An unofficial website featuring the West Somerset Railway
News from February 2020
An update on the Rail Renewal fundraising
News of the 2020 fundraising appeal appears in the West Somerset Railway Association's latest e-newsletter.
On 18 February 2020, WSRA Chairman Paul Whitehouse handed a presentation sleeper to WSR Plc Chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt demonstrating the £187,149 contributed by the WSRA to the 2019-2020 winter track works. The Association add:
That's a great start but unfortunately not the end of the story. We have over 40 miles of rail to be repaired and replaced so we're off again on a fundraising campaign for the works to be done next winter. A new fund has been opened to raise money for the winter 2020-2021 track works and donations can be made online (click the button below) or by sending in cheques to the West Somerset Railway Association, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3BX.
Don Bishop, Chairman of the Gala Planning Team, writes:
We are pleased to announce our first guest loco for the 2020 'Vintage Diesels to the Seaside' diesel gala which is being held between 4 and 7 June 2020.
Courtesy of the Waterman Heritage Trust we are pleased to be hosting newly restored Class 25 no D7659, which is normally based at Peak Rail in Derbyshire. The loco has recently been fully overhauled and out-shopped in BR two tone green livery. The loco will only be with us for a short while so your only chance of a haulage behind this loco at the WSR is at the gala. Many will recall the sight and sound of the little type 2 Sulzers last year when classmates D7535 and D7612 from the South Devon Railway visited, definitely worth experiencing for diesel fans.
The loco will join the home based DEPG fleet members of Class 14 no D9526, Class 33 nos D6566 and D6575 and Hymek Class 35 no D7018 and some other guests that are yet to be announced or confirmed.
Our annual Diesel Gala Beer and Cider Festival (supported and run by the Somerset branch of CAMRA) will be held at Minehead Station this year on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Gala.
Plans for 9F hauled 'mega train' at the Spring Steam Gala
Don Bishop, Chairman of the Gala Planning Team, writes:
We are delighted to announce plans to operate a mega train formed of up to twelve coaches hauled by visiting BR 9F no 92134 at our upcoming Spring Steam Gala!
This special service will depart from Bishops Lydeard at 7pm on Friday 24 April running direct to Minehead, stopping only at Crowcombe Heathfield, Williton and Watchet on the outward journey. After a short break in Minehead, the train will depart at 8.40pm for a fast run back to Bishops Lydeard stopping only at Watchet, arriving in Bishops Lydeard just before 10pm.
If you wish to add a touch of class to your gala visit, the Quantock Belle dining train will be attached to the mega train, serving a delicious meal on board.
This mega train is part of a brand new timetable which was released recently.
Gala Rover tickets can be booked on our website. Use the link below...
Please note: a separate ticket is required for this train; Rover tickets are not valid themselves but will attract a discounted rate.
There's good news about the WSR's recovery plan according to a report on the BBC website. In the article, WSR Plc Chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt explains how the turnaround is being achieved. The company is now re-investing money saved through making difficult decisions into maintaining and overhauling the tracks and its engines Other plans include refurbishing and converting a railway cottage at Bishops Lydeard into a holiday home. In July this year a ten year plan for the railway will be published; the plan will set out the railway's future sustainability, aspirations and growth.
The Railway re-opens for business in a few weeks time on 21 March.
26 February 2020 Details gleaned from the BBC website
Standard Class 2 no 78018 for WSR Spring Steam Gala
Don Bishop, Chairman of the WSR Gala Planning Team, writes:
We are very pleased to be able to announce our third and final visiting loco for the big Spring Steam Gala between 23rd and 26th April 2020.
Courtesy of our good friends at the Great Central Railway and loco owning Group, Loughborough Standard Locomotives Group, we will be hosting a return visit of Standard 2 2-6-0 no 78018.
The loco follows the 'BR Standards' theme for our guest locos this time round and joins already announced single chimney 9F no 92134, courtesy of the Self family and the NYMR, and Standard 4 2-6-0 no 76084, courtesy of owners 76084 Locomotive Ltd and the North Norfolk Railway. Thank you to all for making your locos available for a visit to Somerset.
The BR Standards will join the home and long term hired fleet of Manors nos 7822 Foxcote Manor and 7828 Odney Manor, WSR Mogul no 9351 (freshly outshopped in BR Lined Green livery) and subject to final completion of winter maintenance works the ever popular S&D 7F no 53808.
Along with museums, including the refurbished and revamped Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard, shed openings, goods trains, sales stands and all day breakfast on board the Quantock Belle dining train on the Thursday and full dining available on a 'mega train' on the Friday evening and on Sunday for lunch. A very enjoyable event is assured.
Discounted Rover tickets are now available from the West Somerset Railway website [click the button below].
The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust has commissioned Isle Joinery Ltd of Taunton to fabricate a new frame for the Gauge Museum's Roll of Honour. It is being fabricated by a young craftsman from utile hardwood of the mahogany family. The Roll of Honour shows the names of members of the staff of the Great Western Railway Company who lost their lives in the First World War. Many of the men were called upon to participate in some of the fiercest fighting of the campaign. The completed frame and Roll of Honour will be displayed in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard Station; the refurbished musuem re-opens on 11 April this year.
Statements about the lease of Washford Station and Yard
The West Somerset Railway Plc and the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust have each issued press releases concerning the earlier statements about the lease of the Washford Station site. Links to each document are provided below.
The Somerset Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale have announced details of their 2020 Real Ale & Cider Festival:
After two years enjoying the welcome offered by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust at their Washford station home the Real Ale & Cider Festival organised by Somerset Branch of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) is returning to what many regard as its 'rightful' home. Between Friday June 5th and Sunday June 7th the Festival will take place on the platform of Minehead railway station, the 17th time the event has been held there.
These dates coincide once again with the last three days of the latest 'Vintage Diesels To The Seaside' Gala on the West Somerset Railway, an annual event when historic diesel locomotives temporarily displace steam engines at the head of trains between Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, and Minehead. As the locomotives (some of which will be hired in especially for the event) were to be found at the head of trains in the 1970s this chimes nicely with the founding of CAMRA in the early part of that decade. Nearly half a century of dedicated work by many volunteers means that traditional cask ale and historic locomotives are both thriving.
Steam Trust welcomes the WSR's new General Manager
The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust has welcomed the appointment of the Railway's new General Manager, Justin Kerr-Peterson. Chairman Chris Austin said:
We warmly welcome Justin back to the WSR as General Manager and will support him fully in running the railway and increasing the number of visitors to England's longest heritage railway this year.
We were delighted to be involved in the recruitment process and fully endorse the Board's decision to appoint Justin. His earliest days on the railway as a Tracker demonstrate the value of the work we do with young volunteers, particularly on our model railway in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard from which so many have gone on to work on the WSR and indeed the national network.
The railway's new attractions this year include our restored Great Western Coach and a more immersive museum at Bishops Lydeard, telling the railway's story.
The Board of the West Somerset Railway Plc conducted an extensive search recently for a new General Manager to take over the reins for the 22-mile railway following the departure of previous GM Paul Conibeare last year. With some 22 quality applications submitted, detailed interviews and aptitude tests were then held in January by the WSR Plc Board - along with representatives of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust and the West Somerset Railway Association - for the five short-listed candidates before the final appointment was made and confirmed.
The new General Manager is local Taunton railwayman and active WSR volunteer Justin Kerr-Peterson (36) who has worked for Great Western Railway as Senior Possession Strategy Manager at Swindon coordinating important track repair works since 2017, and previously as a senior manager for Network Rail from 2013.
But Mr Kerr-Peterson has also had a 22-year parallel heritage railway career too since 1998 when he first joined the West Somerset Railway's youth organisation as a keen teenage 'Tracker'. He then rose through the WSR ranks to become a Travelling Ticket Inspector when still at school; then becoming a Guard whilst studying Archaeology at Bournemouth University; then joining the WSR's commercial dept full-time and also acting as Assistant to the General Manager before becoming Deputy Operating Superintendent, and then a move to the big railway seven years ago.
West Somerset Railway Plc Chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt commented:
We are very pleased to announce some excellent news about our new GM appointment and we welcome Justin back to the WSR team as one of our own home-grown talent. The Board and I are sure he will show the strength, expertise, knowledge, values and commitment to the WSR that are required to take us forward for the next part of our railway journey together.
Justin proved himself more than capably through our tough interview process and, whilst challenged by some other excellent applicants, the Board of directors and key stakeholders all felt strongly that we had the right candidate in front of us. Clearly Justin has the relevant railway experience and competence to operate as a professional General Manager, and these attributes supported our decision. Personally, I am looking forward to working with him closely, and I know our staff are also very pleased that we have appointed 'one of our own' too. This is another key mile stone for the WSR as we rebuild our wonderful railway, and I'm sure that our 'Wizzer' will now be now safe hands as we hand over the day to day custody to him.
Incoming new WSR General Manager Justin Kerr-Peterson comments:
I am absolutely thrilled and proud to be re-joining the West Somerset Railway 'family' on a full-time basis as the line's new General Manager and look forward to working hard with Jonathan, the Plc Board, our stakeholders, staff and supporters. The WSR holds a very special place in my heart having first starting volunteering back in 1998 as one of the first members of the Trackers Youth Group.
I started off my railway career on the trains as a WSR Ticket Inspector, before becoming a Guard, and following University, I took up a full-time role within the Commercial Team progressing on to General Manager's Assistant and finally Deputy Operating Superintendent before leaving to join the national network. I have remained as a volunteer throughout that time.
Working for both Network Rail and Great Western Railway has also given me a much wider appreciation of railways as a whole and the importance of having clear goals and how to achieve them. I'm looking forward to continuing the work of not only strengthening and re-building the railway's family using my knowledge and skills, but also re-establishing the West Somerset Railway's position in the premier league of UK heritage railways.
Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust given notice to leave
Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust Chairman Ian Young has written to Trust members. Here are some of Ian's words:
Dear member, I am sorry to tell you that we have received a Notice to Terminate the agreement at Washford by February 10th 2021. It has been sent by solicitors acting for the West Somerset Railway plc.
This is very disappointing news for the Trust.
The reason cited by the letter from their solicitors is that the WSR wishes to use the site for their own purposes though they have not furnished any further detail.
We cannot be certain of the outcome of this move but, whatever that might be, it will bring challenges to the Trust.
The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group Limited have announced that, by kind invitation of the North York Moors Railway, Class 47 locomotive no 47077 North Star is expected to travel to North Yorkshire for her return to service after recent body repairs and repainting. While the locomotive may not run on the West Somerset Railway at present, the opportunity has been taken to move the locomotive to Grosmont for an extended
period of operation of up to 12 months.
West Somerset Railway Association Chairman steps down
The Trustees of the West Somerset Railway Association have announced that Paul Whitehouse has resigned as Trustee and Chairman, with immediate effect. Vice Chairman Mike Sherwood has agreed to be 'Acting Chairman' until the Association's Annual General Meeting on 10 July 2020.
The following information on the unofficial Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) Facebook page.
In addition to the Diesel Gala on 4 to 7 June 2020, a DEPG loco will be booked to operate the following services:
Depart 11am Bishops Lydeard to Minehead arrive 12.15pm
Depart 1.20pm Minehead to Williton arrive 2.05pm
Depart 2.20pm Williton to Minehead arrive 3.05pm
Depart 3.30pm Minehead to Bishops Lydeard arrive 4.50pm
on these dates in 2020:
2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May
13, 20, 27 June
4, 11, 18 July
1, 15, 22 August
18, 26 September
All Saturdays so far but will add any further dates when available. Locos to be allocated as soon as possible but should be from nos D9526, D7018, 33 048 and 33 057 subject to availability.
Hopefully the above details will be officially confirmed soon.
Timetables available for the 2020 Spring Steam Gala
The timetables for the 2020 Spring Steam Gala are now available to download from the event page on the official WSR website. Highlights include:
Local trains from Bishops Lydeard to Williton
Express services - with the chance to change at Williton to a following local train for Stogumber and Crowcombe
Goods trains will operate - details will be included in the Gala programme
Trains into the evening on Friday and Saturday, including an evening special to Watchet on Saturday allowing visitors to sample the lovely harbour town.
Chris Austin, Chairman of West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, reports:
The author and broadcaster Christian Wolmar (right) presented the Heritage Railway Association awards in Birmingham on 8 February 2020 and seen here with James Pearson (left) and Tom Shaw (2nd from right) who were runners up for the Lord Faulkner Young Volunteer of the Year award. James is a PIC on the Gauge Museum Model Railway and Tom works regularly in the shop at Bishops Lydeard. With them is Alan Meade, who oversees the model railway.
Bob Meanley - nowadays very much a part of the WSR's new management team - was joint winner of the 'Railway Magazine' award for Railway Preservationist of the Year.
The NYMR won the 'Steam Railway' award for restoration of 9F no 92134 - which of course will be visiting the WSR in April.
We were very proud to see them represent the WSR at these prestigious awards attended by 240 people from the heritage railway world.
Work has continued apace all along the Railway in the first few weeks of 2020.
The most visible works are the track relays at Marsh Common and at Helwell Bay which follow similar tasks now completed near Mineral Line Bridge and at Goviers Lane Crossing. These are in addition to other permanent way tasks.
Meanwhile, cutting back of vegetation at Roebuck Gate Crossing is a fine example of teamwork with participants from several departments working together.
The same can be said for the Tidy Train and its 'multi-department' volunteer work force.
Carriage overhauls are well underway. At Williton's Swindon Shed, the Quantock Belle dining car rake is being repainted into a rather fine BR maroon livery; whilst at Minehead's Carriage Shed, several vehicles from the standard passenger stock are being outshopped in superb BR Western Region chocolate and cream colours.
In the loco shed at Minehead, the team are very busy with winter maintenance of the line's steam locos, particularly nos 9351, 7828 and 53808.
Along the line the local groups are busy refreshing the stations ready for the new season.
At Bishops Lydeard, the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust are undertaking a complete overhaul and a major reorganisation of the Gauge Museum in the former goods shed.
To say the Railway's Commercial Team are busy would be an understatement. Lots of promotional material, both hard copy and digital, is being produced and posted to seemingly every corner of the land. Special days, such as the visit of 'Peppa Pig', are being organised and much updating of the Railway's information tools such as the official website. Some very nice, fresh looking graphics support these fine efforts.
Likewise, the Gala Planning Team beaver away in the background making arrangements for the season's special events ensuring a fine show is put on.
There are any number of other works and projects underway which have not been mentioned but, as with all the above, rightly deserve mighty thanks from all who love and support the West Somerset Railway.
7 February 2020 Details kindly provided by local correspondents
All quiet - for now - at Minehead Station
The Friends of Minehead Station have reminded folks that the station is closed for the weekend although it will be open Monday 3 February to Friday 7 February. The cafe and shop are due to reopen on Tuesday 11 February 2020.
