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Outer triangle completed at Norton Fitzwarren
An important milestone has been reached for the Norton Triangle project. On Friday 29 April 2011, the final concrete sleepers were placed, the final rails were positioned, trimmed and drilled, and the final fishplates fitted which completes the tracklaying along the former Barnstaple formation. This work finished the outstanding section from Barnstaple Junction to Orchard Junction including the placement of the pointwork for the East Chord. Of course, there is much work to do on the Barnstaple (as this side of the Triangle is known) but once ballasted and tamped, the whole of the outer triangle will be ready for use (subject to successful inspections). With pointwork in place at each end, the East Chord formation remains trackless requiring about 360 yards of plain track to complete the inner triangle. Pictures and Map.
30 April 2011
Details from local correspondent
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By train and bus to the Taunton Flower Show
A combined steam train and bus trip from Minehead and all WSR stations along the way to the Show. The steam train leaves Minehead at 10.15am. Then upon arrival at 11.30am at Bishops Lydeard Station, a waiting Quantock Motors coach then heads for Taunton setting down at Castleway, just ten minutes walk from the 2011 Taunton Flower Show which is held in Vivary Park on 5 and 6 August 2011. The maximum number of passengers who will be able to travel is 51 on each day and therefore seats must be booked in advance (call 01643 704996). This includes train and bus travel but not admission to the Flower Show. Further information: for train and bus, see official WSR website; for the Show, see official Taunton Flower Show website.
29 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Wednesday Lunch Dining Trains
A new Quantock Belle service for 2011 with the introduction of a Wednesday lunch special train. The Wednesday Lunch Quantock Belle train runs on 8 June, 22 June and 6 July. The fare is only £26 per person and includes round trip travel and a three course lunch of soup, chicken, ham and mushroom pie with potatoes and vegetables, and dessert and coffee. A cream tea on the return journey can be added for just £4. The train will be hauled by a heritage diesel locomotive [reported to be Class 14 no D9526]. Advance booking essential - please ring 01823 433856.
29 April 2011
Details from WSRA
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The new accommodation block for volunteers
Work has started on the new and long awaited Volunteer Accommodation building. The necessary preliminary paperwork had to demonstrate to the authorities that the new building is essential to railway operations and to be built on designated railway land. Furthermore, the proposed building must comply with the latest building regulations. As ever these matters take time. Having now gained the agreement of the planning and building regulations authorities, work has now started with the site levelled and shuttering fixed, thanks to John Farley and Paul Johnson. After the May Day Bank Holiday the concrete will arrive and by the end of the week a 26 x 4 metre reinforced concrete slab will be in place. The building itself is being manufactured and should be on site within three weeks. Following assembly volunteer painters are required - contact Ken Davidge at Minehead for details.
28 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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News from the Friends of Minehead Station
Positive thoughts and actions from the Friends despite losing a good friend. The Spring Newsletter of the Friends of Minehead Station quite rightly pays tribute to John Farmer, Chairman of the FOMS, who passed away in mid February. Of course, work continues at the seaside terminus on many fronts: sales are proceeding well at Reader's Halt; a range of FOMS branded clothing (t-shirts, sweat shirts, polo shirts) will be available at the FOMS Summer Fayre at the Avenue Methodist Hall on 25 June; attention to the running-in board; the totem-style station names have been removed and refurbished along with the holding brackets and lamp posts; upgrading the toilet seats and cisterns; and new signage boards. Also, the FOMS-funded repainting of the Engine Shed doors by contractors gets a mention with pictures of the finished product. The gardeners are taking advantage of redundant topsoil removed during the digging of footings for the new accommodation block and have spread the soil over an uneven area of grass near Seaward Way. Find out more about Friends of Minehead Station...
28 April 2011
Details from Friends of Minehead Station
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The black art of railway signalling for Taunton Group
Railway signalling is the theme for the next WSR Association Taunton Group meeting. John Jenkins, Signal Engineer of the West Somerset Railway, will entertain with a talk and slide presentation titled "Signal Engineering - the Whys and Wherefores". Known by some as a "black art", John's talk will include archive BTC footage and updates on the projects for Norton and Williton. With all the latest Association news too, once again this should be a highly entertaining evening on Monday 9 May at 7.30pm for 7.45pm at the GWS&A Club, Station Approach, Taunton. All welcome.
28 April 2011
Details from WSRA
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Colour supplement features the WSR
Once again the local newspaper has produced a colour supplement featuring the WSR. The free twelve page newspaper sized supplement was included as a pull out feature with the weekly newspaper, the West Somerset Free Press, published last Friday. Many of the photographs were provided by this website whilst a good deal of textual matter came from the Railway itself. A good number of local businesses chose to advertise which enhances the usefulness of the supplement for visitors using the trains to visit the various towns and villages served by the Railway. Many thanks to the Free Press for their continuing support of the Railway.
27 April 2011
Details from local correspondent
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News from the WSRA Bristol Group
The Bristol Group of the WSR Association report another successful evening meeting. Nigel Bruce-Robertson explains "The meeting was held on 26 April when we had three members from the British Transport Police give us a presentation on their work which was not simply apprehending fare dodgers, but involved the investigation of vandalism, the ever increasing amount of theft, especially copper cable, hooliganism, train crashes and death, the latter more often than not, as suicide. All aspects were graphically illustrated with colour slides and even video film. The next meeting - on Tuesday 31 May - will be much more gentle and will be an evening about the origins, purpose and future of the Railway Heritage Committee and as usual be held at the BAWA Club in Southmead Road, Bristol BS34 7RG, commencing 7.30pm. Admission is £2 or by season ticket."
27 April 2011
Details from WSRA Bristol Group
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Fergus plays with the blues at Minehead
An unusual locomotive will be in action at Minehead in early July. The loco is joining the line-up for the annual visit of Thomas the Tank Engine to the West Somerset Railway on 2 and 3 July 2011. The visitor will be quickly recognised by fans of the little blue engine as Fergus, one of only two working examples of an Aveling and Porter railway locomotive. Aveling and Porter were a Kent Company best known for building traction engines and steam rollers and Fergus is very clearly a traction engine adapted for use on rails. The main user of these unusual machines was the cement industry in Kent and the example now known as Fergus was used for light shunting duties for many years by the Blue Circle company. During the Thomas weekend it will shunt the troublesome trucks at Minehead Station, along with Percy. As for the star of the weekend Thomas himself will give rides in and out of Minehead station whilst his larger friends such as the green liveried Henry and the blue liveried Gordon will bring in passengers from Bishops Lydeard and the other stations along the line. Naturally Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller will keep matters in order. The day out also features children's entertainers and rides around Minehead in a heritage bus. Advance tickets can be purchased online or by ringing 01643 704996.
25 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Going to the footy by steam train
Minehead are planning to travel to their Easter Monday fixture at Watchet on Easter Monday by steam train. Supporters will be able to travel with the players and officials, on the Blues Train which leaves Minehead station at 10.15am. Tickets are available, through club officials, online at www.mineheadafc.co.uk or from club chairman Brian Walder on 01643 706850. West Somerset Railway are offering special advance ticket prices £5 per adult or £2.50 per child with youth team players invited to travel for free. Brian Walder said: "WSR have been extremely helpful in making this possible by reserving carriages for our exclusive use, and we are indebted to them. I can't believe that even though I live within a few hundred yards of the station, that I've never yet taken advantage of one of the area's biggest crowd pullers. This gives us all a wonderful way to enjoy an immense local steam train attraction, and take in the big match the same day. I wonder how many other football supporters will be travelling to a local derby by chartered steam train this Easter?"
22 April 2011
Details from Somerset County Gazette
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Combined WSR/WSRA Meeting of the Boards
The Boards of the WSR Plc and WSRA have made a joint statement. This website has been asked to publish the contents:
"The West Somerset Railway successfully manages a complex array of challenges but with the current economic situation, facing us all there is an increased need to ensure the monies earned and monies spent produce a maximum benefit in order for the WSR to continue with its many heritage and public service roles.
The WSR has been reviewing how its railway activities are funded and managed especially in the light of increased legislation statutory responsibilities and external control mechanisms.
On Tuesday 19 April a combined WSR plc and WSRA meeting of the Boards was held to define how some of these issues are to be carried forward for the future. It is agreed that that the functions of the WSR plc and WSRA are both complex and diverse but that the core objectives are focussed onto the needs of the railway.
Much work has been done recently with staff recruitment, training and retention and this has culminated with the appointment of a Personnel Director to the Company Board.
It was agreed that there is a benefit in these joint meetings becoming a more regular event along with the development of a common approach on income generation and spend and in the support of heritage and infrastructure. A number of joint working parties are to be set up to look at a railway wide engineering policy and also to look at how the dining train and catering can to be developed in conjunction with funding, coordination and planning.
Joint WSR/WSRA Board Statement April 2011"
20 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Free bus link between Dunster Station and Village
The West Somerset Railway is providing free shuttle buses between Dunster Station and Dunster Village. The shuttles run on the two forthcoming Bank Holiday weekends - 24, 25 April and 1, 2 May 2011. The bus will depart from Dunster Station at 10.30am, 11.45am, 12.40pm, 1.45pm, 2.20pm, 3.30pm and 4.35pm. From Dunster Village, the bus departs at 11.15am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 2.45pm, 3.45pm. (Comment from wsr.org.uk: Please note the bus will not be a heritage vehicle as in previous years)
19 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Model railway exhibition planned for 6 August
Saturday 6 August will see the first model railway show to be held in Minehead for many years. "Exmoor Rail", organised by Exmoor Coast Railway Modellers, will feature many high quality working layouts, together with modelling demonstrations and a good selection of traders. Opening times are 10am to 4.30pm. Admission is £3 per adult, £1 per child and £7 per family. The venue is the Methodist Church Hall, The Avenue, Minehead TA24 5AY which is fully disabled-friendly and only five minutes walk from Minehead Station. This is England's newest exhibition and a friendly atmosphere is assured. Pay & Display parking is available opposite with free parking in adjacent roads. Refreshments available all day.
19 April 2011
Details from Exmoor Coast Railway Modellers
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Mixed Traction Weekend - an update
The identities of the four Class 59 diesel locomotives attending the event in June has been announced. In numerical order, the locos are No 59001 Yeoman Endeavour in Aggegates Industries livery; No 59002 Alan J Day in Mendip Rail livery; No 59103 Village of Mells in Hansons livery and No 59206 John Yeoman - Rail Pioneer in DB Schenker livery. All four will arrive on Friday 10 June with a rake of 6 wagons in tow. The visit of a Class 57 from FGW has been cancelled. The West Somerset Railway are having a limited edition 00 gauge model of a five plank Foster Yeoman wagon produced by Dapol for the event. This will be limited to 100 pieces and will only be available from Minehead's Buffer Stop Shop for £12.00. Book your Mixed Traction Weekend tickets online or by calling 01643 704996.
19 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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No 777 gets final runs over the Easter weekend
Good news for Southern Railway fans during the Easter weekend. SR "King Arthur" 4-6-0 no 777 Sir Lamiel, which was a star guest during the Spring Steam Gala last month, will make further appearances on the Minehead Branch on 23, 24 and 25 April starting its daily diagram with the second steam departure from Bishops Lydeard. The diagram was originally scheduled for SR 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton. This may be Sir Lamiel's last appearance on normal public timetable trains for this visit.
18 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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First picture taken from Williton footbridge
A new vantage point will soon be available for photographers. With the permission of the Williton Footbridge Project Manager and the Station Master of Williton Station, Martin Hope (webmaster of the station's website) took the first photographs from the centre of the footbridge shortly after the floor timbers were fixed. Please note that the footbridge is not yet open to the general public but great progress is being made by the Williton Station Maintenance Team supported by RAMS and it will not be long before it will be in general use.
18 April 2011
Details from Williton Station
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Live train delay information for the West Somerset Railway
Find out about train delays on the WSR. WsrInfoLive is still in its infancy but it is a great way to share information about train delays or changes to rostered locomotives on the West Somerset Railway. If your mobile phone can send text messages then why not join WsrInfoLive? And you can let others know about late running trains or loco swops. Or simply receive text messages from WsrInfoLive. All you need is a simple mobile phone that can receive and send simple text messages. And a Twitter account. WsrInfoLive say "We hope to increase the number of information providers - folks who can text to WsrInfoLive as soon as they are aware of a delay or loco swop - and then persuade the WSR to provide official content in due course. But first we have to show we have a good reliable system in place." Read all about it here
17 April 2011
Details from www.wsr.org.uk
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A royal visitor for the West Somerset Railway
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO, will travel on the West Somerset Railway in early May. On Tuesday 3 May as part of his visit to Minehead where he will open the new Minehead Community Hospital and the Minehead Joint Cadet Centre, the Duke will travel on a special steam train which will leave Bishops Lydeard Station, four miles from Taunton, at 11.40am. For the first part of the journey to Crowcombe Heathfield station he will travel on the footplate of the locomotive before rejoining the coaches of the train for the remainder of the way to Minehead where the train will arrive at 12.50pm. On the journey he will be accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Lady Elizabeth Gass, West Somerset Railway Chairman Mr Humphrey Davies, the General Manager of the WSR Mr Paul Conibeare and Mr Don Bishop representing the volunteer and support organisation the West Somerset Railway Association. On arrival at Minehead the Duke will be introduced to representatives of the volunteer workforce of the Railway before seeing a steam locomotive being turned on the turntable which was installed and brought into use as part of the enhancement of the station and its surrounding area. West Somerset Railway General Manager Paul Conibeare said "We are honoured that The Duke of Gloucester should choose to travel by the Railway to reach Minehead as part of his Royal engagements. One of the Duke's main interests is in transport. He is a Patron of the Severn Valley Railway and also in 2009 he became Patron of the De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre. Everyone at the West Somerset is very much looking forward to the visit."
12 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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A little bit of Cornwall comes to Somerset
A piece of West Country railway heritage has been preserved at Stogumber Station on the West Somerset Railway. An original Great Western Railway lamp post from the 1890s which had been lurking unloved, hidden in ivy at the side of a path behind St Ives station in Cornwall has been moved to the heritage steam railway. After considering whether they were able to properly protect and preserve this piece of history, St Ives Town Council concluded that it would be better to allow it to go to the WSR. The Lady Mayor of St Ives, Councillor Yvonne Watson, Councillors and 50 townsfolk of St Ives travelled up to Somerset at the invitation of the West Somerset Railway on Sunday 10 April to see the restored post at its new home. They enjoyed tea and cakes and a ride on the award-winning 20 mile railway. Stogumber Station Master, Jenny Davidge said "At Stogumber we are proud and honoured to have become custodians of the GWR lamp post from St Ives. We know that it was a difficult decision for the town to allow this piece of the town’s history to leave Cornwall. We hope that you will feel that it is in safe hands, in a place where it can be admired and is not too far away for a visit in future." Stogumber Station, including its famous cream teas, and the whole West Somerset Railway will be open throughout the coming Easter, Royal Wedding and May Holidays.
12 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Calling all Steam Trust Associate Members
The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust is seeking to ensure that it has a full list of its associate members. With this goal in mind, the Trust would be pleased if any associate members would contact them with their details at info@wssrt.co.uk so that they can be accurately checked against the current records. Please note that this does NOT apply to full members of the Trust, all of whom will be receiving their annual report and accounts in a few day's time.
12 April 2011
Details from WSSRT
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Volunteers star in a photoshoot at Crowcombe Heathfield
A photoshoot with a difference at Crowcombe Heathfield. Organised by Geoff Cross, a WSRA Trustee & Director, and photographed by Jacquie Green, WSR Plc Catering Manager, Crowcombe Heathfield Station played host to a photo-shoot for a project aimed at recruiting volunteers. The leaflet that will be printed shortly is designed to encourage new volunteers, and the images will help show just how many people with a variety of skills are required to run a train. Glorious sunshine meant that the photography was challenging. The end result will be a leaflet that is a valuable tool in recruiting more volunteers into the WSR team.
9 April 2011
Details from Friends of Crowcombe Heathfield Station
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Discounted Wills from WSR and Pardoes Solicitors
The WSR is pleased to announce confirmation of the discounted rates for Wills, as agreed by Pardoes Solicitors, for all Staff of the WSR and Members of the WSRA. To gain this discounted rate, please show Pardoes your WSR ID card or use the new Legacy Leaflet with the Pardoes logo or read more about the offer here.
7 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Nearly 8000 passengers enjoy the Spring Steam Gala
The recent six-day Spring Steam Gala attracted nearly 8000 passengers. Writing in the Railway's monthly e-magazine, Online, John Cronin (Chairman of the Special Events Planning Team) reports "[the] Gala the great success that it proved to be with nearly 8,000 visitors to the Railway over the six days." Looking ahead to the Mixed Traction Weekend on 10-12 June 2011, the Special Events Team report the return of the rail shuttle between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard which will help folks get to the event which should provide the sight of no less than four modern Class 59 locomotives on the Railway. It looks like Tornado will again be the star of the Late Summer Weekend show on 3-4 September 2011. The Special Events Planning Team also hope to "welcome...Raveningham Hall back to WSR Special Event action after major overhaul."
4 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Dunster Castle Express launches 6 April
The West Somerset Railway and Dunster Castle are gearing up for the inaugural run of the new for 2011 service - the Dunster Castle Express. Passengers will take a steam train ride from Bishops Lydeard to Dunster, bus transfer from Dunster Station to Dunster Castle and gain entrance to Dunster Castle with one combined ticket. The service will run every Wednesday from 6 April to 26 October and will offer visitors a discounted deal which for many in the tough economic climate will allow two great experiences in one day at a fantastic saving. Tickets can be booked online (at least 7 days in advance) or on the day itself at the Booking Office or from the TTI on the train itself. More information
4 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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New DVD - Spring Steam Gala 2011
A DVD of the recent West Somerset Railway 35th Anniversary Spring Steam Gala will be available in the next few days. The DVD has been produced by Oldham Video Productions (OVP). Copies can be ordered via the WSR's Online Shop or by ringing 01643 700387. The cost is £16.00 plus p&p.
4 April 2011
Details from WSR Plc
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Bishops Lydeard Station is ready for daily services
With the return of daily services soon Bishops Lydeard Station is all set for another busy season. Trains will run each of the 181 days from 9 April until 6 October. Many improvements have taken place at the Railway’s southern terminus at Bishops Lydeard during the closed winter season along with a thorough spring clean. Thanks extended to RAMS, Mike Collins, resident gardener Clive Goddard, and other WSR Association and Station platform staff. A new flowerbed has been created on Platform 2; hundreds of flowers planted around the Station and shrubs and trees pruned or thinned out - the Station is always a contender for the annual 'Taunton in Bloom' competition; the Council have patched up potholes in the car park; both platforms deep cleaned; fire buckets renovated; running-in boards renewed; additional platform seating and litter bins provided; new signage forpassengers and drivers; the waiting room exterior, barrow crossing stop barriers and fencing have been repainted; the chimney swept and fireplace and stove renovated in the offices on Platform 1; and a redesigned entrance porch is now safer for pedestrians. Meanwhile,in the Gauge Museum, Alan Meade has taken over the model railway and will to continue the development of this popular attraction (open on summer weekend running days) and the Signal & Telegraph continue the conversion of the signal box exhibit to represent Powerham Box on the GWR mainline between Exeter and Newton Abbott circa 1930s. The Station is hosting a volunteer recruitment day on Sunday 17 April (see here) Expanding car parking space continues to be evaluated.
1 April 2011
Details from local correspondent
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News from the WSRA Bristol Group
Another busy monthly meeting for the Bristol Group of the WSRA. Nigel Bruce-Robertson reports "On Tuesday 29 March, the sixth meeting of the Group took place at the BAWA Club premises in Filton with 41 members and guests gathered to hear the most detailed presentation by Mike Beale entitled '150 Years of the Somerset & Dorset'. It was not simply a collection of slides of trains but a comprehensive history starting with the various Acts of Parliament of all the constituent sections of the Dorset Central and Somerset Central Railways. Following their amalgamation and the lack of funds once the Bath extension had been completed, the Midland Railway and South Western Railway took an interest and the operation then became the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. After the notices, John Cronin gave an in-depth view of the recent very successful Spring Gala as well as future happenings including an update on the former Trowbridge Station footbridge being installed at Williton. It was good to have Jayne Mills with us again and she took control of the administrative aspect. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 26th April when for something different we are to have a presentation on the work of the British Transport Police. As usual it will be at the BAWA Club, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol. BS34 7RG, (telephone 0117 976 8064) commencing 7.30pm. Members and non members welcome, admission £2 or by season ticket."
1 April 2011
Details from WSRA Bristol Group
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