On 27 July 2002 6024 King Edward I, a Great Western King Class 4-6-0 arrived on the West Somerset Railway for a stay which will include some workings on the line, especially during the Autumn Steam Gala.
The first view is of 6024 running in to Bishops Lydeard station after coming in from the mainline at Norton Fitzwarren.
She first stopped by the water tower to take water, from the time stood there she was very thirsty !
This photo shows a crew member up on the tender replenishing her tanks ready for the next stage of the journey - up over the Quantock Hills and on along the coast to Minehead. You can also see the fireman who was working hard on the fire.
In the next photo he had got the iron well and truly in the fire and was breaking up clinker and generally raking through the fire - hot, hard work indeed on a warm July day.
After these chores were completed 6024 drew ahead into the platform to enable passengers to change on to the WSR service train for their trip along the line. Meanwhile 4160 waits its turn for water and to run round its train.

This view sees the King stood in platform 1 awaiting departure for Minehead.
6024 then left for Minehead, easily lifting the 9 coaches of the Green Train plus the support coach away and on up the bank on the climb towards Crowcombe Heathfield.

After the mighty King had departed resident large prairie 4160 which had arrived with the 12.15 from Minehead ran round its train.

As the action had moved on I took a ride behind 4160 to Williton and back, in this photo you can see her leaning into the curve on the way up to Crowcombe through the edge of the Quantocks.

I was back at Bishops Lydeard in time to see the pace get hectic, during the next two or three hours there was the outgoing special, a Fish and Chips special, the Quantock Belle dining train and a private charter were all running, and the 15.55 and 17.30 ex Minehead had to be handled as well. This view shows D6566 getting attention prior to taking over the stock of the 15.55, which 4160 can be seen shunting in the background.
The next has 4160 taking water ready to work the Quantock Belle as 37308 ran in from the mainline ready to take over the Green Train.

4160 was still at the water tower as D6566 ran through platform 2 en route to attaching to the stock for the "Chippy".

Next move was the King coming back from Minehead with the Green Train, tender first due to the lack of a turntable on the line.

After arrival 6024 detached her support coach from the front of the Green Train and moved it across to the down side to wait for the line to be clear so the it could stable the coach in the down siding.

The next move was for 37308 to come back from the up sidings to take over the Green Train.

In this shot the "Growler" has coupled up to the train and is stood alongside the support coach awaiting departure for Alton.

Following the Green Train's departure D6566 shunted the stock of the "Chippy" across from platform 1 to platform 2, the preferred one at Bishops Lydeard as it is longer and higher.

Having moved across D6566 was then stood at the north end as the Class 115 DMU arrived on the 17.30 from Minehead.

The stock having moved 6024 was able to stable the support coach and head off to the loco compound, her day's work being finished.

This view sees 6024 having got across to the down side making her way towards the loco entrance, 4160 is also in view waiting to bring the Quantock Belle into the platform after the Fish and Chip special had left. One of the Manors was stood out in the up sidings, just out of sight, with the stock for the charter train to Williton.


Two final photos of 6024's name and number plates.
All photos © 2002 S G J Huddy.