West Somerset Express

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 29 – December 2004

Issue 21 - April 2004  Issue 22 - May 2004  Issue 23 - June 2004

Issue 24 - July 2004  Issue 25 - August 2004  Issue 26 - September 2004

Issue 27 - October 2004  Issue 28 - November 2004

West Somerset Express homepage

 

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

WSR 2004  Spring Steam Gala 2004  Autumn Steam Gala 04  Diesel Gala 04

 

Dates in December

27 & 28 November:- Santa Steam Specials

30 November:- WSRA Bristol Group, The Vision for the WSR x 2 - Mark Smith & Humphrey Davies

3 & 4 December:- Dunster by Candlelight specials

4 & 5 December:- Santa Steam Specials

6 December:- WSRA Taunton Group, Christmas Quiz

11 December:- Santa Express

11 & 12 December:- Santa Steam Specials

13 & 14 December:- Carol Trains

18 December:- Santa Express

18 December:- Christmas Murder Mystery Special on the "Minehead Flyer"

18 & 19 December:- Santa Steam Specials

22 December:- Santa Express

23 & 24 December:- Santa Steam Specials

29 December:- Winter Steam Festival

 

Regular services finished for the season on Sunday 31 October, they resume on 27 December 2004 until 2 January 2005.  Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details for the year.

 

Dunster by Candlelight

This year Dunster by Candlelight is on 3-4 December, there are two steam services from Bishops Lydeard on both days and an additional diesel service on the Saturday, further details on Dunster by Candlelight - advance booking essential. There will also be a through special from Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare operated by Past Time Rail on the Friday and one operated by First Great Western on the Saturday.

 

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

 

Pathfinder have now confirmed the following railtours:

Sat 12-Mar-05 The West Somerset Explorer
Chester to Minehead, 6024 Gloucester-Minehead. Return is diesel from Bishops Lydeard.

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.

Sat 23-Apr-05 The Eden Limited
Worcester-Par, with 5029+6024 (ex WSR) Exeter-Par-Exeter
Details from www.uksteam.info/tours

 

It is believed that the 2005 Spring Steam Gala will see biggest collection of live working GWR engines together in preservation!  The Gala is on 17-20 March with the theme "Pride of the Great Western" - more details in future editions.

 

Santa Steam Specials

A great occasion for all the family and an ideal way to start Christmas. Take a steam train ride through the countryside and have fun meeting Santa.
Take a train from Bishops Lydeard to Crowcombe Heathfield to meet Santa in his Grotto on any of the following dates:
November: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28

Prices: Adults £6.50
          Children £6.50
          Babes In Arms £3.50*

December: Saturday 4, Sunday 5, Saturday 11, Sunday 12, Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Thursday 23 & Friday 24

Prices: Adults £9.50
          Children £9.50

          Babes In Arms £3.50*

Departure times from Bishops Lydeard: 10.15am, 11.50am, 1.50pm & 3.25pm

Or take a train from Minehead to Blue Anchor to meet Santa in his Grotto on any of the following dates:

December: Sunday 12, Sunday 19, Thursday 23 & Friday 24

Prices: Adults £6.50
          Children £6.50
          Babes In Arms £3.50*

Departure times from Minehead: 10.20am, 12.05pm, 1.55pm & 3.30pm
* Children under one year of age, referred to as Babes In Arms, are the only passengers eligible for concessions.

Advance booking essential for all these trains.

Details from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

 

Santa Express

The new Santa Express travels from Bishops Lydeard to Williton and Santa rides on the train with you, visiting the children during the journey.
It will run on the following dates:

December: Saturday 11, Saturday 18 and Wednesday 22

Prices: Adults £10.50
          Children £10.50
          Babes In Arms £3.50*

Departure times from Bishops Lydeard: 11.00am and 2.30pm

Details from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

 

Winter Steam Festival

29 December 2004 sees the second WSR WSF with 4 locos in action, 9351, 80136, 5542 and 6412, the theme is "A West Country Branch Line in Winter".  There will be an intensive all steam timetable including an auto train, warm steam heated coaches through the Somerset countryside - the ideal way to recover from Christmas!


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 New Volunteers Day will be held in the Spring at Bishops Lydeard Station.

 

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.

 

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 will shortly be returned to Minehead for refitting into the frames.  Work is also progressing on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton.

 

Large prairie 4160: The overhaul is progressing well with the engine well on the way to its return to steam. At Buckfastleigh the engine has now been rewheeled with pony and radial trucks overhauled, axle boxes remetalled and driving wheels turned. Cylinders have been bored and new valve assemblies made, along with a new vacuum cylinder, and other valve gear components refurbished. The boiler at LNWR Crewe has a new front tubeplate, along with new firebox corner patches, lap inserts and foundation ring riveting etc. Overhaul cost 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 at Minehead, she has been bought by the WSR plc and is now in works for her overhaul. 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.

 

Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited – owners of Nos 7820 and 3850 – has recently launched an appeal in a bid to raise £30,000 which, it says, will enable their Great Western 2-8-0 to be completed and reassembled at Tyseley Locomotive Works, in readiness for a return to steam on the WSR in the spring. No 3850 has not steamed since 1965, and was purchased for preservation from the former Woodham’s Scrapyard at Barry in 1984 with the intention of restoring it for future use on the line. Both the boiler and frames of the 2-8-0 are at Tyseley, and the finance is now available to commence the final stages of the restoration, with the outstanding work being shared between TLW staff and DMLL volunteers.  Details from www.wsra.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 arrived at Bishops Lydeard and will shortly be moved to Williton where restoration will commence.

 

This Month's Photos...

...are a variety spread over the past year, starting with resident 0-6-0PT 6412 which was running round its train at Williton in February.

6412 running round at Williton

 

The 2004 Spring Steam Gala saw what is becoming a WSR "trade mark", a triple header by locos of the same class, in this case it was 4575 Class small prairies 5542, 5552 and 5553 which are seen here arriving at Bishops Lydeard.

Triple headed prairies 5542, 5552 and 5553

 

The Spring Diesel Gala also saw a same class triple header, in this case it was Class 33 "Cromptons", resident 33048 (D6566) along with Fragonset's 33103 and 33202 - not only three of a class but all three sub-classes.  They are seen leaving Williton for Minehead in this photo by Jon Tooke.

33048, 33103 and 33202 leaving Williton

 

Neither of the October events produced a triple header, the nearest was this double header of 0-6-0PT 9466 and small prairie 5542 seen in the rain at Williton during the Autumn Steam Gala.

9466 and 5542 at Williton

 

A different 3 of a kind, a line of goods brake vans at Minehead the following weekend.

 

Does this count as a triple header?  The Hastings DEMU that visited on a through special had two power cars at one end and one at the other, it is seen leaving Bishops Lydeard on the return run.  The EWS guard told me earlier that he realised why they are called Thumpers when he heard the engine thumping away next to his compartment leaving Westbury!

Thumper to Hastings leaving 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. 

 

West Somerset Railway Association

Area Group Meetings:

Taunton Group:

In 2004, 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.

 

6 December - Christmas Quiz

 

For the full programme for 2004 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 April at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-

 

30 November - The Vision of the WSR x 2 - Mark Smith/Humphrey Davies

25 January 2005 - "Diesels of the West Somerset Railway" - John Cronin

 

For the full programme for 2004 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.

 

Events for 2005

March 17-20:- Spring Steam Gala

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.

West Somerset Express Archive

 

 

The next issue is due 27 December 2004.

 

 

 

 

© 2004 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.