West Somerset Express
================

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 37 - August 2005

West Somerset Express homepage 
http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/westsomersetexpress.htm

*The West Somerset Railway - Independent Railway of the Year 2004*


Dates for your diary
--------------------

5-6 Aug:- Diesel Running Days
6-7 Aug:- Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally
12-13 Aug:- Diesel Running Days
13 Aug:- Fish & Chips Special from Bishops Lydeard
19-20, 26-27 Aug:- Diesel Running Days
27 Aug:- Fish & Chip Special from Bishops Lydeard

Note: the above special trains need to be booked in advance.

Regular services are running daily, the next day without any is in October!
Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details for
the year.

Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally
---------------------------------------

August 6 & 7:-

Once again the West Somerset Railway station at Bishops Lydeard will echo to
the sight, sound and smell of many mighty steam engines as they gather for
what will be our 19th Rally.
A glittering array of superb machinery will be in action alongside our
restored country station on Britain's longest heritage railway, and 2005
looks like beating all records with some of the country's finest examples of
vintage transport on display.

Bishops Lydeard Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally is well known for its
unique location, friendly atmosphere and good value for money. Backing up
the transport exhibits will be displays, stalls, trade stands, children's
entertainments and ample refreshment facilities.

The event is organised by the West Somerset Railway Association, with
support from the Somerset County Gazette and Ian Allan Publishing.

Details from the WSRA, www.wsra.org.uk


Autumn Steam Gala
--------------------

Subject to availability, the Autumn Steam Gala, which runs from 30 September
to 2 October, will see some interesting guest locos including a return visit
for BR 8P 4-6-2 no 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" and a first WSR appearance for
the LSWR Beattie well tank 2-4-0WT no 30587. At this stage, although by no
means confirmed, LNWR Super D 0-8-0 no 49395 may also shine the WSR metals.
By then it is hoped that resident 2-8-0's 88 and 3850 will both be in
service so there might be 3 eight coupled locos in action!


Advance News...
------------------

Former Southern Railway 'LN' Class 4-6-0 No 850 Lord Nelson is still
expected to visit the WSR in 2005 for running-in following completion of its
current overhaul. The express passenger engine, which is part of the
National Collection, is nearing completion at Eastleigh Works, and will in
due course haul charter trains on the main line. There are no firm plans as
yet, but a period of running-in is expected on the WSR.  Details from
www.wsra.org.uk


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...

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@btconnect.com 
or Tel: 01823 433856.  There's more about volunteering on a new site, 
www.wsr-volunteers.co.uk

If you can't give the time but would still like to support the WSR then you
can still join the association.  Details from www.wsra.org.uk


Visiting Locos
--------------

The visitors at present are:

80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which is on the line for a long stay.
5553 Pete Waterman's ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie

Resident Locos
----------------

The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:

5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie
6412 ex GW 0-6-0PT the WSRA's pannier tank - is spending the summer on the
Swanage Railway
9351 WSR rebuild as a 2-6-0 mogul of 5101 class prairie tank 5193.


Work is nearing completion on the S&D 2-8-0, 53808/88 which is in the works
at Minehead, the main news is that 88 will be appearing in Prussian Blue in
the Autumn.  Work is continues to progress on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's
works at Williton.

Large prairie 4160: The overhaul continues to progress well and is running
close to budget so far. No predictions of a steaming date yet, but it can't
be too far away (late 2005 maybe ?). New livery will be BR lined green with
late style crest.

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 is on
display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard while she awaits her turn in
Williton Works - which it is hoped will be early 2006.  7820 Dinmore Manor,
ex GW Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket
has expired.

3850 - www.dinmoremanor.co.uk has details of recent
progress, the boiler has been steam tested and work is now in its final
stages with a return to steam expected in mid-August.

Diesel Locos
-------------
The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:

Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner - currently stopped for repairs
Class 35 Hymek D7017
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.

There's plenty of opportunities if you'd like to be involved with the DEPG's
fleet, see their new web site at http://www.geocities.com/wsrdepg/


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/issue37.htm

Funding Appeal for Odney Manor
----------------------------------

The WSR Plc have launched an appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828
Odney Manor back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway.
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 2005, 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.

Meetings will resume after the summer break with:-

5 September:- "Over 30 Years with Steam" - Richard Jones

For the full programme for 2005 see www.wsra.org.uk , for
further details e-mail peter.darke@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:-

The next meeting will be in September

For the full programme for 2005 see www.wsra.org.uk , for
further details email wsrabristol@aol.com

Events for 2005
----------------

August 6-7:- Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally
September 17-18:- CAMRA Real Ale Festival
Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2:- Autumn Steam Gala
October 22-23:- Grand Trains Extravaganza

Further details on these and the winter events 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 - icoleby@tiscali.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.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 August 2005.

 2005 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.