West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 11 – June 2003
Issue 1 - August 2002 Issue 2 - September 2002
Issue 3 - October 2002 Issue 4 - November 2002 Issue 5 - December 2002
Issue 6 - January 2003 Issue 7 February 2003 Issue 8- March 2003
Issue 9 - April 2003 Issue 10 - May 2003
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2003 Spring Steam Gala 2003 Autumn Gala 2003 Cross Country Weekend
WSR Rally 2003 Teddy Bear's Picnic Great Trains
Cross Country Weekend
This was great success, the West Somerset showed how well it could handle through trains from the big railway, there are plenty of photos of this great weekend on Cross Country Weekend and on www.wsr.org.uk.
Days out with Thomas Weekend
5-6 July 2003
Most seats on most trains from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead during the "Days Out with Thomas weekend on 5-6 July 2003 need to be booked in advance. The event is simply so popular that the Railway prefers to offer seat reservations to avoid a bad start to a good day out. The availability of seats as at 23 May was as follows:-
Saturday 5 July 2003.
“Duck’s” Train:...................................125.
“Henry’s” Train:..................................FULLY BOOKED.
“Sodor Express":.................................242.
“Daisy” the Diesel:............................. 140.
“The 12.40”:......................................275.
Sunday 6 July 2003.
“Duck’s” Train:.....................................90.
“Henry’s” Train:..................................FULLY BOOKED.
“Sodor Express":.................................132.
“Daisy” the Diesel:............................. 138.
“The 12.40”:......................................281.
There are plenty of seats still available on the other trains from Bishops Lydeard - contact the Railway on 01643 704996 for details or see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk.
Details from WSR Plc
Dates in June
2 June: “The restoration of GWR 2-6-2T No 5542” WSRA Taunton group - see more below.
June 4, 11,18 & 25: Sunset Specials see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
June 7 & 8: Diesel Running Days - D1010 will be working the dmu diagram
June 7: Fish & Chip special see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
June 20 Murder Mystery Special on the "Williton Flyer" see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Plus, of course, regular service trains running every day!
2003 Timetable
The railway's timetable for 2003 can be seen on line at WSR Timetable which also has the dates for all the special events on the line in the coming year.
There is a special timetable in operation on 27 to 29 May, see www.wsr.org.uk for details, it is a trial for a possible increase in peak season services next year.
Annual report reveals a very good year in 2002
In an upbeat Chairman's Report, Chris Austin, delights in revealing a very successful year for the Company in 2002, and applauds the hard work by the back room people along with the front line faces.
In financial terms, the passenger income exceeded £1 million for the first time, and the retail operations covered 7.5% of the overhead costs of the Company.
A record number of passengers were carried - 172,457 in total. That is 2% up on the previous record of 2001, and three times the number carries twenty years ago and "a striking measure of how far the Railway has come in that time".
Chris Austin explains that the success has enabled the Company to provide for the repair of No 53808, along with the renewal of the platform canopy at Minehead - the latter works extended by the "conflicting requirements of environmental and safety regulations".
There is a call for shareholders to take up further shares to help with the development of the Railway. The Company continues to seek grants from National and European funding. One of the interesting projects mentioned is the need to improve locomotive servicing facilities at Bishops Lydeard.
The Report concludes by noting the illness of the Chairman, Dennis Taylor, and the appointment of Chris Austin as Acting Chairman. [Since the Report was written in March, Dennis Taylor has resigned the Chairmanship, remaining as Director, and Chris Austin has been appointed Chairman.]
Details from WSR Plc
Visiting Locos
So far the list of guests, in addition to those visiting for the Spring Steam Gala, includes 4936 Kinlet Hall from mid July until the Autumn Steam Gala along with 5224 ex GW 2-8-0T which will be with us for the year and 80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T will be returning for a long stay, hopefully arriving in June.
Resident Locos
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
4160 ex GW 2-6-2T large prairie - will be stopped for overhaul in June.
5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie
6412 ex GW 0-6-0PT will be back for the Thomas the Tank Engine Weekend.
7820 Dinmore Manor ex GW 4-6-0.
The creation of a small-boilered "Mogul", a locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway continues to make excellent progress and the likelihood of an entry into traffic later this year remains good. Good progress is also being made with ex GWR 2-8-0 3850 and the S&D 2-8-0, both of which are in the works at Minehead.
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 - fresh from overhaul
In addition another Hymek, D7076 will be visiting for the high season including a special timetable during the "Swindon Heritage Diesel Gala" on 8 & 9 August. The other resident Hymek, D7018, is undergoing a major overhaul at Williton.
D9526 made a grand return to traffic with its own special train, photos of it are on Teddy Bear's Picnic
This Month's Photos
Naturally this month's photos are all of the Cross Country Weekend.
The first is of 5051 Earl Bathurst and D1010 Western Campaigner at Minehead.
Next sees the Voyager arriving at Williton en route to the naming ceremony at Minehead.
On to Minehead and the WSR plc's chairman, Chris Austin, and Time Team regular and Somerset County Council chairman Robin Bush are seen in front of the revealed nameplate with a third one which had been presented to them. Photo by Ian Cudworth
Even hi-tech Voyagers need the token to enter the single line section, here one the crew is collecting the token at Minehead. Photo by Jon Tooke
Diesel action included preserved 46035 Ixion and EWS's 47732 Restormel "top and tailing" a shuttle service between Williton and Norton Fitzwarren, here's views of them both at Bishops Lydeard.
Another train collecting the token, 5051 Earl Bathurst leaving Minehead for Bishops Lydeard.
These photos and many more can be seen on Cross Country Weekend and on www.wsr.org.uk.
Note: you need to be connected to the Internet to view these photos.
WSR Screensaver
There is a screensaver of views of the Spring Steam Gala available for free download from www.wsr.org.uk. Others will be available of floppy disc or CD-ROM shortly - watch this space!
Fish and Chips
This year the popular Fish and Chips specials are running from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back on the following dates:- 3 May, 7 June, 12 June and 27 September. Further details and bookings tel. 01643 704996.
Murder Mystery Specials
In 2003, “Murder Mystery Specials” will operate on 20 June, 11 July and 5 September. For further details see the Events page on www.wsr.org.uk.
West Somerset Railway Association
Area Group Meetings:
Taunton Group:
In 2003, 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.
2 June: “The restoration of GWR 2-6-2T No 5542” An illustrated talk, followed by a return trip from Bishops Lydeard to Crowcombe Heathfield behind the engine. Meet at Bishops Lydeard Station Visitor Centre at 7.45pm. Draw tickets will be sold on the night for two footplate rides - one to Crowcombe, and the other on the way back, on the loco, subject of course, always to the driver's agreement...[we are assured this agreement will be forthcoming!]
This is the last meting before the summer break, meetings resume on 1 September Skelton will give a talk "From monochrome to Fujichrome" at the usual venue.
For the full programme for 2003 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:-
27 May: “W(h)ither the Location” Part One – The Withered Arm – slides of the former LSWR lines in North Cornwall, allowed to wither and die after nationalisation. Part Two – Whither the Location – a pictorial quiz to end the season on a lighter note! Howard Sprenger.
For the full programme for 2003 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
This Year's Events
The programme of special events for 2003, in addition to the regular favourites – including the Spring and Autumn Steam Galas, Thomas, the Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally and the Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival – three new events are planned for this year:-
“The CrossCountry Network: Past, Present & Future” on 10-11 May which was a great success.
“The Grand Trains Extravaganza” weekend on 25-26 October – deliberately timed to coincide with the school half term week – will be another joint steam and heritage diesel event, with lots of trains, using the Railway’s ‘in-house’ engine/rolling stock resources.
The third new event planned for 2003 is a “Winter Steam Festival” on Sunday 28 December – plenty of steam action, with nice warm, steam-heated trains! Fuller details of the 2003 programme of special events will be announced in future issues of West Somerset Express and on West Somerset Railway Association and The Official West Somerset Railway Web Site.
Volunteers
There are around 400-500 active volunteers whose contribution helps makes the West Somerset Railway 'tick'. Indeed, without their considerable input the West Somerset Railway would probably cease to tick!
There are many different jobs for volunteers on the line, 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 – or e-mail the West Somerset Railway Association.
The other 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.
West Somerset Steam Railway Trust Heritage Grants
At its AGM last week, the WSSRT was pleased to launch a new initiative - the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust Heritage Grant. The Trust will give grants to assist projects along the branch that are designed to enhance the period atmosphere of the line. The idea is to be able to provide that little bit of extra money to enable things to be done properly and in a GWR manner rather than in a less than satisfactory or modern way. For example, a grant may be able to provide money to enable a team to restore a platform trolley, to install a GWR style station seat (rather than a modern one) perhaps to enable modern lighting to be replaced with replica gas lamps, or to enable a team to restore a GWR wagon. The possibilities are endless, but it is emphasised that the project must be about providing a GWR (or even B&E!!) Minehead branch ambience.
The grants will be administered by the Trust committee, who will meet periodically to consider the applications and to decide who will get what money.
The aim of the grants is not totally altruistic. Whilst enhancing the period atmosphere of the line is most important, it is hoped that the grants will raise the profile of the Trust along the branch and encourage extra members. In fact, the additional members are essential if this project is to get going. The committee have allocated a small sum initially to get things moving, but it is hoped that eventually the project will almost become self funding. Further details and application forms are available from the Trust's archivist grant co-ordinator, Ian Coleby.
Contact the Trust at icoleby@tiscali.co.uk.
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 main diesel group on the line
The next issue is due 27 June 2003.
© 2003 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.