Don Bishop, Chairman of the Gala Planning Team, writes:

The Gala Planning Team are very pleased to be able to announce that we have agreed terms, subject to contract, for the second star guest engine for the Spring Gala between 23rd and 26th April 2020.

Following our desire to have several BR Standard locos for this year's event the latest loco is Class 4 2-6-0 no 76084, courtesy of its owning group and the North Norfolk Railway where it is usually based. Our thanks to both for their co-operation in allowing the loco to visit Somerset. No 76084 is a first time visitor to the WSR, and indeed an unusual one anywhere away from its Norfolk home. Joining 9F no 92134, already announced, and our home fleet, this impressive machine will look and sound great climbing the WSR's gradients. The loco's visit will only be a short one, so if you want to see it on the WSR you need to attend our Spring Gala.

We are still working on further locos to join the line up and will reveal what these are once everything is agreed.

The 2020 Spring Steam Gala

24 January 2020
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

GWR 4-6-0 no 7027 Thornbury Castle has been sold to a private buyer, the present owners JJP Holdings have announced. Under the sale and purchase agreement, the locomotive is to be restored at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire and will run there for the duration of its next ten year ticket. No 7027, currently housed at Williton on the West Somerset Railway, will be transported by road to Loughborough during week commencing 27 January 2020.

More information

24 January 2020
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

The West Somerset Railway Association have published the agreed Minutes of the Board Meeting of 9 December 2019 and a synopsis of the more recent Board Meeting held on 13 January 2020. Click or tap the buttons below to load the documents from the Association's website.

Minutes Synopsis

22 January 2020
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

The West Somerset Railway Association report that the main telephone system is under repair at Bishops Lydeard Station and say it is best to contact by email at present. Membership enquires to admin@wsra.org.uk and Bishops Lydeard Shop enquiries to kate.beard@wsrail.net Update 25 January 2020: repairs now completed.

22 January 2020
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Association

Ian Coleby, from the team behind the 'Tales of the West Somerset Railway' book published last year, has recently provided an update to the book's contributors.

You will be pleased to know that we have now virtually sold out of the 800 copies we had printed of the 'Tales of the WSR' book. This has raised a significant sum for the railway as well as being excellent PR. Yesterday I ordered a reprint of a further 400 copies to sell in the coming season. We are now considering a second volume.

21 January 2020
Details kindly provided by the 'Tales of the West Somerset Railway' team

A recent discussion on the Facebook page 'WSR Swindon Shed' reveals the stock of the Quantock Belle dining train is undergoing a significant repaint during its normal winter maintenance at Williton. No 3108 - a First Open - has already been rubbed down ready for the repaint into BR maroon livery. The rake's long-standing carriage names will not be retained. The WSR Plc are now running and marketing the Quantock Belle and have a new operating model - the Quantock Belle is now a partnership between the West Somerset Railway and Claire's Kitchen. See the link below for more details. Underlining the teamwork involved here, the Plc say the welcome investment of £33,000 by the rake's owners, WSR Association in these valuable vehicles is much needed to improve the asset. The WSRA strongly support the new 2020 operating model.

Details of the Quantock Belle in 2020

19 January 2020
Details gleaned from discussion on the Facebook page 'WSR Swindon Shed'

Steve Williams, Secretary of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust , reports:

The Board of Trustees is delighted to be able to announce the appointment of Alan Smithers as the new substantive Curator of the Museum at Blue Anchor Station. Trustees thanked David Baker for his interim stewardship of the Museum. David will continue to be involved with developments at Blue Anchor.

In addition to being a Trustee, Alan is also Station Master at Minehead, and brings considerable experience of the heritage museum sector to the role and is looking forward to working with volunteers and greeting visitors alike for the 2020 season.

16 January 2020
Details kindly provided by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

Ken Barker has kindly provided details of the funeral of long-serving WSR volunteer Richard Brooks.

Richards Brooks funeral will take place on Monday 3rd February at 1200 at Taunton Crematorium, Wellington New Road, Taunton TA1 5NE. The family have requested no flowers but a donation to the WSRA towards a Permanent Way fund/project. The undertakers are E White & Son, 138-139 East Reach, Taunton TA1 3HN.

17 January 2020
Details kindly provided by Ken Barker

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust Chairman, Chris Austin, has presented the West Somerset Railway Chairman, Jonathan Jones-Pratt, with a cheque for £35,000 as a contribution towards the WSR Track Appeal. The Trust has to date donated over £40,000. The contribution is for the purchase of heritage track components, particularly for Blue Anchor and falls within the WSSRT objects and powers.

16 January 2020
Details kindly provided by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

The Gauge Museum has now been scaffolded throughout and the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust will start to get the inside of the museum repainted in preparation for the new 'storyboard' approach that will show the railway and its role within the wider context of the socio-economic, heritage and historical events in West Somerset and Taunton Deane since its inception.

15 January 2020
Details kindly provided by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

On 11 January 2020 Steam & Vintage Rally Chairman Geoff Garfield presented the retiring Section Marshals with engraved tankards as a 'thank you' for all their hard work. New Marshals are in place for all sections and the Rally Team are gearing up for this year's Rally to be held at Norton Fitzwarren on 1 and 2 August 2020.

12 January 2020
Details gleaned from Facebook page of the Steam & Vintage Rally

Ken Barker (recently retired volunteer PW gang supervisor) has some very sad news about our good friend and long serving volunteer Richard Brooks:

It is with great sorrow and shock to report the sudden passing of Richard Brooks whilst walking on the Quantocks on Thursday 9th January at the age of 64. He joined the WSRA in April 1975 and worked virtually continuously up to last Sunday with the Volunteer PW Gang. Our condolences go out to his partner Sandy and his brother and sisters. Funeral details when known will follow.

11 January 2020
Details kindly provided by Ken Barker

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust have published the proposals for the redesign and reinterpretation of the Gauge Museum:

Following 12 months of hard work by its Project Team and volunteers, the Steam Trust is pleased to be able to publish the proposals for the redesign and reinterpretation of the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard station. This has been made possible by the National Heritage Lottery fund grant of £40,000 together with a contribution from the Steam Trust's own resources of just over £20,000. There is more work to do but we reached the stage where we want to hear from our Members, volunteers, railway partners and other key stakeholders about the proposals in this document. We look forward to hearing from you.

There will be a further announcement in a few weeks about the arrangements for reopening the Museum and the formal launch.

Download the Proposals document

11 January 2020
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Steam Railway Trust

The West Somerset Railway's 'Sixties Day' special event on 4 July 2020 plans to include a classic 60s vehicle display; a vintage fair; a screening of the Beatles film 'A Hard Day's Night'; a recreation of some of the famous scenes filmed at Crowcombe Heathfield Station; and a dance at Minehead with the 'Upbeat Beatles'. Look out for more details soon...

Beatles on the Branch The Upbeat Beatles

8 January 2020
Details kindly provided by local correspondents

Kate Beard, Retail Manager of the Station Shop, Platform Two, Bishops Lydeard Railway Station, writes:

The Station Shop on Platform Two, Bishops Lydeard will be reopening on Saturday 18 January from 9.30am to 2.30pm and every following Saturday while there are no public service trains on the WSR.

As you know there has been a press release from Hornby with all the new 2020 items as it is Hornby's centenary year; there are a lot of limited editions being produced in low volume numbers so if any customers would like to preorder, please contact the shop as to the above opening times or by e-mail on kate.beard@wsrail.net. Also we are hoping to receive the new Hornby centenary catalogues as soon as they are desptached. Also if you would like to order any other items inc model railway, books and diecast you are more than welcome to contact us.

7 January 2020
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc

Over the next month or so, there is much work to do the track, bridges, stations, locomotives, carriages, training, marketing and so on. Just time for the folks at the Railway to say:

And that's the 2019 season over! Our next operating day will Saturday 21 March 2020. A huge thank you to everyone who travelled with us in 2019, we are really looking forward to seeing you again in 2020. As well as the regular train services, we also have lots of exciting events planned...

• 23 to 26 April 2020 - Spring Steam Gala
• 4 to 7 June 2020 - Diesel Gala
• 4 July 2020 - 1960s Day and Dance
• 1 & 2 August 2020 - Steam and Vintage Rally
• 12 & 13 September 2020 - 1940s Weekend
• 1 to 4 October 2020 - Autumn Steam Gala
• 29 & 30 December 2020 - Winter Steam Festival

Please keep an eye out on our website and facebook page for more details of these events in the future - www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk.

2 January 2020
Details kindly provided by West Somerset Railway Plc