West Somerset Express

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 46 – May 2006

Issue 42 - January 2006  Issue 43 - February 2006  Issue 44 - March 2006

Issue 45 - April 2006  WSR 30 weekend

West Somerset Express homepage

This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on

WSR 2006  Spring Steam Gala 2006  Autumn Steam Gala 2006  GTE 2006

 

 

The West Somerset Railway - Heritage Railway of the Year 2005

 

Dates for your diary

April 29 to May 1 - "Something a little different" to mark the 30th Anniversary of the re-opening of the WSR

May 1 - WSRA Taunton Group - visit to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

May 6 - Fish & Chip special from Bishops Lydeard, these trains will be steam hauled this year - Pre Booking required

May 30 - WSRA Bristol Group  - "Irish Railways", Patrick McCormack

 

Regular services are running this month, Train Timetables on www.wsr.org.uk has full details.  

 

 

West Somerset Railway 30th Anniversary of re-opening

The West Somerset Railway was re-opened between Minehead and Williton in two stages in 1976, the bank holiday weekend 29, 30 April, 1 May has been chosen to mark the 30th. Anniversary of re-opening.

 

There will be an enhanced Gold timetable in operation with 3 full line steam diagrams, the normal DMU diagram will be covered by the Class 25 D7523 and coaches, the DMU will operate shuttles between Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe Heathfield and Norton Fitzwarren - see Timetable for full details.  In addition there will be a demonstration goods running on all three days and the Quantock Belle luxury dining train (pre-booking essential) is running on the Sunday.

 

So why not come along and join us celebrating the achievements of the last 30 years?

 

Locos expected to be running:-

 

Other features:

 

6412

It has been pointed out that 6412 was in fact on the railway for the re-opening contrary to what I said in the anniversary special issue - sorry 6412!

 

Nick Jones tells me:-

"The pannier arrived under own steam from Totnes on the Thursday before the Saturday re-opening. At the same time 4 Mk 1 coaches purchased from BR Eastern arrived at Taunton, and 6412 brought up a BR(W) Hawkesworth auto trailer on hire from the DVR as a spare passenger brake vehicle."

 

The photo below shows 6412 along with one of the Bagnalls (neither of which are now on the line) and, in the background, one of the Hymeks and one of the Park Royal DMUs - one of each will be one display during the 30th. Anniversary Weekend.  It also shows how much the station area at Minehead has been developed and the level of interest in the re-opening.  Photo from John Woods collection

 

Re-opening day at Minehead
 

 

“Railways Round Exmoor”
In a new initiative to increase the attractions of Exmoor three “heritage” railways are joining forces in a joint marketing and ticketing venture for 2006.

The three railways concerned are the twenty mile long West Somerset which runs from Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) and Minehead, the water powered Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway which links the twin towns, and the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway which has begun to rebuild the narrow gauge line which closed in 1935 and is presently running trains from Woody Bay station towards Parracombe.

The tickets are priced at £16.00 for adults and senior citizens and £8 for children aged 5 to 15. (this gives some reductions over the tickets for the railways if purchased individually). They can be bought from the railway’s booking offices or in advance from West Somerset Railway (Commercial), The Railway Station, Minehead, TA24 5BG from whom leaflets giving fuller details can also be obtained. Credit card bookings can be made by ringing 01643 704996

Details from http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/

The other lines' websites are Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and http://www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk

 

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...

 

There are regular "New Volunteers Days" every year when prospective new recruits are invited to spend a day on the line – where they are introduced to key personnel, given a guided tour of the line and have the chance of learning more about the voluntary opportunities and 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.  There's more about volunteering on a new site, WSR Volunteers .

If you can't give the time but would still like to support the WSR why not 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

 

Resident Locos

The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:

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.

88 ex S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 (BR No 53808) is now in regular service.

3850 ex GW 2-8-0 has recently arrived back on the WSR after completion of restoration and will shortly be entering service.

 

5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie has now left the line and is at the South Devon Railway for the next couple of years during which the driving wheel tyres will be replaced.  Hopefully she'll be back after this.

 

Large prairie 4160: The overhaul continues to progress well and is running close to budget so far. No predictions of a steaming date yet, but it can't be too far away. New livery will be BR lined green with late style crest.

 

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 soon now.  7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GW Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket has expired.

 

34046 Braunton continues to progress well with steaming anticipated in 2006.

 

30850 Lord Nelson should visit the line for a period of running in, possibly in the summer.

 

Diesel Locos

The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:

Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner - currently stopped for repairs

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.

D6575/33057 is initially a source of spares for D6566, it will be assessed to see if it can be restored in time.

There's plenty of opportunities if you'd like to be involved with the DEPG's fleet, see their 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 has recently been back on the WSR), slightly shorter but otherwise pretty much the same.  Restoration work on 169 has now started in earnest at Williton.

 

This Month's Photos...

...start with 6412, this time a recent one of her pulling into Bishops Lydeard with the stock for an evening charter working.

6412 running into Bishops Lydeard

 

While she was waiting to leave for Minehead mogul 9351 arrived with the 15.55 from Minehead

9351 arrives as 6412 waits to depart

 

A last one of 6412 leaving for Minehead with the charter, a long day for her as she had been in use for shunting training for most of the day and wouldn't be back with this working until 10pm.

6412 leaving for Minehead

 

SDJR No. 88 is seen crossing Ker Moor with an up train over the Easter weekend with the Conygar Tower on the hill in the background.

88 crossing Ker Moor

 

After sorting out some "teething problems" GW 2-8-0 3850 should soon be in service, though she is not likely to work over the 30th. Anniversary Weekend she should be on display at Minehead.  Here she is seen at Bishops Lydeard shortly after arrival on the line.  Photo by Jon Tooke

3850 at Bishops Lydeard

 

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 appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828 Odney Manor back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway remains open. 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.

 

1 May:- Visit to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway at Woody Bay - Joint visit with the WSRA Bristol Group & GWS Taunton Group. Meet at 6.30pm

5 June:- Visit to Cerdic Foundry, Chard

 

For the full programme for 2006 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details e-mail

peter.darke@virgin.net .

 

Bristol Group:

The Bristol group meets on the last Tuesday of the month between September and May at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-

 

30 May:- "Irish Railways" - Patrick McCormack

 

For the full programme for 2006 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.

 

Events for 2006

29 April - 1 May - "Something a little different" to mark the 30th Anniversary of re-opening of the WSR.

8-9 July - Days Out with Thomas.

5-6 August - Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally at Bishops Lydeard

16-17 September - CAMRA Real Ale Festival at Minehead station

5-8 October - Autumn Steam Gala.

21-22 October - Grand Trains Extravaganza

1-2 December - Dunster by Candlelight

30 December - Winter Steam Festival

 

Further details on these 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.

WestSomersetRailway Yahoo! group for discussion and chat about the WSR

WSR Volunteers - a new site with lots of info for those thinking of volunteering

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.

West Somerset Express Archive

wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow volunteer, Jon Tooke.

 

The next issue is due 27 May 2006.

 

 

 

 

© 2006 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.