Special events have their own pages, this page has photos of the "everyday" scene on the West Somerset.  There are pages on the Mixed Traffic Weekend and the Autumn Steam Gala 2007

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February  March  May  June July  August  October

February

The first weekend of the season saw pannier 6412 working the Minehead - Williton services, she is seen here approaching Blue Anchor across Ker Moor with the hill behind almost hidden in the February gloom.

Another view of 6412 on Ker Moor.

Latter in the day 6412 was seen arriving back at Minehead.

A quick run round and 6412 was on her way with the last trip of the day to Williton and back.

Class 115 DMBS 51880 has recently come out of works after a major overhaul and was looking very smart in amongst the various carriages in Minehead's bay platform.

Two tank engines, stored for the winter, both in company of a diesel shunter left 80136 and Class 04 D2271 and right 5553 and Class 03 D2133.

Also temporarily stored were the line's two 2-8-0s, GWR 3850 and SDJR 88 stand at the sea front end of Minehead station.

Small Prairie 5521 arrived on the WSR for some running in before the Spring Steam Gala, she was hauled in steam from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on Sat. 24 Feb. by Class 25 diesel D7523, this first photo of the pair is while they were being coupled.

5521 was bought from Barry by the WSRA but was sold again unrestored.  Her restoration has recently been completed at Flour Mills in the Forest of Dean, after her appearance at the WSR's SSG she is off on a European tour hence the air pump on the driver's side.

The pair head off towards Minehead.

I saw them again as they were passing Williton, 5521's air pump hidden behind drifting steam.

The WSRA bought 4561 at the same time as 5521 (and 5542), they still own her.  After her boiler ticket ran out she spent some years on display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard but has recently been moved to Williton for eventual overhaul.

The WSRA's pannier tank 6412 was again working the service trains between Minehead and Williton, she is seen here arriving at a rain swept Williton.

6412 running round at Williton before returning to Minehead.

February  March  May  June  July  August  October

March

A non-steam visitor during the Spring Steam Gala 2007 was ex Fragonset now Cotswold Rail "Slim Jim" Class 33/2 33202 which is at the DEPG's depot at Williton, I believe it is on the WSR for CR driver training.

Keeping the 33 company was resident Class 25 D7523, interestingly the 25 looks to be narrower than the narrow "Hastings Gauge" 33.

Inside the DEPG's workshop was D1010 Western Campaigner, which is under repair but should soon be available for traffic.

The static buffet carriage at Minehead station is being replaced, the old one had been moved to Bishops Lydeard when this photo was taken - it is now in Exmouth.

On the last day of the month 850 Lord Nelson left the line working a railtour back to Eastleigh.  She was setting back on to her train past Class 25 D7523 in the photo.

Another view of the pair in Minehead Station.

SDJR 88 then arrived with a service train and is seen here about to give up the token.

850 Lord Nelson then left en route for Eastleigh.

850's train was "tailed" by 67020 which had brought it in earlier and was providing power for heating/air con.

The next train into Minehead was another railtour, this time from East Anglia, topped and tailed by 47815 (D1748) Great Western and 47812 (D1916) - seen here on the tail.

47812 has a sticker about its repaint by the cab door, it only has its TOPS number in small characters by the door as can also be seen here.

Three shots of 47815/D1748 Great Western during a shunt across to the sidings.

A pair of two tone green diesels at Minehead - D7523 and D1916 on adjacent lines waiting for their next moves.

Gala visitor 7822 Foxcote Manor was still with us and was working service trains, she is seen here arriving at Minehead from Bishops Lydeard.

For her return working 7822 was double headed with 88, the pair are seen here setting off from Minehead.

A last one of the last day of the month, D1916 ready to return to East Anglia complete with the NENTA headboard.

S&D 2-8-0 No 88 leaving Minehead with a Steam Engineman's Course working.  Photo by Justin Kerr-Peterson.

February  March  May  June July  August  October

May

On to May and Bank Holiday Monday the 8th saw pannier 6412 stabled with the Quantock Belle stock at Bishops Lydeard.

At the other end of the station, 2-8-0 3850 arrived with the 12.15 from Minehead.

A little later 3850 set off back to Minehead with the 14.10.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend Quantock Heritage were holding a special running weekend to mark their 30th anniversary, this one is a Bristol KSW with ECW body OHY938 which was in Bath Services livery.

D1010 Western Campaigner's repairs are complete, here she is seen at Minehead during a test run on 21 May.  Photo Jon Tooke

The following Bank Holiday Saturday evening mogul 9351 was resting at Minehead after working services during the day.

Swindon built Class 03 shunter D2133 in company with an ex GWR "Toad" goods brake van in Minehead loco sidings.

Minehead's other 204bhp diesel shunter, Class 04 D2271, was further down the yard in the company of a number of spare wheel sets and bogies with a Class 115 awaiting overhaul in the background.

There was a Jazz Special that evening with a band playing on the station for the passengers who'd come from Bishops Lydeard by special train - with Fish & Chips on the way.

D1661 North Star at Brush Traction, Loughborough on 25 May 2007 after being refurbished prior to being handed over to the DEPG for preservation on the West Somerset.  She should arrive on the WSR on 28 May working a railtour which will return behind 45112.  Photo Bob Tiller/DEPG

Three days later D1661 North Star arrived at Minehead with a special from Derby, behind her was 47828 Joe Strummer to provide ETH on the return journey.

On the other end, ready to lead back to Derby, was 45112 Royal Observer Corps.  Despite being an ETH fitted loco there were instructions not to use her ETH supply hence 47828 being included in the formation.

Another shot of 47828 Joe Strummer and one of her nameplate - she's named after the punk guitarist and singer/songwriter.

The reflections in this photo of North Star's nameplate show the superb quality of the paintwork applied by Brush Traction.

After the official handing over D1661 moved off the train and is seen here out in the sun.

Photos of D1661's works plates and data panels.

February  March  May  June  July  August

June

D1010 Western Campaigner arriving at Bishop Lydeard with a test working on 9 June ahead of the next weekend's Mixed Traffic Weekend.

A little later 47839 arrived at the head of the 17.50 return excursion from Minehead to Paddington while SDJR No. 88 waited with the Fish & Chips special to Minehead.

The following weekend was the Mixed Traffic Weekend which has its own page.

6024 King Edward I arrived on the line for a visit during the MTW, the following Saturday she was working the Quantock Belle and is seen here arriving back at Bishops Lydeard.  The green brake is being used while the QB's own is repainted.

There was an ordinary set attached to the QB, 5553 then came on to the back of it to work back to Minehead on a Steam Engineman's course.

The next movement was the arrival of the Class 115 DMU from Minehead, I was going to say "Old & new" but its more "Old & not quite so old"

After the SEC had gone and the DMU had run through to Up Sidings 3850 ran through ready to work a Murder Mystery Special using the stock she has just passed.

February  March  May  June July  August  October

July

LMS 4F 0-6-0 44422 is on the WSR for the summer, she is seen here after arriving at Minehead double headed with resident 2-6-0 9351.  Photo by Justin Kerr-Peterson

Class 37 37248 arriving at Bishops Lydeard with a return excursion from London.  Photo by Jon Tooke

A view of a busy Minehead station with D1661 North Star waiting to leave with an Up train and the stock of a recently arrived Down train in the other platform.  Also on view are the Class 03 and 04 diesel shunters, the Class 115 DMU and various steam locos.  Photo by Jon Tooke

August

Two views of the 14.06 from Bristol to Minehead on 10 August, left with 31454 leading the train into Watchet and right 31452 on the tail of the train.

Later in the month and GWR 2-8-0 3850 heads the 12.15 from Minehead across Ker Moor and into Blue Anchor.

5101 class 2-6-2T 4160 then left for Minehead with the 11.25 from Bishops Lydeard.

Another view of 4160 as she heads across Ker Moor.

October

October starts with the Autumn Steam Gala which has its own page.

November

For most of November there are no public services running, hence on Sunday 11/11 this line up of 5553, 9351, 3850, 88 and D2271 was resting in the autumn sun at Minehead.

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