The West Somerset Railway on the Web

Spring Steam Gala    22,23,24 March 2002

You will not want to miss this...

The West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala has established itself as one of the major heritage railway events of the year. The 2002 event promises to live up to the high quality successful Spring Galas over recent years with a three day feast of steam. For full timetable, click here.

Locomotives likely to appear...

• LNER B1 4-6-0 No 61264 (Pn)
• GWR ‘Castle’ 4-6-0 No 5051 "Earl Bathurst" (Md)
  - 23 March (pm), and 24 March
• GWR ‘Hall’ 4-6-0 No 6960 "Raveningham Hall" (Pn)
  - first visit to the WSR, courtesy of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
• GWR ‘Heavy Goods’ 2-8-0T no 5224 in BR black livery (Pn)
• BR Standard 2-6-4T No 80136 (Pn)
• BR Standard 2-10-0 no 92212 (Pn)
• BR(W) 0-6-0PT No 1501
• BR(W) ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 Nos 7820 "Dinmore Manor" (Md) appearance now doubtful
• BR(W) ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 Nos 7828 "Odney Manor" (Md)
• BR(W) ‘Large Prairie’ 2-6-2T No 4160 (Md)

Notes:
All locos are subject to availability.
Provisionally, locos with chimney facing Paddington are marked (Pn) and locos with chimney facing Minehead are marked (Md)

Events

• Plenty of West Country railway atmosphere & lots of steam action
• Up to nine steam locomotives in action and working trains, including at least six visiting locomotives
• Debut WSR Gala appearance for No 6960 "Raveningham Hall" and GWR no 5224; and BR no 92212
• Return appearance of the popular LNER B1 No 61264 and GWR ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No 5051 "Earl Bathurst"
• All train services steam hauled.
• Intensive timetable, recreating the era of a ‘Summer Saturday in the West’
• Steam services to Norton Fitzwarren.
• Double-heading on some trains
• Sheds and workshops open for inspection at both Minehead & Williton
• Bar and buffet car facilities on all trains
• Day and Weekend Rover tickets available (cheaper if booked in advance)
• Lots of additional attractions & events, with special "Partner’s Package".
• Frequent bus service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard, including heritage buses.
• Special souvenir programme available.
• Lots of photographic opportunities.
• All-in-all, a superb value-for-money day out for all the family.

All events listed subject to availability

Train departures from principal stations

• Friday 22 March 2002
  • From Bishops Lydeard at 9.30am, 10.40am, 11.25am, 11.45am, 12.45pm, 1.35pm, 2.55pm, 3.45pm, 4.45pm, 6.10pm
  • From Minehead at 9.20am, 10.40am, 11.25am, 12.15pm (to Williton), 1,25pm, 1.55pm (to Blue Anchor), 3.00pm, 3.55pm, 4.45pm, 5.30pm, 6.10pm
• Saturday 23 March 2002 and Sunday 24 March 2002
  • From Bishops Lydeard at 8.10am, 9.25am, 10.10am, 10.55am, 11.40, 12.15pm, 12.55pm, 1.50pm, 2.30pm, 3.20pm, 4.10pm, 5.00pm, 5.45pm
  • From Minehead at 8.00am, 9.20am, 10.10am, 10.55am, 12.13pm, 1.00pm, 1.50pm, 2.30pm, 3.20pm, 4.10pm, 4.55pm, 5.50pm, 6.15pm

Timetable

For full timetable, click here.

Norton Fitzwarren

Another limited chance during the Gala to travel over the little-used three mile section of the WSR between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren (where the WSR meets the main line). Trains leave Bishops Lydeard at 12.20pm and 4.50pm on the Saturday, and at 11.45am and 12.20pm on the Sunday. Passengers cannot join or leave the train at Norton Fitzwarren. The round trip takes about 25 minutes.

Tickets

Please note that all privilege ticket, free pass and voucher facilities will not apply at the Spring Steam Gala. Ordinary fares apply to all passengers. Discounts are available on Rover Tickets purchased in advance (see below).

Catering

Buffet and bar facilities will be available on ALL train services during the weekend, serving a range of hot and cold food, tea and coffee and a range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

The Railway’s luxury dining train set - on which the famous all-day breakfasts, together with a range of other hot and cold snacks will be served - will run on the following trains over the weekend...

• Friday 22 March 2002
  • 10.40am ex-Bishops Lydeard
  • 1.25pm ex-Minehead
    
  • 2.55pm ex-Bishops Lydeard
    
  • 4.45pm ex-Minehead
    
• Saturday 23 March 2002
  • 10.10am ex-Bishops Lydeard
    
  • 12.13pm ex-Minehead
    
  • 2.30pm ex-Bishops Lydeard
    
  • 4.10pm ex-Minehead
    
• Sunday 24 March 2002
  • 10.10am ex-Bishops Lydeard
    
  • 12.13pm ex-Minehead
    
  • 1.50pm ex-Bishops Lydeard
    
  • 4.55pm ex-Minehead
    

What to do and what to see over the Gala

• The sheds at both Minehead and Williton will be open during the Gala - a unique opportunity, as access is normally very restricted to the public on safety grounds.
  • Minehead sheds will be open between 10am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday only [admission charge of £1 per person]. Come and see engines ‘resting’ on shed in between their duties, and visit the workshop and view work on several engines that will be seen in action on the WSR in the future - including Somerset & Dorset 7F 2-8-0 No 53808, GWR 2-8-0 No 3850 and GWR No 5193, which is being rebuilt as a 2-6-0 tender engine.
  • At Williton you will have the chance to see the engineering base of the WSRA - where Bulleid ‘Pacific’ No 34046 "Braunton" is being restored - and the workshops of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group will also be open, with many heritage diesel locomotives on display. The chance to view at first hand the painstaking restoration of a unique GWR sleeping car, built in 1897, should also not be missed! The sheds and yard area will be open on all three days, 10am to 5pm.
• At Washford, come and see the current state of play with the restoration of GWR ‘4575’ Class 2-6-2T No 5542, together with the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust’s site and museum, which will be open throughout the Gala.
• Whilst at Bishops Lydeard, come and see the many exhibits and displays of railway interest - including many new ones - inside the refurbished Gauge Museum on Platform 1 at Bishops Lydeard. Engine No 4561 will be on display, and there will be lots to see and do to maintain your interest while you wait for your train! Artist Eric Bottomley will be exhibiting many of his excellent paintings during the Gala.
• Windjammer Films will be presenting a 2-hour show of some of the old ‘classic’ British Transport Films - Saturday 23 March, 7.15pm for 7.30pm, The Egremont Hotel, Williton. Admission is only £2 per person.
• Bring your partner so you can BOTH enjoy the weekend! Please e-mail the Railway for details of the "Partners' Package".
• Author Alan Hammond will be signing copies of his new book on life on the former Somerset & Dorset line in Minehead Station Shop.
• The Taunton Model Railway Group’s base - situated on Platform 1 at Bishops Lydeard - will be open throughout the weekend.
• The excellent Blue Anchor Railway Museum will also be open.
• GWR ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No 5051 "Earl Bathurst" will head the "Exmoor Belle" charter throughout from London Paddington to Minehead on the Saturday of the Gala (and will then remain based on the WSR until early May). A great day out to the WSR Gala, with haulage by five different steam engines! For details of this charter click here.
• Things to do off the Railway too - click here for details.

Taunton-Bishops Lydeard-Taunton connecting bus services

On all three days, there is a frequent First Southern National bus service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard Station (Service 28A on Friday and Saturday, and Service 928 on Sunday) with extra services over the Gala weekend. WSR tickets are not valid on these services, except return tickets to Taunton issued by Booking Offices at Minehead, Dunster, Blue Anchor, Watchet and Williton. Full timetable details available direct from First Southern National, ring 01823 272033.

There will also be a frequent service of Vintage Buses running at 20 and 50 minutes past the hour from Taunton Castleway and 25 and 55 minutes past from Station Road, Taunton direct to Bishops Lydeard Station on all three days. The first departure will be at 8.50am.

Souvenir Programme

A special souvenir programme - which will include a full working timetable and the engine roster for all three days - will be available in advance (from 10 days before the event) from Minehead Station, and from stations over the weekend itself, priced £2.50.

How to book

You can book Rover Tickets at a discount in advance in the following ways:-

• By telephone, using your Credit Card. Please ring 01643 704996, 9am-4pm Monday-Friday.
• By completing and sending the Booking Form
• In person at Minehead Station (9am-4pm, Monday-Friday).

This page is not from the official WSR web site