West Somerset Express
Issue 8 – March 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
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
Steam Up at Washford
As a prelude to the start of the new WSR operating season, both Nos 5542 and the Peckett 0-4-0ST No 1788 Kilmersdon will be in steam at Washford station – the headquarters of the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust – over the weekend of 1-2 March 2003. The two engines will perform shunting demonstrations, be available for close inspection (including a chance to look on the footplate), whilst visitors will also be able to see recent restoration on some of the Trust’s fleet of historic vehicles. The museum in the station building, together with the signalbox, will also both be open.
Details from www.wsra.org.uk
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.
Spring Steam Gala
The West Somerset Railway’s Spring Steam Gala, one of the major events in the heritage railway calendar, will take place over the weekend of 28-30 March and will have a "West Country Branch Line" theme. Full timetables are now available.
Confirmation has now been received for three visiting steam engines to attend the Spring Steam Gala on 28-30 March 2003 – the ex-LSWR M7 0-4-4T No 30053 from Swanage, ex-GWR 57xx 0-6-0PT No 5764 from the Severn Valley and ex-GWR ‘Small Prairie’ No 5553 (owned by the Waterman Railways Trust and currently at Cheddleton). A successful conclusion is also anticipated for two other ‘guest’ engines for the Gala – the Ivatt 2-6-2T No 41312 from the Mid-Hants and ex-GWR ‘Large Prairie’ No 4141 (currently at Llangollen).
An intensive three day timetable is planned to give passengers plenty of chances to travel over the WSR’s banks behind "Prairies" (Large and Small), "Panniers" and other engines evoking memories of the West Country in the days of steam. On Saturday 29 March a dramatic contrast will be offered by the arrival of a Hertfordshire Railtours excursion behind a modern class 66 diesel.
As with every WSR Spring Gala there will be plenty of extra activity. The Williton restoration shed will have its annual three day opening so that visitors can see progress on Bulleid "West Country" class 4-6-2 no 34046 "Braunton" and the nearly-completed 1897 GWR sleeping car, whilst the Minehead Sheds will be open on Saturday and Sunday.
Quantock Belle All Day Gala Breakfast
All day breakfast will be available on the following services:
Saturday 29 March:
9.15 from Bishops Lydeard
10.50 from Minehead
12.40 from Norton Fitzwarren
3.05 from Minehead
Sunday 30 March:
10.00 from Bishops Lydeard
12.15 from Minehead
2.05 from Bishops Lydeard
4.00 from Minehead
No seats will be reserved - just walk on and enjoy!
Details from www.wsr.org.uk and www.wsra.org.uk
Visiting Locos
So far the list of guests, in addition to those visiting for the Spring Steam Gala, includes 4936 Kinlet Hall from mid July until the Autumn Steam Gala along with 5224 ex GW 2-8-0T will be with us for the year and 80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T will be returning for a long stay, probably from April.
Resident Locos
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
4160 ex GW 2-6-2T large prairie - will be stopped for overhaul in June.
5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie
6412 ex GW 0-6-0PT will be in service for the early part of the season.
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 actually built, took another step forward at Minehead Station on February 15th. On a cold and sunny day the boiler of 5193, freshly overhauled, was craned back into the frames of the loco. Other recent work on the project has included the fabrication of a new cab and the likelihood of an entry into traffic later this year remains good.
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
In addition another Hymek, D7076 will be visiting for the high season including a special timetable during the "Swindon Heritage Diesel Gala" on 8 & 9 August.
Teddy Bear's Picnic
The Diesel and Electric Preservation Group's Type 1 Class 14 Locomotive no D9526 is scheduled to be re-launched into traffic on the WSR on Saturday 12 April 2003, for the first time since 1994, with a four-coach train Special - including a buffet car - leaving Bishops Lydeard at 11.35am and arriving at Minehead at 12.45pm. The return trip leaves Minehead at 1.40pm with arrival at Bishops Lydeard at 2.55pm. The Return Fare is just £10 for the Special - a forty mile round trip - or even better value is the Day Rover at only £12.
Details from Diesel and Electric Preservation Group
This Month's Photos
The first is of 7820 Dinmore Manor running round her train at Minehead.
Next is the line's other Manor, 7828 Odney Manor arriving at Minehead with the Quantock Belle dining train, in the yard are 5224, 4160 and D2133.
The third is 5224 leaving Washford for Minehead.
Last for this month, 5553 and 5224 at Bishops Lydeard.
Note: you need to be connected to the Internet to view these photos.
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.
3 March: Travels on the Indian Sub Continent - Keith Strickland.
7 April: Nostalgic Days on the Dining Cars - Mike Chapman
5 May: A visit by dmu to the various restoration sites on the WSR; a leisurely journey along the line, with bar on the train! Starting from Bishops Lydeard Station at 6.45pm
For the full programme for 2003 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:-
25 March: “Jaunceys’ Jaunts” PSOV videos show British steam locomotives at their best – storming through stunning landscapes, slogging up the most notorious climbs. Commentary on the videos is minimal, the locomotives being allowed to speak for themselves. However, on this occasion the producers of the videos will be on hand to add their own personal commentary on a year’s worth of main line steam activity. Come along for a superb, breathtaking, scintillating evening of main line action – experience the exhilaration of locomotives working at full power.
An admission charge will apply for this meeting……but you will NOT be disappointed!
29 April: The County of Somerset was criss-crossed with main lines and branches during the heyday of railways. Nearly every town and village had its station or halt, about 150 of them – but what of them now…? Mike Oakley takes on a journey of discovery through the Somerset countryside, visiting as many of the 150 as possible.
For the full programme for 2003 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.
This Year's Events
The WSR has finalised its 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 next year:-
“The CrossCountry Network: Past, Present & Future” on 10-11 May is a special diesel and steam event being run in association with Virgin Trains. It is our aim to strive to assemble a representative selection of locomotive classes (steam to Voyager) that have been the mainstay of train services on the CrossCountry network over the last 50 years or so. Virgin Trains have agreed to re-name their Class 220 No 220 008 Somerset Voyager on the WSR that weekend, after naming it will be working services on the West Somerset. Also confirmed is a visit by ex-LMS ‘Jubilee’ Class 4-6-0 No 5690 Leander, which has just returned to steam after heavy overhaul. This is certainly the first time a ‘Jubilee’ has run on the Minehead branch and – resplendent in LMS red livery – is sure to be a popular attraction on the line.
“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 help 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, the next New Volunteers Day will be on Sunday 6 April 2003 but 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 – 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 - Hope to have the sleeping car out soon, and we continue to run BA Rly Museum as well as researching archive stuff. At some point it would be nice if we could make "heritage" grants to people who are restoring and enhancing the heritage aspects of the branch (e.g. purchasing/making new station seats, replacing temporary structure with "proper" ones etc etc - in the main giving a bit of cash to ensure things are done properly) - though it will need more contributors to the Trust if we are not to run out of money quite quickly.... 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 March 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.