11-03-2007

We start with a view photos from the Thursday, the first is 0-4-2T 1450 with autotrailer 178 at Doniford where the line leaves the coast and heads inland.  Photo by Rodney Greenway.

Two photos of large prairie 5164 with a ballast train in the rain.  Photos by Rodney Greenway.

Resident pannier tank 6412, recently returned from spending the summer at Swanage, working a goods train through Somerset countryside.  Photo by Rodney Greenway.

GWR 0-4-2T 1450 with autotrailer 178 at Watchet on the Friday on their way from Minehead to work the shuttles between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren.  Photo by Fotophile69

The autotrailer again this time on the Sunday when it had unusual power in the form of 2-8-0T 4247 which was taking it down to Lydeard for 6412 to work.  Photo by Fotophile69

Back to Watchet on the Saturday and 850 Lord Nelson arriving with an up train.  Photo by Fotophile69

850 climbs past Castle Hill on the Sunday.  Photo by Fotophile69

Onto the Sunday and 2-8-0T 4247 from the Bodmin & Wenford is seen leaving Blue Anchor and crossing Kerr Moor with a down train.

I caught up with 4247 again at Minehead where she was in the bay platform ready to depart on the return trip to Bishops Lydeard.

Two photos of SDJR 7F No. 88 running round at Minehead, her Prussian blue livery can be difficult to capture, often looking more like black, but it is well shown here.

Another photo of 88, this time doing a shunt release move out over Seaward Way level crossing.

A series of photos of SR 4-6-0 850 Lord Nelson leaving Minehead with FM Rail's "Green Train" which was on the West Somerset between railtours.

It was great to have a set of Southern green coaches on the line to work with Lord Nelson, our chocolate & cream stock doesn't quite look right with this loco.

To the other end of the line and another visiting 4-6-0, Black 5 45231 The Sherwood Forester coming past the water tower ready to take over the next service back to Minehead.  This loco is, like the Green Train, visiting between railtours.

The Black 5 was followed into platform 1 by First Great Western Class 158 no. 158747 which was working the shuttles to and from Taunton which were a new, experimental feature of this Gala.  Hopefully they'll be judged a success and be repeated at future events.

The Class 158 and Black 5 were both still in platform 1 when 850 Lord Nelson ran in with a slightly delayed up train - the working seen above leaving Minehead.