WSR 2005

07-05-2017

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Special events have their own pages with the Spring Steam Gala 2005Spring Diesel Gala 05 and Autumn Steam Gala 2005.  There are brief technical details of these locos on WSR Locos.  The latest issue of West Somerset Express on-line newsletter is available here .

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

March

5051 and 9351 on Bishops Lydeard loco

The first of the Spring Gala visitors to arrive was 5051 Earl Bathurst, seen here on Bishops Lydeard loco in company with resident mogul 9351 being prepared for service on 6 March, the day after her arrival.

 

 

5051 on Bishops Lydeard loco

Another view of Earl Bathurst part hidden amongst the piles of lighting wood and bags of coal in the loco compound.

 

5051 Earl Bathurst at Crowcombe Heathfield

Later in a rather hectic day I finally had a chance to take another photo of the "Castle", this time in the afternoon sun at Crowcombe Heathfield waiting to cross an Up train.

 

5542 arriving at Crowcombe

After a short delay the Up train appeared under Crowcombe Bridge headed by resident small prairie 5542.

 

5542 passes 5051 at Crowcombe

5542 passes 5051, two Great Western locos at a delightful Great Western country station.

 

Tender for a Manor

Tender for a Manor

The weekend after the Gala I found this tender at the far end of Up Sidings, it belongs to our own Odney Manor but, to save transport costs, had been used over the Gala behind 7822 Foxcote Manor.

 

5051, 5024 and 5542 on Bishops Lydeard loco

Meanwhile 5051 Earl Bathurst was being readied for her departure to work a mainline rail tour from Taunton the next morning, behind her 6024 King Edward I was being prepped ready to work a Steam Engineman's Course and behind again small prairie 5542 was nearly ready to come off shed for the 10.25.

Milk tank at Lydeard

Back to Up Sidings, the first vehicle on this set was a 6 wheel milk tank, once an everyday sight on the nearby main line, now like so much they are just a memory apart from on heritage railways.

6412 and 3440 City of Truro at Minehead

Resident pannier 6412 and another Gala visitor that was staying on, 3440 City of Truro paired up a Minehead ready for working the next day - and yes, it is the same milk tank, I'd brought it with me, or at least my train had!  Another bit of tidying up after the Gala!

6024 at Minehead

6024 coming off shed after coaling ready to return the SEC to Bishops Lydeard, a nice easy turn for me as a guard and, with only 7 coaches, an easy one for the King.

 

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

6024 takes water at Bishops Lydeard

Back at Bishops Lydeard 6024 took water while running round, the head board is "6024 Preservation Society"

 

 

6024 rests at Crowcombe Heathfield

Up the bank to Crowcombe Heathfield and 6024 basks in the spring sunshine while waiting for the road to Williton.

 

6024 on the Bristolian - at Lydeard

The next day 6024 was working service trains complete with a Bristolian headboard, this was the busy scene just before she left Bishops Lydeard on the 2.10 to Minehead.

 

6024 on the Bristolian

A few minutes later everyone was on board and the King got going in regal style.

 

3440 City of Truro and 6412 at Williton

The other guest working over Easter was 3440 City of Truro seen here arriving at Williton double heading with resident pannier 6412 - added as insurance against a repeat of the previous weeks adhesion problems.

 

3440 and 6412 at Williton

A closer view of the pair running into Williton, I had a rather more mundane train - the DMU!

 

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

April

5029 and 6412 on Minehead loco

Moving on to 10 April, 5029 Nunney Castle which is visiting between mainline railtours is seen at Minehead along with resident pannier tank 6412.

5029 Nunney Castle

Another view of 5029 gleaming in the spring sunshine.  The fitting just in front of the outside steam pipe is an air brake pump, on a King the brakes under the loco are arranged differently and the pump can be hidden between the frames.

80136 and 7820

Also basking in the sun were Std 4 tank 80136 which was spare and 7820 Dinmore Manor which is awaiting overhaul.

 

Stored HST and 6412 at Minehead

At the other end of the station some of the HST stock being stored for First Group was stood in the spur while 6412 went out over the crossing en route from one side of the station to the other.  A wisp of steam shows that 5542 was held at the home signal with the 14.10 from Bishops Lydeard.  This 5 car HST will be working on the WSR during the Diesel Gala!

6412 on the Quantock Belle

Later 6412 was ready to go with the Quantock Belle dining train back to Bishops Lydeard, the crew were making sure the tanks were full before leaving, hence the hosepipe.

Auto train at Crowcombe

The next weekend 6412 was working with auto trailer 178 on a birthday special seen here at Crowcombe Heathfield.

 

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

9351 crossing the auto at Crowcombe

After a pause which provided a chance for photography mogul 9351 ran in with the 10.15 from Minehead.

 

6412 and the auto at Minehead

After the auto arrived at Minehead it was stabled in the loco sidings for a time.

 

Birthday decorations on D6566

Birthday decorations on D6566Next arrival was D6566 which was needed to shunt release an air braked train later, it was decorated to mark a crew member's 18th birthday.

 

HST at Minehead

During the shunting needed to free up space the second HST stored at Minehead was visible from the platform.

 

67014 arriving at Minehead from HootonThe air braked train that needed D6566's attentions was a through special from Hooton headed by EWS's 67014 with 13 Mk2's in various liveries - Virgin, Riviera Trains, fGW and Inter City.  For a time there were more Virgin liveried coaches than WSR ones in the station area!

D6566 shunt releasing the 67

D6566 then came on the back to release the 67, the loop can only take 12 coaches so a second loco is needed to push the stock back after the train engine has come off and moved over to the loop.

 

67014 and 80136 at Minehead

At the other end of the train 67014 was on the loop as 80136 sat spare on the shed, 7820 Dinmore Manor which is awaiting overhaul can be glimpsed between them.

6412 and the auto in Minehead bay platform

Once the 14.00 to Bishops Lydeard had departed 6412 brought the auto back across to the bay platform.  The special was run for the birthday of a railway photographer known as Linesider hence "Linesiders Birthday Bash".  The other headboard "SWRG on Tour" is for the Yahoo group South West Rail Gen to which many of the passengers (and myself, the guard for the trip) belong.

 

View from the autotrailer through 6412

View from the autotrailer through 6412

Two views from the auto trailer of 6412 and the lineside as we headed for Blue Anchor.

 

Photographers

Once at Blue Anchor many of the passengers took the opportunity to take some more photos of the auto train.

 

6024 and 5029 on Bishops Lydeard loco

Back at Bishops Lydeard a visit to the loco compound saw 6024 King Edward I and 5029 Nunney Castle lined up having been receiving attention prior to working a rail tour onwards from Taunton the following weekend.

 

 

 

5029's Barton Hill "shed plate"

5029 carries an 81A Old Oak Common shedplate on the smokebox door but also has its current homebase of Bristol Barton Hill, BK, by the bufferbeam.

 

Panoramic view of Bishops Lydeard stationA view of Bishops Lydeard station with the Quantock Belle dining train, small prairie 5542, auto trailer 178, pannier 6412 and "Castle" 5029 on view as 67014 ran in with the return special to Hooton.

67014 at Bishops Lydeard

67014 stood in platform 2 at Bishops Lydeard waiting to return to the mainline.

 

67014 leaving Bishops Lydeard

67014 departing past 5029 and 5553 in the loco compound.

 

6024 approaching Blue Anchor

6024 at Blue Anchor

To end the month, two photos of 6024 King Edward I arriving at Blue Anchor with an up train on 30 April

 

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  November  December

May

Class 73s at Crowcombe during the Diesel Gala

May started with the Spring Diesel Gala which has it own page.

 

 

34046 Braunton and 5029 Nunney Castle at Williton

During the Diesel Gala I spotted visiting "Castle" 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle which was at Williton receiving attention to the air brake system, in the background the frames of 34046 Braunton can be seen now complete with smokebox saddle.

June

Small prairies 5542 and 5553 at Minehead

The first Saturday in June saw the two small prairies, 5542 and 5553, on shed at Minehead.  5542 was laying over before working a special train back up to Lydeard while 5553 was receiving the attentions of the cleaning gang in between acting as station pilot.

5553 being polished at Minehead

After a swap around the quality of the polishing of 5553 can be appreciated, you can see the reflection of the ladder on the tank.

 

7820 Dinmore Manor

In less pristine condition is 7820 Dinmore Manor which is awaiting overhaul.  Not sure where her chimney has gone though!  One of the cleaning gang did give her a quick going over so she looked better later.

7828 Odney Manor

The WSR's own Manor, 7828 Odney Manor is in a more advanced stage of dismantling for her overhaul, minus boiler and many other parts her "chassis" was parked outside Minehead works.

W4599 fresh from overhaul

At the other end of the works Mk1 TSO W4599 has just emerged from a major overhaul and was gleaming despite the dull conditions.

 

5542 in the bay platform at Minehead

5542 with the QB set5542 back on her train ready for the return run later in the day.  The train consisted of the maroon Quantock Belle dining train plus 3 chocolate and cream coaches from the "normal" fleet.

 

9351 arrives at Minehead

Small mogul 9351 arriving at Minehead with a train from Bishops Lydeard.

 

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

July

HST power cars at Minehead

In early July there was a swap around of the First Group HST stock, all the trailers going off to Laira with 4 or 5 others now being stored with 2 power cars at Bishops Lydeard.  There are still 3 power cars at Minehead including 43198 and 43155 seen here coupled nose to nose with their emergency coupling bar.

HST power car 43198

43198 Rio Victorious is in Midland Mainline colours unlike the others which are in unbranded Virgin livery.

 

HST emergency coupling

A close up of the coupling between 43198 and 43155, the cobweb is an extra that contributes little to the strength of the connection!

 

 

HSTs at Minehead

A view of two more power cars, five trailers and, in the distance, the 5th. power car of the small fleet.

 

HSTs at Minehead

A last one that includes all the HST stock currently at Minehead, 5 power cars and 5 trailers - 4 of which are consecutively numbered.

 

5542 arriving at Crowcombe Heathfield

A more normal train for the West Somerset, small prairie 5542 comes under the bridge towards Crowcombe Heathfield station with an Up train.

 

5542 arriving at Crowcombe Heathfield

Another view of 5542 as she was running into the station, framed by the unusual down starting signal.

 

5553 arriving at Williton

Down the line to Williton and the next Up train was headed by another small prairie, 5553.

 

Class 117 DMU at Williton

The line's Class 117 DMU waiting to cross 5553 at Williton.

 

 

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

August

D7017 and D9526 at Minehead

On 5 August Class 14 D9526 was working the diesel diagram, D7017 was attached for a test run - unfortunately it had problems later but the pair are seen here waiting to leave Minehead for Bishops Lydeard.

 

D7017 and D9526 at Minehead

A second view of the pair of Maybach engined hydraulics before departure.

 

Brass band on Minehead station

The following day passengers waiting for their trains were being entertained by a brass band, sounded very nice under the recently restored canopy.

 

80136 at Minehead

Standard 4MT tank 80136 waiting at Minehead with the 14.55 to Bishops Lydeard.  This loco is well suited to the West Somerset taking 9 coach trains comfortably and economically.

 

9351 arriving at Williton

Small boilered mogul 9351 arriving at Williton with a down train.  Photo by Ian Monkton

 

September

33057 at Bishops Lydeard

Class 33 "Crompton" 33057 (formerly D6575) has been acquired as a source of spares for D6566, however eventual restoration isn't totally ruled out.  It is seen here at Bishops Lydeard on the low loader it arrived on on Sat. 17 Sept.

67012 at Bishops Lydeard

On the same day EWS 67012 worked an excursion from London coinciding with the Somerset CAMRA real ale festival at Minehead station, the return run is seen here approaching Bishops Lydeard.

 

67012 arriving at Bishops Lydeard

67012 runs in watched by a couple who might have been wondering at the contrast with the pannier tank which had just shunted the stock in the other platform.

 

Jazz band at Crowcombe

That stock later formed a Jazz Special to Minehead, stopping on the way for the band to play on the platform at Crowcombe Heathfield, a pleasant interlude indeed.

Jazz band at Minehead

After another pause to play at Williton the band's final stint for the evening was at Minehead where they entertained us for 20 minutes as the temperature dropped.

 

The real ales at the beer festival

Meanwhile at the CAMRA beer festival there was a wide range of real ales on offer - though a few were sold out by this time.  Being on duty I could only look at 'em though.

 

5542 arriving at Lydeard

Small prairie 5542 arriving at Bishops Lydeard the following Saturday.

 

 

5542 shunting stock at Bishops Lydeard

After arrival 5542 then shunted her stock to the other platform to make way for a following train.

 

5542 taking water

After moving her stock 5542 stopped for water en route for the shed.

 

30587 at Bishops Lydeard

The first of the visitors for the Autumn Steam Gala the following weekend, Beattie 2-4-0 well tank 30587, stopped outside Bishops Lydeard box soon after arrival.

 

30587 on Bishops Lydeard loco

The well tank then returned to the loco compound complete with a goods brake while awaiting a path to Minehead.

 

30587 on Bishops Lydeard loco

While waiting the crew and the locos support crew gathered around her.

 

47813 at Bishops Lydeard

Cotswold Rail's 47813 at Bishops Lydeard with a returning charter to Wolverhampton.

 

47813 leaving Lydeard

47813 leaving Lydeard

47813 leaving Lydeard

Three more shots of 47813 heading for the big railway with its train of ex Virgin Mk3s.

 

47316 on the back of the return excursion

47316

47316 was dead on the back, it had failed earlier in the day and so didn't do much of the day's work.

 

 

Autumn Steam Gala

September finished and October began with the Autumn Steam Gala

 

March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

October

HST power cars at Minehead

Two of the five HST power cars left in early October, the remaining 3 are seen on the 9th. ready to move to Reading the next morning.  I think the coaches are staying for a while longer.

 

D9526 at Cotford St Luke

The 22nd and 23rd was the Grand Trains Extravaganza, D9526 was working a short train and is seen in the sidings at Bishops Lydeard from the DMU which was en route to Norton Fitzwarren.

 

D9526 and D3462 in Up Sidings, Bishops Lydeard

Also seen from the DMU, D9526 and Class 08 shunter D3462 side by side in Up Sidings.

 

Beattie well tank 30587 arriving at Bisops Lydeard

As you might realise I was on the DMU all day on the Saturday hence this shot of the Beattie well tank 30587 arriving at Bishops Lydeard with a short goods train was also taken from the unit - through a haze of exhaust!

30587 at Bishops Lydeard

Another view of the Beattie in the QB bay at Lydeard, the only visiting loco she made a lovely sight.

 

5542 waiting to leave Minehead for a year or two

The following Sunday small prairie 5542 was at Minehead ready to work up to Bishops Lydeard for movement by road to the South Devon Railway at the start of a two year absence from the West Somerset which will include visiting the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway and fitting new driving wheel tyres.

Pressure washing 5542

Ray Lee was spotted by Jon Tooke making sure that his "baby", 5542, was as clean as can be by pressure washing underneath her.

 

 

 

6412 with the QB at Blue Anchor

The same day saw 6412 on the 25th. anniversary working of the Quantock Belle dining train, seen here at Blue Anchor - my camera battery died before I could get a shot of the special headboard :o(

 

 

6412 with 25th anniversary QB

Follow guard Jon Tooke was however having at layover at Minehead and got this shot of 6412 arriving there complete with commemorative headboard.

 

03 and 04 shunters at Minehead

Jon also spotted this scene, no the WSR isn't going to work auto trains with either the class 03, D2133, (left) or the Class 04, D2271, (right)!

 

Inside Odney Manor's frames

Another of Jon's unusual photos is this view in between the frames of 7828 "Odney Manor" which is being stripped down in the early stages of an overhaul.

 

5542 coming off shed at Minehead

Jon was also on hand when 5542 came off Minehead shed for her last WSR working for some time - hope we'll see her with North Hill in the background again before too long.

5542's last departure from Minehead for now

He also recorded her departure from Minehead with the returning "Quantock Belle"

 

Class 117 DMU at Bishops Lydeard

Often overlooked is the railway's Class 117 Pressed Steel built DMU, originally built for Paddington suburban services it now provides a useful addition to the steam services - the view from it is such that I think it should be marketed as a "Panoramic Diesel Railcar".

November

S&DJR 88 at Crowcombe Heathfield

There were no trains for most of November but the last Sunday saw the first of the Santa Specials which was also the first working after a lengthy overhaul of SDJR 2-8-0 no. 88 (BR 53808) which is seen here at Crowcombe Heathfield.

88 at Crowcombe

88 at Crowcombe Heathfield

Two more views of 88 resting at the end of the first trip of the day.

 

 

December

88 leaving Williton

Three weeks later 88 was working a Minehead - Bishops Lydeard and back "Murder, Mystery, Suspense" train, she is seen here leaving Williton for Lydeard.

 

9351 passing Crowcombe Heathfield

Later that day Ian Monkton took this shot of small mogul 9351 heading through Crowcombe Heathfield bound for Bishops Lydeard with a "Santa Express" which was returning from Williton.

 

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This site was last updated 13-08-2012

Photos not otherwise credited are ©2001-2005 S G J Huddy.  Other photos are included with permission of the copyright holders.