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

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 38 - September 2005

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

The West Somerset Railway - Independent Railway of the Year 2004
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Dates for your diary
--------------------

2 September:- Murder Mystery Special from Bishops Lydeard
5 September:- WSRA Taunton Group meeting
17 September:- Jazz Special from Bishops Lydeard
17 - 18 September:- CAMRA Real Ale Festival at Minehead station
24 September:- Fish & Chip Special from Bishops Lydeard
30 September - 2 October:- Autumn Steam Gala

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

Regular services are running daily until 2 October then Saturdays, Sundays,
Tues, Weds, Thurs until 30 October.  Train Timetables and other Services on
www.wsr.org.uk has full details for the year.

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

A superb line-up of engines is promised for the Railway's Autumn Steam Gala,
which runs from Thursday 29 September to Sunday 2 October. The LNWR Class G2
'Super D' No 49395 - part of the National Collection which has recently
received a comprehensive overhaul at LNWR Crewe after many years out of
service - will be in action hauling trains, which will almost certainly be
its first visit to Somerset! Making a very welcome return visit to the WSR
for the Gala will be the unique BR Standard 4-6-2 No 71000 Duke of
Gloucester, which is now back in action after overhaul, and a regular
performer on main line charter trains. At the other end of the size scale,
the third 'guest' engine is Beattie well tank No 30587 - also part of the
National Collection but normally based at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. The
well tank will haul a number of two-coach passenger trains between Minehead
and Blue Anchor on the Thursday and Friday of the event, and be used on the
"Dunster shunt" turn the following two days.
The Railway is also hoping that both GWR 2-8-0 No 3850 and S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No
53808 will be in action at the Gala.

This impressive line-up will be supported by several members of the 'home
fleet' - No's 5542, 5553, 6412, 9351 & 80136 - whilst Peckett 0-4-0ST No
1788 Kilmersdon will be in action giving shunting demonstrations around the
yard at Washford.  Details from www.wsra.org.uk

CAMRA Real Ale Festival
---------------------------

The Somerset Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) will be holding
their annual Beer Festival on the platform at Minehead Station over the
weekend of Saturday 17 September (11am to 11pm) and Sunday 18 September
(12noon to 4pm). It is anticipated that there will be up to 90 beers on
sale, many from the award-winning independent brewers of Somerset, including
the full range from Cotleigh of Wiveliscombe, who are celebrating their 25th
anniversary this year and are one of the main sponsors of the event. Live
music is also promised.
On the Saturday, Hertfordshire Railtours are running a special charter train
from the Home Counties to Minehead in conjunction with the Beer Festival.
Just a few seats remain - please contact HR direct on 01438 718125. The same
evening, the WSR are running a "Jazz Special" from Bishops Lydeard to
Minehead and return - details from 01643 704996.

Festival T-shirts, featuring the S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 on the front, and the
Cotleigh brewery 25th anniversary logo on the back, can be purchased from
The Buffer Stop Shop at Minehead Station - priced 8.50, or 9 by post
(telephone orders to 01643 700387). Details from www.wsra.org.uk


 Minehead Meander
--------------------

The Minehead Meander is a two mile wander along the seafront, the harbour
and around the streets of Minehead and is currently featured on the BBC
Somerset website. As the Man from Auntie says "Take the Minehead Meander and
discover things you might not have known about the Somerset coastal resort".
The walk starts and ends at the Railway Station and is one of many walks
featured by the BBC's excellent "Coast" programme. Details from BBC Somerset


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

Former Southern Railway 'LN' Class 4-6-0 No 850 Lord Nelson is still
expected to visit the WSR 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 the West Somerset
Railway Association or Tel: 01823 433856.  There's more about volunteering
on a new site, WSR Volunteers http://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.

The overhaul of S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No 53808 - which last ran in service on the
WSR in 1996 - continues in the workshop at Minehead. After considerable
debate and discussion over whether the engine will be turned out in S&D
Prussian Blue or BR unlined black, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust have
confirmed that the 2-8-0 will be painted in the former, as No 88. It will be
interesting to see how the 7F will look in Prussian Blue - a livery never
carried by that company's freight engines, which were always black -
particularly at the head of a rake of chocolate-and-cream coaches!

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 - Work is nearing completion on the extensive restoration of GWR '2884'
Class 2-8-0 No 3850 at Tyseley Locomotive Works. After a successful
hydraulic test, the boiler was returned to the frames on 21 June, and the
newly-fabricated smokebox riveted to the boiler barrel and secured in
position. On Sunday 4 July a fire was lit to gently warm the boiler through
for its steam test the following day, when the boiler pressure was raised to
235psi - almost 40 years since No 3850 was last in steam. Many other tasks
have been completed over recent weeks - with Dinmore Manor Locomotive
Limited volunteers supporting the Tyseley full-time staff - and it should
not be too long now before the engine returns to the WSR.
No 3850 will run with the same 3,500 gallon tender restored by DMLL to run
behind the Group's other engine, No 7820 Dinmore Manor. The tender has
recently been repainted at Williton

The road trailer that is used to deliver the engine to Bishops Lydeard will
return to Tyseley with 7820 Dinmore Manor, which requires as ten-year
overhaul after a very successful period in use on the WSR.

Details from www.wsra.org.uk

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/

The Preserved Diesels website has recently reported: "The final Class 33 of
the five made available by HNRC earlier in the year has been sold and will
be moving to the West Somerset Railway - 33057 is expected to arrive at
Williton at the end of the month and is to be used as a source of spares for
33048."

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...

....which are a quick look back over the first half of the year can be seen 
on http://trainsferriesbuses.co.uk/issue38.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.

5 September:- "Over 30 Years with Steam" - Richard Jones (WSR driver)
3 October:- "Main Line Steam - the return of Preserved Steam on Video" with
big screen and big sounds!

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 - details will be on www.wsra.org.uk

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


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

September 17-18:- CAMRA Real Ale Festival
Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2:- Autumn Steam Gala
October 22-23:- Grand Trains Extravaganza
November 27, December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24:- Santa Steam
Specials
December 2-3:- Dunster by Candlelight
December 29:- 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 - 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 September 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.