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• British Railways Steam 1948-1968...
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The West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala has established itself as one of the heritage railway events of the year, visited by several thousand people each year. The 2008 event promises to live up to the very high quality successful Steam Galas held over recent years, and this year will be staged over two long weekends – six days in total. If you have never sampled a WSR Spring Steam Gala you just don’t know what you’re missing!
This year’s event is themed "British Railways Steam 1948-68" and will seek to tell the story of how the newly nationalised railways eliminated steam in the space of just twenty years……
The Spring Steam Gala will run over two weekends – Saturday, Sunday 8-9 March and Thursday to Sunday 13-16 March 2008.
Up to twelve engines 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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| | · | LMS 4-6-0 no 45110 [T]
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| | · | LNWR 0-8-0 no 49395 [T]
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| | · | GWR 0-6-2T no 5619 [M]
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| | · | GWR 2-8-0T no 5224 [M]
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| | · | GWR 2-8-0 no 3802 [T]
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| | · | GWR 2-6-2T no 5542 [T]
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| | · | GWR 2-6-2T no 5553 [T]
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| | · | GWR 0-4-2T no 1450 [M]
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| | · | BR(W) 2-6-2T no 4160 [T]
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| | · | WSR 2-6-0 no 9351[M]
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| | · | SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 [M]
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| | · | GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 [M]
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[M]=facing Minehead [T]=facing Taunton.
All the above believed correct as at 23 February 2008, 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. All engines are, of course, subject to availability.
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| | · | An absolute feast of West Country steam
| | · | Up to twelve locomotives in action
| | · | Several guest engines – including Nos 45110, 49395, 5542 & 1450 (all subject to availability)
| | · | Very intensive timetable
| | · | Steam services to Norton Fitzwarren
| | · | Great Western auto train (featuring two trailers) and a local passenger train
| | · | Shunting demos at Dunster and Washford
| | · | Sheds and workshops at Williton and Minehead open for inspection
| | · | Bar/Buffet car facilities on most trains
| | · | Lots of additional attractions and events
| | · | Wide range of Rover tickets available - cheaper if booked in advance - book now
| | · | Museums, model railways, gift shops, refreshments
| | · | Frequent free 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)
| | · | Rail shuttle service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard (subject to confirmation)
| | · | Special Souvenir programme available
| | · | Taunton Model Railway Group's base at Bishops Lydeard will be open
| | · | Lots of photographic opportunities
| | · | All-in-all, a superb value-for-money day out for all the family
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All the above highlights, and the information below, are believed correct as at 23 January 2008, detailed in good faith and subject to availability.
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• The Auto Train on the Norton Section...
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The Great Western Auto Train will operate on the Bishops Lydeard - Norton Fitzwarren section on the weekends of the Gala, with trains departing Bishops Lydeard for Norton Fitzwarren as follows:
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| | · Saturdays 8 and 15 March
| | 9.50*
| 10.50
| 11.40
| 12.30
| 1.20
| 2.10
| 3.05
| 3.55
| 4.45
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| | · Sundays 9 and 16 March
| | 9.50*
| 10.50
| 11.40
| 12.30
| 1.20
| 2.10
| 3.05
| 3.55
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* from Minehead
The popular service of all day breakfasts and hot meals – together with a bar and buffet service – will be available as follows:
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| | · 8 March |
9.20am and 12.40pm ex Bishops Lydeard
11.00am and 2.20pm ex Minehead
| | · 9 March |
9.20am and 12.40pm ex Bishops Lydeard
11.00am and 2.20pm ex Minehead
| | · 14 March |
10.10am and 2.30pm ex Bishops Lydeard
12.45pm and 4.15pm ex Minehead
| | · 15 March |
9.20am and 12.40pm ex Bishops Lydeard
11.00am and 2.20pm ex Minehead
| | · 16 March |
9.20am and 12.40pm ex Bishops Lydeard
11.00am and 2.20pm ex Minehead
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The QB Great British Breakfast will be available until 12.30pm. After 12:30pm, a choice of hot lunches, brunches and cream teas will be offered.
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.
Washford station, the base of the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, will be a focal point of activity throughout the event. Shunting demonstrations will feature on several days, and many items of historic rolling stock will be on display – including a genuine S&D wooden-bodied coach undergoing restoration. The excellent station museum will be open, as will the replica Midford signalbox – whilst the example of the peat works narrow gauge railway is well worth a look! The Gauge Museum on platform 1 at Bishops Lydeard will be open – come and see the many exhibits and displays of railway interest. The unique 1897-built Great Western Railway sleeping car no 9038 will be on display, and there will be lots to see and do to maintain your interest while you wait for your train! Blue Anchor Railway Museum will also be open.
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 both Saturdays and both Sundays. Come and see engines ‘resting’ on shed in between their duties, and visit the workshop and view work on the overhaul of BR(W) Manor Class 4-6-0 no 7828 Odney Manor. At Williton, the yard area will be open on both Saturdays and both Sundays. 10am to 5pm. Progress can be viewed on a number of steam engines, including nos 34046 Braunton, 6695 & 6412. The workshops of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group, together with the Diesel Heritage Centre will also be open, with several heritage diesel locomotives on display. The chance to see work proceeding on a number of our historic Great Western coaches should also not be missed.
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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...
Heyday of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, published by Millstream Books of Bath and written by Alan and Christine Hammond, will be launched at the Gala. The book contains the latest batch of memories about the line which closed just before the end of the steam era in 1966, together with many unpublished photographs. The authors will be signing copies of the book, which retails at £20, inside “The Buffer Stop Shop” at Minehead on all six days of the Gala. The Gala also sees the relaunch of The West Somerset Railway – A Past and Present Companion by John Stretton. Out of print for some time, the book is being reprinted in time for the Gala (cover price: £15.99) and as a prelude to a new book Volume Two which will be launched at the 2009 Spring Gala. Richard Derry will also be signing copies of his various Irwell Press books at Blue Anchor on all six days of 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 and the engine/rolling stock diagrams for all six days – will be available in advance (from 29 February) and from stations during the Gala itself, priced £2.50.
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• Bus service - Bishops Lydeard and Taunton
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The Railway have issued this message:
"The Railway has been unable to arrange a rail link between Taunton Station and Bishops Lydeard for the Spring Steam Gala, and as those of you who are regular visitors will be aware the car parking at Bishops Lydeard can be very much at a premium, particularly if there is wet weather in the lead-up and the fields become wet.
The Railway has hired vehicles from Stagecoach (Cooks Coaches) to offer a link service which will run from Taunton Station and the Silk Mills Park and Ride Car Park to Bishops Lydeard Station. The Stagecoach buses leave from under the Railway Bridge at Taunton Station and to find the pick-up point you leave the station by the ticket office entrance, turn left and left again and stand by the "Bus Stop" sign on the road surface. If you wait anywhere else you will not be able to board the service.
The Silk Mills Park and Ride is on the west side of Taunton. Leave the M5 at Junction 26 (Wellington), follow the A38 towards Taunton and after you have passed the Stone Gallows Inn on your left and then Taunton Crematorium on the right you will reach a roundabout at which you turn left. This takes you down to the Park and Ride. The car park is being opened specially for the Gala on the Sundays.
• Stagecoach timings
On Saturday 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th the first bus will leave Taunton Railway Station at 0930 whilst another bus will leave Silk Mills at the same time, both running to Bishops Lydeard. From then on until 1230 the buses should maintain a 20 minute headway service so departures will be at 10 minutes past, 30 minutes past and 50 minutes past the hour. From 1230 they will go to half hourly until 1500. Departures from Bishops Lydeard will continue until 1830 on the Sundays and 1900 on the Saturdays.
On Thursday and Friday 13th and 14th the first departure from Taunton Station is at 0930 (due Silk Mills around 15 minutes later) and will run half-hourly thereafter until 1300. After this there will be departures at 1400 and 1500 before half hourly services are resumed. Last bus from Bishops Lydeard is due to leave at 1845.
Travel on these Stagecoach services is free. We will do our best to have signs advising visitors of the pick up point at Taunton Station on display but we have not had great success in getting these displayed at Taunton Station in the past.
• First Somerset and Avon
First’s bus service 28 runs from Taunton Bus Station via Taunton Railway Station to Bishops Lydeard with the majority of services travelling via the station car park at Bishops Lydeard. The service runs through to Minehead and en route stops close to Watchet and Washford Stations.
At Taunton Station there is an interchange stop which is reached from platform 2 (the main downside arrival platform) at the London/Bristol end of the station. After leaving there the buses then go down into Station Road and pick up at a stop diagonally opposite the point where the Stagecoach buses will be picking up (so if Stagecoach are delayed and a 28 pulls up nearly opposite you have a choice)
The timings of the 28’s are as follows:-
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays the first service of the day leaves Taunton bus station at 5.35 and Taunton Station six minutes later (handy if you are travelling overnight). There is then a gap until 7.05 (bus station) and 7.11 (railway station). From then on the services are half-hourly until 1700. Arrival times at Bishops Lydeard are on the hour and thirty minutes after the hour.
Buses back from Bishops Lydeard leave the station at 11 minutes and 41 minutes past the hour between 11.41 and 19.11. After 19.11 the pick-up point is a stop near the Lethbridge Arms and are at 19.35, 20.35. 2125, 22,25 and 23.25.. Services from Bishops Lydeard into Taunton set down outside Taunton Station’s booking office.
On Sundays the 28 service is less frequent. Departures from Taunton Bus Station are at 9.30, 11.30 and then hourly until 19.30 (Railway Station five minutes later). From Bishops Lydeard departures from the Lethbridge Arms stop are at 9.47, 11.47, and then hourly between 13.47 and 19.47.
Fares are payable on First services.
• Taxis
Ace Taxis (01823 330330) have an office in the car park opposite the down side (platform 2) exit from Taunton Station, which offers a further alternative for “getting across” if a group of you wish to book a cab in advance to meet you off a train.
• And finally...
Whilst the bus operators will do their best to maintain the services outlined above they are, like all services, subject to delays in traffic. Taunton is a large town and can get very busy on the roads, especially if there are roadworks or any other form of blockage. Please be patient if the bus does not appear exactly to the minute."
The Railway’s principal shops at Minehead and Bishops Lydeard will both be open throughout the Gala – offering a wide range of gifts, souvenirs, books, videos etc – and shops at several of the intermediate stations will also be open. The excellent “Reader’s Halt” bookstall, situated on the platform at Minehead, will also be open. A small number of sales and information stands will also be present.
A special dmu service will operate on Mondays 10 & 17 March, departing from Minehead at 9.30am and calling at all stations, which will connect at Bishops Lydeard with a special WSR connecting bus service to Taunton (Silk Mill Park and Ride car park and railway station).
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. Rover Tickets for the Spring Steam Gala are now online at TicketWeb. The following types of tickets are on offer - One Day Rovers; Four Day Rovers (covers 13 to 16 March); Four Day Rovers (both weekends); and Six Day Rovers. There are no Two Day Rovers available online due to many variations, but please note that these are available by phone and post. To book online, please visit the TicketWeb website. Of course you may also book via post - use the Booking Form - or by phone...
You can book Rover Tickets at a discount in advance in the following ways...
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| | · | Via the TicketWeb website
| | · | 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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• Buy Rovers Online...
| Book One Day Rover Tickets on the Internet at TicketWeb...
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• All-day meal service...
| The famous Quantock Belle all-day hot meal service - together with a bar and buffet service - will run on 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 March 2008.
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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 8-9, 13-16 March 2008
