The West Somerset Railway on the Web
 • Previous Through Trains 1999-2003...

The list currently includes through trains since the birth of this web site

6 December 2003 - Dunster to Candlelight 2


 An opportunity to visit Dunster by Candlelight for people living in Cardiff, Newport, Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, and various places in between. This Pathfinder charter – which will see Class 46 haulage – leaves Cardiff Central at 1.35 pm, then picks up at Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Filton Abbey Wood, Bristol Temple Meads, Nailsea & Backwell, Yatton and Weston-super-Mare. Arrival at Dunster is at 5.05 pm and Minehead at 5.15 pm. The timings allow for three hours in Dunster, with the return train departing Minehead at 8.15 pm.

· For details, contact Pathfinder Tours, Stag House, Gydynap Lane, Inchbrook, Woodchester, Gloucestershire GL5 5EZ, or telephone 01453 835414 or visit www.toursatpathfinder.freeserve.co.uk.

Dunster
13 September 2003 - London to West Somerset
Attics and Basements - Dunster
The Quantock - Minehead


 A combined diesel-powered excursion to either Dunster Castle or Minehead. Departs London Paddington at 7.45am, Slough at 8.10am and Reading at 8.30pm, then non-stop to the West Somerset Railway. The excursion will consist of the "Pride of the Nation" First Class train.

· For details, contact Hertfordshire Railtours PO Box 350, Welwyn AL6 0WG Tel: 01438 718125 (09.00-17.00, Monday-Friday) or www.traintrips.co.uk.

Hertfordshire Railtours
17 May 2003 - Leeds to Minehead

This Class 47-hauled charter originates at Leeds, picking-up at Huddersfield and Stockport, with a choice of three destinations – Bath, Bristol or Minehead.

· Details from Green Express Railtours – 01484 422920.

11 May 2003 - "The Minehead Voyager II"

A second opportunity to travel to Minehead on a Virgin Trains Class 220 Voyager, which is being run in conjunction with the WSR’s Cross-Country Weekend. This special train will depart from Bristol Temple Meads at around 8.15am, returning from Minehead at 4.30pm, and is scheduled to run non-stop in each direction. Tickets for the round trip cost £20.00, or just £28.00 to include a WSR Day Rover ticket – which will give participants an opportunity to travel behind many of the other diesel and steam locomotives in action at the Gala. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

· For details and bookings, contact West Somerset Railway, The Railway Station, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5BG. Credit/debit card bookings by telephone are welcome – 01643 704996.

10 May 2003 - "The Minehead Voyager I"

A unique opportunity to travel to Minehead on a Virgin Trains Class 220 Voyager, which is being run in conjunction with the WSR’s Cross-Country Weekend. This special train will depart from Bristol Temple Meads at around 8.15am, returning from Minehead at 4.30pm, and is scheduled to run non-stop in each direction. Upon arrival at Minehead, the Voyager – No 220 008 – will be named "Somerset Voyager" in a special ceremony on the platform. Tickets for the round trip cost £20.00, or just £28.00 to include a WSR Day Rover ticket – which will give participants an opportunity to travel behind many of the other diesel and steam locomotives in action at the Gala. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

· For details and bookings, contact West Somerset Railway, The Railway Station, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5BG. Credit/debit card bookings by telephone are welcome – 01643 704996.

29 March 2003 - Merrymaker to Minehead

Another very popular and excellently priced Merrymaker excursions from of Hertfordshire Railtours, which will run through to Minehead on the Saturday of the 2003 Spring Steam Gala. Passengers will have over three hours to enjoy the WSR and/or Minehead – including the opportunity to travel behind steam on the Railway at half price. This special train picks up at London Finsbury Park, Ealing Broadway, Slough and Reading – setting down on the WSR at Bishops Lydeard, Dunster and Minehead, this giving many different travel options. The standard fare is only £24.50 (Junior £12.25), with First Class Gold (including meals) priced at £89.00.

· For details, contact Hertfordshire Railtours PO Box 350, Welwyn AL6 0WG Tel: 01438 718125 (09.00-17.00, Monday-Friday) or www.traintrips.co.uk.

Hertfordshire Railtours
 7 December 2002
The High Speed Train train starts from Bristol Temple Meads at approximately 4pm, calling at Nailsea & Backwell, Yatton, Weston-super-Mare, Highbridge and Taunton. Fare: £22 Adult, £17 Child - £3 less from Weston, £5 less from Highbridge, £7 less from Taunton. First Class £9 extra.

For details, contact Cheshire Railtours, Golsoncott Cottage, Rodhuish, Minehead TA24 6QZ Tel: 01984 640005

 14 September 2002
Diesel hauled Hertfordshire Railtours special from the Home Counties to Minehead and back. Coincides with the CAMRA weekend at Minehead Station. Reported fully booked by end of July

 3 August 2002
“The Yesteryear Special” This Class 47-hauled charter will start from Leamington Spa, calling at Solihull, Birmingham Snow Hill, Stourbridge Junction, Kidderminster, Droitwich, Worcester Shrub Hill, Ashchurch and Cheltenham (with a special connecting train from/to Bridgnorth to Kidderminster). On arrival at the WSR passengers will have three options: 1. Alight at Bishops Lydeard for the popular WSRA Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally (small admission charge); 2. Continue on the train to Minehead (4-hour stay); 3. Stop off at Bishops Lydeard for the Rally and continue to Minehead on later WSR steam train (£3 extra). Fare: £37 Adult, £29 Child - £2 less from Droitwich, Worcester, Ashchurch and Cheltenham. First Class £18 extra.
Details: Cheshire Railtours, Golsoncott Cottage, Rodhuish, Minehead TA24 6QZ Tel: 01984 640005

 27 July 2002
GWR 4-6-0 no 6024 "King Edward I" on Oxford to Minehead special. No more details at present.
Details: Daylight Railtours 01962 733810

 18 May 2002
Diesel hauled Altrincham to Minehead. No more details at present.

 12 May 2002
LNER A3 'Pacific' 4-6-2 No 4472 Flying Scotsman" will haul a London to Minehead special. Cancelled.

 23 March 2002
GWR 4-6-0 no 5051 "Earl Bathurst" will haul a London Paddington (dep 7.45am) to Minehead special. The trip coincides with the Railway's Spring Steam Gala. The loco will haul the return train as far as Bishops Lydeard, where a diesel will take over for the run to Paddington.
(Pathfinder Railtours 01453 835414)

 8 December 2001
"Candlelight Express" HST from Bristol to Dunster for the "Dunster by Candlelight 2001" event. No more details at present.
(Cheshire Railtours 01984 640005)

 7 December 2001
Special from the Midlands, headed by a Class 56 (first ever visit by this class) for the "Dunster by Candlelight 2001" event.Starts at Crewe, calling several stations to Bristol.
(Pathfinder Railtours 01453 835414)

 1 September 2001
Merrymaker - Letchworth to Minehead Departs Letchworth at 7am, and then calls at Stevenage, Potters Bar, Finsbury Park, Slough and Reading, before the run to Bishops Lydeard, Dunster and Minehead. Likely to be fourteen Mk 1 coaches hauled by Class 66 loco.
(Hertfordshire Railtours 01438 812125 or web site)

 4 August 2001
"The Western Coastliner" - London Victoria to Minehead Class 47-hauled train from London Victoria and stations to Wokingham to the WSR and return. Alight either at Bishops Lydeard (for the Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally), or continue to Minehead. Several options available, including the chance of a steam trip on the WSR.
(Cheshire Railtours 01984 640005)

 19 May 2001
"Capital Castle" - Minehead-Paddington-Minehead Minehead to London Paddington behind GWR 4-6-0s no 5029 "Nunney Castle" and no 6024 "King Edward I". Super power indeed! Return train expected to be hauled by Class 67 diesel. Departs Minehead at 7am, arrive back at 11pm.
(Pathfinder Railtours 01453 835414)

 31 March 2001
Class 66 and 14 coaches
Hertfordshire Railtours special from Letchworth, Stevenage, Potters Bar, Finsbury Park, Ealing Broadway, Slough and Reading to Minehead and return
(Hertfordshire Railtours 01438 812125 or web site)

 24 March 2001
Blackpool and Crewe to Minehead by Steam
CANCELLED
 17 March 2001
Crewe to Minehead by Steam
GWR 4-6-0 "Nunney Castle"
 17 March 2001
"The Exmoor Express " - London Paddington to Minehead by Steam ("Kinlet Hall") via Slough, Reading, Newbury and Frome. Will be piloted over the WSR.
(Past-TimeRail 01543 411971 or web site)
 2 December 2000
"Candlelight Express" HST from Bristol, calling also at Bedminster, Nailsea, Yatton, Weston Super Mare, Highbridge, Bridgwater and Taunton, and then on to Dunster for the "Dunster by Candlelight 2000" event
(Cheshire Railtours 01984 640005)

 14 October 2000
Peterborough to Minehead - Class 66 and fourteen coaches
(Hertfordshire Railtours 01438 812125 or web site)

 30 September 2000
Preston to Minehead. Return is expected to be hauled by "Taw Valley"
(John Fishwick and Sons 00772 421207)

 16 September 2000
Crewe to Minehead
(Eagle Rail Tours)

 9 September 2000
West Country no 34016 "Bodmin" from Alton, Aldershot, Guildford and Reading to Bishops Lydeard for West Somerset Railway Gala. Outward and return via Westbury, Frome and Taunton. WSR locomotive haulage to and from Minehead. Diesel haulage (Class 37 requested) from Bishops Lydeard to Westbury, where 34016 takes over through to Alton.
(Daylight Railtours 01962 733810 or web site)

 5 August 2000
"Exmoor Coast Express" - Crewe, Nantwich etx to Minehead. Class 47 haulage throughout
(Cheshire Railtours 01984 640005)

 6 May 2000
Blackpool North to Minehead. 2xDRS Class 20s with eleven coaches.
John Fishwick and Sons

 24 March 2000 "West Countryman"
Wolverhampton, Birmingham and stations to Cheltenham, to Minehead and return operated by a Great Western Trains High Speed Train.
(Cheshire Railtours 01984 640005)

 18 March 2000 "The Exmoor Belle"
London to Minehead via Slough, Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon, Chippenham, hauled by GWR "King" 4-6-0 no 6024 "King Edward I". Will be piloted over the WSR by a "Manor", and hauled back to Bishops Lydeard by a "Western" diesel-hydraulic, then an EWS class 47 back to London
(Pathfinder Railtours 01453 835414)

 13 November 1999 "Lord Mayor's Christmas Express"
Minehead to London Paddington for the Lord Mayor's Parade - and Christmas shopping!
(Cheshire Railtours 01984 640005)

 11 September 1999 "The West Somerset Railway Limited"
Mid Hants BR Class 5 4-6-0 no 73096 Alton to Minehead
(Daylight Railtours 01952 733810)

 24 July 1999
Details awaited. Special will be headed by two Direct Rail Services Class 37s
(Eagle Rail Tours)

 17 July 1999
Felixstowe to Minehead headed by "Hoover" No 50050 "Fearless"
(NENTA Traintours)

 3 July 1999 "The Cheddar Cheese"
Preston and Stalybridge to Minehead - the "Regency Rail" set of luxury coaches

  5 June 1999 "The West Somerset Welshman"
Minehead to Tenby and Pembroke Dock via Severn Tunnel
(Cheshire Railtours 01984 640005)

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