West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 17 – December 2003
Issue 12 - July 2003 Issue 13 - August 2003 Issue 14 - September 2003
Issue 15 - October 2003 Issue 16 - November 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
Welcome to the last West Somerset Express of 2003, another record breaking year on the West Somerset Railway. At the end of October we had carried 173,005 passengers compared with 172,457 in the whole of our record year, 2002, and there is still plenty more to come as you can see below!
Dates in November & December
November 29 & 30: The first of the Santa Steam Specials from Bishops Lydeard.
December 1: Taunton Area Group, WSRA - Christmas Railway Quiz Night.
December 5 & 6: Dunster by Candlelight, it's nearly a sell out, if you want to go 'phone 01643 704996 to check on availability and make your booking. Further details below.
December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 23 & 24 : Santa Specials from Bishops Lydeard
December 7, 14, 21, 23 & 24: Santa Specials from Minehead
***The Santas are filling up fast, book now to avoid disappointment***
December 7: Special "full line" trip with 5542 and the auto trailer, a to good to miss trip, see below!
December 27 - Jan 1, Jan 3 & 4: Post Christmas services on the line with nice, warm, steam heated coaches including-
December 28: Winter Steam Festival
The“ Tivvy Bumper Revisited”
Sunday 7th December 2003.
Join us for 46 miles of Auto Train travel just as it would have been in the 1930s or 40s. The rare chance to recreate the full Great Western Railway Auto Train experience over the entire length of the West Somerset Railway.
The Day begins at Bishops Lydeard station at 10.30am for the trip to Norton Fitzwarren and returns by about 4.00pm.
Proposed extras include Photo stops, Run Pasts, and some ‘Non Stop’ Running.
There should also be plenty of opportunities to visit the Loco Footplate and Auto Driving Cab at station stops.
Cost for the Full Day Trip is just £9
Optional Hot Pasty and Tea/Coffee £2
For Bookings or Enquiries phone 01823 257635(Answerphone) or visit www.loco5542.co.uk or e-mail Chairman5542ltd@aol.com
Hurry, space is limited to Just 70 places!!
Volunteers
The Railway survives on the goodwill of hundreds of volunteers who give up their time to help out in all manner of tasks, some operational, some not.
There are opportunities in railway operations, operating procedures and restoration, maintenance and customer care, all on Britain’s longest heritage steam railway………we’re better by miles!
As a prospective new volunteer you could experience supervised work training in any of the following disciplines:-
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.
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, indeed some trains are already full. 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 is also a through train, operated by Pathfinder Rail Tours from Cardiff, Newport, Bristol Temple Meads and Weston super Mare on Saturday 6 December.
Santa Steam Specials
Take a steam train ride through the beautiful Somerset countryside and visit Santa in his Station Grotto
A fabulous occasion for all the family and a great start to Christmas
On all our Santa Steam Specials there are mince pies and seasonal refreshments for adults, and sweets and presents for the children
Our Santa Steam Specials are very popular and seating capacity is limited, so you are strongly advised to BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment
All trains are steam hauled.
There are buffet and bar facilities on all trains
Trains from BISHOPS LYDEARD to Crowcombe Heathfield-
Depart at 10.15am 11.50am 1.50pm 3.25pm
All inclusive fares: ADULT £6.00 CHILD £6.00
Saturday 29 November
Sunday 30 November
All inclusive fares: ADULT £9.00 CHILD £9.00
Saturday 6 December
Sunday 7 December
Saturday 13 December
Sunday 14 December
Saturday 20 December
Sunday 21 December
Tuesday 23 December
Wednesday 24 December
Trains from MINEHEAD to Blue Anchor
All inclusive fares: ADULT £6.00 CHILD £6.00
Depart at 10.40am 12.05pm 1.55pm 3.15pm
Sunday 7 December
Sunday 14 December
Sunday 21 December
Tuesday 23 December
Wednesday 24 December
All fares are all-inclusive return fares - that is, inclusive of mince pies and seasonal refreshments for adults, and sweets and presents for the children.
You can book tickets for our Santa Steam Specials in three ways:
by telephone, using your credit card (please ring 01643 704996, 9am-4pm Monday to Friday)
by completing the BOOKING FORM. Leaflets with booking forms also available from the stations.
in person at Minehead Station (9am-4pm Monday to Friday)
Visiting Locos
The visitors at present are:
4936 Kinlet Hall is still with us for the present but will be going to Tysley to have TPWS fitted soon.
80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which arrived back on the line in June for a long stay.
5553 ex GW 4575 Class 2-6-2T from Waterman Railways
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 but never built, continues to make excellent progress. Good progress is also being made with the S&D 2-8-0, 53808/88 which is in the works at Minehead. Work is also progressing well on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton, her boiler has recently arrived back from Pridham's.
The frames of ex GWR 2-8-0 3850 have now been moved to Tysley to be reunited with the boiler, the plan is for 3850 to return to the WSR when restoration is completed.
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...
... cover the main events of the year starting with the Spring Steam Gala with visiting M7 0-4-4T 30053 and resident large prairie 4160 double head away from Bishops Lydeard en route to Minehead.
Next was the Cross Country Weekend when Castle Class 4-6-0 5051 Earl Bathurst left Minehead while D1010 Western Campaigner waited to follow with the next up train.
Such was the variety of the Cross Country Weekend that I've included a second shot, this time at Williton as Class 25 D7523 in the yard, 7820 Dinmore Manor on a down train and newly named Somerset Voyager arriving with an up train.
In August we had the Swindon Heritage Diesel Gala when D1010 Western Campaigner was seen leaving Crowcombe Heathfield with an up train.
There are regular "specials" to see the sunset at Blue Anchor but on this occasion it was the Quantock Belle dining train, hauled by small prairie 5542 that had stopped for the diners to enjoy the view on the hottest day of the year.
Then came the Autumn Steam Gala where visiting 56xx 0-6-2T 5637 is seen at Bishops Lydeard.
The last event, so far, was the Great Trains Extravaganza which was "kicked off" by Class 14 D9526 and Class 25 D7523 double heading the first train on the Saturday.
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.
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 December: Christmas Railway Quiz Night
5 January: Members slides and competition.
2 February: “I would not normally show these, but……” - Peter Gray
For the full programme for 2003/4 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:-
27 January: Roger Hennessey - Railway Humour
24 February: Andrew Hook - The GWS Railmotor
For the full programme for 2003/4 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2004
The programme for next year is now available on Stop Press, now you can plan ahead to get to all of the West Somerset's great events.
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 December 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.