West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 53 – December 2006
Issue 47 - June 2006 Issue 48 - July 2006 Issue 49 - August 2006
Issue 50 - September 2006 Issue 51 - October 2006 Issue 52 - November 2006
West Somerset Express homepage
This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on
WSR 2006 Spring Steam Gala 2006 Autumn Steam Gala 2006 GTE 2006
The West Somerset Railway - Heritage Railway of the Year 2005
Dates for your diary
December 1 & 2 - Dunster by Candlelight special trains, pre booking essential
December 2 & 3 - Santa Specials, see below for details.
December 4 - WSRA Taunton Group meeting
December 9 & 10 - Santa Specials and Santa Express, see below for details.
December 11 & 12 - Carol Trains - now fully booked
December 16 & 17 - Santa Specials and Santa Express, see below for details.
December 22-24 - Santa Specials and Santa Express, see below for details.
December 30 - Winter Steam Festival
Regular services take a break until the Santa Trains start. Normal services run 27 December 2006 to 2 January 2007, with the Winter Steam Festival on 30 December, Train Timetables on www.wsr.org.uk has full details.
Santa Trains
The Santa Express runs from Bishops Lydeard to Williton with Santa seeing children on the train three times a day on December 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24.
Santa Specials run from Bishops Lydeard to take children to see Santa at Crowcombe Heathfield three times a day on December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23 & 24. They also run from Minehead to Blue Anchor on December 10, 17, 23 & 24.
Please see Santa Specials and Expresses for further details.
Winter Steam Festival
This years event is on Saturday 30 December, the highlights are:
· 100% steam
· Four engines in action and working trains
· Special guest appearance by the unique SR 4-6-0 no 850 "Lord Nelson"
· Great Western auto train – GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412 and Auto trailer no 178
· Intensive timetable, with trains crossing at Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe Heathfield, Williton and Blue Anchor
· Nice steam-heated trains – a warm and comfortable way of seeing the West Somerset countryside
· Heritage goods train
· Bar/buffet car facilities on most trains
· Day Rover Tickets available – cheaper if booked in advance
· Museums open at Bishops Lydeard and Washford.
· Taunton Model Railway Group base open at Bishops Lydeard
· Shops open, selling a wide range of gifts and souvenirs
· Free parking at Bishops Lydeard
· Lots of photographic opportunities
· Special souvenir programme
· A great day out for families and enthusiasts alike
All the above highlights are believed correct, listed in good faith and subject to availability.
Further details on Winter Steam Festival
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) to 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
West Somerset Railway plc website
The company's website at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk has recently been completely redesigned, why not pay it a visit?
Progress at Norton Fitzwarren
A Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaner train made the first of two trial deliveries of spent ballast on 28 November with the second to follow a week later with regular workings commencing in December or January. It is hoped that the triangle will be available for use in 2008 which will enable both our own locos and those off incoming railtours to be turned.
Full details of the WSRA's press release can be seen on www.wsra.org.uk
Turntable for Minehead
Planning permission for the development of the market site including the installation of a turntable, next to Minehead Station, has been granted. The next step now is to get the necessary funding in place to enable work to start!
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 GWR 2-6-2T small prairie
30850 Lord Nelson is on the West Somerset for running in and was working during the Autumn Steam Gala and the Grand Trains Extravaganza. "Nellie" is currently away from the WSR having equipment needed for mainline working fitted but should be returning, hopefully in time for the Winter Steam Festival.
Resident Locos
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
6412 ex GWR 0-6-0PT the WSRA's pannier tank - now back after spending the summer at Swanage.
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)
3850 ex GWR 2-8-0.
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.
4160: The overhaul is complete and the large prairie is now working on the South Devon Railway in between a "tour" of other lines. It is hoped she will return to the WSR after a visit to the Bluebell Railway ends in February 2007, the final details of her return are currently in progress.
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 has returned to the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard after her trip to Yeovil Pen Mill for the Pen Mill 150 event in July.
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, details as always are sketchy as the team are too busy working on her to give out news but she seems to be starting to come together now.
The tender from 35027 Port Line recently arrived on the West Somerset for use behind Braunton while her tender is completed.
Diesel Locos
The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:
Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner - currently stopped for repairs
Class 35 Hymek D7017 - also stopped for repairs
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 due course and has recently been moved to Williton.
There's plenty of opportunities if you'd like to be involved with the DEPG's fleet, see their web site at DEPG which has regular updates of the status of the fleet.
The resident fleet will be increased from 1 May 2007 when Porterbrook will be handing over 47840 (D1661) North Star to the DEPG for preservation when its present lease to Cotswold Rail ends.
DMUs
The DMU turns on the West Somerset are currently being covered by the Class 117 unit with cars 51352, 59506 and 51376, the other three Class 117 TCLs are used as hauled stock at peak times. Of the Class 115 stock DMBS 51880 is undergoing a major overhaul, DMBS 51859 and TCL 59678 are awaiting overhaul but available for use as required, 51852 and 51887 are out of service.
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...
...look back over the year starting with the Somerset & Dorset themed Spring Steam Gala, the first is of LMS 0-6-0 44422 double heading with BR Std 4-6-0 73129 at Crowcombe Heathfield.
Another S&D double header, 34072 Tangmere with a through excursion from London to Minehead was piloted by BR Std4 76079 (running as 76009 - an S&D loco) from Bishops Lydeard where the pair are seen here.
Another highlight of the year was the completion of the restoration of GWR 2-8-0 3850 which is seen here at Blue Anchor with a down train.
A rather smaller loco this time, pannier tank 6412 taking water at Bishops Lydeard while working a Steam Engineman's Course with an ex SR goods brake.
On 1 July BR Std 4 2-6-4T 80136 was supporting England in the World Cup with flags on her lamp irons - to no avail as they lost later in the day, she is seen here waiting in the sun to leave Minehead with an up train.
Moving on to September and the eagerly awaited arrival of SR 4-6-0 850 Lord Nelson for running in after overhaul at Eastleigh. Her she is in the loco sidings at Minehead receiving minor attention after her first trip along the line the previous day, her Malachite Green livery was something of a shock after the darker greens of GW/BR(W) locos!
October saw two events, the first was the Autumn Steam Gala during which SDJR 2-8-0 88 was running round at Minehead in light that showed her Prussian Blue livery off better than it normally does.
A second from the ASG, 850 Lord Nelson leaving Minehead with FM Rail's Green Train. It was good to see green coaches behind LN, a nice touch.
Later in October was the Grand Trains Extravaganza, a mixed steam and diesel event. This photo by Jon Tooke shows Class 33 D6566 at Williton with an evening goods train.
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 2006 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.
December 4:- Christmas Quiz
For the full programme for 2006 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 May at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-
January 30:- "Paraguayan Railways documentary with Nick Regan
February 27:- "WSR - The Early Years" with Nick Jones
For the full programme for 2006 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
Events for 2006
1-2 December - Dunster by Candlelight
30 December - Winter Steam Festival
Events for 2007
17, 18 & 22 to 25 March - Spring Steam Gala
15 - 17 June - Mixed Traffic Weekend ****CORRECTED DATE****
7 & 8 July - "Days Out With Thomas"
4 & 5 August - Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally
5 August - Toy & Model Fair at Minehead
15 & 16 September - Real Ale Festival
4 - 7 October - Autumn Steam Gala
27 & 28 October - Grand Trains Extravaganza
7 & 8 December - Dunster by Candlelight
29 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
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.
UKsteam.info has sections on the WSR and on mainline steam railtours
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.
wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow volunteer, Jon Tooke.
The next issue is due 27 December 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.