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| • Duchess of Sutherland to Minehead 20 August 2008
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Steam Dreams say "A new itinerary for Steam Dreams in 2008 combines two of our popular destinations and makes for a wonderful day out through some of England's most beautiful countryside. We depart London's Victoria station around 9am and head out through the suburbs calling at Clapham Jn (9.15am), Staines (9.30am), Ascot (10am) and Reading (10.30am). After travelling via Newbury and and Westbury we call at Castle Cary (12 noon) station for a road connection for those wishing to visit Wells. We then continue on to the West Somerset Railway via Taunton and arrive into Minehead around 2.30pm." The locomotive is LMS 4-6-2 no 46233 Duchess of Sutherland. Timings are provisional.
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| • "The Merchant Venturer" 19 July 2008 CANCELLED
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Without doubt, one of the mainline steam charter highlights of the year takes place on Saturday 19 July when Southern Merchant Navy Pacific no 35028 Clan Line breaks new ground by hauling a very special VSOE British Pullman charter throughout from London Victoria to Minehead and return. Jointly promoted by the new alliance of UK Railtours and Past Time Rail, apart from offering nearly 350 miles of steam haulage, this will be the very first visit of the VSOE British Pullman to the award-winning and highly scenic West Somerset Railway, and the first time that Clan Line has ventured over the full length of ANY UK heritage line since its return to main-line operation in 1973.
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| • Steam Dreams excursion to Minehead 16 July 2008
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Steam Dreams say "A new itinerary for Steam Dreams in 2008 combines two of our popular destinations and makes for a wonderful day out through some of England's most beautiful countryside. We depart London's Victoria station around 9am and head out through the suburbs calling at Clapham Jn (9.15am), Staines (9.30am), Ascot (10am) and Reading (10.30am). After travelling via Newbury and and Westbury we call at Castle Cary (12 noon) station for a road connection for those wishing to visit Wells. We then continue on to the West Somerset Railway via Taunton and arrive into Minehead around 2.30pm." Timings are provisional.
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| • The Stobart Pullman - 21 June 2008
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Minehead & The West Somerset Railway on the Longest Day by Stobart Pullman. Starting at Northampton, picking up at Milton Keynes, Watford Junction, London Euston. By way of the West Coast Mainline from Northampton to Euston, reverse in Euston then West London Junction, Acton Wells junction onto Great Western Mainline to Reading. Then from Reading via the Berks and Hants line to Taunton. At Taunton we transfer to the West Somerset Railway for the journey to Minehead.
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| • Minehead Marauder - 10 May 2008
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First Great Western is running a special excursion train from stations in Wiltshire and the Bristol area for a day out in Minehead on Saturday 10 May. 100% of the ticket price goes to The Railway Children charity and all staff are giving their time for free. There will be entertainment for children on board, and a raffle. The HST special will leave Westbury at approximately 9am, and pick up passengers at Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Bath Spa, Keynsham, Bristol Temple Meads, Nailsea & Backwell, Yatton, Worle (for Weston-super-Mare), Highbridge & Burnham, Bridgwater and Taunton. It will then leave the national network and travel over the heritage West Somerset Railway to the seaside resort of Minehead, arriving at approximately 12.30pm. Full details...
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| First Great Western
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Stobart Railtours, Pullman House, RTC Business Park, London Road, Derby, DE24 8UP. Tel: 01332 374517
| Website First Great Western
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| • Somerset Coast Express - 10 May 2008
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Join the The Somerset Coast Express for a memorable trip direct from a railway station local to Cheshire, via Birmingham, the Lickey Incline and Cheltenham to Bristol, the West Somerset Railway and Minehead. You can either visit Bristol or Minehead or enjoy a trip on the West Somerset Railway to Bishops Lydeard, where you can rejoin the return journey of the Rail Tour. Booking Form...
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| • "West Somerset Explorer" - 9 March 2008 CANCELLED
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A very special train to the West Somerset Railway's first gala event of 2008. This year's theme is the 60th anniversary of the beginnings of British Railways and the end of the big four in December 1947. Steam locomotive's from the big four companies will be present on the Somerset line which stretches from Bishop's Lydeard to Minehead. Starting from Eastleigh our train will be steam hauled by Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific no 34067 Tangmere through Southampton, Romsey and Salisbury to Westbury, Bath and Bristol to Taunton where we join the picturesque West Somerset Railway for a journey over the full length of the line through the Quantock Hills and along the coastline to the pretty seaside resort of Minehead, where approximately three hours will be available for exploration at your leisure.
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| • "Dunster by Candlight Explorer" - 8 Dec 2007
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Featuring The Vintage Trains Explorer Train Set & Heritage Diesel from Tyseley Warwick Road Birmingham Moor Street Stourbridge Junction Kidderminster Droitwich Spa to Minehead for bus transfer to Dunster. Our train leaves the national railway system shortly after passing Taunton and joins the West Somerset Railway travelling the whole length of this railway to the coastal resort of Minehead. Included in the tour cost is the return bus transfer from Minehead to Dunster. Dunster, abounding in old world charm, is commonly referred to as the Jewel of Exmoor, and nestles around the spectacular Dunster Castle. This evening at 4.00pm the village bars motor traffic and goes over to (largely) candle and oil lighting in a step back in time. There is street entertainment including a torchlit procession.
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| • "London and Canterbury Awayday" - 29 Sep 2007
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An excursion that offers passengers a choice of London or Canterbury as the destination. The train picks up at Minehead, Blue Anchor, Watchet, Williton, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads. Fares to London are £29.50 per adult and £19.50 per junior, whilst for an extra £10 each for those going on to Canterbury. For further information and booking details please visit the Hertfordshire Railtours website...
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| • "The West Somerset Railway" - 15 Sep 2007
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[Latest News 15 August 2007: This tour has been cancelled]To Minehead, from Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth and Birmingham New Street.
The West Somerset Railway’s CAMRA Real Ale Festival has become one of those annual favourites which is just too good to miss! What finer way to while away the afternoon than to enjoy convivial company with scores to different ales to sample, enjoying the live music and watching the steam trains come and go! Our fares include travel on our special train right through to Minehead. Should you wish to take a journey on the WSR’s own steam-hauled trains during the afternoon you’ll be entitled to half-price travel. The Standard Class fare is only £39.50 (Junior £29.50) and a buffet car is provided. First Class non-dining is £52.50.
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| • "Weymouth Awayday" - 26 August 2007
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This excursion hauled by vintage Class 31 locomotives runs on Bank Holiday Sunday - 26 August 2007 - and the destination is the Dorset seaside town of Weymouth with its famous beach and sands plus a truly traditional Punch and Judy show. The train picks up at Minehead, Blue Anchor, Watchet, Williton, Bishops Lydeard and Taunton, running via Castle Cary bringing the Class 31s back to their one-time haunt, the Castle Cary to Weymouth line. Adult fares are £27.50 each with Juniors at £17.50. For further information and booking details please visit the Hertfordshire Railtours website...
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| • "The Exmoor Boat Express" - 7 August 2007
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[Latest News: This tour has been cancelled] This diesel hauled excursion recreates the boat trains from the golden days of railway travel, when passengers were taken direct to the docks. Starting from Ealing Broadway 7:20am, and stopping to pick-up at Slough, Maidenhead, Reading 7:55am, Newbury and Hungerford, the train will be hauled by one of the few remaining EWS heritage Class 37 diesels, running to Taunton and then joining the West Somerset Railway for the journey right through to the terminus at Minehead. It is just a short stroll to the Quay, where the preserved MV Balmoral will be waiting to take passengers on an afternoon cruise along the stunning Exmoor coast. A day out with a difference, which is sure to be popular...
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| • Minehead to London on 21 July 2007
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A reverse of the tour below. With No 34067 Tangmere again at the helm, the train departs Minehead 7:30am approx and heads along the West Somerset Railway. After running round at Taunton, the steam hauled charter continues via Exeter, Yeovil Junction and Salisbury, and is expected to arrive at London Waterloo at around midday. After several hours in the Capital, where passengers can spend time at their leisure, the return journey to Minehead is diesel hauled, setting down as outward. The Standard Class fare is again £62.50 (adult) and £40 (child), with First and Premier Dining also available.
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| • London to Minehead on 18 July 2007
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This special train will be steam hauled throughout from London Victoria – picking-up at Clapham Junction, Staines and Reading – to Taunton, and then along the West Somerset Railway to Minehead, by SR ‘Battle of Britain’ 4-6-2 no 34067 Tangmere. Passengers will be able to enjoy around four hours at Minehead to spend as they please. The return journey from Minehead to London will be behind a heritage Class 50 diesel locomotive. The Standard Class fare is £62.50 (adult) and £40 (child), with First and Premier Dining also available.
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| • "The Bright'n Breezy" 1 July 2007
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A steam hauled journey from Bristol to the famous resort of Brighton behind BR Standard 2-6-0 no 76069. The train starts out diesel-hauled from Minehead at 6.30am, and on arrival at Bristol Temple Meads, the steam locomotive takes over, and heads for Bath Spa, Westbury, Salisbury, Romsey and along the South Coast to Brighton. A break of three hours in the Sussex resort before being steam hauled as far as Salisbury and then diesel hauled back to Minehead via Bristol. More...
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| Past-Time Rail Ltd
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| PO Box 49691, London N8 7YS
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| Telephone 01543 411 971
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| Fax 01543 417 531
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| Website Past Time Rail
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| • "The Western Ho!" - 16 June 2007
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The mighty D1015 "Western Champion" storming along the preserved West Somerset Railway is on offer this coming summer, as we head for the West Somerset Railway’s ‘Mixed Traffic’ weekend – a new event in the WSR calendar. The routing for this train will see D1015 heading from London Paddington, along the Great Western main line via Chippenham and Bath Spa. The train will call at Slough, Reading, Didcot Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads. After leaving Bristol we power our way across the Somerset Levels before leaving the main line at Taunton From Taunton we leave the National Network behind and journey along the preserved West Somerset Railway - the 20 mile long line which runs between the Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel through some of the best scenery the county of Somerset can offer. The line terminates at the holiday town of Minehead.
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| | Past-Time Rail Ltd
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| | Postal bookings to PO Box 49691, London N8 7YS
| | Telephone 0871 871 4119
| | Fax 01543 417531
| | Website Past Time Rail
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| • "The West Somerset Railway" - 9 June 2007
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This Merrymaker excursion from London Paddington 7.15am, Slough 7:40am and Reading 8.00am, offers a great value-for-money day out at Minehead. Passengers on the train can enjoy a choice of travel options:
| 1 | Enjoy around four hours in the Somerset coastal town to spend as you please (Adult Standard Class fare - £34.50)
| | 2 | Enjoy a day travelling behind steam on the West Somerset Railway, for which tickets can be purchased on the day at half the normal price (Adult Standard Class fare - £34.50)
| | 3 | A combination of 1 and 2 above.
| | 4 | A fantastic opportunity to enjoy an afternoon cruise from Minehead Harbour on board the paddle steamer The Waverley, built on the River Clyde in 1947 and the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. The vessel has bars, full catering facilities, an observation lounge and an on-board gift shop. (Adult Standard Class fare - £49.50)
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| Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| Pullman House, RTC Business Park, London Road, Derby DE24 8UP
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| Telephone 01332 374 517
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| Website Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| • "The North Star Special" - 28 May 2007
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A very special train – in association with The Blue Pullman Train Company Ltd and run under the sponsorship of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group and Porterbrook Leasing – in connection with the formal handover of Class 47 no 47840/D1661 North Star to the D&EPG for a new life on the West Somerset Railway. This is expected to be the last run on the main line for North Star. Starting at Derby at 8.10am, and stopping to pick-up at Birmingham New Street, Cheltenham Spa, Cam & Dursley and Yate, the train is expected to arrive at Minehead at around 2 o'clock. Upon arrival, there will be time, depending on your interest, to enjoy some steam action on the WSR, a walk along the sea front, an ice cream, fish and chips, or even a pint of something more refreshing. The return journey from Minehead to Derby will (subject to availability) be worked by Class 45 Peak no 45112. Only First and Premier Class tickets are available - £54.50 and £96 respectively.
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| Heartland Rail
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| The Old Cottage, Piccadilly Mill, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2HT
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| Telephone 0845 607 6395 or 01453 765 848
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| Website Heartland Rail
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| • Llandrindod Wells and Central Wales - 12 May 2007
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Cancelled. To Llandrindod Wells, from Minehead, Blue Anchor, Watchet, Williton, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Weston super Mare and Bristol Temple Meads. A superb circular tour of the Central Wales Line with a short break in the fascinating little Victorian township of Llandrindod Wells. Our route is via the Severn Tunnel, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Swansea District Line, Hendy Junction, Llandovery and Sugar Loaf Summit to Llandrindod Wells where we have a break of just over an hour. Our circular route continues via Knucklas, Craven Arms, Abbey Foregate, Wolverhampton and the Birmingham area, returning south via the Lickey Incline and Cheltenham Spa. The Standard fare is only £29.50 (Junior £19.50).
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| Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| FM Rail, RTC Business Park, London Rd, Derby DE24 8UP
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| Telephone 01332 374517
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| Website Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| • The Eternal City of York - 28 April 2007
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To York, from Minehead, Blue Anchor, Watchet, Williton, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Weston super Mare, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway. For our friends in the West, a through train from Minehead to the city of York! With over three hours in York and the station is just ten minutes level walk from the Minster and the rest of the historic city centre. The Standard fare is only £29.50 (Junior £19.50).
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| Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| FM Rail, RTC Business Park, London Rd, Derby DE24 8UP
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| Telephone 01332 374517
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| Website Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| • The West Somerset Coast Express - 14 April 2007
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Join us for a trip along the beautiful Somerset Coast line to the fabulous seaside resort of Minehead by Special Intercity train direct from local Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire stations. There will be a choice available of an afternoon break in either the beautiful idyllic medieval village of Dunster or an afternoon at Minehead. Passengers may choose to alight from our charter at Bishops Lydeard and explore this private railway by steam train at discounted fares on the special services operated to Minehead.. For full details of the train and fares please contact Compass Tours.
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| • The Bath & Quantock Hills Explorer - 31 March 2007
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This diesel-hauled charter (probably by a Class 47) starts from North Walsham (Norfolk) and stops to pick-up at Hoveton & Wroxham, Norwich, Diss, Stowmarket, Ipswich, Manningtree, Colchester, Witham, Chelmsford and Stratford. Passengers have the option of alighting at Bath or Taunton, or remaining on the train and enjoying a trip along the West Somerset Railway to Minehead. The Standard Class return fare for the WSR option is £56.70 for Adults and £31 for Children.
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| Nenta Traintours
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| Railtour House, 10 Buxton Road, North Walsham, Norfolk NR28 0ED
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| Telephone 01692 406152
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| Website Nenta Traintours
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| • "The Trafalgar Express" - 31 March 2007
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This charter is expected to see the main line return of SR 4-6-0 no 850 "Lord Nelson". Starting from Eastleigh at 8am – and picking up at Southampton Central (8.20am), Romsey (8.40am) and Salisbury (9.10am) – the train will be diesel hauled to Minehead, via Westbury and Castle Cary. The return leg will be hauled throughout by "Lord Nelson" from Minehead to Eastleigh, via Taunton, Bristol and Westbury. Fares start at just £59 for a Standard Class return. More...
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| • Make Merry to Minehead - 24 March 2007
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To Minehead from Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Burton on Trent, Tamworth and Barnt Green for the Spring Steam Gala. Enjoy an intensive service of steam trains in operation - or simply relax for a few hours beside the sea. The Merrymaker fare includes travel right through to Minehead and back, diesel-hauled, with a break of nearly four hours. Merrymaker customers will be entitled to a 50% reduction on WSR steam train fares through the afternoon, so you can do as much or as little as you please! The Standard fare is only £29.50 (Junior £19.50).
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| Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| FM Rail, RTC Business Park, London Rd, Derby DE24 8UP
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| Telephone 01332 374517
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| Website Hertfordshire Rail Tours
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| • "The Cider Express" 10 March 2007
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A steam train linking two of the great Cider producing counties is on offer this coming spring, when ex GWR 4-6-0 no 7802 "Bradley Manor" hauls our special train from Hereford to Minehead in the county of Somerset. This will be one of the last chances to travel behind "Bradley Manor" before she is retired from mainline duty. Leaving Birmingham New Street in the morning diesel-hauled to Hereford making further calls en-route to pick up other passengers. On arrival at Hereford "Bradley Manor" will be waiting to haul our train onwards. At Bristol another stop for water will be in order allowing time to view our gallant engine and to have a chat with the footplate crew. Leaving Bristol we steam across the Somerset Levels before arriving at Taunton. From Taunton we leave the National Network behind and steam along the preserved West Somerset Railway - the 20 mile long line which runs between the Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel through some of the best scenery the county of Somerset can offer. Minehead station is on the seafront and has a large gift shop, "Readers Halt" second hand books and plenty of locomotives to see in the yards. It is a short walk to the town centre, the peaceful old town on North Hill and the harbour. All too soon it will be time to re-join the train for the journey back to Birmingham with "Bradley Manor" working the train back along the West Somerset Railway as far as Bishops Lydeard. On arrival at Bishops Lydeard we bid farewell to ‘Bradley Manor’ and return homewards setting down as outward behind a more modern diesel locomotive. More...
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| Past-Time Rail Ltd
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| 116 Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6EU
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| Telephone 0871 871 4119
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| Website Past Time Rail
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| | • Send us your WSR news...
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| | official & unofficial sources
| | Please email WSR news
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