West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 49 – August 2006
Issue 42 - January 2006 Issue 43 - February 2006 Issue 44 - March 2006
Issue 45 - April 2006 WSR 30 weekend Issue 46 - May 2006
Issue 47 - June 2006 Issue 48 - July 2006
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2006 Spring Steam Gala 2006 Autumn Steam Gala 2006 GTE 2006
The West Somerset Railway - Heritage Railway of the Year 2005
Dates for your diary
July 29 - Friends of Minehead Station Summer Fayre on the platform at Minehead
July 29 - Quantock Belle Saturday evening dining train
July 29 - Watchet Carnival - extra evening DMU services to Minehead and Bishops Lydeard
August 5-6 - Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally at Bishops Lydeard
August 6 - Toy & Model Collectors Fayre at Minehead Station
August 12 - Fish & Chip Special from Bishops Lydeard
August 13 - Quantock Belle Sunday Luncheon dining train
August 18 - Dunster Show - Vintage buses running between the station and the Steep
August 19 - Quantock Belle Saturday Evening dining train
August 26 - Fish & Chips Special from Bishops Lydeard
September 2 - Murder, Mystery Special from bishops Lydeard
The above special trains need to be booked in advance - see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
For the Quantock Belle telephone 01823 433856 to check availability of seats and to make a provisional reservation.
Regular services are running every day until October, Train Timetables on www.wsr.org.uk has full details.
Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally 5-6 August 2006
Once again the West Somerset Railway station at Bishops Lydeard will echo to the sight, sound and smell of many mighty steam engines as they gather for what will be our 20th Rally.
Gleaming engines, powerful steam engines, tractors and road rollers, elegant vintage cars and motorcycles, superb fire engines, buses, commercial and military vehicles will all be put through their paces in the arena to thrill the crowds. Horse drawn exhibits make a return visit to the event.
Bishops Lydeard Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally is well known for its unique location, friendly atmosphere and good value for money. Backing up the transport exhibits will be displays, stalls, trade stands, children’s entertainments and ample refreshment facilities.
Events and Highlights
Full train service on the WSR to stations to Minehead, with steam and heritage diesel locomotives in action
The glory of working traction engines, tractors and road rollers
Sweet music from the fairground and street organs
Horse drawn section
Polished perfection of vintage cars, motorcycles, fire engines, buses, military and commercial vehicles
The power of stationary vehicles
Afternoon parades of vehicles
Real ale bar and refreshments
Family fun, children’s entertainments, Morris Dancers
Combined Rail/Rally tickets available from most WSR stations
Something for everyone – displays, models, railway art, trade stands, craft marquee and stalls
The event is organised by the West Somerset Railway Association.
Further details on http://www.wsr.org.uk/rally2006.htm
Autumn Steam Gala
The West Somerset Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala will take place between October 5 and 8. Some advance news is that two “guest” engines are already in place in the form of Great Western Number 6024 “King Edward I” and GWR 2-8-0T number 4247. Others are being sought and will hopefully include Southern 4-6-0 850 “Lord Nelson”. With the home fleet there will be 10 locos working an intensive timetable over the weekend which will include auto trains, goods trains and shunting demonstrations.
Thursday 5th will be “Branch Line Day” with appropriate motive power in action whilst Friday 6th is intended to be “Express and Freight Train Day” with two demonstration freight trains in action. Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th will be all passenger with all engines (bar one on standby) heading passenger trains.
Full details are now available on http://www.wsr.org.uk/asg2006.htm
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...
There are regular "New Volunteers Days" every year when prospective new recruits are invited to spend a day on the line – where they are introduced to key personnel, given a guided tour of the line and have the chance of learning more about the voluntary opportunities and what is involved.
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 why not join the association? Details from www.wsra.org.uk
“Railways Round Exmoor”
In a new initiative to increase the attractions of Exmoor three “heritage” railways are joining forces in a joint marketing and ticketing venture for 2006.
The three railways concerned are the twenty mile long West Somerset which runs from Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) and Minehead, the water powered Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway which links the twin towns, and the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway which has begun to rebuild the narrow gauge line which closed in 1935 and is presently running trains from Woody Bay station towards Parracombe - they are now running as far as Killington Lane.
The tickets are priced at £16.00 for adults and senior citizens and £8 for children aged 5 to 15. (this gives some reductions over the tickets for the railways if purchased individually). They can be bought from the railway’s booking offices or in advance from West Somerset Railway (Commercial), The Railway Station, Minehead, TA24 5BG from whom leaflets giving fuller details can also be obtained. Credit card bookings can be made by ringing 01643 704996
Details from http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/
The other lines' websites are Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and http://www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk
Progress at Norton Fitzwarren
Negotiations are underway regarding basing a Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaner train here for about two years, this would see the triangle and "Barnstaple Branch" track being supplied by Network Rail. Subject to agreements and the necessary consents work on the triangle could commence this year and be operational in 2007.
The resignalling of the junction at Norton Fitzwarren by Network Rail was completed on Friday 23 June, a slight delay in commissioning the new signals due to sighting difficulties having been resolved by fitting a screen to the footbridge to prevent "reading through" by drivers on the Up Main.
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 GWR 2-6-2T small prairie
Resident Locos
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
6412 ex GWR 0-6-0PT the WSRA's pannier tank
9351 WSR rebuild as a 2-6-0 mogul of GWR 5101 class prairie tank 5193.
88 ex S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 (BR No 53808) is now in regular service.
3850 ex GWR 2-8-0 is also now in regular service.
5542 ex GWR 2-6-2T small prairie has now left the line and is at the South Devon Railway for the next couple of years during which the driving wheel tyres will be replaced. Hopefully she'll be back after this.
Large prairie 4160: The overhaul is nearing completion and will then be steamed in late July at the South Devon Railway this year, we will then commence a period of running in. Hire-agreement negotiations continue with the West Somerset Railway. New livery will be BR lined green with late style crest. Details from 4160 Ltd
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 has been transported to Yeovil Pen Mill for the Pen Mill 150 event on 29 July. On return she is expected to go to Williton ready for overhaul in due course.
7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GWR Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket has expired.
34046 Braunton continues to progress, to quote a visitor to the shed "what appears to be a huge kit of parts is now coming together. Boiler work on stays, tubes and cladding is all now heading towards completion, perhaps in the next month or so, and I believe the 3 dimensional jigsaw assembly should be underway in the not too distant future".
30850 Lord Nelson should be arriving at the WSR from Eastleigh in the first week or two of August for an 11 week stay. It will apparently be towed in light steam by a diesel locomotive. It will probably do a main line loaded test run while based at the WSR, before departing on its first railtour from Minehead to Eastleigh on Sat 21 October. Confirmation of these plans is still awaited.
Details from http://www.uksteam.info
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 is initially 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 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...
...start with pannier tank 6412 at Bishops Lydeard before working a Steam Engineman's Course with an ex SR goods brake van
Mogul 9351 and small prairie 5553 bathed in July sunshine while receiving attention at Minehead shed.
BR Std tank 80136 was supporting England in the World Cup with flags on the lamp irons - to no avail as England lost on penalties later in the day.
Recently restored GWR 2-8-0 3850 arriving at a verdant Blue Anchor with a down train in glorious sunshine, West Somerset at its best!
Often overlooked are DMUs, this is the WSR's Class 117 Pressed Steel suburban unit waiting in Minehead's bay platform between trips. 
Another diesel out the same weekend was Class 33 "Crompton" D6566 which is seen about to work an S&T works train from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren.
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 appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828 Odney Manor back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway remains open. 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 2006 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.
September 4:- "Medium Format Medley" with Malcolm Ranieri
October 2:- "Main Line Steam" - Preserved Steam On Video
For the full programme for 2006 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:-
September 26:- "TRIP - The GWR Swindon Works Annual Holiday" - Rosa Matheson
October 31:- "SS Great Britain" - Tony Dickens
For the full programme for 2006 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2006
5-6 August - Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally at Bishops Lydeard
16-17 September - CAMRA Real Ale Festival at Minehead station
5-8 October - Autumn Steam Gala.
21-22 October - Grand Trains Extravaganza
1-2 December - Dunster by Candlelight
30 December - 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.
UKsteam.info has sections on the WSR and on mainline steam railtours
WestSomersetRailway Yahoo! group for discussion and chat about the WSR
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.
The next issue is due 27 August 2006.
© 2006 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.