The West Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway is the nearest preserved railway to Taunton. It runs from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, but also has a link to the UK Mainline Rail Network at Norton Fitzwarren. The line first reopened in Easter 1976 and has grown to be one of the best and most respected preserved railways in Britain. Passenger numbers are now very high. The 20 mile line carries in excess of 150,000 people each year. The line from Bishops Lydeard passes inbetween the Quantock and Brendon Hills, then winds its way North to the Bristol Channel coast at Watchet before following the coastline to Minehead.
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West Somerset Railway - Diesel Gala - June 2017
June 9th,10th,11th 2017 Diesel Gala event marked a milestone for the WSR with the first full blown Diesel Gala event in years, the first time steam was stopped in favor of taking the brave step of letting another era of British Rail history take centre stage. Adding local breweries as part of The Ale Trail (located at Bishops Lydeard, Stogumber and Minehead) was also another great step forward in developing something unique for the future of Diesel Gala events on the line. Later running on the Saturday was also welcomed. The three visiting locomotives, two BR Green Class 20's (D8188 & D8059) and a BR Blue Class 26 (26043) were ideally suited to the line, and provided some great sounds for passengers to enjoy. The home fleet of locomotives from the Diesel Electric Preservation Group also performed faultlessly.
West Somerset Railway - Spring Steam Gala - 5th & 6th March 2016
The first weekend of the West Somerset Railway 2016 Spring Steam Gala took place on the 5th and 6th March coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset and Dorset route. The S&D theme for the gala rejuvenated the memories of the line by using locomotive types which once operated over the route. No less than six visiting locomotives were bought in to boost the variety of traction on offer. The lineup will featured the return of the Somerset and Dorset 7F No.53808 fresh from overhaul which will joined with sister locomotive No.53809. Also visiting the line will be BR Standard 4MT Tank No. 80072 (which operated as 80043), SR West Country No. 34070 'Manston', SR Rebuilt West Country No. 34053 'Sir Keith Park' & British Railways 9F No. 92214 and LMS 4F No.44422 (which is now part of the WSR home fleet).
West Somerset Railway - Mixed Traffic Gala - 5th - 7th June 2015
As the last crankshaft makes its final rotation and the final exhaust note falls silent, the curtain falls on the challenging 2015 Mixed Traffic Weekend. The three day gala event saw the DEPG home fleet locos joined by visitors Class 45 No.45060 'Sherwood Forester', Class 56 No.56006, and GBRf repatriated Class 59 No.59003 'Yeoman Highlander'. Each day had its own particular challenges, after the failure of 56006 on Saturday with fuel starvation, caused by clogged filters on Saturday, and then the failure of 45060 on the Sunday, it was left to the WSR home fleet locos and GBRf Class 59 to fill in the gaps. The event seemed well supported helped by three days of good weather, the best day for warmth and good light being the Sunday, which no doubt bought people out to the line
West Somerset Railway - Spring Steam Gala - 29th March 2014
The West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala was in full swing over between the 28th - 30th March 2014. The line entertained crowds with visiting locomotives from Didcot Railway Centre, The Mid Hants Railing and Swanage Railway. The event was Southern Themed 'Withered Arm' Gala. Sadly No.34070 'Manston' from the Swanage Railway failed on Friday 28th and had to be retired from the gala. Visiting BR Mogul No.5322 was a surprise workhorse of the event, sounding superb as it worked hard to haul trains between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard. The loco also carries the 83A 'Newton Abbot' shed plate on the smoke box door. The class were a common sight in the South West on local duties with many out based from Taunton.
West Somerset Railway - Autumn Steam Gala 2013
October 3rd - 6th provided four days of the West Somerset Railway's Autumn 'Cambrian Themed' Steam Gala. The event featured three visiting Manor locomotives, a class which were synonymous with the route, stations were also renamed to those befitting the line. The event culminated with two night shoots, one on Friday night at Williton organised by David Williams and Neil Cave, and one on Saturday night at Minehead organised by Don Bishop. After a warm and sunny day during Saturday 5th, all four Manors ended their diagrams at Minehead. The Saturday evening photo shoot saw all four Manors posed for photographers on Minehead shed. No.7822 'Foxcote Manor', No.7827 'Lydham Manor', No.7812 'Erlestoke Manor', and No.7828 'Odney Manor' looked suburb in the posed scenes. The event also featured BR Prairie Tank No.4160 and the WSR's own misfit steam locomotive No.9351.
West Somerset Railway - Mixed Traffic Gala - June 2013
The 7th June saw the West Somerset Railway let the diesels have their turn in the limelight with a superb collection of Ex BR Locomotives in attendance. Two visiting locos from the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway also bolstered the home fleet. Friday 7th featured an 'all diesel' timetable while Saturday and Sunday featured a steam service for those passengers less educated or less appreciating of heritage diesels. The weekend of Diesel Traction continued on the 8th and 9th June featuring 8 different period BR diesels with 6 locos from the WSR home fleet. The addition of a Class 24 and 37 from the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway provided some superb English Electric and Sulzer sounds for passengers to enjoy. The weekend was a complete success with D1010 finally managing a full gala timetable without a failure and all other locomotives operating without incident. It's hoped that the WSR will continue to build the event for bigger and better things in 2014
West Somerset Railway - Railmotor Night Photo Charter - 23rd March 2013
On the 23rd March as part of the West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala a night photographic shoot was organised by the WSRA Chairman, David Williams. The shoot featured GWR Railmotor No.93 and was set at Crowcombe Heathfield Station. Amid freezing conditions 20 photographers enjoyed an evening of unique photography fueled by hot cups of tea and coffee from the volunteers in the station refreshments area.
West Somerset Railway - Mixed Traffic Gala - June 2012
The 15th, 16th & 17th of June saw the Somerset countryside reverberating to the sounds of Sulzer, Napier and Hydraulic engines operating at the annual WSR Mixed Traffic Gala. The 2012 event was again blighted by poor weather, with only the Sunday producing any reasonable periods of sunlight to help enhance the event, however this didn't put enthusiasts off attending the railway gala or traveling on the line. The event featured three days of heritage and modern diesel haulage over the twenty mile branch to Minehead. Brake Van rides were also available at Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren along with a special pre booked option to travel over the entire length of the line in a brake van. 'Driver for a Fiver' was also in operation at Minehead using one of the former Bridgwater ROF shunters and the rare Williton Depot Sentinel No.DH16. First Great Western also provided a Class 150 shuttle line to Taunton mainline station on Saturday and Sunday giving travel connections to mainline services.
West Somerset Railway - Spring Steam Gala - March 2013
_March 22nd - 25th provided 'Part 2' of the West Somerset Railway's Spring Steam Gala events. The second weekend provided much better weather than the first weekend, and was reminiscent of the glorious conditions which occurred during the Autumn Steam Gala in 2011. The final weekend also provided most steam locomotives running boiler first (where possible) and the added bonus that visiting 'Britannia' was able to be turned on the Norton Triangle. The use of a GWR Manor, Hall and King was also very popular with enthusiasts, providing the last change to ride and photograph King Class No.6024 'King Edward I' before its overhaul. The Spring Gala event was also complimented on the Saturday 24th where a group of photographers gathered at Crowcombe after the last train for a paid 'Night Shoot' organised by WSR Journal Editor, David Williams. The unique event used visiting 14XX No.1450 complete with its Autocoach No.178. The loco was posed in several positions within Crowcombe Heathfield station and provided a fitting end to a good days photography, although the amorous couple in the rear coach of the last train probably didn't plan on such a large group of photographers witnessing their own 'steamy' activities!
West Somerset Railway - Mixed Traffic Gala - June 2011
Friday 10th June to Sunday 12th June featured the West Somerset Railway’s annual ‘Mixed Traffic Weekend’.
The 2011 event featured 4 visiting Class 59 locomotives from Mendip Rail, each of the locos was specially painted and washed for the event. All three Class 59 sub classes were represented along with 4 different operating liveries. 59001 (Aggregate Industries), 59002 (Foster Yeoman), 59103 (Hanson Aggregates) and 59206 (DB Schenker). 2011 marks the 25th anniversary for the introduction of the first Class 59’s to the rails of the UK. D1010 was also renumbered and renamed for the weekend to run as D1035 ‘Western Yeoman’, and a specially repainted open wagon was also specially repainted in Foster Yeoman colours.
The 2011 event featured 4 visiting Class 59 locomotives from Mendip Rail, each of the locos was specially painted and washed for the event. All three Class 59 sub classes were represented along with 4 different operating liveries. 59001 (Aggregate Industries), 59002 (Foster Yeoman), 59103 (Hanson Aggregates) and 59206 (DB Schenker). 2011 marks the 25th anniversary for the introduction of the first Class 59’s to the rails of the UK. D1010 was also renumbered and renamed for the weekend to run as D1035 ‘Western Yeoman’, and a specially repainted open wagon was also specially repainted in Foster Yeoman colours.