On 27 July 2002 6024 King Edward I, a Great
Western King Class 4-6-0 arrived on the West Somerset Railway for a stay
which will include some workings on the line, especially during the Autumn
Steam Gala.
The
first view is of 6024 running in to Bishops Lydeard station after coming in
from the mainline at Norton Fitzwarren.
She
first stopped by the water tower to take water, from the time stood there
she was very thirsty !
This
photo shows a crew member up on the tender replenishing her tanks ready for
the next stage of the journey - up over the Quantock Hills and on along the
coast to Minehead. You can also see the fireman who was working hard
on the fire.
In
the next photo he had got the iron well and truly in the fire and was
breaking up clinker and generally raking through the fire - hot, hard work
indeed on a warm July day.
After these chores were completed 6024 drew ahead into the
platform to enable passengers to change on to the WSR service train for
their trip along the line. Meanwhile 4160 waits its turn for water and
to run round its train.

This view sees the King stood in platform 1 awaiting
departure for Minehead.
6024 then left for Minehead, easily lifting the 9 coaches
of the Green Train plus the support coach away and on up the bank on the
climb towards Crowcombe Heathfield.

After the mighty King had departed resident large prairie
4160 which had arrived with the 12.15 from Minehead ran round its train.

As the action had moved on I took a ride behind 4160 to
Williton and back, in this photo you can see her leaning into the curve on
the way up to Crowcombe through the edge of the Quantocks.

I was back at Bishops Lydeard in time to see the pace get
hectic, during the next two or three hours there was the outgoing special, a
Fish and Chips special, the Quantock Belle dining train and a private
charter were all running, and the 15.55 and 17.30 ex Minehead had to be
handled as well. This view shows D6566 getting attention prior to
taking over the stock of the 15.55, which 4160 can be seen shunting in the
background.
The next has 4160 taking water ready to work the Quantock
Belle as 37308 ran in from the mainline ready to take over the Green Train.

4160 was still at the water tower as D6566 ran through
platform 2 en route to attaching to the stock for the "Chippy".

Next move was the King coming back from Minehead with the
Green Train, tender first due to the lack of a turntable on the line.

After arrival 6024 detached her support coach from the
front of the Green Train and moved it across to the down side to wait for
the line to be clear so the it could stable the coach in the down siding.

The next move was for 37308 to come back from the up
sidings to take over the Green Train.

In this shot the "Growler" has coupled up to the train and
is stood alongside the support coach awaiting departure for Alton.

Following the Green Train's departure D6566 shunted the
stock of the "Chippy" across from platform 1 to platform 2, the preferred
one at Bishops Lydeard as it is longer and higher.

Having moved across D6566 was then stood at the north end
as the Class 115 DMU arrived on the 17.30 from Minehead.

The stock having moved 6024 was able to stable the support
coach and head off to the loco compound, her day's work being finished.

This view sees 6024 having got across to the down side
making her way towards the loco entrance, 4160 is also in view waiting to
bring the Quantock Belle into the platform after the Fish and Chip special
had left. One of the Manors was stood out in the up sidings, just out
of sight, with the stock for the charter train to Williton.


Two final photos of 6024's name and number plates.
All photos © 2002 S G J Huddy.