Over the next couple of weeks the WSR will be offering social media followers the opportunity to get involved in a mystery game involving 'Brunel K Beagle' and some strange characters from across the Railway. All details can be found on the West Somerset Railway's Facebook page - see below for link.

The game will revolve around a 'make believe crime' that has been committed at Minehead Station. Each day our followers will be introduced to the suspects and the evidence, which will help you piece together the clues. Your job is to help Brunel find out who the culprit is!

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust have announced their Annual General Meeting will now be held on Saturday 14 November at 2pm by Zoom. Details will be sent to members 21 days before the meeting. The Trust add:

The temporary suspension of applications for Trust membership will also be lifted from 1 October - this had to be put in place while the Trust's volunteers dealt with an unprecedented, but welcome surge in applications to belong to the Trust, which has doubled in size since May.

The Friends of Minehead Station (FoMS) report:

Railways on the Air (ROTA) is an annual event for amateur radio enthusiasts and has been happening since about 2008. For the first time this year, thanks to FoMS committee member Richard Newton, the Railway is taking part over the weekend of 26 and 27 September along with some 31 other railways throughout the country. Richard set up the necessary equipment in a coach on platform 2 at Minehead Station.

It was really busy for Richard on the first day. He single-handed spoke with no less than 77 other radio stations not connected with a railway and 7 other heritage railways. These included the Bluebell, the Welsh Highland and the Helston Railway in deepest Cornwall.

A lot of interest was shown from folks visiting Minehead Station although, due to Covid restrictions, they were not able to use the radio equipment and had to be content with listening and watching from a safe distance. All being well, there will be a repeat performance on the second day (27 September) so, if you are near Minehead Station during the day, why not pop down and have a look. The Turntable Cafe will also be open together with the Buffer Stop Shop and the FoMS outlet, Readers Halt.

Kate Beard at the Bishops Lydeard Station Shop writes:

Although no trains are arriving yet at the platforms outside, new railway books have been arriving on our shelves over the last few weeks, as seen in the accompanying view of our 'New Books corner'. We have also added to our selection of pre-loved books for those of you who like a bargain. Why not pop along to see us on Saturdays between 10am and 3pm.

Don't forget we continue to take orders for the latest model railway and diecast releases from the likes of Hornby, Bachmann, Peco, Dapol, Oxford and Heljan. Just call in or e-mail us with your requirements to kate.beard@wsrail.net. We can also take your order over the phone during our Saturday shop hours on 01823 430570, and we can arrange mail order if necessary within the UK.

Customers may also like to know that we are having a Clearance Sale of a selection of Hornby and Bachmann locomotives starting on Saturday 3rd October, so do pop in and pick up a bargain.

Online tickets for the Santa Express trains in December have been published along with train times and dates.

We are pleased to announce that our Santa Express Tickets are now available through the official WSR website!

Travel with us from Bishops Lydeard on one of our services this December and have an experience to remember.

Please visit our website for further details. Click or tap the button below...

The Partnership Development Group (PDG) met this week to consider proposals from the Plc towards achieving 'One Railway' via a fundamental re-organisation of the Plc to create a parent charity, with the Plc operating as a subsidiary company. The meeting was also attended by John Bailey, architect of the recent report recommending these changes.

The whole PDG was unanimous in supporting the roadmap and principles of the Plc initiative. It endorsed the terms of reference for the project and has also agreed to act as a reference group for ongoing consultation and assist with project development.

The Group recommended that the project should get underway as quickly as possible since there appears to be a consensus across the majority of people on the railway that this is right way forward. Indeed, there was an element of 'just get on with it' along with a recommendation to try and find a respected and independent chairman to lead the initial formation of a new parent charity and develop relevant articles of association

Steve Williams, PDG Chairman commented:

This is potentially the biggest change to the WSR railway structure in over 40 years and it was heartening to see a cross-party consensus across all representatives on the PDG. It also re-enforced the message that in order to achieve the required agreement on the proposed changes, it is important to work across all groups in a process of consensual evolution

Mike Thompson Plc Project Lead confirmed that the next steps are to send a letter to all shareholders of the Plc outlining the broad proposals to solicit an initial indicative response. If this is broadly favourable, the next phase will be to develop appropriate timescales and milestones toward achieving the desired re-organisation, ready to present for approval by the relevant member groups, no later than their 2021 AGMs.

Note: The PDG is the West Somerset Railway stakeholder forum established to consider and advise on policy and other matters affecting the whole railway.The group includes representatives from the West Somerset Railway Association. West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, Diesel & Electric Group, Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust and representatives for Staff, Station Masters and Friends groups, as well as the Plc and representatives from the Local Councils.

Steve Williams, WSR Plc Director, has written to staff and volunteers about the appointment of a Interim Lead Civil Engineer.

The Board is delighted to be able to announce that Andrew Young has returned to the PLC in a part-time interim role as Lead Civil Engineer. He will be working on a consultative basis with Board Directors and the Infrastructure Team on the programme of work needed to prepare for running of trains at Christmas and for the reopening of the railway in March 2021. Andrew is with us until 31 March 2021. In the meantime, the Board is looking to recruit to a substantive appointment of Head of Infrastructure and it is intended that, subject to a successful outcome, there will be a period of transition and handover before March.

Seaward Way Level Crossing was installed at Marsh Common in 1992 at the point where the line between Minehead and Dunster was to be crossed on the level by a new road, later named Seaward Way. It was of modern design, having half-barriers and flashing red lights for road users and was operated, most of the time, automatically by approaching trains. The road is now significantly busier with more vehicles and much greater use by pedestrians.

After more than thirty years the crossing equipment is life expired and replacement is necessary. Somerset County Council is responsible for the costs of refurbishing the crossing.

The opportunity has been taken to upgrade to a full barrier crossing which when operated will close the road and footpaths completely. Other changes will allow some rail traffic shunting movements to avoid use of the crossing completely, making such movements quicker with no disruption to road traffic. A start was made with new road surface laid during the last winter and now plans are in hand to carry out a full replacement of all equipment over this winter.

It now seems the crossing mechanisms have become unreliable. The crossing is out of normal use; trains can only use the crossing when handsignallers are present and given this is a very busy road, regularly operating the crossing in this way is not an option.

Somerset County Council and the Railway plan to have the works completed by the end of March 2021. Part of this work will include road closure.

Much of the above is gleaned from the West Somerset Railway's 'The Platform' newsletter.

The West Somerset Railway seem very excited about this announcement...

We have some very exciting news, Christmas is coming to the West Somerset Railway!

Tickets and further information will be available shortly.

Keep your eye out on our social media channels [and websites] for more information.

The DEPG held its Annual General Meeting on 19 September 2020 at Williton Diesel Depot. Click the button below for the full synopsis.

The meeting was held inside the main diesel shed which had been specially prepared for the occasion with the seating being carefully spaced out to 2m separation and the main doors pinned open to allow as much natural ventilation as possible. The moderate breeze and warm temperatures on the day certainly helped to make it a comfortable experience. There were 28 attendees who were required to sanitise on arrival and wear masks throughout, and ushers wearing masks and faceshields helped with the registration admin, keeping everyone suitably distanced at all times.

Claire Sheppy has provided an update on the recent weeding session at Nethercott Bridge:

Due to potential problems of access, we were only going to take four people on this particular weeding party, accessing the line at Nethercott foot crossing. As it was, we were one person short as one of our team was not well. We did not quite achieve what we were hoping to as we were wanting to complete the section from the foot crossing to the railway bridge. We shall go back and finish it another time.

Meanwhile Shirley Turner writes about a forthcoming weeding task at Watts Bank, between Whiskey Trail Crossing and Watersmeet Bridge:

Lee Robbins is needing some assistance on Saturday 3 October to finalise the weeding from Watersmeet Bridge to Whisky Trail. This will then complete the section from Watersmeet Bridge to Bishops Lydeard and through the station. Also Claire's team will not be long before they link up with Lee Robbins, meaning that Crowcombe right through to Bishops Lydeard will be complete. Also Phil Hall's team have reached Leighwood Crossing, so it won't be that long before we have a completely weeded line right from beyond Stogumber (Williton side) to Bishops Lydeard. Good work by all involved!

Following a meeting on 15 September 2020, involving the Chairmen of the West Somerset Railway Plc, the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) and the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust (WSSRT), they asked John Bailey to assess independently their shared vision of the best way of securing an harmonious future for the WSR.

John Bailey's assessment compares the 'evolution' approach (which is essentially involves moving as quickly as possible to create a brand new charity) and the 'revolution' approach (which he suggests is merger of the WSRA and WSSRT).

His conclusion and recommendation is for evolution which is endorsed by and recommended to their respective Boards by Jon Jones-Pratt (Chairman of WSR Plc) , Mike Sherwood (Chairman of WSRA) and Chris Austin (Chairman of WSSRT).

It is best not to try to explain further here the concepts, reasoning and conclusions. Please read the assessment in full on the Changing Shape blog (see below)

The Williton-based Diesel and Electric Preservation Group have issued an update about their Annual General Meeting due to be held on 19 September 2020:

The DEPG AGM will be held at Williton depot on Saturday, 19th September, with strict controls in force to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In the light of the recent Government announcements, the board have reviewed the arrangements for allowing visitors to the site and made further enhancements to the measures that will be taken to protect the attendees and prevent the spread of the disease. Compliance with these rules will allow members to attend safely.

Being a legally required procedure that is held at a workplace, the AGM is exempt from the 'rule of six' restriction, but the DEPG are required to ensure that proper measures have been taken and must ensure that attendees comply.

Postponement was considered, but with good weather forecast, the open and airy environment of the loco shed will be a safe venue for the AGM, provided that the rules are respected by all who attend. We will be providing ushers to make sure that visitors can book in and take their 2m-spaced seats without forming tight queues, and to make sure that everyone leaves the site in a similar orderly manner.

The Minehead Station Master, Alan Smithers, posting on Facebook reminds us:

Minehead station shop is still open Saturdays and Sundays 9.30am to 3.00pm. We still have stocks of the 2020 buffet mugs, WSR face masks, 2021 calendars and some great bargain 00 railway stock, along with books and souvenirs. And don't forget the shop at Bishops Lydeard Station is also open Saturdays 10am till 3pm. It's never too early to start Christmas shopping.

The National Transport Trust Commemorative Awards comprise four Commemorative awards named after key founding members of the Transport Trust and represent the very best of the year’s nominated projects.

The West Somerset Railway Association's project to overhaul their ex-GWR 'Small Prairie' no 4561 has been awarded the National Transport Trust's 'Alan Moore Award' for 2020.

The Alan Moore awards for restoration assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. in addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owners.

The recent successful bid by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust resulted in an award of £28,700 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund's (NLHF) 'Heritage Emergency Fund'. This will allow the Trust to be Covid-19 secure when it is able to reopen the museums to the public again, and also to resume work on carriage restoration and protect historic vehicles.

Trust volunteers were at Williton on 9 September 2020 to resume work on carriage restoration again after an enforced absence of six months. One of their first tasks, using money secured from the NLHF's 'Heritage Emergency Fund' is to provide or replace covers on the coaches awaiting long-term restoration, and which will protect them for the future.

From the West Somerset Railway Association...

The 25th WSRA AGM will take place on 26 September at 10.00am. Papers are being sent out with the Journal and should reach you this week. However, everything you need is also available on the website and we would ask that as many people as possible complete the online forms, rather than returning paper copies.

To comply with the COVID regulations numbers allowed in the hall are limited and places MUST be pre-booked. There is a booking system in place on our website to facilitate this. Please note that refreshments will not be served on this occasion and face coverings must be worn inside the hall.

We are also working to supplement the physical meeting with an online meeting, places can also be booked via the website and you will be emailed joining instructions. We have been advised that voting via the online system may be problematic so we're asking anyone wishing to attend remotely to also complete the proxy voting form on the website. We are doing everything we can to ensure a great experience for those attending remotely, as well as those attending in person.

Details on the website are accurate today, but subject to change, so please check back before leaving home to attend the meeting.

If you have any questions or concerns please email jacquie.green@wsra.org.uk and I'll do my best to answer.

Sad news. A joint statement has been issued by the Mid-Hants Railway Limited, Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society Limited and the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust Limited:

The Mid-Hants Railway has offered to help house a part of the collection of vehicles and artefacts belonging to the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust, which has been asked to leave the current site at Washford in Somerset, while a permanent location for its collection is sought.

Additional information from the S&DRT:

With the required movement of all items belonging to the S&DRT at Washford, we appeal to people from the wider heritage railway movement for donations to accomplish this move. Although the Trust has some funds to begin the huge task of transporting some stock, it will be a very costly exercise to complete the whole operation within the next few months. The Trust has the largest collection of artefacts from the Somerset & Dorset Railway and this will have to be carefully removed and possibly stored for the immediate future.

This website was hoping to bring news of a positive nature but it is clear from this statement that despite the talks with WSR Plc to resolve the 'notice to quit', the S&DRT has reached the point at which plans become actions. Many WSR supporters will be saddened by this.

Following discussions between the organisers, the West Somerset Railway and Minehead BID it was been decided with sadness to postpone this weekend's planned 1940s event in Minehead. Robin Wichard organiser of the weekend said:

We have taken this very difficult decision in the light of the latest government guidance. We remain convinced that the health and well-being of participant and public alike must be our greatest priority. We appreciate that any decision will have consequences for people already committed to attending but we hope that people will understand our reasoning and be assured that we will host the event when the situation improves.

Friends of Minehead Station (FoMS) are pleased to announce that, as well as a Facebook page, they now have a web page at friendsofmineheadstation.org thanks to sterling work by committee member Richard. FoMS add that there is still quite a bit of work to do but the page is now active so do pay a visit.

The West Somerset Railway Association have published the agreed Minutes of the Board Meeting of 21 July 2020 and a synopsis of the more recent Board Meeting held on 25 August 2020. Click or tap the buttons below to load the documents from the Association's website.

The West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) say:

WSRA fundraiser, Kate Williams, reports that we have received a grant of £3,500 from the Aurelius Charitable Trust to help towards the restoration costs of GWR 'Small Prairie' 2-6-2T no 4561. This brings the total secured towards this project from trusts and foundations to £82,940.67. The Aurelius Charitable Trust makes donations reflecting the founder's interests in the conservation of culture inherited from the past and the dissemination of knowledge, particularly in the humanities field although not in the educational field.

Together with individual and regular giving commitments we have now raised almost £150,000 towards the restoration of Small Prairie 4561. Work is ongoing at Williton..read the blog [see button below]

There will be an evening function on the platform at Minehead on Saturday 12 September 2020 with music by the Liberty Sisters and Ricky Hunter. Social distancing and compliance with Covid guidelines will be maintained. 7.00pm til 10.30pm. More information can be obtained from the Facebook page of the event.

The West Somerset Railway Plc have announced:

Owing to the impact of Covid 19 and the consequent implications in terms of the ability to produce the statutory accounts in time, the PLC Board has had to take the decision to defer the Company 2020 AGM and the published date of 26th September has now been cancelled.

The new date will be Saturday, 21 November 2020 probably beginning at 2 PM. Owing to the restrictions imposed by social distancing rules, the PLC is examining options for holding the meeting with a preference for a physical meeting if this can be achieved. Full details will be published to shareholders as soon as the arrangements be finalised.

Helen Anson, the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust's Education Learning Officer, introduces the Trust's 'Brunel Great Western Railway Challenge' on the latest video from WSRTV. The video (see button below for link to YouTube) includes a fine explanation of the purpose of the Challenge which is aimed at younger folk but also fun for bigger 'children' of any age; details of how to download the Challenge Learning Pack from the Trust website (see below for link); and a look at a bridge building exercise. In fact, the video is so good it has been added to this news item.

A statement has been issued by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust concering the charity's upcoming Annual General Meeting:

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust announces with regret that it is having to defer its Annual General Meeting from the proposed date of September 19th to a date later in the year. The Chairman, Chris Austin, will be writing to members in the next few days to explain the reason for this and to advise the revised date for the meeting.

The full statement can be read on the Trust's website - click or tap the button below.

The West Somerset Railway Plc have announced that the third weekend of the Living Museum event at Minehead has raised £10,400 - the highest of any of the weekends so far, helped by the additional Bank Holiday Monday.

The Plc Board thank all volunteers and staff who came together to make this event such a success, adding it was another great opportunity to show off the railway at its best to the public, despite the limitations caused by the Covid-19 restrictions. Chairman of the PLC, Jonathan Jones-Pratt commented:

With a record income coming from ticket sales, shop and cafe sales and money raised from donations and purchases at the FOMS bookstall and other pop-up stalls, this was a wonderful way to raise some much-needed funds and to keep the railway on the map amongst both local people and holidaymakers alike. Hopefully, we will soon be back to running fully loaded trains along the whole length of the line from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard.

The next and final Living Museum weekend event will be held over 12 and 13 September as part of the Forties Weekend celebrations held annually in Minehead, with several extra features to reflect the usual theme and costume of the period.

Finally, the Railway say that it has tentative plans to run some Christmas services during the December period, providing there is no repeat spike in local Covid-19 cases. Plans for these services will be published very soon - keep a look out on the official WSR website.

Here is a Facebook post from the Friends of Minehead Station:

Whilst it is hoped that Readers Halt will be open as many days as we can, helped by our wonderful volunteers, during September, it is understood that the Buffer Stop Shop and Turntable Cafe will be open on Saturdays and Sundays during the month plus Friday 11 September - the day before the 1940s Weekend. Apart from the 12 and 13 September, entry to the station will be free. 'Keeping the Station alive'

The updated Emergency Funding Appeal figures up to 31 August for the West Somerset Railway Plc are as follows...

The West Somerset Railway Association's Rail Renewal 2020 appeal now totals £36,055,00.

The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust's appeal (updated monthly or when any significant donations are made) totals £18,574.53.

The separate WSRA appeal to refurbish the line's Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) stands at £2,480 of the £5,000 target.

The WSRA’s loco renewal fund stands at £3,837.00 and along with a donation to cutting back equipment of £1,070.00, for completeness for all current appeals, this is now included in the total figures too.

Together that makes a Grand Total of £230,395.79 from all sources.

The Trustees of the West Somerset Railway Association and the Board of the West Somerset Railway Plc have announced an agreement which will financially support the Railway during these challenging times. The agreement means that:

• The Association has sold their promotions business (which operates a shop and café at Bishops Lydeard and a restoration workshop at Williton) to the Plc.
• The Plc will pay the Association an agreed sum of £90,721 for the assets of that business.
• The Association will loan £70,000 to support the Plc, which has been prevented from operating by the Covid-19 restrictions. The low-interest loan is secured by charges on two WSR Plc owned coaches.

Mike Sherwood, acting Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) said:

I am pleased that we have been able to conclude this matter to the satisfaction of both parties. The WSRA will now be able to give its full attention to fundraising on behalf of the railway, to further supplement the financial support we are already providing at Williton, Minehead and via the rail renewal campaign.

Jonathan Jones-Pratt Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Plc said:

Both parties have worked hard to bring this matter to a successful conclusion. We can now move on to focus on the preparations and funding necessary to bring the railway back into operation