West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 39 – October 2005
Issue 33 - April 2005 Issue 34 - May 2005 Issue 35 - June 2005
Issue 36 - July 2005 Issue 37 - August 2005 Issue 38 - September 2005
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2005 Spring Diesel Gala 05 Spring Steam Gala 2005 Autumn Steam Gala 2005
The West Somerset Railway - Independent Railway of the Year 2004
Dates for your diary
30 September - 2 October:- Autumn Steam Gala
3 October - WSRA Taunton Group - ""Mainline Steam - the return of Preserved Steam on Video", Karl Jauncy & Dave Richards
9 October - Steam Cream & Carnage Special, a day time "Murder, Mystery" from Minehead
22- 23 October - Grand Trains Extravagnaza
25 October - "Clifton Suspension Bridge", no. 5 in the Down Bristol Way series with Mike Rowland
29 October - Halloween Murder Mystery from Bishops Lydeard
Note: the above special trains need to be booked in advance.
Regular services are running daily until 2 October then Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 30 October. Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details.
Autumn Steam Gala
A superb line-up of engines is promised for the Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala, which runs from Thursday 29 September to Sunday 2 October. The LNWR Class G2 ‘Super D’ No 49395 – part of the National Collection which has recently received a comprehensive overhaul at LNWR Crewe after many years out of service – will be in action hauling trains, which will almost certainly be its first visit to Somerset! 35005 Canadian Pacific will be making the first visit of a Merchant Navy pacific to the line while at the other end of the size scale, the third ‘guest’ engine is Beattie well tank No 30587 – also part of the National Collection but normally based at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. The well tank will haul a number of two-coach passenger trains between Minehead and Blue Anchor on the Thursday and Friday of the event, and be used on the “Dunster shunt” turn the following two days.
The Railway is also hoping that S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No 53808 will be in steam at the Gala though not working trains.
This impressive line-up will be supported by several members of the ‘home fleet’ – No's 5542, 5553, 6412, 9351 & 80136 – whilst Peckett 0-4-0ST No 1788 Kilmersdon will be in action giving shunting demonstrations around the yard at Washford. Details from www.wsra.org.uk
Grand Trains Extravaganza
This event runs on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October and will feature an intensive service with the railway's "home fleet" of steam and diesel locos, those expected to work are steam locos S&D no. 88, 5542, 5553, 6412, 9351 & 80136 and diesel locos D9526, D7017, D7523 and D6566. There will be auto trains at the Minehead end of the line with the Norton Fitzwarren shuttles entrusted to the DMU. Plenty of variety for everyone - don't miss it!
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...
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 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.
5553 Pete Waterman's ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie
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.
The overhaul of S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No 53808 – which last ran in service on the WSR in 1996 – is virtually complete, she should be in light steam at the Autumn Steam Gala and working at the Grand Trains Extravaganza.
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 (late 2005 maybe ?). 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 early 2006. 7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GW Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket has expired, she should go to Tysley for this on the same lowloader that brings 3850 to the WSR.
3850 - As is often the case the last part of the overhaul is taking longer than expected and she won't be on the WSR for a short while. However Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited are confident that she will make her WSR debut during the Winter Steam Festival if not before.
No 3850 will run with the same 3,500 gallon tender restored by DMLL to run behind the Group’s other engine, No 7820 Dinmore Manor. The tender has recently been repainted at Williton.
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 has arrived on the WSR, initially as 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 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 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...
...have the Autumn Steam Gala as a theme. The first is of a visitor that has already arrived, Beattie 2-4-0 Well Tank 30587 from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, seen here at Bishops Lydeard.
At the opposite end of the size scale is 35005 Canadian Pacific which will be making the first appearance of its class on the WSR, this one shows her at Gillingham in Dorset working the Mid Hants Railway's "Green Train"
The "Super D" is too recently restored for me to have a photo of it so the next is a reminder of last year's ASG with another small Southern tank, Terrier 32678 with a short goods at Minehead with 80136 in the platform and 5542, 5553 and 9466 in the background on the shed.
The "big visitor" last year was BR Std. 9F 2-10-0 92214 seen here at a rather damp Blue Anchor.
The ASG will see the first anniversary of small boilered mogul 9351's entry into service, she is seen here on her first day in service arriving at Minehead double headed with 5199, a class mate before 5193 was rebuilt to 9351.
Having been away at Swanage for the summer resident pannier 6412 has been turned and is currently facing Minehead, an opportunity for photographers to get some different shots. She's seen here before her "holiday" facing Taunton with auto trailer 178 which will be back on the WSR for the Gala and which will also face the other way of course.
I hope to get plenty of photos during the Gala, next months WSE will have a selection of them
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 WSR Plc have launched an appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828 Odney Manor back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway. 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.
Meetings will resume after the summer break with:-
3 October:- “Main Line Steam – the return of Preserved Steam on Video” with big screen and big sounds!
7 November:- "Somerset Stations" - Mike Oakley
For the full programme for 2005 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 May at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-
25 October:- "Clifton Suspension Bridge", no. 5 in the Down Bristol Way series with Mike Rowland
29 November:- "Longmoor Military Railway" & "Carriage of Tanks by Rail" with Mike Walshaw
For the full programme for 2005 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2005
Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2:- Autumn Steam Gala
October 22-23:- Grand Trains Extravaganza
November 27, December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24:- Santa Steam Specials
December 2-3:- Dunster by Candlelight
December 29:- 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.
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.
wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow volunteer, Jon Tooke.
The next issue is due 27 October 2005.
© 2005 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.