset Railway with its mix of steam and diesel hauled trains along the Minehead Branch. On each day, up to five steam locomotives - nos 6960, 7820, 7822, 44422 and 53808 - will be in service whilst the demonstration goods train will be hauled by Class 33 no D6575. Class 47 no D1661 North Star will head passenger trains on Saturday 2 September, whilst Class 52 no D1010 Western Campaigner will work the Sunday diesel diagram. The Railway's Diesel Multiple Unit will also run between Minehead and Watchet on both days. A busy timetable for Saturday and Sunday - lots of trains to enjoy and normal fares and concessions apply.

1 September 2017
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc