West Somerset Express

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 47 – June 2006

Issue 42 - January 2006  Issue 43 - February 2006  Issue 44 - March 2006

Issue 45 - April 2006  WSR 30 weekend  Issue 46 - May 2006

West Somerset Express homepage

 

The West Somerset Railway - Heritage Railway of the Year 2005

 

Dates for your diary

May 30 - WSRA Bristol Group  - "Irish Railways", Patrick McCormack

June 5 - WSRA Taunton Group - visit to Cerdic Foundry

June 17 - Murder Mystery Special from Bishops Lydeard

June 18 - Father's Day specials with cream teas from Minehead and Bishops Lydeard

June 24 - Fish & Chip Special from Bishops Lydeard

 

The above special trains need to be booked in advance - see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

 

Regular services are running every day until October, Train Timetables on www.wsr.org.uk has full details.

 

Days out with Thomas 8-9 July 2006

 

Why not come along with your and friends to the West Somerset Railway over the weekend of 8-9 July for a Day Out with Thomas™ and his many friends each day at Minehead from 10.30 onwards….

Sir Topham Hatt , the Fat Controller will be there as well to make sure all engines behave themselves, and looks 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. Engines will be fussing around then 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. 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.

There will also be free vintage bus rides through Minehead from 10.30am to 5pm each day.

At Bishops Lydeard Station there is free car parking.

The "Buffer Stop Shop" at Minehead stocks diecasts of "Thomas" and all his friends, plus "Thomas" toys, games, puzzle books and lots more. There are also books, videos and a wide range of gifts for all members of the family.

See you there!

 

Details from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk where you can find further details and a booking form.

 

Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally 5-6 August 2006

 

Once again the West Somerset Railway station at Bishops Lydeard will echo to the sight, sound and smell of many mighty steam engines as they gather for what will be our 20th Rally.

Gleaming engines, powerful steam engines, 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. Horse drawn exhibits make a return visit to the event.

Bishops Lydeard Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally is well known for its unique location, friendly atmosphere and good value for money. Backing up the transport exhibits will be displays, stalls, trade stands, children’s entertainments and ample refreshment facilities.

 

Events and Highlights

•  Full train service on the WSR to stations to Minehead, with steam and heritage diesel locomotives in action
   

•  The glory of working traction engines, tractors and road rollers
   

•  Sweet music from the fairground and street organs
   

•  Horse drawn section
   

•  Polished perfection of vintage cars, motorcycles, fire engines, buses, military and commercial vehicles
   

•  The power of stationary vehicles
   

•  Afternoon parades of vehicles
   

•  Real ale bar and refreshments
   

•  Family fun, children’s entertainments, Morris Dancers
   

•  Combined Rail/Rally tickets available from most WSR stations
   

•  Something for everyone – displays, models, railway art, trade stands, craft marquee and stalls
   

The event is organised by the West Somerset Railway Association.

 

Further details on http://www.wsr.org.uk/rally2006.htm

 

Volunteers

The line is always looking for new volunteers for just about any task you can think of, from gardener to guard via firemen, signalmen, ticket inspectors, buffet staff, station staff, p-way, S&T...

 

There are regular "New Volunteers Days" every year when prospective new recruits are invited to spend a day on the line – where they are introduced to key personnel, given a guided tour of the line and have the chance of learning more about the voluntary opportunities and what is involved.

 

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.  There's more about volunteering on a new site, WSR Volunteers .

If you can't give the time but would still like to support the WSR why not join the association?  Details from www.wsra.org.uk

 

“Railways Round Exmoor”
In a new initiative to increase the attractions of Exmoor three “heritage” railways are joining forces in a joint marketing and ticketing venture for 2006.

The three railways concerned are the twenty mile long West Somerset which runs from Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) and Minehead, the water powered Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway which links the twin towns, and the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway which has begun to rebuild the narrow gauge line which closed in 1935 and is presently running trains from Woody Bay station towards Parracombe - they are now running as far as Killington Lane.

The tickets are priced at £16.00 for adults and senior citizens and £8 for children aged 5 to 15. (this gives some reductions over the tickets for the railways if purchased individually). They can be bought from the railway’s booking offices or in advance from West Somerset Railway (Commercial), The Railway Station, Minehead, TA24 5BG from whom leaflets giving fuller details can also be obtained. Credit card bookings can be made by ringing 01643 704996

Details from http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/

The other lines' websites are Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and http://www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk

 

Progress at Norton Fitzwarren

Negotiations are underway regarding basing a Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaner train here for about two years, this would see the triangle and "Barnstaple Branch" track being supplied by Network Rail.  Subject to agreements and the necessary consents work on the triangle could commence this year and be operational in 2007.

 

Visiting Locos

The visitors at present are:

80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which is on the line for a long stay.

5553 Pete Waterman's ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie

 

Resident Locos

The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:

6412 ex GWR 0-6-0PT the WSRA's pannier tank

9351 WSR rebuild as a 2-6-0 mogul of GWR 5101 class prairie tank 5193.

88 ex S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 (BR No 53808) is now in regular service.

3850 ex GWR 2-8-0 has now entered regular service after recent test running.

 

5542 ex GWR 2-6-2T small prairie has now left the line and is at the South Devon Railway for the next couple of years during which the driving wheel tyres will be replaced.  Hopefully she'll be back after this.

 

Large prairie 4160: The overhaul continues to progress well and is running close to budget so far. No predictions of a steaming date yet, but it can't be too far away. New livery will be BR lined green with late style crest.

 

7828 Odney Manor is in Minehead Works for her overhaul, there is an appeal for funds for this, see below for more details.

 

Small prairie 4561 is on display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard, however she will be transported to Yeovil Pen Mill for the Pen Mill 150 event on 29 July.  On return she is expected to go to Williton ready for overhaul in due course.

 

7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GWR Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket has expired.

 

34046 Braunton continues to progress, to quote a visitor to the shed "what appears to be a huge kit of parts is now coming together. Boiler work on stays, tubes and cladding is all now heading towards completion, perhaps in the next month or so, and I believe the 3 dimensional jigsaw assembly should be underway in the not too distant future".

 

30850 Lord Nelson should visit the line for a period of running in, possibly in the summer.

 

Diesel Locos

The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:

Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner - currently stopped for repairs

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.

D6575/33057 is initially a source of spares for D6566, it will be assessed to see if it can be restored in time.

There's plenty of opportunities if you'd like to be involved with the DEPG's fleet, see their web site at DEPG

 

Auto trailer 169 Project

The group who own 5542 have launched a new project, the restoration of ex GWR auto trailer 169.  See their web site www.loco5542.co.uk for further details of of this exciting development.  169 is a year older than 178 (which has recently been back on the WSR), slightly shorter but otherwise pretty much the same.  Restoration work on 169 has now started in earnest at Williton.

 

This Month's Photos...

...start with just one of that little blue engine Thomas at Minehead.  For some reason this photo is very popular being linked to from a Japanese "blog" amongst other sites!

 

Next a look back at a previous Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally starting with this one of a 1903 Ransome-Simms & Jefferies general purpose engine.

 

A local steam lorry, this 1921 Foden C type tipper in the colours of its original owner, local quarryman W J King.

 

Two "little grey Fergies" flanking a Ford tractor

 

A last Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally photo, 4 Morris Minors and an Austin A35

 

Now an "everyday" scene on the West Somerset, BR Std. 4 tank 80136 was waiting for 6412 to come off shed before she could go to shed while in the background 9351 and 3850 sit in the headshunt.

 

A view of the pair in the headshunt, 3850 was then waiting for a boiler inspection, she is now in regular service; 9351 was spare that weekend.

 

These photos and many more are on West Somerset Railway and West Somerset Railway on the Web..

Note: you need to be connected to the Internet to view these photos. 

 

Funding Appeal for Odney Manor
The appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828 Odney Manor back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway remains open. Cash donations are required and for subscribers, a number of benefits are available. All donations of at least £20 will receive a commemorative Odney Manor certificate; for donations of £200 and £1,000, the certificate plus two tickets for the "Odney Manor Return to Steam Celebration Train" awaits, whilst for £1,000 donations the two tickets are First Class Dining seats plus a trip round the workshops. Top treatment for donations of £10,000 who receive four First Class Dining tickets on the Celebration Train, plus a full day Steam Engineman course driving and firing Odney Manor and arrangements to visit the loco during overhaul. For full details and conditions, look out for the leaflet or ring 01643 704996 for more details.

 

West Somerset Railway Association

Area Group Meetings:

Taunton Group:

In 2005, 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.

 

5 June:- Visit to Cerdic Foundry, Chard

 

For the full programme for 2006 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 May at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-

 

30 May:- "Irish Railways" - Patrick McCormack

 

For the full programme for 2006 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.

 

Events for 2006

8-9 July - Days Out with Thomas.

5-6 August - Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally at Bishops Lydeard

16-17 September - CAMRA Real Ale Festival at Minehead station

5-8 October - Autumn Steam Gala.

21-22 October - Grand Trains Extravaganza

1-2 December - Dunster by Candlelight

30 December - Winter Steam Festival

 

Further details on these will be in future issues of West Somerset Express.

 

Groups on the line which would welcome support include:

West Somerset Railway Association

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.

WestSomersetRailway Yahoo! group for discussion and chat about the WSR

WSR Volunteers - a new site with lots of info for those thinking of volunteering

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.

West Somerset Express Archive

West Somerset Railway Gallery @ fotopic.net has some high quality photos of the WSR

wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow volunteer, Jon Tooke.

 

The next issue is due 27 June 2006.

 

© 2006 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.