West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 32 – March 2005
Issue 24 - July 2004 Issue 25 - August 2004 Issue 26 - September 2004
Issue 27 - October 2004 Issue 28 - November 2004 Issue 29 - December 2004
Issue 30 - January 2005 Issue 31 - February 2005
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2005 Spring Diesel Gala 05 Spring Steam Gala 2005 Autumn Steam Gala 2005
The West Somerset Railway - Independent Railway of the Year 2004
Dates for your diary
5 March:- The Exmoor Express - London to Minehead with 5051 Earl Bathurst
6 March:- Mother's Day Special, Somerset Cream Teas on a Steam train
7 March:- WSRA Taunton Group - "A Journey Through Wales" - Steve Andrews
12 March:- The West Somerset Wanderer - Chester to Minehead with 6024 King Edward I
13 March:- New Volunteers Day at Bishops Lydeard, your chance to see how you could get involved with the WSR
17 - 20 March:- Spring Steam Gala
29 March:- WSRA Bristol Group - "Steaming Around Bristol" - Maurice Dudman
Regular services resume on 6 & 13 March followed by the Spring Steam Gala on 17 - 20 March then daily until 3 April for the Easter period. Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details for the year.
Spring Steam Gala
This year's not to be missed Spring Steam Gala is on 17 - 20 March, the theme is "Pride of the Great Western", with up to 12 ex GWR locos it is believed it will be the largest collection of live working GWR engines together in preservation!
The expected line up is:-
· 'City' 4-4-0 no 3440 "City of Truro"
· 'King' 4-6-0 no 6024 "King Edward I"
· 'Castle' 4-6-0 no 5051 "Earl Bathurst"
· 'Hall' 4-6-0 no 4936 "Kinlet Hall"
· 'Manor' no 7822 "Foxcote Manor"
· '57xx' 0-6-0PT no 4612
· '14xx' 0-4-2T no 1450
· '94xx' 0-6-0PT no 9466
· '9351' 2-6-0 no 9351 (ex-GWR 2-6-2T no 5193)
· '4575' Class 2-6-2T no's 5542 & 5553
· '64xx' 0-6-0PT no 6412
There will be the ever popular auto train working between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren, shunting at Dunster and Washford, the sheds and works at Minehead and Williton will be open for visits, all in all a very full few days
For more details of the events, timetables, free heritage bus service from Taunton Station and more please see www.wsr.org.uk.
Advance News...
Former Southern Railway ‘LN’ Class 4-6-0 No 850 Lord Nelson – will be visiting the WSR in 2005 for running-in following completion of its current overhaul. The express passenger engine, which is part of the National Collection, is nearing completion at Eastleigh Works, and will in due course haul charter trains on the main line. There are no firm plans as yet, but a period of running-in is expected on the WSR. Details from www.wsra.org.uk
The following steam hauled railtours are scheduled to visit or involve locos to/from the WSR in early 2005:-
Sat 05-Mar-05: The Exmoor Express
Paddington, Slough, Reading and Didcot to Minehead
Steam hauled by 5051 Earl Bathurst from Oxford via Reading West, Newbury,
Castle Cary, Taunton and Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.
Past Time Rail
Sat 12-Mar-05 The West Somerset Explorer
Chester to Minehead, 6024 Gloucester-Minehead. Return is diesel from Bishops Lydeard.
Pathfinder
Sat 26-Mar-05: The Mayflower
Paddington, Reading, Didcot, Bristol TM and Taunton to Plymouth
Steam hauled by 5051 Earl Bathurst (off the WSR) from Taunton to Plymouth
and return to Bristol.
Past Time Rail
Mon 29-Mar-05 (Easter Monday) Avon Branch Explorers
5029 on shuttles from Bristol TM to Portbury and Avonmouth, followed by an
evening run Bristol-Taunton with return by diesel.
5029 light Taunton to the WSR.
Pathfinder
Sat 23-Apr-05 The Eden Limited
Worcester-Par, with 5029+6024 (ex WSR) Exeter-Par-Exeter
Pathfinder
Sat 14-May-2005
The Atlantic Coast Express
Watford, Milton Keynes, Long Buckby, Coventry and Birmingham Int to
Bishops Lydeard, Dunster and Minehead (diesel).
Return Minehead-Worcester Shrub Hill behind 6024 King Edward I, with
diesel Worcester to Watford.
Steamy Affairs
Details from www.uksteam.info/tours
Volunteers
The line is always looking for new volunteers for just about any task you can think of, from gardener to guard via firemen, signalmen, ticket inspectors, buffet staff, station staff, p-way, S&T...
The next Volunteers Day will be on Sunday 13 March 2005 at 10.45am starting at the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard before departing for Minehead at 12.25pm.
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. If you can't give the time but would still like to support the WSR then you can still join the association. Details from www.wsra.org.uk
Visiting Locos
The visitors at present are:
80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which is on the line for a long stay.
5553 Pete Waterman's ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie will shortly be back on the line.
Plus of course during March there will be the locos for the Spring Steam Gala!
Resident Locos
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie
6412 ex GW 0-6-0PT the WSRA's pannier tank.
9351 WSR rebuild as a 2-6-0 mogul of 5101 class prairie tank 5193 is now an established member of the fleet and is going well.
Progress continues with the S&D 2-8-0, 53808/88 which is in the works at Minehead, the boiler has passed it's steam test and has been returned to Minehead and refitted into the frames, she is now beginning to really show the progress that has been made. Work is also progressing on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton.
Large prairie 4160: The overhaul is progressing well and is running close to budget so far. No predictions of a steaming date yet, but it can't be too far away (mid to late 2005 maybe ?). New livery will be BR lined green with late style crest. Details from 4160 Ltd courtesy David Randles.
7828 Odney Manor is in Minehead Works for her overhaul, there is an appeal for funds for this, see below for more details. Small prairie 4561 is on display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard while she awaits her turn in Williton Works - which it is hoped will be during 2005. 7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GW Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket has expired.
Great news from the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited people who say the Final Push in the long restoration of ex-GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 is well and truly on with a real possibility of a steaming in the Spring of 2005. A return to the West Somerset Railway is expected in April 2005. More help is needed, however, and well-wishers are invited to visit the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited website for more details of how to help... Details from www.wsr.org.uk
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.
There's plenty of opportunities if you'd like to be involved with the DEPG's fleet, see their new web site at DEPG
Auto trailer 169 Project
The group who own 5542 have launched a new project, the restoration of ex GWR auto trailer 169. See their web site www.loco5542.co.uk. for further details of of this exciting development. 169 is a year older than 178 (which is back on the WSR), slightly shorter but otherwise pretty much the same. 169 has now been moved to Williton where restoration will soon commence.
This Month's Photos...
...are of some of the visitors planned for the Spring Steam Gala starting with 3440 City of Truro seen on Wellington Bank by Rodney Greenway.
6024 King Edward I will also be visiting, here she (or should that be he?) is seen at Bishops Lydeard during a previous visit in 2002.
Another returning visitor will be 5051 Earl Bathurst seen here at Williton in 2002.
Also paying a return visit will be 4936 Kinlet Hall seen here with a down train at Bishops Lydeard
A somewhat smaller visitor, 0-4-2T 1450 seen here in Brian Tucker's photo at Toddington on the GWR.
I haven't got a photo of the other visitor 7822 Foxcote Manor so I'll include a photo of 7828 Odney Manor, seen here at Minehead prior to being stopped for boiler repairs - see below for details of the appeal for funds for her overhaul.
I haven't got a photo of visiting 8750 Class 0-6-0PT 4612, however I have got one of the other visiting pannier tank, 9466 which is seen here at Minehead during last years Autumn Steam Gala.
The other locos for the Gala are resident or long term visitors to the WSR - 5542, 5553, 6412 and 9351.
These photos and many more are on West Somerset Railway and West Somerset Railway on the Web..
Note: you need to be connected to the Internet to view these photos.
Funding Appeal for Odney Manor
The WSR Plc have launched an appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828 Odney Manor back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway. Cash donations are required and for subscribers, a number of benefits are available. All donations of at least £20 will receive a commemorative Odney Manor certificate; for donations of £200 and £1,000, the certificate plus two tickets for the "Odney Manor Return to Steam Celebration Train" awaits, whilst for £1,000 donations the two tickets are First Class Dining seats plus a trip round the workshops. Top treatment for donations of £10,000 who receive four First Class Dining tickets on the Celebration Train, plus a full day Steam Engineman course driving and firing Odney Manor and arrangements to visit the loco during overhaul. For full details and conditions, look out for the leaflet or ring 01643 704996 for more details.
West Somerset Railway Association
Area Group Meetings:
Taunton Group:
In 2005, 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 March:- "A Journey Through Wales" - Steve Andrews
4 April:- "Mainline Steam Over the Years" - David Holman
2 May:- Special auto train trip behind 6412 to Williton to view Braunton etc. together with an update on WSR plans from Mark Smith (WSR plc MD) and Humphrey Davies (WSRA Chairman)
For the full programme for 2005 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:-
29 March:- "Steaming Around Bristol" - Maurice Dudman
26 April:- "Jones' Jaunts" - Lionel Jones
31 May:- "The Welsh Highland Railway" - Tony Ward
For the full programme for 2005 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2005
March 17-20:- Spring Steam Gala - the theme is "Pride of the Great Western"
May 6-8:- Spring Diesel Gala
July 2-3:- Days Out With Thomas
August 6-7:- Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally
September 17-18:- CAMRA Real Ale Festival
Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2:- Autumn Steam Gala
October 22-23:- Grand Trains Extravaganza
Further details on these and the winter events will be in future issues of West Somerset Express.
Groups on the line which would welcome support include:
West Somerset Railway Association
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.
The next issue is due 27 March 2005.
© 2005 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.