Join us at our headline event this year, our not-to-be missed Spring Steam Spectacular, which this year runs between Friday 2nd May and Bank Holiday Monday 5th May. You can expect to experience a feast of steam action, with locomotives and attractions to suit enthusiasts and families alike. This year, the event is particularly special, with it being a major part of the Railway 200 celebrations, a nationwide event celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. We will be hosting a wide range of different locomotives of different ages and from different railway companies to celebrate this big anniversary. Multiple visiting locomotives will join our own home fleet, all working hard hauling a variety of services through the Quantock Hills and along the Bristol Channel.
Our Railway really comes to life during our Gala events, with a busy timetable in operation from early morning to late evening. This will allow you to get off at as many stations as you wish, and to travel behind all of our operating locomotives. A variety of special trains will be in operation, including local passenger, parcels, demonstration goods and even some exciting non-stop express journeys. You'll also be able to travel down our rarely opened section of line between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren. The turning triangle at Norton Fitzwarren and turntable at Minehead will both be in use, ensuring as many trains as possible will be facing smokebox first. Don't forget your camera! Various heritage displays, model railways and museums will also be open along the line.
Confirmed locomotives for the Spring Steam Spectacular event:
- LMS 'Jubilee' Class 4-6-0 no.45596 'Bahamas'
- London Brighton and South Coast Railway A1 Class 'Terrier' no.72 'Fenchurch'
- GWR 28XX No.2807
- 2-6-0 9351 Class (WSR Mogul) No. 9351
- GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’
- BR(W) Manor Class 4-6-0 7828 'Odney Manor'
Further visiting locomotives are in discussion and will be announced soon. These guest engines will be joined by our faithful home fleet plus some longer term hired locos for 2025.
Other locomotives will be added to the lineup once agreed.
All locomotives and attractions are subject to availability and may be changed at short notice.
DATES & TIMES
Dates & Times |
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Prices | |
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| Spring Steam Spectacular Adult 1 Day Rover | £40.00 |
| Spring Steam Spectacular Child 1 Day Rover | £20.00 |
LMS 'Jubilee' Class 4-6-0 no.45596 'Bahamas'
Our first confirmed visiting locomotive for the event in 2025 is LMS 'Jubilee' Class 4-6-0 no.45596 'Bahamas'. The engine will join us courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society, and we are grateful for the opportunity to host this prestigious mainline locomotive at one of our events. Built in 1935 by North British of Glasgow, the engine soon entered service with the London Midland and Scottish Railway, entering traffic based at Crewe North shed. In 1961, 'Bahamas' became unique among her classmates when she was fitted with a double chimney in an experiment to improve the performance of the class. The engine was fortunate enough to have never ended up in a scrap yard, being bought directly from British Railways in 1967 by the Bahamas Locomotive Society. She has remained in their care ever since then, re-entering service following her latest overhaul in late 2018. Since then, the engine has become a top performer of the mainline scene, and we have had the engine visit the WSR on in-coming mainline charter services several times in the last few years. This Gala appearance will be the first opportunity to travel behind 'Bahamas' over the full length of the WSR and will be the first time a 'Jubilee' has appeared at a WSR Gala. The engine is usually based at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire and does not often appear at heritage railway gala events. We are very grateful to the Bahamas Locomotive Society and Keighley and Worth Valley Railway for the appearance.
London Brighton and South Coast Railway A1 Class 'Terrier' no.72 'Fenchurch'
The second visiting locomotive for the Spring Steam Spectacular (Friday 2nd May to Monday 5th May) as London Brighton and South Coast Railway A1 Class 'Terrier' no.72 'Fenchurch'! The locomotive will be appearing at the WSR for the first time this Spring, courtesy of the Bluebell Railway.
Built in 1872, 'Fenchurch' is one of the oldest operational locomotives in the country, and we are very excited to welcome this engine to the WSR. The engine entered service in August 1872, working suburban passenger trains on the South London line. In 1879, only seven years into her life, the engine had already clocked up a whopping 279,000 miles! In 1913, the engine was rebuilt into A1X form, which has been reverted cosmetically in preservation to appear as close as possible to her original A1 condition.
Prior to entering preservation in 1964, 'Fenchurch' had held the title for some years of being the oldest locomotive still in active service for British Railways. No.72 has run for various periods at the Bluebell Railway, including an appearance at the Rail 150 event in 1975, in which it took part in the famous cavalcade of engines at Shildon. 'Fenchurch' returned to steam following her most recent overhaul in 2023. She may be small, but she is a mighty little engine, and we look forward to seeing this loco working the 'local' train diagram with a couple of coaches at the Gala. She will be the first 'Terrier' to visit the WSR since 2007, and likely to be the first to work at the southern end of the line in preservation. We are very grateful to the Bluebell Railway for the hire.
GWR 28XX Class 2-8-0 No.2807
GWR 28XX Class 2-8-0 No.2807 is the third visiting locomotive for our Spring Steam Spectacular 2025.
After being unable to make our 2024 event as planned, we are pleased to have been able to rearrange the visit of this GWR heavyweight for this year’s event instead. Appearing courtesy of Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, no.2807 will be in action on all four days of the Spring Steam Spectacular between Friday 2nd May and Monday 5th May.
As we celebrate Rail 200, no.2807 joins us as the oldest working GWR locomotive having been built in 1905. The engine last appeared on the WSR in Spring 2011, then in GWR Green livery. Now sporting GWR Wartime Black, the locomotive will look fantastic hauling our ever-growing 1940s Wartime period goods train as well as on passenger services. The loco will arrive in March and work regular service trains prior to the Gala, with the event being her last days in service with us before returning to her home at the GWSR.
Purchasing your tickets
Tickets for multiple days travel can be purchased once selecting the book now button. You have the option of a 2 day, 3 day or 4 day ticket.
These tickets are sold in bundles, once selecting which bundle you would like, for example a 4 day ticket, you will be required to select each day you wish to travel, in this case all four days. You must add each day individually to your ticket, please make sure you check that you have not accidentally selected the same day twice and have booked for the correct days.
If you have any issues booking your tickets please feel free to contact us either by email [email protected] or by phone on 01643 704996 adn we will be more than happy to help you.
Wristbands
Wristbands will be issued for each day you travel. These will need to be collected on your first days travel from either Bishops Lydeard or Minehead station only. There is also an option to collect your wristbands early from Minehead Station only and these will be available from Monday 28th April 2025.
Due to difficulty sending wristbands to other locations across the railway, we will be unable to have your wristbands for collection from any other station.
You can indicate whether you wish to collect from Minehead or Bishops Lydeard at the check out stage of making your booking.
Kids for a Quid
Our kids for a quid ticket is back for the Bank Holiday Monday only. To benefit from this discounted ticket this ticket needs to be addedd individually. The ticket is valid for children aged between 5 and 15.
If your child is travelling for the Monday only your discount will be added at the check in.
If your child is travelling for two days, add two one day rovers separately for the days they wish to to travel. the discount for the Monday child ticket will be added automatically at the checkout.
iI your child is travelling for three days, select a two day rover, select the two days (not monday) then add a separate child day rover for Monday.
If your child is travelling for all four days then select a three day rover, add the days (not Monday) and add a one day rover for the Monday separately.
Ticket Options
Spring Steam Spectacular Adult 1 Day Rover
£40.00
Spring Steam Spectacular Child 1 Day Rover
£20.00
DATES & TIMES
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