An unofficial website featuring the West Somerset Railway
News from January 2019
Signal & Telegraph team tackle Blue Anchor task list
A cold and breezy Monday 28 January 2019 at Blue Anchor saw the Monday S&T team carry out the six monthly lubrication and inspection of the many pins, joints, racks, rollers and other moving parts of the Blue Anchor crossing gates, which involved a partial road narrowing with stop-go boards.
Once done, the team completed the work started last week of the replacement of a rotten two feet long timber support, with a new full length sleeper to the Carhampton side road gate locking mechanism linkage in the pit at Minehead end of the down platform, along with much needed touch up painting of the gates.
30 January 2019 Details kindly provided by local correspondent
Steam Trust's young folk shortlisted for HRA award
The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust are proud to announce:
The Heritage Railway Association Young Person Award draws closer. The award ceremony is to be held on 9th February at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham, the two nominations from the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust are Matt Sutton and Matt Jackson (on right) plus from the West Somerset Railway, Lee Robbins; all have been short listed. This is a great opportunity for all our young people, fingers crossed, and we wish them the best of luck at the awards ceremony in February.
Mayflower booked for April mainline excursion to Minehead
The Steam Dreams Rail Co have announced an excursion from Berkshire and Hampshire to West Somerset on Tuesday 16 April 2019 from Maidenhead, Twyford, Reading, Basingstoke, Andover, Salisbury, Westbury, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads. This trip will be steam hauled on the outward journey and diesel hauled on the return. London & North Eastern Railway B1 4-6-0 no 61306 Mayflower is booked for the outward leg (subject to availability). Click or tap the button below to book tickets for this excursion.
Don Bishop, Chairman of the WSR's Gala Planning Team, has announce the first 'guest' locomotive for the 2019 Diesel Gala in June:
We are very pleased to be able to announce the first confirmed visiting loco to the 2019 WSR 'Vintage Diesels to the Seaside' diesel gala on 20 to 23 June 2019. Courtesy of owner Mike Newton, we are pleased to confirm Class 46 'Peak' no 46010 will be returning to its former West Country home of the 1970s in attending the event.
The loco was built in 1961 as D147 and was a resident of Plymouth's Laira depot in the 1970s until withdrawal in 1980 and storage at Swindon works until reinstatement to traffic a year later and allocation to Gateshead. It returned to its former hunting ground of the North East - South West and East Coast routes until withdrawal once more in 1984. It was dumped at Doncaster for a number of years until purchase for preservation by Llangollen Rly Diesel Group in 1993 and eventually restored to traffic after much effort in 2000. It left Llangollen for pastures new in 2009 and has since seen a major overhaul carried out by D05 Preservation Ltd, who have been working very hard on its full and comprehensive restoration.
It'll be great to see this former West Country stalwart back home down west again and it's sure to be popular with the 'Peak Army' followers.
Click or tap the button below to book tickets for this special event.
28 January 2019 Details kindly provided by WSR Gala Planning Team
WSR infrastructure projects - how you can help
WSR's Head of Infrastructure Engineering, Andrew Young, needs help on a variety of infrastructure projects being undertaken during early 2019:
We have now secured funding to allow a number of vital infrastructure projects to go ahead and we now need your help on the ground to prepare the line for the forthcoming season. The engineering
period is already underway with our usual infrastructure workforce out working on the track, lineside, signals and structures. We hope to complete our work and hand back the line to Operations on 28 March.
If you are interested in helping with any of the following tasks please contact 01643 700400 (messaging service - leave name/number) or email ieadmin@wsrail.net
Cutting back in the cuttings
Drainage and slope repair at Washford Cutting
Scrap trains and tidy trains
Click or tap the button below for full details of the above projects and a host of other tasks making up the winter programme.
28 January 2019 Details kindly provided by WSR Infrastructure Engineering
An update on GWR 2-6-2T no 4110
Christopher Ruddick provides an update on behalf of GWR4110 Ltd:
You will be aware that the WSRA has been raising funds towards the purchase of 4110, to date they have made good progress but not yet reached a figure sufficient to make a viable bid.
Representatives of GWR4110 Ltd have been engaged in discussions with the WSRA to explore ways to ensure that 4110 can still be secured for long term use on the WSR as a team effort.
The outcome of these discussions involves the WSRA becoming a part shareholder in GWR4110 Ltd using the funds donated to them for 4110. We have previously decided that no one
shareholder can hold more that 20% of the total subscribed share capital, this will include the WSRA.
Click or tap the button below to read the full update statement.
26 January 2019 Details kindly provided by GWR4110 Ltd
Book now for the Three Chefs Express
Three super chefs have joined forces to host a pop-up dining experience on board the West Somerset Railway Association's Quantock Belle dining train on 8 April 2019.
Self-taught Chef Claire Lynch from Claire's Kitchen in Wootton Courtenay, will host the event, joined by Michelin Star Chef Mark Dodson from the Masons Arms in Knowlstone and last years Somerset Life Chef of the Year Olivier Certain from Duende In Wiveliscombe . The Railway add:
Throw on your glad rags and join the Three Chefs at this wondrous Black Tie event on board the West Somerset Railway's Quantock Belle. Tempting courses will be served to you at your table, whilst travelling through the countryside and along the coast.
Your ticket will include the train ride, and your sumptuous meal, allowing you to truly indulge on this one night only event.
With six courses on offer, you will not be going hungry.
Click the button below for more information and booking details.
The West Somerset Railway Association and the West Somerset Railway plc are pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Dance as the Railway's Community Engagement Officer.
This post is designed to foster closer links between the Railway and local communities. It is a two year appointment paid for by a grant from the Hinkley Point 'C' Community Fund managed by the
Somerset Community Foundation as part of their Community Cohesion focus.
Catherine lives in Bishops Lydeard near Taunton. She has worked in the Devon School Library Service and for the National Trust on Membership and Volunteer Retention. She was appointed as
a result of a competitive interview process conducted by a panel made up of Mark Smith, WSR Plc Director; Paul Whitehouse, WSRA Chairman; and Katherine Nolan, Director of Spark Somerset.
The panel were pleased to note that they had a choice between three eminently appointable candidates and Catherine was the strongest candidate. Paul Whitehouse, WSRA Chairman said:
Our community links are really important to us. I am sure Catherine will make a great contribution to the life of our Railway and strengthen its relationship with all our local communities. I must also pay tribute to West Somerset Railway volunteer Andy Norman who worked for over a year to achieve the successful application to the Hinkley Point C Fund for this project. It would not have been achieved without his hard work.
Bishops Lydeard Station Shop - Saturday Opening Times
Kate Beard writes:
There may not be any public trains running for a few weeks, but don't forget that the Bishops Lydeard Station Shop is open on Saturdays only until the end of March. So if you are suffering from the post-Christmas blues and would like to see the latest model railway, diecast and books releases, why not pop in between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm. During track repairs to the loading ramp in the lower car park, access to and exit from the shop is via the upside approach road and not via Westridge Way.
Thanks to some very generous support both financial and practical, we have a programme of coach painting under way. When our coaches emerge from the paint shops, they will need a thorough clean - windows internal and external, upholstery, table tops, floors, lighting fitments, cobwebbing, lavatories. If you can help organise any these tasks, please let me know.
We justifiably take great pride in our stations, at this stage please get in touch with your stationmaster and offer some extra help so that they really sparkle by the end of March. Other common user parts of the Railway are also in need of some TLC. I think of mess rooms, including the wash ups, signing on points. At Minehead in particular, the general office is looking rather tired and we could cheer everyone up by giving it a lick of paint to help with this project contact Kerry Noble.
There are tasks to be undertaken along the line, a few are listed - some with contact details. Where no contact is listed, please contact Mark Smith.
Click the button below for more information and contact details.
The West Somerset Railway is reviewing the number and nature of staff posts. The purpose of this is to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the railway in the long term. This staff whose posts are under review are being consulted about the potential future arrangements, bearing in mind the need to reduce costs.
At this stage, it can be confirmed that three posts at Head of Department level, namely, the Heads of Commercial, Human Resources and Operations have been removed and the current post holders have been notified that, with regret, they are leaving the service of the Railway. Chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt said:
This is a very challenging time for the Railway and we recognise that these decisions have a very significant impact on all our staff, but particularly those directly affected. We are saddened indeed when we have to lose any of our highly committed staff team but we must act in the best interests of the future of the Railway as a whole. All the staff who have recently left and those who may, following consultation, be leaving in the near future, shall go with our very best wishes for the future.
The West Somerset Railway Association are keen to record and show progress with the assembly of the unique WSR 2-6-0 no 9351 and have created a blog on the WSRA website.
Discussion amongst WSR folk at the weekend identified that the move of GWR Mogul 9351 to Williton Works for final assembly offered a unique opportunity for supporters to follow the work to get her back into traffic. This is expected to take about 120 days and we hope you will be able to follow every step along the way.
The plan is for those doing the work to take some snaps of the work each day that work is carried out on 9351 and for them to be uploaded with a commentary to this blog later that day.
The WSR Company have asked Ian Coleby and Allan Stanistreet to put together a book to celebrate the 40th anniversary of reopening to Bishops Lydeard. The idea is to have a book that contains stories about the significant events and milestones since the reopening, as seen through the eyes of those involved at the time. Ian and Allan explain:
Although this will cover from the earliest days up to date, we anticipate it will be largely focused on the early years, prior to say around 1990
We are now looking for individuals who could write an article to go in this book. Telling us a story of what you did on the railway years ago or about a particular event or just your general memories of working on the railway over the past years.
22 January 2019 Details kindly provided by Ian Coleby and Allan Stanistreet
No 9351 moves to Williton for final assembly
By agreement between the West Somerset Railway Plc and its principal supporting charity, the West Somerset Railway Association, WSR 2-6-0 no 9351 has been moved by road from Minehead to the WSRA's restoration base at Williton for final reassembly of the locomotive to take place.
A tender from another locomotive had also to be make the same journey by road from Minehead to Williton and the part-completed locomotive was transferred as part of the same movement on 19 January 2019. The locomotive is expected to return to service in May 2019 in time for the WSR's peak summer season.
Winter Working Parties on the West Somerset Railway
Something for the folks who help maintain the West Somerset Railway in a list of planned works during the winter. WSR Plc Director Mark Smith explains:
We are all aware that there is a lot to be done in the few short weeks until we launch the new season at the end of March. The purpose of this note is to tell you how you can help. We have a major programme of track renewals, permanent way work, a locomotive fleet to prepare, and a range of ROGS procedures and standards work to enable our nineteenth century Railway to comply with twenty first century legislation and standards.
Read more about the planned working parties by clicking the button below:
Synopsis of recent WSR Association Trustee Board Meeting
The West Somerset Railway Association has published a brief synopsis of the Trustee Board meeting held on 14 January 2019. To read more, please click or tap the button below.
Don Bishop, Chairman of the WSR's Gala Planning Team, writes:
The Gala Planning Team are pleased to announce that we will holding an expanded Beer Festival at the 2019 'Vintage Diesels to the Seaside' diesel gala between Thursday 20th and Saturday 22nd June 2019 at Washford. Courtesy of our colleagues at the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, we held a similar event at the 2018 diesel gala as an experiment. The WSR received the great help of Mick Cleveland, Chairman of Somerset branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who worked very hard to make the event happen for us and brought in a mixture of unusual ales from around the West Country which proved popular. We are pleased that 2019 the event will be expanded and run in association with our friends at the Somerset Branch of CAMRA who will run the event and provide the ales and ciders on behalf of the WSR. The bar will be open between midday and 8pm on Thursday 20th, midday - 10pm on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June. All trains throughout the three-day event will call at Washford to enable customers to travel to the festival by train and there will be some evening trains to help you get there and back at the end of your day on the railway. Some food and musical entertainment is also planned. Further details of our big diesel gala event, such as visiting loco identities etc., will be given in due course.
Trevor's funeral will be held at Taunton Deane Crematorium on Wednesday 23 January at 12 midday followed by a gathering of Friends and Colleagues at The Quantock Brewery, Broadgauge Business Park Bishops Lydeard Taunton TA4 3RU. Dress for the funeral can be optional footplate overalls if appropriate. An indication of attendance at the 'Friends and Colleagues' gathering afterwards would be very helpful - please email chairman5542ltd(at)aol.com) before 17th January please.
12 January 2019 Details kindly provided by Loco 5542 Ltd
WSR stakeholder meeting to be held in early February 2019
In light of significant events affecting the West Somerset Railway, the Plc is to hold an important internal briefing meeting, open to WSR shareholders, volunteers and staff on Saturday 2 February 2019 at 11am at Oake Manor Golf Club, Oake, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 1BA. The private meeting will be hosted by the Plc Board, and it will not be open to the press or the public. Click or tap the button below for more information:
Christopher Ruddick provides an update on behalf of GWR4110 Ltd:
Setting up the company GWR4110 Ltd is complete and progress with associated arrangements for insurances, bank account and VAT registration are proceeding.
We have recently been made aware by the WSR plc that they are seeking to negotiate to sell the the locomotive to the West Somerset Railway Association.
We still consider 4110 to be important part of the future of the West Somerset Railway, we would not wish to see the ownership of the locomotive lost to another railway in the event that the negotiations between the WSR plc and the WSRA were to fail for whatever reason.
Because of this we intend to continue to make arrangements to have the funds available for the locomotive's purchase in the event that the WSRA does not do so.
Note: a joint statement has been issued by WSR Plc/WSRA - click or tap the button below. See also the button link to the WSRA's Donation Form.
11 January 2019 Details kindly provided separately by GWR4110 Ltd and WSR Plc/WSRA
The Quantock Belle dining train in 2019
The Quantock Belle dining train operates on the scenic West Somerset Railway between Bishops Lydeard near Taunton and Minehead, recreating that wonderful, nostalgic atmosphere of the great days of steam. Diners enjoy good food and excellent company as the train winds its way through the beautiful Quantock Hills, past the ancient port of Watchet and along the coast to Blue Anchor Bay. Whatever the occasion may be - a special anniversary or birthday celebration, a cosy dinner for two, or a Sunday lunch out - dining on the Quantock Belle is a delightful and memorable experience. The Quantock Belle operates on a limited number of dates and is extremely popular. Advance booking is therefore mandatory. Click or tap the button below for full details on the official WSR webpage.
11 January 2019 Details kindly provided by local correspondent
Odney Manor returns to steam
Former GWR 78xx Manor Class no 7828 Odney Manor returned to steam on the West Somerset Railway just before Christmas 2018 after being out of action for the last two years. The locomotive's first outings took place on Saturday 22 December on Santa services, and it also ran on subsequent days and on the first day of the Winter Steam Festival on 29 December. Odney Manor has been a popular and reliable member of the West Somerset Railway's home-fleet of steam locos since the 1990s and is an ideal engine for the line.
The locomotive was removed from service earlier than expected in 2017 due to defective boiler stays having to be replaced, but it was also nearing the time where a full boiler and mechanical overhaul was required anyway. During the time Odney Manor has been out of service, extensive work was carried out on the loco by the WSR's locomotive department staff in addition to them keeping the loco fleet running on a day to day basis. The boiler was sent to Riley Engineering where the repairs took place, and it was returned to the railway in August 2018 for reassembly by the locomotive department ready for a Christmas return. WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare said:
We were delighted that Odney Manor returned to service in time for Christmas and New Year, and it was the star of the first day of our Winter Steam Festival before it was stopped to rectify a fault that had developed. I would like to thank our locomotive department staff for all their hard work in returning Odney to health, and we are very fortunate to have such a highly skilled and dedicated team working on the railway. With Odney Manor now having the potential to run on the WSR for the next ten years, we are looking forward to the engine being at the core of our home fleet of steam locomotives for 2019 when we re-open at the end of March and the years beyond.
Runner 'beats the train' on the West Somerset Railway
On Thursday 27 December 2018 Joseph Rogers, author of the forthcoming title "Britain's Greatest Bridges", became the first person recorded by the West Somerset Railway to run from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead via every station on the line. Joseph, who works with the Railway's Commercial Team, left Bishops Lydeard Station with the first service of the day at 10.15am and arrived in Minehead at 3.44pm, three minutes before the final arrival at Minehead.
Along the route totalling 24.1 miles, he received signatures from volunteers at all the stations to record his time and even stopped at the unmanned Doniford Halt. He then returned to Bishops Lydeard on the final departure from Minehead at 4.15pm.
The route follows safe areas around the West Somerset Railway following public footpaths. Such a challenge had been proposed on the official West Somerset Railway website for the year, with a sheet available to print off to record each station visit, but until now, no such form had ever been completed and handed back to the railway. Joseph explains:
Hopefully many more will come forward to attempt this in the future. It would be a great way to help raise money for some worthy causes, including the railway itself.
Joseph's challenge came at rather short notice, with only a few running days left before the end of the running season.
The West Somerset Railway now commences its Winter maintenance programme, ready for reopening on 30 March 2019.
Sad news. Trevor Barnett - one of the WSR's long serving volunteer drivers - passed away on 6 January 2019. Trevor will be known to countless WSR folks for his easy going, friendly manner and for always happy to share his immense knowledge of railways and driving. With a day job driving DMUs between Marylebone and Aylesbury, it seemed every spare moment was spent on the WSR. Trevor was a key member of the team behind the restoration of GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 and its successful 'new' life as a popular locomotive on many heritage lines. He is also fondly remembered for one particular mainline run whilst driving LNER 4-6-2 no 60009 from Exeter to Taunton and it is well worth searching the internet for video coverage of that event.
6 January 2019 Details kindly provided by Loco 5542 Ltd
Christopher Ruddick reports significant news on behalf of GWR4110 Ltd:
Myself and the other members of the group which have been working on a route to safeguard the future of 4110 for the West Somerset Railway since the summer of 2018 would like to thank you for your pledge towards the purchase of the locomotive from the West Somerset Railway PLC. The speed of the response we have received has far exceeded our expectations and we now have £120,000 pledged to the fund from 105 people. Several of you have even contacted us in the last few days increasing your pledge by 25%, this is fantastic and has moved us over the line.
As we have already stated, following lengthly exchanges the PLC asked us for £100,000 + VAT (£120,000 in total) to purchase the locomotive. The request to us was to raise this amount and purchase the locomotive by the end of January 2019. The fact we have now reached 100% of the required money in pledges has given us the confidence to continue and proceed with the formal establishment of a limited company and start the process of setting up a company bank account to receive the funds.
The company has been registered with companies house as GWR4110 Ltd. In order to ensure a swift set up model articles of association have been used. These will be replaced shortly with a revised version which will include articles that will as far as possible ensure the locomotive when acquired is protected for use on the West Somerset Railway, limits individual shareholdings and requires the agreement of a large majority of shareholders prior to any disposal of the locomotive. Initially the company has been set up with 3 Directors. These being David Hurd, Andrew Forster and Paul Orrells. Peter Chilcott, George Thomas and myself will join them shortly. We are all long term members of the WSR locomotive department and have been involved with 4110 since it was recovered from Tysley in 2015.
A Bank Account is currently being created and should be available to receive funds during the week commencing the 7th January. We will circulate further information and formal documentation once the account is established. At this stage we are asking that you make ready your funds to transfer into this account.
We hope you find this update useful and once again thank you for your support and commitment to ensuring the long term locomotive future of 4110 for the West Somerset Railway. 4110 is truly on the way to becoming the West Somerset Railway's People's Engine.
4 January 2019 Details kindly provided by GWR4110 Ltd
Synopsis of recent WSR Association Trustee Board Meeting
The West Somerset Railway Association has published a brief synopsis of the Trustee Board meeting held on 18 December 2018. To read more, please click or tap the button below.
The Group leading the bid to purchase the unrestored GWR 2-6-2T no 4110 from WSR Plc received £90000 in pledges by the end of 2018. As it stands the current total is £91,500.
Does anyone remember 4110 actually running on the Minehead branch? It was shedded at Tyseley in 1956, Wellington Salop in 1959 and still in BR ownership in 1964. Any memories would be welcomed.
This is further encouragement for all who wish to see this locomotive remain on the Minehead Branch. More pledges are welcome. Click or tap the link below to read the full appeal letter including contact details.
