West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 23 – June 2004
Issue 15 - October 2003 Issue 16 - November 2003 Issue 17 - December 2003
Issue 18 - January 2004 Issue 19 - February 2004 Issue 20 - March 2004
Issue 21 - April 2004 Issue 22 - May 2004
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 June
5 June: Fish & Chips Special from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return.
7 June: WSRA Taunton Group, Peter Doel - 10 years of mainline steam
18 June: "Murder on the Minehead Flyer
19 June: Jazz Evening Special, diesel hauled, Sausage & Chips can be pre booked.
20 June: Fathers' Day Special, 5.30pm from Minehead. Diesel hauled. Includes Cream Tea, Footplate rides at Minehead and a present for Father.
26 June: The Green Train, steam hauled from Alton to Minehead.
Regular services continue, plenty of chances to enjoy Steam and Somerset Scenery Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details for the year.
More Big News
After the recent news about the land purchase at Norton Fitzwarren and the company's Vision for Minehead this month we have the news that the railway has bought 7828 Odney Manor, this Class has proved ideally suited to the line and her addition to the permanent fleet is marvellous news. Her overhaul will start as soon as works space allows, probably after 5193/9351 is outshopped later this summer. This photo shows her with the Quantock Belle dining train in the bay platform at Minehead in 2002 before she was stopped with boiler problems.
Full details of the previous news can be seen on Stop Press.
Spring Diesel Gala
This was a great success with a wide variety of locos working in some unusual pairings, plus the triple headed Cromptons! Passenger numbers were well up on last years Cross Country Weekend which means that a full scale diesel gala is likely to become an annual event again. Many thanks are due to the Special Events Planning Team.
Volunteers
The line is always looking for new volunteers for just about any task you can think of, from gardener to guard via firemen, ticket inspectors, buffet staff, p-way, S&T...
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.
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 much the of this year.
7820 Dinmore Manor ex GW Manor Class 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 also in the works at Minehead. Work is also progressing on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton, her boiler has recently arrived back from Pridham's and much other work is in hand.
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 12 months. 7828 Odney Manor is at Minehead, she has now been bought by the WSR plc and her overhaul will commence once 5193/9351 has been completed. 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.
This Month's Photos...
...are of this years Spring Diesel Gala, with a bias towards the visitors.
The first is of the through special from Paddington hauled by EWS's 59204 just after arrival at Bishops Lydeard.
The reason so many had got off the train here was to see Mendip Rail's 59103 Village of Mells being attached to double head the lengthy train on to Minehead.
On the way back up to London the pilot was GBRf's 66716, a very rare pairing of locos from rival operators, they are seen here coming through the trees outside Bishops Lydeard station.
66716 had earlier worked down to Minehead double headed with another EWS loco, 37419, the pair are seen leaving Bishops Lydeard.
One of the residents, Hymek D7017 at Williton alongside D1010 which was sidelined due to an air leak. Photo by Jon Tooke.
For many the best part of the Gala was the triple header of Class 33 Cromptons, resident D6566 (33048) led visiting Fragonset 33103 and 33202 - a representative of all three sub classes. They were individually driven not in multiple due to a problem with one of the "Fragonwagons" and are seen here leaving Williton for Minehead on their down run - I was working on the train and can vouch for their amazing acceleration! Photo by Jon Tooke.
A last one of the Diesel Gala, 37419 and 59103 arriving at Minehead while the three Cromptons wait in the other platform.
These photos and many more of the Gala are on Diesel Gala 2004 and West Somerset Railway on the Web..
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.
7 June: "Ten Years of Main Line Steam" - Peter Doel
The next meeting will be after the summer break on 6 September - Confessions of a Western Signalman with Adrian Vaughan.
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:-
Meetings resume in September after the summer break.
For the full programme for 2004 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2004
The next big event is "Days out with Thomas" on 3-4 July. For the older visitor the next major event is the Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally at Bishops Lydeard on 7 & 8 August.
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 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 June 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.