West Somerset Express

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 56 – March 2007

Issue 50 - September 2006  Issue 51 - October 2006  Issue 52 - November 2006

Issue 53 - December 2006  Issue 54 - January 2007  Issue 55 - February 2007

West Somerset Express homepage

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

WSR 2007  Spring Steam Gala 2007  Mixed Traffic Weekend  Autumn Steam Gala 2007

 

 

Ian Allan Publishing Heritage Railway of the Year 2006

 

Dates for your diary

March 5 - WSRA Taunton Group meeting

March 17-18 - Spring Steam Gala, first weekend

March 22-25 - Spring Steam Gala, second weekend

March 24 - Railtour from Sheffield

March 27 - WSRA Bristol Group meeting

March 31 - Railtours from Eastleigh and North Walsham

 

Services (including the Gala) run March 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 20-25, 27-29 and 31.  Train Times on www.wsr.org.uk has full details.

 

Railtours - details of railtours to and from the WSR can be seen on Railtours on the railway's official web site.

 

Spring Steam Gala

This years event is themed "Summer Saturdays in the West" will be on March 17, 18 and 22 - 25 repeating last years successful two weekends format.

 

The loco line up is expected to be:-

 SR 4-6-0 no 850 Lord Nelson
 SR 4-6-2 no 34007 Wadebridge
 GWR 4-6-0 no 5051 Earl Bathurst
 GWR 4-6-0 no 7802 Bradley Manor
 GWR 4-6-0 no 7822 Foxcote Manor
 SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 (BR no 53808)
 BR(W) 2-6-2T no 4160
 BR 4MT 2-6-4T no 80136
 GWR 2-6-2T no 5521
 GWR 2-6-2T no 5553
 WSR 2-6-0 no 9351
 GWR 2-8-0 no 3850
 GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412
 

Further details can be found on http://www.wsr.org.uk/ssg2007.htm

 

Mixed Traffic Weekend

This is on 15-17 June, the planned diesel element of the event has been announced (subject to availability):

Visitors-

D832 Onslaught

D9520

D1015 (Saturday 16 June only)

 

Resident locos-

D1010 will return to traffic

D1661 North Star will make its WSR debut

D7017

D9526

 

Virgin Shuttle for the Gala

Virgin trains will bring a modern addition to the "Summer Saturdays in the West" theme on the West Somerset Railway during its Spring Steam Gala. On both Weekends Virgin will run a shuttle using a Voyager set on Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th and the 24th and 25th of March in connection with the West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Steam Gala, adding the most modern way of getting to the West to some of the oldest. The trains will run as a normal passenger train from Bristol to Taunton and will act as a Taunton to Bishops Lydeard shuttle during the day before returning to Bristol in the evening. It will run as a relief train from Bristol with National fares applying and a shuttle fare of only £5.00 return Taunton - Bishops Lydeard.

 

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

 

Flying Start for Heritage Carriage Project

Following the recent acquisition of an 1907 toplight brake from Sir William McAlpine, the WSR is repatriating a 1939 Collett Composite Brake from Steamtown USA. The formal offer of the coach was made in January and an offer to hitch a ride at a favourable rate on the ship bringing Class 66 locomotives from Halifax in Canada to Newport was gratefully received. But then it was found that the only ship likely to make the trip this year was to leave Halifax on 9 March! So the need to move quickly. The staff at Steamtown, the shippers, road hauliers, crane and paperwork people have been magnificent in setting up arrangements to get the car moved. North America truly retains its "can-do" approach and the special relationships which the UK has with the USA and Canada are alive and well - the carriage is now at Halifax ready for the voyage back to Britain. More details at the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust website.

 

The need to move quickly means there is an urgent need for funds, every pound (or dollar!) will help, if you can give something please see the Trust's website for details of how to contribute.
 

 

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

 

New web-cam on www.wsr.org.uk

There is now a streaming webcam on the line's unofficial web site, it can also be accessed directly at

http://wsrailway.camstreams.com/

 

Progress at Norton Fitzwarren

Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaner trains are now regular visitors and are delivering large quantities of material.  It is hoped that the triangle will be available for use in 2008 which will enable both our own locos and those off incoming railtours to be turned.

 

Full details of the WSRA's press release can be seen on www.wsra.org.uk

 

Turntable for Minehead

Planning permission for the development of the market site including the installation of a turntable, next to Minehead Station, has been granted.  The next step now is to get the necessary funding in place to enable work to start!

 

Visiting Locos

The visitors at present are:

80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which will be working until June when it will be withdrawn for overhaul.

5553 Pete Waterman's ex GWR 2-6-2T small prairie

30850 Lord Nelson will be back on the West Somerset for the Spring Steam Gala.

 

44422 4F 0-6-0 will be coming to the line to "replace" 80136 after the latter is withdrawn for overhaul.

 

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)

3850 ex GWR 2-8-0.

 

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.

 

4160: The overhaul is complete and the large prairie is now working on the South Devon Railway in between a "tour" of other lines.  She will return to the WSR in time for the Spring Steam Gala after a visit to the Bluebell Railway ends in February 2007.

 

7828 Odney Manor is in Minehead Works for her overhaul.

 

Small prairie 4561 has now been moved to Williton, hopefully she'll soon be overhauled.

 

7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GWR Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket has expired.

 

34046 Braunton is progressing well, she has been wheeled, steam has been raised in the boiler - which is to be fitted very soon now.

 

The tender from 35027 Port Line recently arrived on the West Somerset for use behind Braunton while her tender is completed.

 

Diesel Locos

The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:

Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner - currently stopped for repairs

Class 35 Hymek D7017 - also stopped for repairs

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 due course and has recently been moved to Williton.

There's plenty of opportunities if you'd like to be involved with the DEPG's fleet, see their web site at DEPG which has regular updates of the status of the fleet.

 

The resident fleet will be increased from May 2007 when Porterbrook will be handing over 47840 (D1661) North Star to the DEPG for preservation when its present lease to Cotswold Rail ends.  At present is is expected to arrive at the head of a railtour from Derby on 28 May, the tour will return behind 45112.

 

DMUs

The Class 117 unit belongs to the Territorial Army and has now left the WSR, the other three Class 117 TCLs are used as hauled stock at peak times.  Of the Class 115 stock DMBS 51880 (nearing the end a major overhaul), DMBS 51859 (being repainted) and TCL 59678 will form the DMU services this year, 51852 and 51887 are out of service.

 

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 often 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 some of the Spring Steam Gala visiting locos, first is Southern visitor, 850 Lord Nelson will be back on the West Somerset for the Gala.  She is seen here leaving Minehead with the "Green Train" during last year's Autumn Steam Gala.

850 Lord Nelson leaving Minehead

 

A Western visitor returning is 7822 Foxcote Manor which last visited the WSR for the 2005 Spring Steam Gala.  She is seen here being prepared in the early morning mist at Bishops Lydeard in the company of 5542.

7822 and 5542 at Bishops Lydeard

 

An early arrival was small prairie 5521 seen here at Bishops Lydeard in the company of Class 25 diesel D7523.

5521 and D7523 at Bishops Lydeard

 

Also returning is "Castle" 5051 Earl Bathurst which has visited the line several times, often with incoming railtours.  She is seen crossing 5542 at Crowcombe Heathfield while working a Steam Engineman's Course in 2005.

5051 Earl Bathurst crossing 5542 at Crowcombe Heathfield

 

Lastly a photo of a loco that won't be working during the Gala, the WSRA's small prairie 4561 has spent several years on display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard since her boiler ticket ran out, she has now been moved to Williton ready for her eventual overhaul - this was the first time I'd seen her outdoors!

4561 at Williton

 

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 2007 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.

 

March 5 - "Steam Recreations: roving the UK" with Don Bishop

April 2 - "Southern Railway around Nationalisation" with Arthur Turner

May 7 - Visit to Isle Abbotts Miniature Railway

 

For the full programme for 2007 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 May at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-

 

March 27 - "Isle of Wight Railways" with Brian Ward-Ellison

April 24 - "Railways in World War II" with Tony Cane

May 28 - "Isambard's Kingdom" with Judy Jones

 

For the full programme for 2007 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.

 

Events for 2007

17, 18 & 22 to 25 March - Spring Steam Gala

15 - 17 June - Mixed Traffic Weekend

7 & 8 July - "Days Out With Thomas"

4 & 5 August - Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally

5 August - Toy & Model Fair at Minehead

15 & 16 September - Real Ale Festival

4 - 7 October - Autumn Steam Gala

27 & 28 October - Grand Trains Extravaganza

7 & 8 December - Dunster by Candlelight

29 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
 

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

West Somerset Steam Railway Trust is concerned with the historical and educational aspects of railway preservation in West Somerset, especially now the Heritage Carriage Project.

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.

West Somerset Express Archive

 

The next issue is due 27 March 2007.

 

 

 

 

© 2007 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.