The West Somerset Railway has been awarded a grant from the HPC Community Fund. The Fund is in place to help address and mitigate against intangible and residual community impacts deriving from the construction of Hinkley Point C. The successful WSR application, led by the West Somerset Railway Association with the full support and involvement of the West Somerset Railway Plc and other members of the WSR Family will enable the railway to increase its engagement with local communities, individuals, organisations and agencies to extend its reach to a wider, more diverse community base. A range of activities have been developed including volunteering opportunities and training and work experience which are all designed to facilitate personal well-being, community cohesion and the training/upskilling of people to help the economic stability for West Somerset and the wider areas surrounding the HPC build.

Read more

31 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association and West Somerset Railway Plc

As a member of a WSR working group, led by the General Manager who have been working with GWR on better links with the national network, Chris Austin was one of the panel answering questions at a meeting arranged by the Minehead Rail Link Group on 30 October 2018. Chris has provided an update on the proceedings:

A packed public meeting in Minehead on 30 October heard WSR volunteer Chris Austin tell the group that a bid was being submitted to the GWR Customer & Communities Improvement Fund to allow a shuttle service to run between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on peak days next summer. This was widely welcomed and the group promised their support. In a wide ranging discussion, some of the practicalities of linking the WSR with the national network were discussed and the key role of the WSR in the West Somerset economy was underlined. A very few speakers from the town pressed for a regular through service in preference to the wonderful railway that has been created by volunteers and staff over many years, and were effectively answered by the many railway volunteers present. However, the MRLG speakers underlined their wish to work with the WSR in developing their plans through a feasibility study for which they are fundraising.

Chris has also provided an update on discussions with the main line partners:

WSR has submitted a bid to GWR's Customer & Communities Improvement Fund for funding to run a shuttle connecting train between Bishops Lydeard and Taunton on peak days next summer. The bid is in competition with hundreds of others from around the Great Western Network, and the results should be known later this year. If successful, the service would start at the end of May. GWR already offers through ticketing from staffed stations to the WSR, and these would be available on the shuttle, as would the ability to buy tickets on the train.

31 October 2018
Details kindly provided by the WSR working group on better links with the national network

The West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) Board have agreed the need for an additional volunteer Trustee to join the Board with the specific remit of Fundraising. This is in order to help develop and oversee the WSRA's future fundraising activities. It is an unpaid volunteer position which the WSRA have identified as a key part of their future direction in order to build a robust and comprehensive fundraising solution to help support the West Somerset Railway to develop and grow into the future. Working in partnership with the West Somerset Railway Plc and other members of the WSR family will also play a key part, and as such its importance to the future of the wider WSR cannot be overstated.

Read more & contact details

30 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

West Somerset Railway's Chris Austin will attend the Minehead Rail Link Group's public meeting in Minehead. Chris will represent the WSR's view and answer questions from the public. The meeting, to be held at the Old Hospital at 7pm on 30 October 2018, promises to be an interesting discussion.

Read more

29 October 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondents

WSR volunteer Jennie Dunse writes:

Many thanks to all of those people who have kindly sponsored my Memory Walk for the Alzheimers Society. I have just sent off a total of £400 to the Society, far more than I ever thought I would raise. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of folks, be they friends, colleagues and even passengers who heard of my exploits and kindly made a donation. So many people have shared their own experience of dementia, often family members touched by the condition, it really does affect so many people. So, thank you to everyone, you really will be helping to make a difference.

Use the button below to read Jennie's full account of this fine venture...

Read more

25 October 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondent

According to the Travel Somerset website, until Friday 4 January 2019 there will be significant roadworks taking place on the A358 between the Cross Keys roundabout and Pen Elm. Temporary traffic lights will be in place and delays are expected throughout the period. This will impact many WSR visitors travelling to Bishops Lydeard Station via Taunton.

25 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc and local correspondent

Part of the ongoing activities designed to help the railway recruit more volunteers is a new badge which will soon be distributed to existing volunteers. The wording proclaims 'I am a volunteer' and then invites people to 'Ask me why'. Starting a dialogue about volunteering often results in folks making further enquiries. More information about volunteeting is available on the official website click or tap the button below...

Volunteering

23 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

I heard yesterday from a good friend of the sudden passing of WSR volunteer Martin Southwood - a man full of enthusiasm for the Railway and a man always willing to step in to help.

In a message to staff, Richard Jones (Head of Operating), says:

It is with great regret, and tremendous sadness, that - having fielded a telephone call from Gill, his wife, this morning - I write to advise you that Martin Southwood has passed away very suddenly, having suffered a heart attack from which he never recovered.

Martin's last turn of duty on the WSR as a volunteer was as recently as Wednesday in Minehead Box.

Martin was a regular and stalwart Signalman in almost all our signalboxes for many years and was a valuable, committed and hard-working member of the Operations team. His passing is a very sad loss, both to the Ops Dept and to the wider railway as a whole.

Our thoughts and sympathies are very much with Gill and the family at this sad time.

RIP Martin - it was a joy to know you, and work with you.

If I may add a few words. Martin was also a keen photographer and kindly ensured a steady supply of topical images of the WSR for this website. Above all, Martin was a very good friend and it was always a pleasure to be in his company. My thoughts are very much with Gill and the family.

We now understand Martin's funeral will be held at St George's Church, Bicknoller on Friday 9 November at 2pm. Please wear colourful comfortable clothing. No flowers please, donations if desired to St George's Church (cheques made payable to Quantock Towers Benefice) and the West Somerset Railway c/o Hedley Price Funeral Directors, Mart Road, Minehead TA24 5BJ. Tel 01643 703111.

Updated 28 October 2018 (original posted 19 October 2018)
Details kindly provided by local friends and the WSR Plc

The Secretary of the Partnership Development Group has kindly provided the draft minutes of the meeting of the Group held on Monday 8 October 2018. The draft minutes are available as a downloadable PDF document - see link below. The next meeting will be on Monday 7 January 2019.

Draft minutes

19 October 2018
Details kindly provided by the Secretariat of the Partnership Development Group

To comply with planning permission from the West Somerset Council, the floodlighting positions and colour of the external lighting along the frontage of Minehead Station's main building have been changed. Another project paid for by Friends of Minehead Station nearing completion.

18 October 2018
Details kindly provided by the Friends of Minehead Station

According to the Somerset County Gazette, West Somerset Railway's Chris Austin has announced he will attend a public meeting arranged by local rail link campaigners due to be held at Minehead Old Hospital at 7pm on Tuesday, 30 October 2018. Mr Austin will represent West Somerset Railway's view on the matter and answer questions from the public.

Somerset County Gazette article

17 October 2018
Details gleaned from Somerset County Gazette

The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group have announced a loaded test run for Class 35 no D7018 has been booked for Wednesday 24 October 2018 covering a full round trip between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead involving a set of coaches with another loco added 'insurance'.

Meanwhile at Minehead, the Friends of Minehead Station report the platform flower bed nearest the canopy has been cleared of plants ahead of full removal and eventual return to an open space allowing for greater flexibility for special events held on the platform.

And good news we understand one time WSR resident SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 53809 is reported to be back in service, sadly not on the Minehead line, following an extensive overhaul at the North Norfolk Railway.

17 October 2018
Details kindly provided by local correspondents

During the Autumn Steam Gala the Friends of Stogumber Station (FoSS) held its well attended Annual General Meeting. Terry Shipton is now the Chairman of the Friends, Bob Preston remains as Station Master and Projects Manager, Jean Tucker is Membership Secretary, Colin White is Treasurer and Peter Cox is Historian; the food is managed by Gil Cox and Jenny Preston. For more reports, news and information, read the AGM minutes on the FoSS website:

Minutes of the FoSS 2018 AGM

16 October 2018
Details kindly provided by Friends of Stogumber Station

The West Somerset Railway have posted the following helpful comment on their Facebook page:

We have recently introduced Minehead Express services, these are coloured orange on our timetable and are additional services to what we had planned to run. These were originally planned as non-running days but we made the decision to add one return service per day (Mondays and Fridays in October) to allow passengers the opportunity to travel from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead to enjoy an hour looking around Minehead and two 1.5 hour train journeys at a discounted price. We chose to start the Minehead Express at Bishops Lydeard as this is where the majority of our passengers start their journeys, Minehead is also a lovely Autumn destination to explore. We are sorry to hear that some of our Minehead based passengers feel they have been excluded from this offer, this was definitely not our intention. We work very hard to be as inclusive as possible but we are sorry that in this case, we have not been able to run a service from each end of the line for operational reasons due to the cost of running an additional steam engine. We are still running our online Morning Explorer promotion which is a discounted £10 ticket on the first train in the morning out of Minehead on standard timetabled running days to any of our stations and return.

And the Railway has also confirmed the Minehead Express stops at all WSR stations except Doniford.

Minehead Express online booking and full details Morning Explorer online booking and full details

11 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

At the Community Rail Awards in Glasgow on 4 October 2018, Steam Trust Chairman Chris Austin was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by ScotRail Managing Director Alex Hynes for his work on community rail and for building bridges between community and heritage railways. The awards are sponsored by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships of which Chris was a director between 2009 and 2016.

5 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust has been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant to improve and enhance the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard station on the West Somerset Railway. The Trust is now looking to appoint a Learning Officer to develop and then implement the learning offer for schools and family visitors to the Museum in association with local educational establishments.

Full details

3 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

Enjoy an Autumn day out on the Minehead Express from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead return. The service will leave Bishops Lydeard at 11.45am, meandering through the Somerset countryside and along the coast to Minehead. The service will have limited stops - Crowcombe Heathfield, Williton, Blue Anchor, Dunster - and will arrive in Minehead for 1.04pm. Explore the Buffer Stop Shop, visit the Turntable Cafe, and perhaps take a stroll on the beach, before the train leaves Minehead at 2.40pm with an optional traditional West Country cream tea served to the seat. The Minehead Express runs on 8, 15 and 22 October 2018. Tickets purchased on the day are at normal prices; reduced prices apply to tickets purchased in advance.

Online booking and full details

2 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Folks might like to note the 2019 Gala dates.

• Thursday 21 March to Sunday 24 March 2019 - Spring Steam Gala (theme to be finalised and announced)
• Thursday 6 June to Saturday 8 June 2019 - Vintage Diesels to the Seaside II
• Sunday 9 June 2019 - the 40th anniversary of opening through to Bishops Lydeard, mixed steam and diesel running day
• Thursday 3 October to Sunday 6 October 2019 - Autumn Steam Gala (theme to be finalised and announced)
• Sunday 29 December and Monday 30 December 2019 - Winter Steam Gala

1 October 2018
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc