West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 24 – July 2004
Issue 15 - October 2003 Issue 16 - November 2003 Issue 17 - December 2003
Issue 18 - January 2004 Issue 19 - February 2004 Issue 20 - March 2004
Issue 21 - April 2004 Issue 22 - May 2004 Issue 23 - June 2004
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2004 Spring Steam Gala 2004 Autumn Steam Gala 04 Diesel Gala 04
Dates in July
3-4 July: Days Out With Thomas
9 July: "Murder on the Minehead Flyer"
10 July: Fish & Chips Special from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return, diesel hauled.
17 July: Jazz Evening Special with Grenada Jazz Band, diesel hauled, Sausage & Chips can be pre booked.
24 July: Fish & Chips Special from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return, diesel hauled.
24 July: Coastal Belle - 7.15pm from Minehead. Chilli evening with a guest Real Ale.
Regular services continue, plenty of chances to enjoy Steam and Somerset Scenery, most days have 2 steam turns and a DMU, later in the month Mon. to Thurs there is a third steam turn. Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details for the year.
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
This year's Thomas weekend is on 3 & 4 July when The Fat Controller will be there to make sure all engines behave themselves, and look forward to welcoming you. Lots of friends of "Thomas" will pull all our trains from Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton). You should buy your tickets in advance to reserve your seats on the morning trains.
At Minehead there will be lots to see and do. "Diesel" will be fussing around the station area, trying to keep "Troublesome Trucks" in order. "Thomas" or "Duck" will be giving short train rides and will be really pleased to say hello to you!
You will be able to put water in the engines and visit the footplate of "Mavis' Cousin Maud". There will also be games and competitions and other attractions on the platform. "Mrs Kyndley" will be serving refreshments in her special coach on Platform 2, and the Buffer Stop Shop will also be open throughout the weekend. See more on www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk.
STEAM FAYRE & VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY
This year’s Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally – organised by the WSRA – will be held near Bishops Lydeard Station over the weekend of 7-8 August 2004. A glittering array of superb machinery will be in action alongside our restored country station on Britain’s longest heritage railway, and 2004 looks like beating all records with some of the country’s finest examples of vintage transport on display. Gleaming Showman’s engines, powerful steam tractors and road rollers, elegant vintage cars and motorcycles, superb fire engines, buses, commercial and military vehicles will all be put through their paces in the arena to thrill the crowds. Full details of the 2004 Rally are on here.
Odney Manor
It was at the start of May that the Railway finally received acceptance of its offer for "Odney Manor" and its tender from Ken Ryder. This means that the Company now owns two steam engines and restoration work will begin once existing work in Minehead locomotive workshops is complete. When new "Odney" cost £10,000. Its purchase and overhaul will cost the WSR around £600,000 and this is obviously going to put a big hole into the Company’s reserves. Various schemes involving certificates and other benefits are on offer to anyone contributing £20 or more to the costs and details of these can be obtained by contacting the Minehead Office (Dept 7828).
One curious note… there is no such building as Odney Manor. The actual house is Lilleshall Manor which stands in Odney Lane at Lilleshall. Details from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Full details of the previous news can be seen on Stop Press.
Volunteers
The line is always looking for new volunteers for just about any task you can think of, from gardener to guard via firemen, ticket inspectors, buffet staff, station staff, p-way, S&T...
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.
Visiting Locos
The visitors at present are:
80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which is on the line 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 back "home" for much the of this year.
7820 Dinmore Manor ex GW Manor Class 4-6-0.
The creation of a small-boilered "Mogul", a locomotive designed by the Great Western Railway but never built, continues to make progress with entry into service planned this year. Still no news on whether it will be 5193 or 9351 though! Good progress is also being made with the S&D 2-8-0, 53808/88 which is also in the works at Minehead. Work is also progressing on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton, her boiler has recently arrived back from Pridham's and much other work is in hand.
Large prairie 4160 is now away at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway for overhaul, return to the WSR is expected to be in about 12 months. 7828 Odney Manor is at Minehead, she has now been bought by the WSR plc and her overhaul will commence once 5193/9351 has been completed. Small prairie 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
The other resident Hymek, D7018, is undergoing a major overhaul at Williton.
This Month's Photos...
...are of an "ordinary" June Saturday evening at Bishops Lydeard. It wasn't a Gala but there was a through mainline special and the Quantock Belle was out for the shareholders special.
The through special, formed by the MHR's Green Train, was worked by WSR locos while on our line, the first photo is of the return working arriving at Bishops Lydeard behind small prairie 5542 and pannier tank 6412.
5542 was detached first leaving little 6412 at the head of an impressive train.
6412 headed for the loco compound while 5542 took water prior to returning to Minehead and EWS' 37203 stood outside the station waiting to take over for the run to Westbury where BR Std 73096 was going to take over again.
Once the diesel was attached it pulled out past 5542 which was waiting to move to the other end of the station.
5542 had got to the north end of the station by the time Hymek D7017 arrived from Minehead with the Quantock Belle dining train forming the return Shareholders Special after the plc's AGM.
Another view of D7017 and the smart maroon Quantock Belle.
It seems to be a rare weekend when there aren't some extra workings, the line is getting ever busier!
These photos and many more are on WSR 2004 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 2004, 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.
The next meeting will be after the summer break on 6 September - Confessions of a Western Signalman with Adrian Vaughan.
For the full programme for 2004 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 in September after the summer break.
For the full programme for 2004 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2004
The next big event is "Days out with Thomas" on 3-4 July. For the older visitor the next major event is the Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally at Bishops Lydeard on 7 & 8 August.
The full programme for the year is now available on Events 2004, now you can plan ahead to get to all of the West Somerset's great events!
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 diesel group on the line.
The next issue is due 27 July 2004.
© 2004 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.