2008 Archived News

West Somerset Restoration Reaches An Agreement On Sherrings Yard

Over the next few weeks a thorough survey of the site will be undertaken in preparation for the compilation of plans showing track work, buildings and storage facilities. In addition plans are being developed to identify and apply for the funding required to help carry this work forward.
West Somerset Restoration is managed and funded by the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) and is based in the Swindon Shed, which is a Grade 11 Listed building and was originally situated on the site of the Swindon Railway Works.
West Somerset Restoration's primary objective is to support and maintain the WSRA locomotives and to provide a heavy engineering facility complementing those facilities of the West Somerset Railway at Minehead. There are a number of jobs currently being worked on including the extensive and complicated restoration of Bullied Pacific No 34046 Braunton and the overhaul of Tank Locomotives 6412 and 6695.
The team at Williton is keeping traditional engineering alive and flourishing in Somerset and is interested in taking on a wide range of tasks in order to maximise on the engineering potential and to develop an educational and heritage resource for future generations to see and to enjoy.

Added 19th June 2008

Ancient love story gets the modern treatment
at Dunster Castle

The tragic love story of Antony and Cleopatra is to be the subject of a new interpretation at the National Trust’s Dunster Castle, near Minehead.

Award-winning artist Hannah Firmin has produced an 8ft x 3ft illustration of the love story Shakespeare made famous.  It will complement a series of 17th Century leather wall-hangings at the castle, which tell the same story in oils and silver leaf.

The leather hangings are among the few remaining complete examples of their kind in Europe.  During the recent re-roofing project at the south-western end of the castle they have had to be removed from public display for protection.

In creating the illustration, Hannah considered the 17th Century representation of the story which is very European and has no Egyptian symbolism.  At that time, little would have been known about Egypt, the greater influence being that of Shakespeare’s work.  Hannah wanted to tell the story in a stylised way and avoid clichés so she chose the Egyptian symbolism.

Hannah Firmin is best-known for her cover illustrations for Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.  She has worked as an illustrator since leaving the Royal College of Art in 1981 where she was inspired by Quentin Blake and Linda Kitson.  Daughter of Peter Firmin, who with Oliver Postgate created the animated television classics The Clangers, Noggin the Nog and Ivor the Engine, she grew up seeing these stories coming to life.   She has developed a unique style of illustration using a combination of lino or woodcut with collage and paint.

Hannah Firmin says ''With this commission I felt privileged to be given great freedom to interpret the subject in my own way. The size of the piece was a new challenge especially as I have never used my technique of printed images (mainly linocut) combined with collage and paint on such a large scale.   So it meant a certain amount of experimentation and use of new materials -- which is a very positive and welcome challenge for any working artist. It was very exciting to work on a composition which will be observed as a complete image in itself, as opposed to my usual work for book jackets and other illustrations which have more of a restricted interpretation and are usually combined with  someone else’s graphics.''

Visit Dunster Castle and Gardens during 2008 to see this remarkable illustration, normal admission applies. You can get there by West Somerset Railway train from any of our nine other stations along the line. For more details of our timetables and fares please click here

Opening times:
Dunster Castle is open daily (except Thursday), 11am – 4pm, until Sunday 2 November.  Hannah Firmin’s artwork will be on display for the duration of the 2008 season.  Admission to the castle is £8.60 adult, £4.20 child, or free to National Trust members. 

Added 19th June 2008

There is currently an acute shortage of station staff at Bishops Lydeard, and we are struggling to find enough staff to man this busy station on Britain longest Heritage Railway.

Therefore, if anyone would like to come along to Bishops Lydeard station and help us out, you  will be made very welcome and will receive a thorough training, if necessary.  

If anyone would like to help, could you please ring:

 Ken Davidge, the BL Stationmaster, on:

01404  44021 or email him at: kenefd@aol.com

Added 21st May 2008

The Brunel Buffer, now situated on the seafront at Minehead adjacent to the buffer stops,  has reopened for business and will be open 7 days a week, from 9.30a.m. to 4.30p.m.

Morning coffee is followed by light lunches and afternoon tea in very pleasant surrounding whilst watching the engines at the end of their journey from Bishops Lydeard

WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare takes up the story. “We sometimes forget that many people cannot recall steam trains as an everyday reality and that their railway nostalgia dates back to the first generation of diesel locomotives dating from the 1960’s and which have now followed steam out of regular mainline service and into preservation. We are fortunate on the WSR to have the dedicated team of volunteers from the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group based at Williton and they have a fine collection of diesel locomotives in their care. To these we will be adding “guests” from other lines specially hired- in for the weekend and will be working an intensive service of trains on all three days. Steam will not be entirely absent but anyone who is determined to ride behind a steam engine should ring 01643 704996 or see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk for information”.
For many the most interesting “guests” will be D832 “Onslaught”, one of the surviving “Warship” diesel hydraulic locomotives that were built by the Western Region of British Railways in the late 1950’s and worked express trains from Paddington and later, Waterloo, and Class 37 D6737 which represents one of the most successful of all the early diesel locomotives. The “Warship” is normally based at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway and the D6737 at the South Devon.
Amongst other attractions visitors will be able to see behind the scenes of the DEPG base at Williton and the Railway Museums at Bishops Lydeard, Washford and Blue Anchor will be open. A special free park and ride service will operate from Taunton Station Road and the Silk Mills Park & Ride Car Parks at Silk Mills to Bishops Lydeard station on all three days.
Paul added “We expect a weekend that is a little bit different when we hold diesel weekends with different sounds and sights along the route from our usual experience and we look forward to putting the clocks back to the years between 1965 and 1968.

Added 10th June 2008

The Timetable for this week can be found by clicking here and by using the links on this page you can find fares for journeys all along the line.

Added 29th May 2008

After being welcomed and briefed at Bishops Lydeard the new volunteers will have an opportunity to see the West Somerset Railway at work for themselves, leaving Bishops Lydeard by the 12.40pm steam train and returning on the 2.15pm from Minehead. The day will end around 4pm at Bishops Lydeard. More information about the New Volunteers Day can be obtained by ringing the West Somerset Railway Association Office on 01823 433856.

More information about volunteering on the railway can be found on the Volunteers page.

Added 3rd June 2008

Taunton Model Railway Group Win Award

If you haven’t seen the model for yourself and would like to do so the next public opening of the TMRG Club Room at Bishops Lydeard Station will be during the Mixed Traffic Weekend.

Added 30th April 2008

THESE REDUCED FARES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASERS ON 15TH JUNE PURCHASERS MUST HAND IN THE VOUCHER AVAILABLE IN ALL MIXED TRAFFICE WEEKEND LEAFLETS – ONE TICKET PER VOUCHER

Added 16th April 2008

The chance to travel on the Norton Fitzwarren section over the Bank Holiday Weekend. The 11.25am from Minehead Diesel Multiple Unit service after calling at Bishops Lydeard will leave again at 12.50pm and continue to Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May. A reminder that passengers cannot leave the train at Norton Fitzwarren.

Upon arrival back at Bishops Lydeard at 1.25pm the DMU will run to sidings for service before the next booked duty, the 3.15pm to Minehead. The good news is that standard day rover tickets will include this extra trip. Return tickets are also available, for example from Watchet to Norton Fitzwarren and back will cost £12.20 (adult), £10.40 (senior), £6.10 (child); and from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren and back will cost £5.40 (adult), £4.60 (senior), £2.70 (child).

Added 22nd May 2008

The West Somerset Railway has bought Churchward heavy goods engine number 2874.  Built in 1918 at the Swindon workshops of the GWR, and originally based at Old Oak Common, the locomotive was used by the Great Western Railway for most of its life hauling coal from South Wales and was withdrawn from Neath shed in 1963. The locomotive was stored in Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry for many years and has never been restored.  It is currently kept at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway in South Wales. WSR General Manger, Paul Conibeare said:- “Rarely does an opportunity arise to purchase an un-restored GWR locomotive complete with tender.  Chief Mechanical Engineer Andrew Forster and his team have the necessary skills at the Minehead workshops to carry out the work required, and at a cost that will be less than the high prices now being asked for serviceable locomotives. The Railway is pleased that it has secured the locomotive to protect it from further deterioration and demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the heritage of the GWR.

The acquisition and restoration of additional locomotives form part of the Railway’s business plan and so this is a positive step towards that aim. Considerable funds will be required for the restoration which will be phased over a number of years.  It is expected that the first phase will be the restoration of the tender in order to augment our existing fleet, whilst a decision on the timescale for the locomotive will follow a detailed inspection of the remaining components.”

Negotiations for the locomotive were conducted by Andrew Forster, who will move it to Minehead shortly for examination and protection.  

Added 26th March 2008

The National Trust at Dunster Castle will be holding two days of Medieval Games on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 April. Event Company, Heuristics, will be taking over part of the Castle grounds for authentic fun and games between 10am and 4pm. Visitors can enjoy a range of medieval games and let the Lady Katharine pass on some medical tips, whilst her manservant, Tomas, demonstrates a great ability to get it wrong and pays a hefty price. Tomas also has some great inventions to share with visitors.

The Wildlife Train, due to run on Sunday 20th April, is fast selling out and with booking due to close on Monday 14th April if you want seats now is the time to book.

This popular train will run from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren and then on to Minehead and return will David Bailey talks about the lines Flora and fauna.

For more information on this train in the beautiful Somerset Countryside please click here.

Added 2nd April 2008

Two new ‘high flyers’ have been appointed to the senior management team of the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA), the volunteer supporter’s group on the 23-mile West Somerset Railway.

The new WSRA Chairman is Robin White (44) who takes over the all-voluntary post from Humphrey Davies who has served as Chairman for the last 10 years.

And the WSRA has also just appointed Susan Kaufman to the new and important salaried post of Association Manager based at Bishops Lydeard.

She will help coordinate various activities for the WSRA and assist with developing commercial projects on behalf of the 5,000 member, largely volunteer organisation.

While Mrs Kaufman (53) hails from the USA, she served as a career officer in the United States Air Force (USAF) based in the UK and abroad, and now lives with her businessman and farmer husband near Wellington.

She presently works for North Somerset Council as a project commissioning officer and has considerable experience of the voluntary sector, plus working in partnerships with other agencies.

Commenting on his appointment, Robin White said: “It is an honour to be asked to serve as Association Chairman and take over the reins from Humphrey Davies who has masterminded several major projects on the railway, such as the restoration of steam loco Braunton and the Norton Fitzwarren development.

“Through the efforts of its staff, both voluntary and employed, the West Somerset Railway is going from strength to strength, and there are exciting times ahead for us as a number of projects come to fruition.”

Susan Kaufman comments: “It’s a real thrill for me to be coming to work for the iconic West Somerset Railway. The railway’s volunteers work wonders every day keeping the steam trains running, and I look forward to working with and supporting them over the coming years.”

The West Somerset Railway has vacancies for volunteers in most departments and is holding a new volunteers event on Sunday 6th April 2008 from 10.30am. Potential recruits and would-be volunteers should call Bishops Lydeard station on (01823) 433856 to book a place.

Added 20th March 2008

 Added 27th February 2008

Saturday 08 March

1450, 3802, 4160, 5224, 5619, 5542, 5553, 45110, 49395

Spare at Williton: 88

Dunster shunt: 5553

Sunday 09 March

88, 1450, 3802, 4160, 5224, 5619, 5542, 5553, 9351, 45110, 49395

Spare at Williton: 3850

Dunster shunt: 5619

Thursday 13 March

1450, 3802, 4160, 5224, 5619, 5542, 9351, 45110, 49395

Spare at Williton: 4160 (am), 5619 (pm)

Friday 14 March

1450, 3802, 3850, 4160, 5224, 5619, 5542, 5553, 45110, 49395

Spare at Williton: 4160 (am), 3850 (pm)

Saturday 15 March

1450, 3802, 3850, 4160, 5224, 5619, 5542, 5553, 45110, 49395

Spare at Williton: 9351

Dunster shunt: 5553

Sunday 16 March

1450, 3802, 3850, 4160, 5224, 5619, 5542, 9351, 45110, 49395

Spare at Williton: 5553

Dunster shunt: 5542

Please note that S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No 88 will not be in use at all over the second weekend, as it will have moved to the Severn Valley Railway as a gesture of support for their Re-opening Weekend at Easter.

Added 3rd March 2008

The well-known supplier of railway uniforms and equipment, including guards and footplate crew bags, uniform hats etc,etc, will have a sales stand at Minehead Station on the second weekend of the Spring Steam Gala, March 15th and 16th.

Added 27th February 2008

Added 25th February 2008

Interestingly this may be the first WSR Gala to field a line-up without a single “namer” although visitors to Williton will be able to obtain an update on 34046 “Braunton”.

For more Gala Information please see the Gala Pages

Added 20th February 2008

If you are starting your journey at Minehead please allow some extra time to park your car and walk to the station. With the ongoing turntable and other development work parking alongside the station itself is not possible. If you have trouble walking any distance and are staying in the Minehead/Exmoor area you might like to consider Dunster as your starting point or Blue Anchor.

The adult return fare over the whole of the line is £13.40, senior citizen is £11.40 and children (aged 5 to 15) £ 6.70.  We also offer a family return ticket which covers 2 adults and up to 4 children for £33.70. (Children under 5 travel for free). Dogs are carried at a flat rate of £2 and bicycles accompanied by their owners are carried at quarter fare.

Added 13th February 2008

NO POWER AT MINEHEAD STATION: THURSDAY 28th FEBRUARY 2008

We have been advised that the power supply to Minehead Station will be cut off for most of the day on Thursday February 28th.  This will mean that there will only be very limited telephone service into the Company Headquarters and it will not be possible to process bookings etc. Personal callers should also expect less than our usual service. We are due to be fully restored to normal on Friday 29th.

Added 27th February 2008

The Turntable Arrives

Once the turntable is in use the attractiveness of Minehead and the West Somerset Railway as a destination for main line steam hauled excursion trains will be transformed as the ‘table and the triangle at Norton Fitzwarren will finally obviate the need for incoming engines to run to Bristol, Paignton or Westbury to turn and the “dead” mileage entailed which has to be incorporated into the costs of the tours.

For more information see our Turntable appeal page or for more pictures please see the Minehead Shed News page.

12th February 2008

Added 11th February 2008

Chris Austin OBE, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Plc, is looking to the future with the publication on this website of the West Somerset Railway's draft Five Year Plan.

Download the Five Year Plan

If anyone feels that they have any comments or suggestions please contact the chairman on the email address at the end of the Document.

After months of hard work the board of Exmoor Coast and Country Ltd are delighted to officially launch the tourism guide today.

The production of the 2008 Exmoor Coast and country guide has been fraught with problems this year and it was feared the guide would be lost due to financial problems. Luckily the Exmoor Tourist Association along with West Somerset Council were able to put together a rescue package, working with

the directors of Exmoor Coast and country Ltd resulting in the guide being saved for 2008 and at least a further two years. Exmoor Coast and Country plays an incredibly important role in the promotion of Exmoor and West Somerset. Many tourism businesses rely heavily on this guide to get visitors to their hotel, guest houses, self catering accommodation and attractions and we are thrilled that we are able to ensure its production for the tourism industry.

Antony Brunt of Exmoor Coast and Country Ltd said "We are so pleased to be able to launch this guide which is vital for the tourism industry on and around Exmoor. Back in November we thought that the guide was lost but after working with West Somerset Council were able to come up with a deal to ensure that the guide would go ahead for 2008. It is a testament to the hard work of the directors of Exmoor Coast and Country that we have successfully achieved this ambition and we are able to launch this guide. It certainly hasn't been an easy few months but we have proven that by working together that the tourism industry can have a guide it can be proud of."

John Richards of Exmoor Coast and Country Ltd said "having been involved with producing the guide for the last six years, I think this our best yet. It was very gratifying that to find such support for the guide and we must thank all the advertisers for their patience and also the new advertisers who came in to support the guide once we got the go ahead. It is impossible to produce a guide like this without the backing of the industry and I think we have shown that despite the difficulties the whole industry can work together for the greater good. We are really looking forward to what the 2009 guide will bring."

The West Somerset Railway was chosen for the launch as it has been tremendously supportive of the guide through this difficult time. The exiting development work currently taking place at Minehead Station installing a long awaited turntable provides a further reason for the venue. The turntable will offer a fascinating sight for visitors to the station and give a boost to tourism in the area.

Added 1st February 2008 by Exmoor Coast and Country Ltd

Arrival of Turntable in Minehead and Latest Pictures

It is presently timed to leave Taunton at 0900 on 10th and travel the A358 to Williton and then A39 to Minehead where it is timed to arrive in the Mart Road site between 10.30 and 10.45.

It is highly likely to cause traffic congestion during that time.

Somerset County Council have announced that the turntable is due to be installed at the Mart Road site at 11am on Monday 11th  February. 

The Pictures on the left show the turntable pit at Minehead with the rail and the centre pin being installed (01/02/2008) and the completed turntable at Dudley ready to move.

Next Meeting of the WSRA Taunton Group

Just a reminder that the next meeting of the WSRA Taunton Group will be held next Monday February 4th, at the usual time and venue (7.45 pm at the GWRSA 'snug' Bar, at the North East corner of Taunton Station).  The speaker, Ian Coleby, will be well known to many as a volunteer on the WSR, as archivist for the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust and as author of the excellent history of the WSR: 'The Minehead Branch' (on sale from the shop).  The title of his talk is to be:  'WSR History - my Perspective'

Added 1st February 2008

NEW GENERAL MANAGER
for the BODMIN & WENFORD RAILWAY

THE very popular and successful Bodmin & Wenford Railway has appointed a new General Manager, Richard Jones (48), to build-on the excellent progress and achievements made to date and lead the exciting next stage of the Cornish line’s development.

Richard – who has been actively involved in the railway preservation movement in the West Country for 35 years – is currently Project Manager (New Works) at the award-winning West Somerset Railway, responsible for train movements and overseeing work on a day-to-day basis in connection with the construction of the new turning triangle at Norton Fitzwarren.

He is married to Lesley – who is Cornish, having been born and brought-up in Wadebridge – and they have two sons, Matthew (16) and Martin (14).

Richard is due to take up his new position as General Manager with the Bodmin & Wenford Railway – one of the most respected heritage railways in the country – on 01 June 2008, though his employment with the Company will commence on 01 May 2008 to allow for a period of handover and familiarisation.

Last year, the Bodmin & Wenford Railway – which runs steam (and heritage diesel) trains for 6½ miles from Bodmin Parkway to Boscarne Junction via Bodmin General – celebrated its best ever year in 2007, attracting more than 45,000 visitors.   It is one of the county’s top all weather attractions and is the only working standard gauge heritage railway in Cornwall.    It is considered by those involved within the railway heritage movement as one of the finest examples of an authentic branch line in the country.

Richard Jones replaces the current General Manager, Roger Webster, who is retiring at the end of May, having successfully led the Bodmin & Wenford Railway for eleven years through a period of tremendous growth and achievement.

Richard, who has a strong railway background in both the heritage railway movement and on the national network, started as a volunteer on the West Somerset Railway in 1977 – the year after the line re-opened and a time when the Cornish branch was still open for freight traffic to Wenford Bridge – and is a former Director of both the West Somerset Railway plc and West Somerset Railway Association, and was also Editor of the WSR Journal.    For several years he has been the Chairman of the WSR’s Special Events Planning Team, which has been responsible for the hugely successful programme of galas that are a feature of the Railway’s calendar.    He is also a regular steam and diesel locomotive driver on the WSR.

Prior to becoming a full time railwayman – where he served as a Driver and Guard with Virgin Trains and FM Rail – he spent nearly eighteen years in the teaching profession, his last education post being Primary Mathematics & Numeracy Adviser for Dorset County Council.

Richard explains:  “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Bodmin & Wenford Railway as its new General Manager.   Roger Webster will be a hard act to follow, but I am really looking forward to the challenge.    I have watched from a distance the railway develop since the mid-1980’s, when the project to re-open the line was first mooted, and have tremendous respect and admiration for all those who have worked so hard to get the Railway to where it is today.    I have always had a soft spot for the Bodmin & Wenford – it is an excellent heritage railway with a unique and special atmosphere.”

“We are very much looking forward to working with Richard in the future,” comments Alan Moore, Chairman of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway plc, “and know he will bring much to the railway and build still further on the great progress and achievements of the B&W over the past twenty or more years.”
 
Paul Conibeare, General Manager of the West Somerset Railway, says:  “Richard has enjoyed his time with us and we are very sorry to receive the news of his decision to move to pastures new – the WSR has, after all, been an integral part of his life for over thirty years – but his appointment as the new General Manager of the B&WR is richly deserved, and he leaves with our sincere thanks for all he has achieved and our very best wishes for the future.    The relationship between the West Somerset and Bodmin & Wenford is excellent and we look forward to this continuing in the future.”

For more information on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway please click the logo below:

Added 25th January 2008

Spring Steam Gala Bus Service - Help needed

During the upcoming Spring Steam Gala, the West Somerset Railway will be operating a free bus service from both Taunton Station (under the Station Bridge adjacent to the ticket office) and the Silk Mill Park and Ride car park.  This service will operate from 09.30 each of the six days at least every 30 minutes up until the last train arrival at Bishops Lydeard each afternoon.
Travellers should also be aware that a half hourly service operated by First Group runs from the bus stop off platform 2 at Taunton Station starting at 09.03 on all days except Sundays.  On Sundays there are services at 0952, 11.52, 13.52 & 15.52.   Single Fares are £2.70 for adults and £2.05 for children, £4.40 return for adults and £3.25 for children.

To assist travellers to locate where the free bus collects from, I am looking for a volunteer or volunteers to be at Taunton station from 09.30 until 12.30 on each day. If anyone can help with this important new venture, could they contact me on 01643 700383 or email by clicking here.

For more information on the Gala Please click here

Added 23rd January 2008

EVIDENCE OF FORMER LOCOMOTIVE SHED EMERGES AS TURNTABLE INSTALLATION WORK CONTINUES AT MINEHEAD STATION

Tom Adams won First and Second Prizes in the Heritage Railway section of the prints, with the Barrow Hill scene and a stunning backlit view of heavy freight locomotive 3850 working a passenger train near Cedar Falls;  Tom Adams also won the Modern Railway section, with a mainline scene near Dawlish, with Peter Darke coming second with a shot of a heavy freight train on a viaduct in Idaho, USA;  in the Non-Railway section, Tom Adams won First Prize with a vivid shot of one of the Red Arrows in action and Peter Darke took second place with a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at night.

In 35mm slides, Alan Randle won First and Second Prizes in the Heritage Railway section, with views of steam trains on the West Somerset Railway, taken at Cedar Falls and at Nethercott;  Mike Pollard won the Modern Railway section with a view of locomotives in a mountain scene in Austria, and John Sparkes took second place with a view a stone train discharging ballast at Norton Fitzwarren on the WSR; and in the Non-Railway section, Mike Pollard took First Prize with a view of a church set in mountains while Alan Randle won Second Prize with a stunning view of the moon behind an iceberg in Greenland. 

About 25 members attended the meeting.  As a group we are grateful to Mr Bishop for his decisive judging, and for his complimentary and constructive comments on the photography, and to the GWRSA for hosting the meeting.

The next meeting of the Group will be on Monday February 4th at 7.45 pm, as usual at the GWR Staff Association building near Taunton Station.  The speaker will be Mr Ian Coleby, who will talk about the West Somerset Railway History.  All enthusiasts are welcome to attend.

Added 10th January 2008

This book is a limited edition book of only 2,500 which are all hand numbered and has been foreworded by Prince Michael of Kent.

This book will available shortly for mail orders by post or by phone from Minehead's Buffer Stop shop (01643 700387) . Cost including postage and packing is £22.50 and orders will be sent out as soon as the books are to hand.

For more items from the shop please see the shop page by clicking here.

Added 9th January 2008

Britain’s longest “heritage” railway, the West Somerset, has recorded the best annual passenger figures in its 31 year old history.
When the last trains of 2007 steamed into Minehead and Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) the total number carried stood at 213,423

 “Not merely was this an increase of 13,000 over our total for 2006”, said WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare, “it was 10,000 more than our previous record set in 2005 when we reached 203,297. The new record marks a terrific effort by our volunteers and staff, both in bringing people to the Railway in the first place and also giving them such a good day out when they do travel that many come back for further visits. We knew that our main season had gone very well but we also had excellent numbers of passengers on our pre-Christmas special trains and our services between Christmas and New Year also loaded very well with 1,100 visitors to our Winter Steam Festival on December 29th”
The Railway is now looking ahead to 2008. “We don’t run passenger trains now until the mid February half-term holidays. This year they will be run for the first time over the whole length of the line on 16th, 17th and 19th, 20th and 21st  of February as well as the 23rd and 24th”, said Mr Conibeare, “but we will be very busy with winter maintenance of our equipment getting ready for the new season whilst commercially we shall be attending the “Excursions” travel trade fair at Alexandra Palace on January 12th to spread the word about the West Somerset Railway and the areas we serve to new markets in South East England.. Other promotional activity is going ahead and we look to consolidate and build on our record year as we go into 2008.  Our major projects including the installation of the timetable at Minehead and the turning triangle at Norton Fitzwarren are also progressing with implications for growth in steam hauled excursion trains from the mainline network into West Somerset for future years. There are exciting times ahead and we will be pleased to see new faces joining our 600 active volunteers

Added 8th January 2008

The theme has been confirmed as “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, enabling a good variety of locomotives and train types from across all the former regions of BR to hopefully feature.
The Gala will feature a feast of steam, with at least twelve locomotives expected to be in action, including a number of ‘guest’ engines being hired-in especially for the event.
The highlight for many will be the appearance of LMS ‘Jubilee’ Class 4-6-0 No 5690 Leander, its first appearance in Somerset for over forty years since its days with British Railways when it was based at the former Bristol Barrow Road shed.   The popular engine has worked on a number of heritage railways, and worked charters on the national network, over recent years and is currently based on the East Lancs Railway at Bury.
Other visiting engines so far confirmed are the return of the sole surviving LNWR ‘Super D’ 0-8-0 No 49395 (now part of the National Collection) and BR(W) 4-6-0 No 7822 Foxcote Manor from Llangollen, together with two very popular Great Western auto-fitted tank engines – 2-6-2T No 5542 and 0-4-2T No 1450.      
At least two further ‘guest’ engines are currently being sourced.   The Railway had reached broad agreement to hire SR Bulleid ‘West Country’ 4-6-2 No 34007 Wadebridge – which proved extremely popular at last year’s Spring Gala – but the planned visit is now in some doubt following the very unfortunate fire suffered on the footplate of the locomotive in late December whilst stabled at the Mid-Hants Railway.   “This is really disappointing for all concerned, not least for the owners and all those who worked so hard to restore the loco, and we wish them well on carrying out the necessary repairs”, comments Richard Jones, Chairman of the WSR’s Special Events Planning Team.
Also in action from the resident fleet will be GWR ‘heavy freight’ 2-8-0 No 3850, the WSR’s own Great Western ‘Mogul’ No 9351 and a pair of GWR ‘prairie tanks’, Nos 4160 and 5553.
Completing the line-up will be Peckett 0-4-0ST No 1788 Kilmersdon – the last steam loco to work in a Somerset coalfield – which will be giving shunting demonstrations at Washford during the event.   Another of the smaller locomotives will be similarly employed shunting the small yard at Dunster during both weekends.
A very intensive timetable will be in operation on all six days of the event.   On both Saturdays and Sundays, the timetable will see regular 50-minute interval departures from both Minehead and Bishops Lydeard, with passenger services running between 08:30 and around 19:00  (18:15 on Sunday) and every available path being utilised.   All services will be worked by steam and there will be many opportunities for visitors to “swap trains” at the intermediate crossing places at Blue Anchor, Williton and Crowcombe Heathfield in order to sample travel behind all the locomotives in action each day.
On the Thursday and Friday, as well as the “whole line” trains operating between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, the timetable will also feature the Great Western auto train – hauled by either No 1450 or No 5542 and again featuring two auto trailers – a typical branch line train working a shuttle service between Minehead and Blue Anchor and the Railway’s demonstration heritage goods train.    The auto train will also operate during the weekends.
Full bar and buffet facilities will be available on most train services during the weekend, serving a good range of high quality hot and cold food, tea and coffee, and a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks – including real ale.   In addition, the “Quantock Belle” will be serving its customary popular range of all day breakfasts, together with a range of other hot meals, on selected trains on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors will be able to inspect the main workshops at Minehead – where the overhaul of BR(W) 4-6-0 No 7828 Odney Manor is taking place – together with the chance to see the yard and engineering workshops at Williton, where progress can be glimpsed on a pair of Bulleid ‘Pacifics’, Nos 34046 Braunton and 35011 General Steam Navigation, together with GWR 0-6-2T No 6695 and 0-6-0PT No 6412.   For visitors also interested in more modern traction, the excellent Diesel Heritage Centre at Williton will also be open.    Also not to be missed will be the railway museums at Bishops Lydeard, Washford and Blue Anchor, together with the chance to see the layouts of the Taunton Model Railway Group in action at Bishops Lydeard.    A number of other attractions are also promised.
Efforts are being made to source a main line train operating company to again run a special connecting shuttle service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on the Saturdays and Sundays.   
In addition, a special regular free bus service will operate linking Taunton Railway Station, the Park and Ride Car Park at Silk Mill – where plenty of car parking is available – and Bishops Lydeard Station.
For visitors arriving by car, both Bishops Lydeard – where limited car parking will be available – and the Silk Mill Park and Ride car park will be fully signposted from Junctions 25 and 26 of the M5 motorway.
A special souvenir programme – which will include full information about the event, together with the full working timetables and locomotive diagrams – will be available in advance of the event and during the Gala itself, priced £2.50.
Undoubtedly the best way to enjoy the Spring Steam Gala is to purchase a Rover Ticket, which gives complete freedom to travel on the line for the validity of the ticket.   Discounted prices apply for all ‘Rovers’ purchased in advance of the event – Adult tickets, for example, cost £18, £27 and £54 for one, two and six days respectively.    Tickets can be purchased by telephone from Minehead Station and through www.ticketweb.co.uk, using a Credit/Debit Card.

Richard Jones comments:  “We again look forward to welcoming everyone to the West Somerset Railway for our Spring Steam Gala, which promises to be another excellent event.”

Added 7th January 2008

A New event for 2008 will be the Mothering Sunday Specials on the 2nd March. This return train trip with a Cream tea promises to be a perfect present for Mums this Year. For more details please see the Mothers Day Special Page.

Making a welcome return this year will also be the Wildlife Special train on the 20th April. This last ran in 2006 and this guided tour of the Railway's flora and fauna by local Naturalist David Bailey from the Railways Diesel Railcar is a real eye opener to the wildlife of West Somerset. For more details please see the Wildlife Special Page.

More event details are not yet finalised but a Provisional list of dates include:

• 24th May            Jazz night from Bishops Lydeard
• 7th June             Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard
• 28th June           Murder Mystery from Minehead
• 26th July            Country and Western Evening from Bishops Lydeard
• 16 August         Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard
• 23rd August        Swing Band evening from Bishops Lydeard
• 6th September    Murder Mystery from Bishops Lydeard
• 27th September  Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard
• 18th October       Murder Mystery from Bishops Lydeard
• 13th December   Murder Mystery from Minehead
• 1st January         Fish and Chips from Bishops Lydeard

These dates are not yet available to be booked on and more details will be included as they are finalised.

Added 7th January 2008