West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 12 – July 2003
Issue 1 - August 2002 Issue 2 - September 2002
Issue 3 - October 2002 Issue 4 - November 2002 Issue 5 - December 2002
Issue 6 - January 2003 Issue 7 February 2003 Issue 8- March 2003
Issue 9 - April 2003 Issue 10 - May 2003 Issue 11 - June 2003
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2003 Spring Steam Gala 2003 Autumn Gala 2003 Cross Country Weekend
WSR Rally 2003 Teddy Bear's Picnic Great Trains
Days out with Thomas Weekend
5-6 July 2003
Most seats on most trains from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead during the "Days Out with Thomas" weekend on 5-6 July 2003 need to be booked in advance. The event is simply so popular that the Railway prefers to offer seat reservations to avoid a bad start to a good day out. The availability of seats as at 23 June was as follows:-
Saturday 5 July 2003.
“Duck’s” Train:...................................FULLY BOOKED.
“Henry’s” Train:..................................FULLY BOOKED.
“Sodor Express":.................................FULLY BOOKED.
“Daisy” the Diesel:................................56.
“The 12.40”:......................................233.
Sunday 6 July 2003.
“Duck’s” Train:...................................FULLY BOOKED.
“Henry’s” Train:..................................FULLY BOOKED.
“Sodor Express":.................................FULLY BOOKED
“Daisy” the Diesel:...............................FULLY BOOKED
“The 12.40”:......................................185.
There are plenty of seats still available on the other trains from Bishops Lydeard - contact the Railway on 01643 704996 for details or see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk.
Details from WSR Plc
A right old Swindon bash in August...
A two-day feast of diesel-hydraulic power on 8-9 August 2003. The successor to the old Great Western Railway, the Western Region, upheld the tradition of "doing things their way" at Swindon Works and constructed diesels with hydraulic transmission when everyone else built diesels using electric motors to transfer power to the wheels. The weekend will see three preserved examples of Swindon products hard at work on an ex-GWR branch line. The full timetable is now available. Oh, and ex-GWR steam locos will also be in service! Further details on www.wsr.org.uk .
Dates in July
July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30: Sunset Specials see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
July 5 & 6: Thomas Weekend
July 11: Murder Mystery Special on the "Williton Flyer" see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
July 12 & 13: Diesel Running Days
July 12 & 26: Fish & Chip specials see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Plus, of course, regular service trains running every day!
2003 Timetable
The railway's timetable for 2003 can be seen on line at WSR Timetable which also has the dates for all the special events on the line in the coming year.
Visiting Locos
So far the list of guests, in addition to those visiting for the Spring Steam Gala, includes 4936 Kinlet Hall from mid July until the Autumn Steam Gala along with 5224 ex GW 2-8-0T which will be with us for the year and 80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which arrived back on the line in June for a long stay. 5764 will be visiting as "Duck" for the Thomas weekend - 5 & 6 July - as will "Thomas" who has already arrived on the railway.
Resident Locos
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie
6412 ex GW 0-6-0PT - currently away at the GWR
7820 Dinmore Manor ex GW 4-6-0.
The creation of a small-boilered "Mogul", a locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway, continues to make excellent progress and the likelihood of an entry into traffic later this year remains good. Good progress is also being made with ex GWR 2-8-0 3850 and the S&D 2-8-0, both of which are in the works at Minehead.
Large prairie 4160 is now away at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway for overhaul, its return to the WSR is expected to be in about 18 months.
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 - fresh from overhaul
The other resident Hymek, D7018, is undergoing a major overhaul at Williton. Please note that the expected visit of D7076 has been cancelled.
D9526 made a grand return to traffic with its own special train, photos of it are on Teddy Bear's Picnic
This Month's Photos
The first is 5542 "on display" during a WSRA Taunton Branch meeting on the story of her restoration.
She then worked a special to Crowcombe where she is seen in the twilight.
The following Saturday 5542 arrived back at Bishops Lydeard light engine with D1010 Western Campaigner.
The reason for D1010's presence was that it was a diesel running day, finishing with the Fish & Chips special from Bishops Lydeard which is seen here ready to depart.
The next day things didn't run smoothly, unfortunately 5542 became a total failure while working the 10.25 from Bishops Lydeard which she limped into Williton with before being taken out of traffic for examination to find the cause of a loud bang, it turned out to be a broken piston, seen here after removal.
There were delays to trains but by the end of the day things were almost back on time. Replacement pistons are on the way and 5542 should soon be back in traffic.
These photos and many more can be seen on WSR 2003 and on www.wsr.org.uk.
Note: you need to be connected to the Internet to view these photos.
WSR Screensaver
There is a screensaver of views of the Spring Steam Gala available for free download from www.wsr.org.uk. Others are available on CD-ROM from the WSRA shop at Bishops Lydeard station.
Fish and Chips
This year the popular Fish and Chips specials are running from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and back on the following dates:- 3 May, 7 June, 12 & 26 July, 16 & 23 August and 27 September. One will also run from Minehead on August 16. Further details and bookings tel. 01643 704996.
Murder Mystery Specials
In 2003, “Murder Mystery Specials” will operate on 20 June, 11 July and 5 September. For further details see the Events page on www.wsr.org.uk.
West Somerset Railway Association
Area Group Meetings:
Taunton Group:
In 2003, 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 resume on 1 September when Peter Skelton will give a talk "From monochrome to Fujichrome" at the usual venue.
For the full programme for 2003 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 April at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-
Meetings resume on 30 September when Alan Drewett will give a talk "Railways around Gloucester".
For the full programme for 2003 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
This Year's Events
The programme of special events for 2003, in addition to the regular favourites – including the Spring and Autumn Steam Galas, Thomas, the Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally and the Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival – three new events are planned for this year:-
“The CrossCountry Network: Past, Present & Future” on 10-11 May which was a great success.
“The Grand Trains Extravaganza” weekend on 25-26 October – deliberately timed to coincide with the school half term week – will be another joint steam and heritage diesel event, with lots of trains, using the Railway’s ‘in-house’ engine/rolling stock resources.
The third new event planned for 2003 is a “Winter Steam Festival” on Sunday 28 December – plenty of steam action, with nice warm, steam-heated trains! Fuller details of the 2003 programme of special events will be announced in future issues of West Somerset Express and on West Somerset Railway Association and The Official West Somerset Railway Web Site.
Volunteers
There are around 400-500 active volunteers whose contribution helps makes the West Somerset Railway 'tick'. Indeed, without their considerable input the West Somerset Railway would probably cease to tick!
There are many different jobs for volunteers on the line, 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 or e-mail the West Somerset Railway Association.
The other groups on the line which would welcome support include:
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 main diesel group on the line
The next issue is due 27 July 2003.
© 2003 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.