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• Summer Saturdays in the West...
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The Spring Steam Gala 2007 is themed "Summer Saturdays in the West", recalling the days when the Great Western, the Southern and the Somerset & Dorset carried thousands of people on holiday to the West Country...
Up to fourteen engines of classes all seen in the West Country in times gone by are expected to be in steam and working trains at the Gala, many of which are being brought in especially for the event.
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| | · | SR 4-6-0 no 850 "Lord Nelson" [T]
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| | · | SR 4-6-2 no 34007 "Wadebridge" [T]
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| | · | GWR 4-6-0 no 5051 "Earl Bathurst" [M]
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| | · | GWR 4-6-0 no 7802 "Bradley Manor" [M]
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| | · | GWR 4-6-0 no 7822 "Foxcote Manor" [M]
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| | · | SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 (BR no 53808)[T]
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| | · | BR(W) 2-6-2T no 4160 [M]
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| | · | BR 4MT 2-6-4T no 80136 [T]
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| | · | GWR 2-6-2T no 5521 [T]
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| | · | GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 [T]
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| | · | WSR 2-6-0 no 9351 [M]
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| | · | GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 [M]
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| | · | GWR 2-8-0T no 4247[T]
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| | · | GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412 [M]
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[M]=facing Minehead [T]=facing Taunton.
All the above believed correct as at 9 March 2007, listed in good faith and subject to availability. Not all engines will be working each day. Peckett 0-4-0ST no 1788 "Kilmersdon" will be in steam giving shunting demonstrations at Washford.
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| | · | Up to fourteen engines typical of the West Country in action
| | · | Many guest engines including nos 850, 5051, 5521, 7802, 7822, 34007 (subject to availability)
| | · | The return to the WSR of Large Prairie no 4160
| | · | Intensive timetable featuring Local, Express & Goods
| | · | Classic double-headed trains
| | · | Steam services to Norton Fitzwarren
| | · | Mainline tours
| | · | Shunting demos at Dunster and Washford
| | · | Sheds and workshops at Williton and Minehead open for inspection
| | · | Bar/Buffet car facilities on most trains
| | · | Day & Weekend Rover tickets available - cheaper if booked in advance
| | · | Museums, Model Railways, Gift Shops
| | · | Frequent free heritage bus service linking Taunton Railway Station, Silk Mill Park-and-Ride and Bishops Lydeard Railway Station (car parking at WSR stations will be very limited)
| | · | Special Souvenir programme available
| | · | Taunton Model Railway Group's base at Bishops Lydeard will be open
| | · | Lots of photographic opportunities
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All the above highlights, and the information below, are believed correct as at 22 January 2007, detailed in good faith and subject to availability.
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• All-day meal service...
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The famous Quantock Belle all-day breakfast and hot meal service - together with a bar and buffet service - is planned to operate as follows:
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| | · 17 March |
10.15am and 2.25pm ex Bishops Lydeard
12.30pm and 4.10pm ex Minehead
| | · 18 March |
10.15am and 2.25pm ex Bishops Lydeard
12.30pm and 4.10pm ex Minehead
| | · 23 March |
10.15am and 2.25pm ex Bishops Lydeard
12.30pm and 4.10pm ex Minehead
| | · 24 March |
10.15am and 2.25pm ex Bishops Lydeard
12.30pm and 4.10pm ex Minehead
| | · 25 March |
10.15am and 2.25pm ex Bishops Lydeard
12.30pm and 4.10pm ex Minehead
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Buffet and bar facilities will be available on most train services during the weekend, serving a good range of high quality hot and cold food, tea & coffee and a range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Museums open at Bishops Lydeard, Washford and Blue Anchor.
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 shed will be open between 10am and 5pm on 24-25 March 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 near future BR(W) Manor class 4-6-0 no 7828 "Odney Manor". At Williton, the yard area will be open on both weekends, 10am to 5pm. There will be an opportunity to glimpse inside the engineering base of the WSRA, where Bulleid Pacific no 34046 "Braunton" is being restored. The D&EPG Diesel Heritage Centre will also be open, and there will be an opportunity to view some of our historic Great Western coaches, including the unique 1897 sleeping car and restoration work on auto trailer no 169.
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• Photographic charters...
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There will be a number of photographic charters. Pre booking is required and full details can be obtained from the Steam Recreations website or phone 01278 784825 or by email steam.recreations@btconnect.com.
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• Lineside photography...
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A reminder that access to the lineside and other areas away from the public areas is restricted to those with a valid Lineside Photography Permit. More information...
Virgin Trains will bring a modern addition to the Summer Saturdays in the West on the West Somerset Railway during its Spring Steam Gala. On weekends Virgin will run a shuttle using a Voyager set on 17, 18, 24 and 25 March in connection with the Spring Steam Gala adding the most modern way of getting to the West to enjoy travelling on some of the oldest. The train will run as a normal passenger train from Bristol to Taunton then work the Taunton to Bishops Lydeard shuttle during the day before returning to Bristol in the evening. It will run as a relief train from Bristol with national fares applying and a shuttle fare of only £5.00 return for the Taunton-Bishops Lydeard shuttle.
Virgin Trains have released timings for the Taunton-Bishops Lydeard shuttle trains.
| | Departure times from Taunton
| | Saturday 17 March
| | 8.50am | 9.35am | 11.40am | 1.57pm | 2.57pm | 4.32pm
| | Sunday 18 March
| | 10.26am | 11.32am | 1.55pm | 2.55pm | 4.34pm | 5.30pm
| | Saturday 24 March
| | 8.50am | 9.35am | 1.57pm | 2.57pm | 4.32pm |
| | Sunday 25 March
| | 10.26am | 11.32am | 1.55pm | 2.55pm | 4.34pm | 5.30pm
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| | Departure times from Bishops Lydeard
| | Saturday 17 March
| | 9.12am | 11.05am | 1.25pm | 2.25pm | 4.05pm | 5.05pm
| | Sunday 18 March
| | 11.05am | 1.25pm | 2.25pm | 4.05pm | 5.00pm | 6.20pm
| | Saturday 24 March
| | 9.12am | 1.25pm | 2.25pm | 4.05pm | 5.05pm
| | Sunday 25 March
| | 11.05am | 1.25pm | 2.25pm | 4.05pm | 5.00pm | 6.20pm
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Tickets for the Shuttle can be purchased online via the TicketWeb website. And for those wishing to make their way to the Gala by train from Bristol, the Voyager will work down from Bristol to Taunton each morning and return to Bristol each evening. On Saturday 17 and 24 March, the Voyager departs Bristol Temple Meads at 7.46am, calling at Weston-super-Mare at 8.20am, and returns from Taunton at 5.23pm, calling at Weston at 5.48pm arriving at Bristol at 6.20pm. On Sunday 18 and 25 March, the Voyager departs Bristol Temple Meads at 9.45am, calling at Weston-super-Mare at 10.03am, and returns from Taunton at 8.38pm, calling at Weston at 7.03pm arriving at Bristol at 7.34pm.
There are also a number of mainline steam excursions being run in conjunction with the event.
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• Shunting demonstrations...
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There will be shunting demonstrations over the Gala at Washford between 10.30am - 4.30pm and also at Dunster on the Saturdays and Sundays between 11am and 3,45pm. These can be observed in safety from the platform at either station.
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• Railway Slide and Film Show...
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On the two Saturday evenings of the Gala, 17 & 24 March, the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust is organising a railway film/slide show at The Hobby Horse Inn, Minehead, starting at 7.30pm. This will feature two well-respected authors/photographers, Peter Gray (who will present a selection of slides on GWR Steam in the West Country) and Mike Arlett (who will be giving a commentary to some of Ivo Peters S&D films). An evening not to be missed!
| | · | Tickets for the evening, which cost £4 in advance and £5 on the door and £4 for holders of a WSR Identity Card can be obtained as follows:-
| | · | In Advance:
Either by post from: WSSRT, Station House, Blue Anchor, Minehead, Somerset TA24 6LB. Please make cheques payable to "WSSRT" and enclose a sae.
Or in person from Blue Anchor Railway Museum, which will be open every day of the Spring Gala.
| | · | On the Door (if not sold out beforehand).
| | · | Requests for advance tickets received after 10 March (for the 17 March show) and 17 March (for the 24 March show) will be held at Blue Anchor Railway Museum for collection.
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Local authors Alan & Christine Hammond and Richard Derry will be on hand to sign copies of their latest book "Return Ticket to Minehead", which will be published just in time for the Gala.
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• Souvenir Programme and Working Timetable...
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A special souvenir programme - which will include complete working timetables including the goods trains and the engine rosters for all six days - will be available from the stations over the weekend itself, priced £2.50.
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• Free bus service - Bishops Lydeard and Taunton
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Car parking at Bishops Lydeard will be severely strained during the Gala. A special free bus service will operate linking Taunton Railway Station (near the Ticket Office), the Park and Ride car park at Silk Mill where plenty of car parking is available and Bishops Lydeard Station on all six days. This half-hourly service will start at 9.30am from Taunton Station each day, with the last bus connecting with the final train arrival at Bishops Lydeard. There will be plenty of seats available. Please note there will be very limited car parking available at all WSR stations over the weekend.
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• Free bus service - Dunster Station and Dunster Village
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A vintage bus will ply between Dunster Station, Dunster Village and Dunster Castle on 17, 18, 24, 25 March 2007. The bus departs Dunster Station for Dunster at 10.40am, 11.30am, 12.15pm, 1.00pm, 1.55pm, 2.30pm, 3.45pm. From Dunster to Dunster Station, the bus leaves the Square at 11.05am, 11.55am, 12.40pm, 1.35pm, 2.10pm, 3.05pm, 4.00pm. The journey between Dunster Station and Dunster takes around ten minutes. Full details from the Railway on 01643 704996.
Please note that no privilege ticket, free pass and voucher facilities are valid at the Spring Steam Gala. Ordinary fares apply to all passengers. Discounts are available on Rover Tickets purchased in advance - use the Booking Form. Rover Tickets allow you the complete freedom of the line and purchasing them is the best way of enjoying the Gala. One, Two, Four and Six Day Rover Tickets will be available.
You can book Rover Tickets at a discount in advance in the following ways...
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| | · | Via the TicketWeb website (1-Day Rover Tickets only)
| | · | By telephone, using your Credit Card. Please ring 01643 704996, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday
| | · | By completing the Booking Form
| | · | In person at Minehead Station 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
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• Latest News...
8 Mar 2007
No 4247 replaces the 9F
| 5 Mar 2007
Shuttle Tickets now available online More...
| 25 Feb 2007
Dunster bus link details now available. More...
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• Buy Rovers Online...
| Book One Day Rover Tickets on the Internet at TicketWeb...
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• The Auto Train...
| The Auto Train will ply the Norton section leaving Bishops Lydeard on
| | 17 Mar at 10.00, 12.00, 12.35, 3.20
| | 18 Mar at 11.55, 12.30, 3.20
| | Watch this space for times for other Gala days...
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• Information Pack...
| Full details of the Gala including the main line excursions, booking forms, lineside photography permits and local accommodation details can be obtained by ringing 01643 704996 between 9am and 5pm daily and asking for a Gala Information Pack. This also includes a 2007 WSR timetable and a "Railways Round Exmoor" leaflet.
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• All-day meal service...
| The famous Quantock Belle all-day breakfast and hot meal service - together with a bar and buffet service - will run on 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 March 2007.
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• Advance Bookings...
| Details on how to book discounted rover tickets in advance please click here
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Spring Steam Gala 17-18, 22-25 March 2007
