West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 19 – February 2004
Issue 12 - July 2003 Issue 13 - August 2003 Issue 14 - September 2003
Issue 15 - October 2003 Issue 16 - November 2003 Issue 17 - December 2003
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2004 Spring Steam Gala 2004 Autumn Steam Gala 04 Diesel Gala 04
Dates in February
February 2: WSRA Taunton Area Group meeting - "I would not normally show these but..." Peter Gray.
February 24: WSRA Bristol Area Group meeting - "The GWS Railmotor Project" Andrew Hook.
Services resume with the "half term" services on 14,15,17,18,19,21,22,25,26,29 February plus 7 March between Minehead and Williton then services the full normal length start for weekends for the rest of March, with the Spring Steam Gala on 25 to 28 March. Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details for the year.
Spring Steam Gala
This year is on Friday 26 March to Sunday 28 March with a preview day on Thursday 25 March. The West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala has established itself as one of the heritage railway events of the year, the 2004 event promises to live up to the high quality successful Spring Galas over recent years. A four day feast of West Country steam!
The theme of the Railway’s 2004 Spring Steam Gala will be “The Big Four”, with a representative engine from each of the four main railway companies established at the 1923 Grouping.
Up to ten engines will be in steam and working trains at the Gala...
· LMS Black 5 4-6-0 no 45407*
· BR Class 4 2-6-0 no 76079*
· GER J15 0-6-0 no 65462**
· At least one further guest engine – to be announced
· GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T no 5542
· BR(W) Manor Class 4-6-0 no 7820 "Dinmore Manor"
· BR Class 4 2-6-4T no 80136
· GWR 64xx Class 0-6-0PT no 6412
* courtesy of Mr Ian Riley
** courtesy of the North Norfolk Railway
It is also hoped that the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust’s Peckett 0-4-0ST no 1788 "Kilmersdon" will be in steam and giving shunting demonstrations at Washford on all three days of the Gala.
For full details see www.wsr.org.uk
The Springtime Auto Train
Sunday 14th March 2004.
Start the New Season in true Great Western Branch Line Style
Join us for 46 miles of Auto Train travel with small prairie 5542 just as it would have been in the1930s or 40s. The rare chance to recreate the full Great Western Railway Auto Train experience over the entire length of the West Somerset Railway.
The Day begins at Bishops Lydeard station at 10.30 for the trip to Norton Fitzwarren, thence to Minehead, and returns to Bishops Lydeard by about 4.pm.
Proposed extras include Photo stops, Run Pasts, and some ‘Non Stop’ Running.
There should also be plenty of opportunities to visit the Loco Footplate and Auto Driving Cab at station stops.
Cost for the Full Day Trip is just £8
Optional Hot Pasty + Tea / Coffee (details to be confirmed)
For Bookings or Enquiries phone 01823 257635(Answerphone) or visit www.loco5542.co.uk .
Hurry, space is limited to 60 places.
E-mail chairman5542ltd@aol.com to make a reservation.
Awards for WSRA publications...
The WSRA has scooped two major "industry" awards in the annual Heritage Railway Asscociation Publications Competition. The WSRA membership leaflet - a glossy well-illustrated colour effort - has gained the "Best Publicity Material", and the quarterly Journal has retained the "Steam Railway Trophy" for magazines with more than 500 circulation. The awards were presented on 31 January 2004.
Volunteers
The next New Volunteers’ Day – when prospective new recruits have an opportunity to visit the Railway for a day to learn more about what is involved in volunteering on the WSR and meet key personnel – will be held on Sunday 18 April, starting at Bishops Lydeard at 11am. A warm welcome is assured. Please contact us if you would like to come, would like more details, or would like to know more about what is involved.
You can join us at any time of year, if you would like to know more please write to: The Volunteer Co-ordinator, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3BX, visit www.wsra.org.uk, e-mail the West Somerset Railway Association or Tel: 01823 433856.
Visiting Locos
The visitors at present are:
80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which is on the line for a long stay.
5553 ex GW 4575 Class 2-6-2T from Waterman Railways - is currently at Tysley for maintenance but will return shortly.
Resident Locos
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie
6412 ex GW 0-6-0PT -back "home" for the early part of the year, including some of the February Half Term services.
7820 Dinmore Manor ex GW 4-6-0.
The creation of a small-boilered "Mogul", a locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway but never built, continues to make progress with entry into service planned this year. Still no news on whether it will be 5193 or 9351 though! Good progress is also being made with the S&D 2-8-0, 53808/88 which is in the works at Minehead. Work is also progressing well on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton, her boiler has recently arrived back from Pridham's.
The frames of ex GWR 2-8-0 3850 have now been moved to Tysley to be reunited with the boiler, the plan is for 3850 to return to the WSR when restoration is completed.
Large prairie 4160 is now away at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway for overhaul, return to the WSR is expected to be in about 15 months. 7828 Odney Manor is at Minehead, she is at present up for sale by her owner and it is believed that the WSR has made an offer. Small prairie 4561 is on display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard while she awaits her turn in Williton Works.
Diesel Locos
The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:
Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner
Class 35 Hymek D7017
Class 25 D7523 / 25 173
Class 33 D6566 / 33 048
Class 14 D9526
The other resident Hymek, D7018, is undergoing a major overhaul at Williton.
Work in Progress
During the "close season" work is under way to provide a crossover in the bay platform at Minehead to enable locos to run round saving the need for shunt releasing at busy times. The railway is also installing their own cabling for the Electric Key Token block between Minehead and Blue Anchor which will replace the BT lines used at present. There will be an intermediate instrument at Dunster which will aid working in and out of the Permanent Way yard there. Following on from this EKT block will replace Train Staff and Ticket on the Blue Anchor to Williton section. There are photos of the progress on www.wsr.org.uk .
This Month's Photos...
...look back at last years Spring Steam Gala in anticipation of this years event.
First is visiting 57xx pannier tank 5786 awaiting departure from Minehead with the first up train on the Saturday-
Second is Ivatt 2MT tank 41312, also a visitor, seen ready for service in Minehead shed yard.
A diesel interloper, EWS's 67006 on a through charter train with visiting large prairie 4141 alongside coming off shed.
4141 then headed an up train to Bishops Lydeard away from Minehead.
The WSRA's pannier tank, 6412, waiting its next turn at Bishops Lydeard
30053 and 41312 wait at Crowcombe Heathfield to cross with 7820 Odney Manor.
Later on 30053 was double heading with resident large prairie 4160 away from Bishops Lydeard
These photos and many more can be seen on WSR 2003.
Note: you need to be connected to the Internet to view these photos.
West Somerset Railway Association
Area Group Meetings:
Taunton Group:
In 2004, meetings will be held on the first MONDAY of the month (July & August excepted) at the usual venue – the Great Western Staff Association Club (at the north east corner of Taunton station) – starting at 7.45pm.
2 February: “I would not normally show these, but……” - Peter Gray
1 March: "The Road to the Isles" - Bernard Mills
5 April: "The Atlantic Enigma" - Roger Hennessey
For the full programme for 2004 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details e-mail
Bristol Group:
The Bristol group meets on the last Tuesday of the month between September and April at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-
24 February: Andrew Hook - The GWS Railmotor
30 March: Members evening - slides, quiz and photographic competition.
27 April: "Railway Horses, Railway Art" - Ian Cryer
For the full programme for 2004 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2004
The next big event is the Spring Steam Gala on March 25 - 28, after that there is the Spring Diesel Gala on 7 - 9 May.
The full programme for the year is now available on Stop Press, now you can plan ahead to get to all of the West Somerset's great events!
Groups on the line which would welcome support include:
5542 Limited
Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust
Diesel & Electric Preservation Group
Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd
4160 Limited
Friends of Minehead Station
Friends of Blue Anchor Railway Museum
West Somerset Steam Railway Trust - icoleby@tiscali.co.uk
Telephone the West Somerset Railway on 01643 704996 for contact details of these groups.
WSR Links:
West Somerset Railway - an unofficial site full of information and photos of the West Somerset
West Somerset Railway Association - the Association is the main support group on the line.
The Official West Somerset Railway Web Site - for trains times and fares etc.
West Somerset Railway, heritage steam and diesel trains - pages of photos of the WSR.
Diesel & Electric Preservation Group Ltd (DEPG) - the main diesel group on the line
wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow volunteer, Jon Tooke. He often finds odd places to take photos from and even odder things to take them of so check it as it grows!
The next issue is due 27 February 2004.
© 2004 Steve Huddy. This newsletter is independent of, and is not officially supported by, the West Somerset Railway plc or any of the affiliated organisations, unless specifically mentioned in the appropriate article. All information is believed correct but neither the publisher nor the Railway can be held responsible for any errors.