West Somerset Express

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 14 – September 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

Issue 12 - July 2003  Issue 13 - August 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

 

 

Dates in September

September 1 Taunton Area Group meeting - "From Monochrome to Fujichrome"

September 3 Sunset Special from Minehead to Blue Anchor

September 5 Murder Mystery Special

September 13 - 14 Somerset CAMRA Real Ale extravaganza

September 27 Fish & Chips Special from Bishops Lydeard

September 30 Bristol Area Group meeting - "Railways around Gloucester"

 

Plus, of course, regular service trains running every day!

 

Somerset CAMRA Real Ale extravaganza

Once again, the Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival comes to Minehead Station. Over the weekend of 13-14 September, the festival will be featuring over 30 real ales and ciders, from award-winning local Somerset breweries such as Cotleigh, Cottage, Exmoor, Glastonbury, Moor and RCH. In addition to these will be a selection from around the British Isles, showcasing the incredible diversity in flavour and style produced by the expanding army of micro breweries.
CAMRA plan to have a locally brewed festival special or two and feature beers from Somerset brewers, some of which can be difficult to find within the county.

 

The best way of getting there is of course by the West Somerset Railway, trains leave Bishops Lydeard for Minehead at
9.40am, 10.25am , 12.25pm, 2.10pm, 4.05pm


Trains leave Minehead for Bishops Lydeard
10.15am, 12.15pm, 2.00pm, 3.55pm, 5.30pm

In addition there is a special service on the Saturday evening, 6.45pm from Bishops Lydeard returning from Minehead at 10.50pm with free bus connections from and to Taunton for pre-booked ticket holders.

A weekend to look forward to!
More...

Details from www.wsr.org.uk

 

Autumn Steam Gala
3-5 October 2003

One of the major events of the British heritage railway scene, visiting locos will include small prairie 5553 and, from the East Somerset Railway, ex GWR 0-6-2T 5637.  Auto-trailer No. 178 will be visiting and there will be full auto-working with both 6412 and 5542 during the weekend.  There will be an intensive timetable operated by the line's resident and visiting steam locos, further details in the next issue.

 

Great Trains Extravaganza

A feast of steam and diesel trains throughout the weekend, more details in the next issue of West Somerset Express.

 

Dunster by Candlelight

On Friday 5th and Saturday 6th December, the medieval village of Dunster largely abandons the electric light and opens its doors to those who wish to see this picturesque spot illuminated more softly. The West Somerset Railway runs special trains to this magical event, with the choice of walking to the village from Dunster Station (approximately 15 minutes) or travelling from Minehead Station by special reserved bus link.

On Friday and Saturday Steam trains will leave Bishops Lydeard WSR Station (near Taunton) at 4.45 and 5.40pm. In addition a Diesel Railcar train will also depart at 4.15pm on both days.

Return Fares (including bus link) from: Bishops Lydeard: Adult £12.00 Child £6.00

Buffet Car facilities are available on all trains serving teas, coffees, light refreshments and bar facilities are also available.

These trains are VERY POPULAR, so it is ESSENTIAL to BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment. Application for advance bookings must be received by Monday 1st December 2003.  For further details and to book go to Dunster By Candlelight

Details from WSR plc
 

There are also through trains, operated by Pathfinder Rail Tours, from Worcester, Tewkesbury, Cheltenham Yate and Bristol Parkway on Friday 5 December and from Cardiff, Newport, Bristol Temple Meads and Weston super Mare on Saturday 6 December.
 

 

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

The visitors at present are:

4936 Kinlet Hall has recently arrived and will be with us until the Autumn Steam Gala.

5224 ex GW 2-8-0T which will be with us for the year

80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which arrived back on the line in June for a long stay.

 

 

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 but will be back for the Autumn Steam Gala

7820 Dinmore Manor ex GW 4-6-0.

 

The creation of a small-boilered "Mogul", a locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway but never built, 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.  Work is also progressing well on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton.

 

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.  7828 Odney Manor is at Minehead waiting a decision on when and where she'll be overhauled and 4561 is on display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard while she awaits her turn in Williton Works.
 

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.

 

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 of visiting loco 4936 Kinlet Hall arriving at Williton with a down train alongside D1010 Western Campaigner in the DEPG's yard.

 

The second also includes D1010 Western Campaigner which was waiting with its train at Norton Fitzwarren as D1015 Western Champion passed on a mainline special. Photo by Rodney Greenway

 

Next is BR Standard 4MT tank 80136 gleaming in the sun at Minehead.

 

A pair of Swindon front ends at Minehead, small prairie 5542 and 7820 Dinmore Manor.

 

The last for this month, 5542 stands with the Quantock Belle dining train at Blue Anchor in a glorious sunset.

These photos and many more can be seen on WSR 2003.

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.

 

1 September: Peter Skelton will give a talk "From monochrome to Fujichrome" at the usual venue.

6 October: "Main Line Steam" - a PSOV video presentation.

3 November: "The Right Kind of Snow" - Terry Nichols

 

For the full programme for 2003 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 April at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-

 

30 September: Alan Drewett will give a talk "Railways around Gloucester"

30 October: “The Man who Loves Giants” - David Sheppard
This is a TICKET ONLY event – please
email us for details. [Please note this is a THURSDAY evening, and not a Tuesday as normal]

25 November: “Trevithick and the Pen-y-Darren Locomotive”
2004 marks the 200th Anniversary of the building of what is arguably the first steam railway locomotive in the world. Trevithick was the man and Pen-y-Darren in South Wales the place where it all began. Merthyr Council is planning a series of celebrations to mark this momentous occasion. The talk will chronicle Trevithick’s success and give a flavour of the festivities to come.

 

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

West Somerset Express Archive

wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow volunteer, Jon Tooke. He often finds odd places to take photos from and even odder things to take them of so check it as it grows!

 

The next issue is due 27 September 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.