Spring Steam Gala 2004

 

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45407, 34022 and 76079 at Bishops Lydeard

A variety of visitors line up at Bishops Lydeard at the start of the Gala Friday, Black Five 45407, West Country 34022 Exmoor and BR Std 4 2-6-0 76079.

34022 Exmoor at Bishops Lydeard

The visiting West Country is actually 34027 Taw Valley, but she has been carrying the identity 34045 Ottery St. Mary however for her visit to the WSR she is appearing as 34022 Exmoor to mark the 50th. Anniversry of Exmoor National Park this year.

Exmoor nameplate

Exmoor's temporary nameplate.

 

34022 Exmoor

"I remember these when I was a lad" - trouble is, so do I!

 

 

65462 and 5553 leave Lydeard

GER J15 0-6-0 65462 and GWR 2-6-2T 5553 leaving Bishops Lydeard with a down train.

 

34022 and 45407

The next down train running in from the sidings behind Black Five 45407 past 34022 being prepared for the following service.

 

45407 at Crowcombe

Moving down the line a bit, 45407 at Crowcombe Heathfield.

 

 

80136 arriving at Bishops Lydeard

Back down the hill to Bishops Lydeard, BR Std 4 tank 80136 arriving from Minehead.

 

34022 and 76079

34022 and 76079 ready to double head 80136's train back to Minehead, with 6412 and the auto trailer in the background.

 

65462 and 5553 approaching Williton

After a ride to Williton behind the above pair the J15, 65462 and the small prairie 5553 are seen approaching Williton.

 

65462,5553 and 6412 at Bishops Lydeard

They arrived back at Bishops Lydeard after a spirited run, resident pannier 6412 then passed them with a "shuttle" down to Norton Fitzwarren.

 

5553 and 65462 running round at Bishops Lydeard

65462 and 5553 then changed places during running round for the return journey to Minehead.

 

Spare chimney?

It looks like 65462 is carrying a spare chimney on the back of her tender, quite why I don't know!

 

A cosy cab, 65462

A cosy cab - the crew of 65462 relax between runs.  Photo by Rodney Greenway

 

 

45407 leaving past the auto train

The next down train was hauled by the Black Five 45407, seen leaving Bishops Lydeard with 6412 and the auto trailer in the other platform, also the support coaches for the 34022 and that for 45407 and 76079 can be seen in the background.

45407 leaving Bishops Lydeard

A rather atmospheric shot of her the other side of the bridge.

 

76079 ready to take water

A last one of the Friday at Lydeard, 76079 approaches the water tower to take water in the course of running round.

 

5552 on a goods at Minehead

Meanwhile a third small prairie, 5552 visiting from Bodmin, was seen at Minehead on a goods working.  Photo by Rodney Greenway

 

45407 at Minehead

Also seen at Minehead, Black Five 45407 was in the loco yard.  Photo by Rodney Greenway

 

45407 climbing to Crowcombe

Black Five 45407 nears the summit of the line at Crowcombe Heathfield with a Minehead bound train on the Saturday morning.

 

34022 leaving Crowcombe

34022 Exmoor then left Crowcombe for Bishops Lydeard with an up train.  At present tender first running is necessary on the West Somerset but with expected developments at Norton Fitzwarren and Minehead it may be possible to turn locos at both ends of the line in the not too distant future.

34022 dropping down from Crowcombe

A quick dash across the bridge for another shot of the rebuilt Bulleid West Country pacific, going away shots are often better with a tender first loco to my mind.

 

76079 arriving at Crowcombe

After time for a cuppa and a piece of homemade cake BR Std 4 76079 arrived with the next up train.

 

76079 running in to Crowcombe

Another shot of 76079 after she'd passed me.

 

 

34022 arriving at Crowcombe

34022 then appeared with the next down train - early so I wasn't where I'd intended to be for a shot of her boiler first!

 

5552 shunting at Dunster

On to Dunster where visiting small prairie 5552 was shunting goods wagons.

 

34022 arriving at Minehead

Meanwhile 34022 was seen arriving at Minehead.   Photo by Rodney Greenway.

 

65462 at Williton

Back to Williton where GER J15 65462 was seen on a down train, the only one she worked single headed on the Friday or Saturday.

 

Steam roller at Williton

In the yard at Williton - between the DEPG and WSRA's sheds this steam roller was running up and down flattening the roadways.

 

45407 at Crowcombe

Up to the summit at Crowcombe Heathfield and 45407 was working another down train.

 

D3462 at Bishops Lydeard

It might be a Steam Gala but I couldn't resist a shot of Class 08 D3462 fresh from overhaul doing duty as station pilot at Bishops Lydeard.

 

6412 and the auto trailer

Auto train duties on the shuttle from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren where in the hands of pannier 6412 seen here in Platform 1 with 34022 waiting behind her to come on the back of the next up train to work it back to Minehead.

34022 at Bishops Lydeard

A little later and 34022 was on her train in Platform 2.

 

 

76079 and 34022 at Bishops Lydeard

BR Std 76079 then ran round and joined 34022 to double head back to Minehead.

 

5193 in Minehead Works

5193 in Minehead Works

Two photos of 5193 in Minehead Works, it is being converted to a Mogul in the process - see In Works for more details.  Photos by Rodney Greenway.

 

 

There are brief technical details of these locos on WSR Locos

34046 (or 34022 or 34027...)

34046 or ....

The visiting West Country underwent another change of identity on the Sunday morning, this time to 34046 Braunton, the genuine one is undergoing restoration at Williton and this was both a reward and a challenge to the team involved!

The Three Prairies

The Three Prairies

During the Sunday afternoon visiting locos were being moved to Bishops Lydeard ready for onward movement home, as part of this all 3 small prairies worked together so here they are 5542, 5552 and 5553 - The Three Prairies.

Well, that's it for this years Spring Steam Gala, a very successful and enjoyable three days.

You too can be part of the action - new volunteers are always welcome, you can find out more on Volunteers, there's a big perk in exchange for your efforts - free travel!

There are other photos of the West Somerset Railway in 2004 on WSR 2004

  Click here to go to the West Somerset Railway's site

  Click here to go to the West Somerset Railway Association's site

  Click here to go to the unofficial West Somerset Railway site

Visit our Travel Centre for train and ferry times and tickets.

 

 

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This site was last updated 15-07-2012

Photos not otherwise credited are ©2001/2002 S G J Huddy.  Other photos are included with permission of the copyright holders.