West Somerset Express - Issue 55 - February 2007
Bridgwatarian
West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 55 - February 2007
West Somerset Express homepage
http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/westsomersetexpress.htm
**Ian Allan Publishing Heritage Railway of the Year 2006**
Dates for your diary
--------------------
February 5 - WSRA Taunton Area Group meeting
February 10 - Trains between Minehead and Blue Anchor in connection with an
event in Dunster
February 17, 18, 20-22, 24 & 25 - Trains between Minehead and Williton
February 27 - WSRA Bristol Group meeting
Regular services resume with the February half term services between
Minehead and Williton, Train Times on www.wsr.org.uk has full details.
Spring Steam Gala
-------------------
This years event is themed "Summer Saturdays in the West" will be on March
17, 18 and 22 - 25 repeating last years successful two weekends format.
The loco line up is expected to be:-
SR 4-6-0 no 850 Lord Nelson
SR 4-6-2 no 34007 Wadebridge
GWR 4-6-0 no 5051 Earl Bathurst
GWR 4-6-0 no 7802 Bradley Manor
GWR 4-6-0 no 7822 Foxcote Manor
BR 2-10-0 no 92203 Black Prince
SDJR 2-8-0 no 88 (BR no 53808)
BR(W) 2-6-2T no 4160
BR 4MT 2-6-4T no 80136
GWR 2-6-2T no 5521
GWR 2-6-2T no 5553
WSR 2-6-0 no 9351
GWR 2-8-0 no 3850
GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412
Further details can be found on http://www.wsr.org.uk/ssg2007.htm
Virgin Shuttle for the Gala
--------------------------
Virgin trains will bring a modern addition to the "Summer Saturdays in the
West" theme on the West Somerset Railway during its Spring Steam Gala. On
both Weekends Virgin will run a shuttle using a Voyager set on Saturday and
Sunday the 17th and 18th and the 24th and 25th of March in connection with
the West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Steam Gala, adding the most modern
way of getting to the West to some of the oldest. The trains will run as a
normal passenger train from Bristol to Taunton and will act as a Taunton to
Bishops Lydeard shuttle during the day before returning to Bristol in the
evening. It will run as a relief train from Bristol with National fares
applying and a shuttle fare of only £5.00 return Taunton - Bishops Lydeard.
Details from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Flying Start for Heritage Carriage Project
------------------------------------------
The West Somerset Railway Heritage Carriages Project has got off to a flying
start. Following the recent acquisition of an 1907 toplight brake from Sir
William McAlpine, the WSR is repatriating a 1939 Collett Composite Brake
from Steamtown USA. The formal offer of the coach was made in January and an
offer to hitch a ride at a favourable rate on the ship bringing Class 66
locomotives from Halifax in Canada to Newport was gratefully received. But
then it was found that the only ship likely to make the trip this year was
to leave Halifax on 9 March! So the need to move quickly. The staff at
Steamtown, the shippers, road hauliers, crane and paperwork people have been
magnificent in setting up arrangements to get the car moved. North America
truly retains its "can-do" approach and the special relationships which the
UK has with the USA and Canada are alive and well. More details at the
www.wssrt.co.uk
The need to move quickly means there is an urgent need for funds, every
pound (or dollar!) will help, if you can give something please see the
Trust's website for details of how to contribute.
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
ws...@btconnect.com or Tel: 01823 433856. There's more about volunteering on
www.wsr-volunteers.co.uk
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
West Somerset Railway plc website
------------------------------------
The company's website at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk has recently been
completely redesigned and is continuing to develop, why not pay it a visit?
New web-cam on www.wsr.org.uk
------------------------------------
There is now a streaming webcam on the line's unofficial web site, it can
also be accessed directly at http://wsrailway.camstreams.com/
Progress at Norton Fitzwarren
-------------------------------
Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaner trains are now regular visitors and
are delivering large quantities of material. 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 will be working until June when it will
be withdrawn for overhaul.
5553 Pete Waterman's ex GWR 2-6-2T small prairie
30850 Lord Nelson will be back on the West Somerset for the Spring Steam
Gala.
44422 4F 0-6-0 will be coming to the line to "replace" 80136 after the
latter is withdrawn for overhaul.
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)
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. 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 is progressing well, she has been wheeled, steam has been
raised in the boiler - though it is yet to be fitted to the frames.
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 http://www.depg.org/ which has regular updates
of the status of
the fleet.
The resident fleet will be increased from 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. At present is is expected to arrive at
the head of a railtour from Derby on 28 May, the tour will return behind
45112.
DMUs
-------
The Class 117 unit belongs to the Territorial Army and has now left the WSR,
the other three Class 117 TCLs are used as hauled stock at peak times. Of
the Class 115 stock DMBS 51880 (nearing the end a major overhaul), DMBS
51859 (being repainted) and TCL 59678 will form the DMU services this year,
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...
-----------------------
...can be seen on http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/issue55.htm
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 2007 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.
February 5 - "British Vintage Steam and GW150" - cine films from Terry
Nicholls
March 5 - "Steam Recreations: roving the UK" with Don Bishop
April 2 - "Southern Railway around Nationalisation" with Arthur Turner
For the full programme for 2007 see www.wsra.org.uk , for
further details e-mail peter...@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:-
February 27:- "WSR - The Early Years" with Nick Jones
March 27 - "Isle of Wight Railways" with Brian Ward-Ellison
April 24 - "Railways in World War II" with Tony Cane
For the full programme for 2007 see www.wsra.org.uk , for
further details email wsrab...@aol.com
Events for 2007
----------------
17, 18 & 22 to 25 March - Spring Steam Gala
15 - 17 June - Mixed Traffic Weekend
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 - www.wsra.org.uk
5542 Limited - www.loco5542.co.uk
Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust - www.sdrt.org.uk
Diesel & Electric Preservation Group - www.geocities.com/wsrdepg
Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd - www.dinmoremanor.co.uk
4160 Limited
Friends of Minehead Station
Friends of Blue Anchor Railway Museum
West Somerset Steam Railway Trust - www.wssrt.co.uk
Telephone the West Somerset Railway on 01643 704996 for contact details of
these groups.
WSR Links:
------------
www.wsr.org.uk - an unofficial site full of information and photos of
the West Somerset
West Somerset Railway Association - www.wsra.org.uk - the Association is the
main support group on the line.
The Official West Somerset Railway Web Site
www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk - for trains times and fares
etc.
www.wssrt.co.uk the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WestSomersetRailway/ a group for discussion
and chat about the WSR
www.wsr-volunteers.co.uk a new site with lots of information for potential
volunteers
West Somerset Railway, heritage steam and diesel trains
www.trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/wsr.htm - pages of photos of
the WSR.
Diesel & Electric Preservation Group Ltd (DEPG)
http://www.geocities.com/wsrdepg - the diesel group on the line.
West Somerset Express Archive
www.trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/westsomersetexpress.htm
West Somerset Railway Gallery www.steve-huddy.fotopic.net has some high
quality photos of the WSR
www.wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow
volunteer, Jon Tooke. He often finds odd places to take photos from and even
odder things to take them of so check it as it grows!
The next issue is due 27 February 2007.
© 2007 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.