The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust is very pleased to announce that it has received a National Lottery grant of £40,000 for an exciting heritage project to relaunch the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard Station. The Trust say:

Made possible by money from National Lottery players, the money will improve the displays in the Museum and widen our outreach to the local community and visitors to the railway. In delivering the Project, we will actively engage with the local community by, for example, recruiting and training volunteers to help manage the Museum and its collections, to research and document the social and operational history of line and to undertake a recording project with retired railway workers and users of the line. The National Lottery grant will also enable us to employ a part-time Learning Officer to promote the use of the Museum for school visits.

Announcing the grant award, Trust Chairman Chris Austin said:

We are delighted with the grant which, together with our fundraising and volunteer input will allow us to make the museum more interesting and relevant to the railway's visitors. It will also allow us to reach out into the community and inspire a new generation with the excitement of a steam railway and to understand better the rich history of the WSR in the Somerset community.

Read the full statement

31 July 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

The West Somerset Railway Association have issued a synopsis of the Board Meeting held on 17 July 2018.

Read the synopsis

30 July 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

Geoff Garfield, the Chairman of the Steam & Vintage Rally Team, writes about a special offer for WSR volunteers:

We have a limited number of very special tickets available for an evening in the historic port of Watchet, by train from Norton Fitzwarren or Bishops Lydeard, on Friday 3rd August. For only £6 for adults (children free) you can ride to Watchet, which will be open to welcome you, with food, drink, live entertainment, and lots of atmosphere. The timings are Norton Fitzwarren depart 19.15, Bishops Lydeard depart 19.30, arrive Watchet at 20.10; then depart Watchet at 22.15, arrive Bishops Lydeard at 22.50 and arrive Norton Fitzwarren at 23.05. Car parking is available at Norton Fitzwarren and Bishops Lydeard. If you would like to join us, please send an email to Keith Sandford at admin@wsra.org.uk who will arrange for tickets and payment (only available in advance). Numbers are limited, so please apply now to get your tickets

27 July 2018
Details kindly provided by The Steam & Vintage Rally

Advance tickets for the 2018 Rally - held over the weekend of 4 and 5 August - can now be purchased online. Ticket prices are pegged at last year's prices - £12 for an Adult Day Ticket and £10 for a Senior Citizen Day Ticket. There is no charge for a child accompanied by a holder of a valid 2018 Rally ticket. And once again, two for the price of one - a day ticket purchased online is valid on both days of the Rally. Please note the 2018 Rally's online ticket facility will close at 10am on 1 August.

The Rally Ticket Page

26 July 2018
Details kindly provided by The Steam & Vintage Rally

The annual West Somerset Railway Association Steam and Vintage Rally is one of the major events of its type in South West England and will take place this year on Saturday 4 August and Sunday 5 August. Sam White, WSR's Marketing Officer, writes:

On Saturday 4 August and Sunday 5 August a special diesel railcar train will depart from Minehead to the Rally site, allowing passengers to alight at the platform adjacent to the Rally entrance gate. The departure time from Minehead will be at 9am on the Saturday and 9.20am on the Sunday. The train will call at Blue Anchor, Watchet, Williton and Bishops Lydeard . Tickets for this train, which include admission to the Rally, can be purchased for £25 (adult and senior) and £7.50 (child). These can be purchased in advance online from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or via 01643 704996.

Book tickets for special train More about the special train Steam and Vintage Rally

24 July 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Rodney Greenway, WSR Plc Director, writes:

We are looking for a volunteer Station Manager for Minehead Station - someone to get things organised, including a local recruitment drive. The Job Specification is available to interested applicants. It would suit a person with organisational skills and a team builder as well as someone who understands how the WSR works. Please contact in the first instance Stations Co-ordinator Geoff Cross

22 July 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

On 21 July 2018 the Stogumber Cattle Dock Project received the attentions of the working party. The target was to reveal the remains of the original bricked surface. By the end of the day the target was met, one day early, and the result is a much tidier area. More importantly, the work now presents a clearer picture of what is required for the next stages towards full restoration of this feature of country stations. Well done to all involved in this project.

22 July 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

Following a review of passenger usage of Doniford Station, the West Somerset Railway's Head of Operations, Richard Jones, has announced from 25 July - and for the remainder of 2018 season - Doniford will revert to being a request stop, with the additional proviso that throughout the operation of the 2018 Yellow Timetable all Up trains departing from Minehead after 2pm are required to make a mandatory stop.

Richard has also announced changes to the 2018 Yellow Timetable as from 25 July mainly affecting the departure and arrival times of some services. Notable changes include the 10.15am from Bishops Lydeard will depart at 10.25am, making a more comfortable connection with the 10.16am arrival of the bus from Taunton; the 2.15pm from Bishops Lydeard and the 2.15pm from Minehead are retimed to depart at 2.25pm and 2.20pm respectively. It may take a day or two for the online timetables to be amended.

18 July 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The Rally Team say:

We are all looking forward to another fun weekend at the Rally on 4 & 5 August. Why not take advantage of our online ticket offer: Two days for the price of one. (Adults £12, seniors £10) This offer is only available in advance, and will close before the Rally. So why not follow the link in the button below now.

Or, perhaps, travel to the 2018 Steam and Vintage Rally on 4 and 5 August by train at a special price. The Rally Team explain:

We have arranged a special early train on both days. You can buy an inclusive ticket on the train for £25 Adults or Seniors, £7.50 for Children. The early train will give you lots of time to enjoy the Rally, as well as a ride through the countryside. The timings are shown below.

Steam and Vintage Rally

18 July 2018
Details kindly provided by Steam and Vintage Rally

A reminder that the next working party will be this coming weekend - 21 and 21 July 2018. The object is to clean the vegetation off the top surface of the Dock following the successful last working party which achieved that for the access ramp. The working party will be on site from 10am to 4pm both days and all offers of help are welcome as long as you can wield a spade or a mattock.

Stogumber Station

18 July 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

The Stogumber Ladies and Girls Group Summer Social was held on Tuesday 17 July 2018 at the local railway station. The evening started with a glass of prosecco at Stogumber Station and a talk by Station Master Bob Preston about the work of maintaining and manning the Station and the current project to restore the cattle dock.

The party then moved to the lawn of Station House where refreshments were served and two teams competed in a close and hilarious game of croquet under the direction of Station House resident Robin Moira White. The teams played as 'Great Britain' (red white and blue balls) and 'Jamaica' (black yellow and green balls). Great Britain triumphed with a winning shot played by team captain Sarah.

Stogumber Station

18 July 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

On his personal blog, the WSR Plc Chairman, Ian Coleby, describes an interesting project:

I had a very interesting day today. As part of their 'Gateway' project, Careers South West ran a two-day business development exercise at West Somerset College in Minehead. The premise was that the WSR requires to develop its station at Bishops Lydeard. The young people at the college were split into teams of about 6 or 7 people and given the project brief, they had to come up with a development plan which then had to be presented back to the tutors and railway representatives.

Click the button below to read the full account.

Steaming Along West Somerset College

16 July 2018
Details gleaned from the 'Steaming Along' blog

The BBC's popular 'Antiques Roadshow' to be screened on Sunday 15 July features the second part of the event held at Minehead Railway Station in May 2017.

14 July 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

The West Somerset Railway Association have published the draft minutes of the recent Annual General Meeting held on 7 July 2018.

Draft minutes

13 July 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust has heard on the morning of 12 July 2018 that its application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a £40,000 grant to re-launch the Gauge Museum and develop its educational activities has been approved. The Trust will be putting £20,000 of its own resources into the project. Chris Austin, Trust Chairman, said:

We are naturally delighted that, after our initial application last year was turned down, the HLF has recognised the heritage benefits of our proposals. The work developing our ideas over the past year has clearly paid off. Now for the hard work of delivering the project!

The Trustees will be discussing next steps at the Board meeting on Monday. Further details will be posted on the Trust website once the final Project Plan has been agreed.

12 Jul 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

On 20 July 2018, Cancer Research UK will offer a ticket to ride behind a steam locomotive between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead station on the West Somerset Railway. The return journey will also include a delicious, locally sourced Cream Tea. The event will be hosted by Bridgwater Friends of Cancer Research UK. All proceeds of ticket sales will be going directly to Cancer Research UK, to help support their life-saving research. Cancer Research UK's local fundraising manager Becky Trout, says:

We can't thank Paul and the West Somerset Railway team enough for their commitment to helping Cancer Research UK beat cancer sooner. It's going to be a fantastic trip. Thank you also to our brilliant Bridgwater Friends volunteers who are hosting the event!

The West Somerset Railway's General Manager Paul Conibeare adds:

We are delighted to welcome Cancer Research UK to our railway. We have offered the use of our train services to help support the fight against cancer which affects so many people.

Information and Booking

10 Jul 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust was invited to the Dunkirk Memorial House WW1 Commemorative Event on Saturday 7 July 2018. The Trust's Geoff Evens explains:

Our message was linked to the use of ambulance trains during the conflict and the WSSRT Churchward Toplight TK no 3639 that was built in 1908 and converted to an ambulance coach in 1916 and deployed to France. The WSSRT featured a volunteer appropriately dressed for the occasion.

The Steam Trust

10 Jul 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

Andy Norman, WSR's lead on the local community driven 1940s weekend on 15 and 16 September 2018 has provided a useful and comprehensive update on the preparations and planned attractions. Please use the link below to read the update. There's also a link to the trader and participant form.

1940s Weekend Update Trader and Participant Form

9 Jul 2018
Details kindly provided by the organisers of the WSR 1940s Weekend

The ever-popular Dinmore Manor will soon, subject to the usual caveats, return to the West Somerset metals. No 7820 is due to arrive on 20 July and the aim is for the loco to be in service on 23 July. The Manor is due to stay until the Autumn Steam Gala at the end of September.

5 Jul 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Rodney Greenway, WSR Plc Director for Volunteers, writes:

I'm looking for people willing to spend a couple of hours delivering 'Volunteering on the WSR' leaflets to properties in villages and towns along the route of the WSR. You can do a specific street or area or you can do a whole town - the choice is yours. We need to have the leaflets out ASAP as we are short of volunteers on the Railway and this could be your chance to help. Please contact rodney.greenway@wsrail.net and we can arrange for the leaflets to be delivered to you. We are hoping that targeted drops will help to bolster the volunteers at stations and departments along the line.

The WSR is pleased to announce that with immediate affect that to show the appreciation to our dedicated volunteers any volunteer who holds a full staff ID will be able to take a 'plus 1' on any scheduled train for £5. Volunteers give a lot to the Railway and we believe that volunteers will welcome this move by the Railway.

Volunteering on the Railway

4 Jul 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Join the West Somerset Railway Infrastructure Engineering Department for coffee and cake at their open day on either Sunday 22 July or Monday 23 July at 3pm. The afternoon will consist of a brief presentation regarding the Infrastruture and Engineering department, offering an insight into the work that they do and giving any interested parties the opportunity to meet the team and ask any questions. The event will take place at Blackmore House, Station Farm, Bishops Lydeard, and will form part of the official opening of the venue. For more information, please contact ieadmin@wsrail.net

2 Jul 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The first working party of the project to refurbish the Stogumber cattle dock was held over the weekend of 30 June and 1 July. The work tackled was the clearing of the slope up to the dock and the access to that. This involved digging out some tenacious shrubs; extracting the concrete posts installed to fence off the access ramp when the dock was closed; clearing the vegetation off the slope; regrading it to a proper profile, removing the 'hump' where the slope 'lands' on the station yard; and grass seeding the cleaned ramp. The next working party will be 21-22 July from 10am to 4pm, when it is hoped more normal weather will be experienced. More hands welcome. Please use the button link below to read the full report.

Full report The Stogumber Station website

2 July 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondents