West Somerset Express - Issue 67 - February 2008
- From: "Bridgwatarian" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:14:11 -0000
West Somerset Express
The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway
Issue 67 - February 2008
West Somerset Express homepage -
http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/westsomersetexpress.htm
Dates for your diary
-------------------------
February 4 - WSRA Taunton Group meeting
Services resume in February with trains the full length of the line during
the half term week on Feb. 17, 18, 20-22, 24 and 25
Railtours - details of railtours to and from the WSR can be seen on
Railtours on the railway's official web site.
Winter on the West Somerset Railway
----------------------------------------------
While there are no public trains running there is plenty happening along the
line. The major project is the installation of the turntable at Minehead
which is progressing apace at present as is work on the triangle at Norton
Fitzwarren where track has now reached the formation of the Barnstaple line.
In between there is track relaying to be done plus many, many other
maintenance tasks which have included a visit by a Rail Grinder Train to
restore the profile of the railhead in various locations.
Spring Steam Gala
----------------------
This year's event is themed "British Railways Steam 1948-68" and will seek
to tell the story of how the newly nationalised railways eliminated steam in
the space of just twenty years..
The Spring Steam Gala will run over two weekends - Saturday/Sunday 8-9 March
and Thursday to Sunday 13-16 March 2008.
Up to TWELVE engines are expected to be in steam and working trains at the
Gala, many of which are being brought in especially for the event:-
* LMS 4-6-0 No 5690 Leander
* LNWR 0-8-0 No 49395
* BR(W) 'Manor' Class 4-6-0 No 7822 Foxcote Manor
* GWR '4575' Class 2-6-2T Nos 5542 & 5553
* GWR 14xx 0-4-2T No 1450
* BR(W) '5101' Class 2-6-2T No 4160
* GW/WSR '9351' Class 2-6-0 No 9351
* GWR '2884' Class 2-8-0 No 3850
Note: At least two further "guest" engines are currently being sourced.
In addition, Peckett 0-4-0ST No 1788 Kilmersdon will be in steam and giving
shunting demonstrations at Washford, the base of the Somerset & Dorset
Railway Trust.
For further details see http://www.wsr.org.uk/ssg2008.htm
Heritage Carriage Project
-----------------------------
A site has been identified for the carriage shed needed for the restoration
of the HCP's rakes of Collett and Toplight coaches adjacent to Bishops
Lydeard station, a Planning Application is in progress in conjunction with
other developments proposed by a local developer. For more details and the
latest news on this project see the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust
website.
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 wsra@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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
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
-------------------------------------
Things are really happening at Norton, there is now about 1/4 mile of track
laid, the 33kv electric power lines over part of the site have been moved
underground and the new chord has now reached the old Barnstaple line's
formation. The project, along with the Network Rail High Output team has
won an award from the Institute of Civil Engineers for the exceptional
engineering and cooperation across several organisations that has combined
to produce two successful projects, the WSRA Triangle and Network Rail's
Fairwater Yard. The triangle is expected to be in use sometime in 2009.
One result is that the WSRA is now able to supply environmentally sourced
and sustainable recycled aggregates, more details on
http://www.wsra.org.uk/aggregates/
Meanwhile there are regularly photos of the progress there on www.wsr.org.uk
including some of when 6024 King Edward I became the first steam loco to use
the new track when this was the most suitable place to stable the King's
unique water carrier. More recently the High Output Ballast Cleaner train
used the new chord line to unload on 25 July then 66616 led it to the
current end of the line.
WSR on Microsoft Train Simulator
------------------------------------------
The West Somerset Railway expansion for Microsoft Train Simulator is now
available as a download from www.justtrains.net for £14.99.
Turntable for Minehead
-----------------------------
The installation of the turntable at Minehead is expected to happen on
Monday 11 February, delivery of the refurbished table being planned for
Sunday 10 February. There's still plenty to do after this before it can be
used, not least connecting the track to it! Allowing for this then testing
and staff training it will probably be available in July or August all being
well.
Visiting Locos
-----------------
The visitors at present are:
5553 Pete Waterman's ex GWR 2-6-2T small prairie
Resident Locos
------------------
The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:
9351 WSR rebuild as a 2-6-0 mogul of GWR 5101 class prairie tank 5193.
88 ex SDJR 7F 2-8-0 (BR No 53808)
3850 ex GWR 2-8-0.
4160 ex GWR 2-6-2T large prairie
6412 ex GWR 0-6-0PT the WSRA's pannier tank is now stopped for her 10 year
overhaul at Williton.
34046 Braunton is progressing well, she has been out for tests running light
engine but further work is necessary before her return to traffic
5542 ex GWR 2-6-2T small prairie has now left the line and is currently at
the South Devon Railway for work including replacing driving wheel tyres.
She will return to the WSR during March for about 6 weeks before heading off
on her travels again - this will include her appearing at the Spring Steam
Gala.
7828 Odney Manor is in Minehead Works for her overhaul.
Small prairie 4561 is now on display at STEAM Museum at Swindon for a year
after which she will return for overhaul at Williton.
7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GWR Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul
as her boiler ticket has expired, see http://www.dinmoremanor.co.uk/ for
details of the owners future plans.
Diesel Locos
---------------
The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:
Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner
Class 47 D1661 North Star
Class 35 Hymek D7017 - 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 - work is underway at Williton, the hope is she will be started
up during 2008.
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.
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, DMBS 51859 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 is often on the WSR), slightly shorter but otherwise pretty much the
same. Restoration work on 169 is now progressing well at Williton.
This Month's Photos...
----------------------------
....can be seen on http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/issue67.htm
West Somerset Railway Association
--------------------------------------------
Area Group Meetings:
Taunton Group:
In 2008 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.
2008
February 4 - WSR History - My Perspective with Ian Coleby
March 3 - Three Stations for Bodmin with Bernard Mills
April 7 - Further Confessions of a Signalman with Adrian Vaughan
For the full programme for 2008 see West Somerset Railway Association, for
further details e-mail peter.darke@xxxxxxxxxx .
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:-
Regrettably, due to unforeseen circumstances, the 2007/8 season of meetings
of the WSRA Bristol Area Group has been cancelled. They very much hope to
resume meetings in September 2008 for the 2008/9 season
Events for 2008
-------------------
8-9 & 13-16 March 2008, Spring Steam Gala
13-15 June 2008, Mixed Traffic Weekend
2-3 August, Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally
2-5 October, Autumn Steam Gala
25-26 October, Somerset in Autumn
28-29 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) www.depg.org - 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 2008.
© 2008 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.
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