[WSR News 1997]

West Somerset Railway


NEWS ARCHIVE 1997

Current News

News Index 1997

Bishops Lydeard Resignalling

[Wed 10-Dec-97] Further details have been published in the Autumn 1997 issue of the West Somerset Railway Journal of the ambitious plan for resignalling of Bishops Lydeard station. All but four levers of the 33 lever frame in Bishops Lydeard signal box will be restored to use, in a plan which offers maximum flexibility of operation with fully bidirectional signalling through both platforms. The scheme entails the installation of 12 semaphore stop arms, 1 semaphore distant, 3 subsidiary calling on arms and 6 ground discs. In addition colour light up advanced starter, down distant and down home signals will be installed at the southern end of the layout near Darby Crossing on the line to Norton Fitzwarren. Three bracket signals are to be erected, one carrying four arms. The form of working of the Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren section and the interface with Exeter power box is being finalised. The first two phases of the 4-phase programme covering signalling at the north end of Bishops Lydeard should be completed during the first half of 1998.
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WSR named Independent Railway of the Year

[Sat 29-Nov-97] The West Somerset Railway has been named as the Independent Railway of the Year. This prestigious award has been won against strong competition in the Ian Allan Heritage Awards for 1997. In addition, the Premier Award for the most meritorious entry for structural restoration and environmental care has also been been won by the WSR for Dunster Station and Goods Shed.
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Winter maintenance plans

[Sat 08-Nov-97] The programme of winter maintenance on the WSR will not this year feature any major track renewals because of the need to keep the line open for the EWS stone trains. Instead work will focus on resignalling the north end of Bishops Lydeard station, together with some track remodelling at the south end.
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1998 Gala Plans

[Sat 01-Nov-97 revised Fri 26-Dec-97] Initial plans are now being formulated for the 1998 season special events. Although the Somerset and Dorset Gala in 1996, and the 21st Anniversary Gala in 1997 were both held in March, it has been decided that the main spring gala event of 1998 will be held in May. This will allow more time for completion of the new engine shed at Minehead. The 1988 event on 8-10 May will feature a "West Country Steam" theme, with typical BR Western Region and Southern Region motive power from the lines west of Exeter. Several visiting engines are expected, although full details are still to be finalised. On March 28 and 29 Williton Traction Group is planning another of its special diesel gala weekends. Diesel operating days will also be held on 20 June and 24 October. A further gala event on on 19 and 20 September will be held to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Class 50 operations. This is expected to include engines from the East Lancs and Severn Valley Railways, with the possible addition of a Class 55 Deltic as well.
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Sea erosion threat to WSR

[Sat 01-Nov-97] The state of the sea defences near Doniford Beach Halt is giving rise for concern. Continuous erosion from heavy seas has left the cliff edge just 15ft away from the track bed at one point. Substantial remedial work sill be required soon.
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Diesel Day

[Sat 01-Nov-97] The WSR diesel day on 25 October featured the inaugural working of Class 33 diesel electric 33048. The loco worked a service double headed with Class 25 D7523. Class 03 shunter 03119 worked a top and tail shuttle service with Class 08 08377 between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren. Class 35 D7017 and Class 52 D1010 were also in action.
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4920 Dumbleton Hall stays on for 1998

[Sat 01-Nov-97] Negotiations have been concluded with South Devon Railway for further use of GWR 4-6-0 no 4920 Dumbleton Hall on the WSR throughout the 1998 season. Dumbleton Hall, the oldest surviving member of the Hall Class was restored from scrapyard condition at the South Devon Railway workshops at Buckfastleigh, but its axle-loading is too great for regular use on South Devon Railway metals from Buckfastleigh to Totnes. Following initial restoration, 4920 spent some time operating from Toddington on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway, before moving to the West Somerset Railway in spring 1997. It has operated WSR peak services in 1997, except for a period following Spring Bank Holiday when it was "stopped" for replacement of superheater element and attention to piston valves.
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Norton Fitzwarren connection study

[Sat 01-Nov-97] The results of a £13,000 feasibility study by Railtrack into upgrading of the connection with WSR at Norton Fitzwarren was published in September. The study was jointly funded by Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, West Somerset Council, the Rural Development Commission, West Somerset Railway and Railtrack. Several options for improving the Railtrack infrastructure at Norton Fitzwarren to bring the connection from the WSR to the Taunton-Exeter mainline up to full passenger standards. One option costing of order £200,000 for upgrading track and signalling was unanimously adopted, and further meetings of three of the Councils are now planned to investigate means of assembling a funding package. The WSR policy remains that it does not wish to bear the financial burden of operating its own services into Taunton, but is very keen to encourage other operators to run both charter and possibly regular timetabled services to Bishops Lydeard. The current connection is through the Taunton Cider Company siding and is signalled only for freight shunting movements. The passage of passenger trains requires attendance of signalling staff for manual clipping of points.
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HST railtour from Minehead

[Sat 01-Nov-97] Following the precedent set by the Minehead - Llandrindod Wells charter on 10 May, a further railtour starting from WSR metals at Minehead operated on 25 October, when Cheshire Railtours operated an IC125 service from Minehead to Stratford-on-Avon and return. A Great Western Trains set was used, operating ECS from St Philips Marsh depot in Bristol to Minehead, and return in the evening.
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Loco news from Williton

[Sat 15-Oct-97] The overhaul of West Somerset Railway Association's GWR pannier tank no 6412 is progressing well despite the theft of the brass safety valve cover and wheel bearing components from the Williton depot. Another safety valve cover has been donated and new bearings have been manufactured. The hydraulic boiler test has now been completed and the loco should steam again shortly. Meanwhile the boiler of rebuilt Battle of Britain No 34053 "Sir Keith Park" has been stripped and similar work has now started on detubing the boiler of sister engine 34046 "Braunton", prior to inspection of both boilers. The boiler in best condition will be selected for use in the rebuilding of Braunton.
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Two Millionth Passenger

[Sat 15-Oct-97] The 2 millionth WSR passenger since reopening in 1976 was carried on 16 September. The landmark visitor was Mrs Burns of Warrington, Cheshire. The first 1 million passengers took 13 years to achieve in 1989, while the second million has taken just 8 years.
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EWS Stone Trains resume

[Sat 08-Oct-97] The daily EWS stone train from Westbury to Minehead resumed operation on 5 September following six week break from July 25, when all sea wall construction work was suspended. recommencement of seawall defence work after a short summer break suspended. Some shunting work of EWS wagons at Minehead is now undertaken during the day by resident WSR diesel shunters, in order to reduce the time required at Minehead by the EWS train locomotive. Since resumption on 5 September EWS class 37s 37705/715/718/884/886 have all been noted. However most unusual motive power was employed on 1 October when the 13.15 Merehead to Minehead service was operated by a pair of Class 33s, 33019 and 33046 in matching "Dutch" livery. The stone trains are expected to run until May 1998.
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7828 Odney Manor returns

[Sat 27-Sep-97] GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 No 7828 Odney Manor returned by road to the WSR at Bishops Lydeard on 1st September following overhaul at Swindon. The loco was towed from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and was on view during the autumn gala weekend. Some further work is still required on the loco however, and the decision has been taken not to return it to service until the start of the main 1998 season in May.
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Minehead Engine Shed

[Sat 27-Sep-97] Work started on the construction of the new engine shed at Minehead on 16 September. The traditional GW style two road shed will be built immediately adjacent to the existing loco maintenance facility housed in the former goods shed. The new shed will provide accommodation for 4 engines, and is designed so that it can extended in the future. The original single road engine shed at Minehead was located on the opposite (south) side of the station platforms, but had been closed and demolished by BR before the WSR reopened for service in 1976. The shed should be in use at the start of next season in Spring 1988.
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34027 Taw Valley

[Sat 27-Sep-97] Taw Valley departed from WSR metals by road in the middle of September, to resume its main line duties from its operating base at Southall. This popular locomotive saw use of WSR peak services. During its stay in Somerset receive a repaint in a more authentic shade of lined BR Brunswick Green. Sadly the loco was unable to take part as advertised in the Autumn steam gala on 12-14 September owing to broken tender springs diagnosed on 10 September which could not be repaired in time. The loco was however on display at Bishops Lydeard. Its duties were taken over by the rostered standby loco 4160.
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Autumn Steam Gala

[Sat 27-Sep-97] A successful autumn steam gala was held on Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September. The gala featured 4160, 7820, 3205, 4561 and 4920. The gala marked the conclusion of peak season. A reduced level (Timetable A) service will now run on the WSR for the rest of 1997, culminating in the Santa steam services. A short closed period will extend from 2 January until March when the first new season trains start. EWS stone trains will however continue to run throughout the winter.
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Growing turnover for WSR

[Sat 30-Aug-97] The annual accounts for the West Somerset Railway Plc for the year ending 31 December 1996 showed an overall profit of £6,750. Total turnover reached a record figure of £944,000, a significant increase on the corresponding 1995 figure, with strong growth in in both fare revenue and in shop and buffet sales.
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Somerset and Dorset Open Weekend

[Sat 30-Aug-97] Washford station hosted the annual Somerset and Dorset open weekend on 23 and 24 August. The event featured a reunion of former S&D staff on the Sunday. A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Bill Pertwee (of Dad's Army fame) in tribute to the late Donald Beale, the well known former S&D driver from Branksome shed. 34027 Taw Valley operated on service trains carrying a Pines Express headboard.
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BBC TV Antiques Roadshow

[Sat 16-Aug-97] Filming of the popular BBC TV programme Antiques Roadshow took place at Minehead station on 10 and 11 June. The episode is due to be broadcast in March 1998. Filming also featured the renovated GWR First class sleeper no 9038 which was specially moved from Williton to Minehead for the event. This now unique vehicle was one of three sleepers built in 1897 and used on Paddington-Fishguard Harbour services. The body was used for many years as a bungalow, but has now been painstakingly restored and mounted on a shortened chassis recovered from a GW Collett coach. The work has been carried out by the West Somerset Railway Steam Trust. A further £17,000 work is still needed to complete restoration before starting the next carriage restoration project which will feature a 1910 Churchward Toplight coach.
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Diesel Traction News

[Sat 16-Aug-97] Recent arrivals at Williton are two Brush Bagnall 335hp Diesel Electric 0-4-0 shunters from British Steel, Port Talbot. These form a master and slave unit which are semi-permanently coupled together, the slave unit having no cab. They were built at Stafford in 1954/6 for the Steel Company of Wales and used to haul 500 ton bogie torpedo wagons of molten steel from th blast furnaces to the rolling mill in the Port Talbot works. They were last used in 1986, but are essentially complete. Class 33048 arrived by road from Hither Green on May 21. The loco had been out of use for nearly two years. One of its final duties was to double head a railtour with sister loco 33052 Ashford now also preserved. Class 03119 has been repainted in Landore style blue livery with yellow and black chevron ends and is now the regular shunter at Bishops Lydeard in place of veteran Class 04 D2205. At Minehead Class 03 D2133 acquired from British Cellophane is now the regular pilot in place of Class 04 D2271 which has been withdrawn for engine repairs. Class 50 no 50149 is being prepared for an engine and main generator lift. This will allow repairs to the damaged generator segments.
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EWS Stone Trains

[Sat 09-Aug-97] The EWS stone trains from Westbury to Minehead and return empties were suspended from July 25 for a six week break during the summer peak holiday season. Services have normally run daily Monday to Friday, with some additional weekend services when required. For a short period in late April early May two trains have run daily. On July 10, steam came to rescue of Class 37 no 37713 which stalled on the reverse curves of the 1 in 80 Crowcombe Bank at Combe Florey and was unable to restart its 25 wagon 1,200 ton train. Prairie tank no 4160 waiting at Williton with the 4.45pm passenger train from Minehead was detached from its train and proceeded light engine to attach to the front of the Class 37. The combined tractive effort was sufficient to restart the stone train which 4160 piloted as far as Williton. Several instances of double heading of EWS diesels and WSR steam engines on regular passenger trains have occurred in order to save paths when the EWS workings were unbalanced. On 30 June EWS 37707 was returned inside 4160 on the 12.10pm Minehead-Bishops Lydeard to save a path.
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The Minehead Mariner Railtour

[Sat 09-Aug-97] Saturday 28 June brought a visit to the WSR of two Class 31 diesels on Pathfinder Tours "Minehead Mariner" from York to Minehead. Class 31s hauled the train from Derby, and were assisted from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return by resident Class 25 D7523.
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Peak Season Service

[Sat 09-Aug-97] The WSR's peak season service commenced on Sat 27 July and will continue until Sun 31 August. The service sees five steam hauled trains each way between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead,covered by two locomotive diagrams. A local diesel service operated by a Class 115 dmu provides three additional return services between Minehead and Williton. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the diesel service is extended to Bishops Lydeard to provide a total of eight through services each way. Locos in use over on 9th August were 4920 Dumbleton Hall and 7820 Dinmore Manor.
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Collett 2251 class 0-6-0 no 3205 to Bodmin

[Sat 09-Aug-97] WSR Collett 2251 class 0-6-0 no 3205 is to spend a short period operating on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway in Cornwall. This unique loco, the only surviving member of the class which completed an extensive overhaul at Minehead earlier this year, is expected to depart by road from Bishops Lydeard in the second week of August for a four week stay at Bodmin. The engine is expected to be in service on the BWR over the August bank holiday 24-26 August, also 30-31 August and the 6-7 September gala weekend. It will return to the Somerset for the WSR Autumn Gala weekend of 12-14 September.
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Diesel Gala

[Sat 09-Aug-97] The Diesel Gala of 16-18 May attracted a total of 2,267 visitors who experienced former BR Western Region diesel hydraulic traction in abundance. The home fleet of Class 52 D1010, Class 35 D7017 and Class 14 D9551 were joined by visiting diesel hydraulics Class 52 D1041, Class 42 D832 and Hymek D7076 from the East Lancashire Railway, and Class 43 D821 from the Severn Valley Railway. Highlights included double heading of the two Warships D821 and D832, the Westerns and also the use of Class 35 Hymeks as bankers between Bishops Lydeard and Crowcombe. The only non hydraulic loco taking part was home based Class 25 diesel electric D7523.
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34027 Taw Valley enters service

[Sat 19-Jul-97] Rebuilt Bulleid West Country Pacific 34027 Taw Valley arrived by road at Bishops Lydeard on 4 June and entered service on the Saturday evening "Quantock Belle" on 7 June. 34027 has since worked on 11 days and is expected to work trains on 26 July to 3 August inclusive, and on 22-31 August, 6-12 September and during the Autumn Steam Gala on 13-15 September, prior to departing for further main-line duty in mid-September.
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Re-signalling at Bishops Lydeard

[Sat 19-Jul-97] Plans are being drawn up for a major resignalling scheme at Bishops Lydeard. The scheme involves re-commissioning the existing lever frame in Bishops Lydeard signal box together with installation of new signals. This will provide increased capacity and flexibility in operations to meet the demands of ever increasing traffic. The scheme will be phased, the first phase covering the north (Crowcombe) end of the station layout. In addition to connecting up the points to the signal box, new up outer home and down starter (section) signals will be installed to allow shunting and run/round operations to take place, even when the single line section from Crowcombe is occupied by another train. Currently there are no operational signals at Bishops Lydeard, while the points are controlled from ground frames released by a key on the section staff, so that movements at the station while a train is in section from Crowcombe are strictly limited. The new signalling will remove many of the current limitations.
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34027 Taw Valley to visit WSR

[Sat 25-May-97] Rebuilt Bulleid West Country Pacific 34027 Taw Valley is due to arrive on the West Somerset by road in early June, following completion of its mainline commitments prior to Railtrack's 3 month fire risk ban from June to the end of August. Taw Valley will operate WSR peak services, giving a foretaste of sights and sounds to come when the restoration of sister engine 34046 Braunton at Williton is completed. Also now at Williton in unrestored condition is Battle of Britain class 34053 Sir Keith Park
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Record attendance at WSR 21st gala

[Sat 26-Apr-97] Attendance at the WSR's 21st Anniversary Gala Event on 21-23 March surpassed previous record levels by a large margin, with a total of 7,043 passengers carried over the three day event, and 3,343 passengers on the Saturday alone, making it the most successful special event ever held on the line. The gala was blessed with fine weather, and saw a total of 10 GWR engines in steam (6024, 7029, 4920, 7820, 7325, 3205, 4160, 4561, 7760 and 1450), together with a visiting Great Western Trains IC125 set. A special event featuring 7760 took place on Friday to commemorate the reopening of the line in Easter 1976.
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Class 33 33048

[Sat 19-Apr-97] Class 33 "Crompton" Bo-Bo diesel no 33048 has been secured by the Williton Traction Group for use on the West Somerset Railway. It is hoped to restore the locomotive to operational order in time for the October WSR gala. It will take the place of Class 25 D5222, which is due to depart soon following completion of its contracted repair, and Class 45 D120 which will shortly be returning to Crewe.
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EWS stone trains

[Sat 12-Apr-97] The EWS stone train from Westbury to Minehead is now running daily Mondays-Fridays. Although there are several alternative paths over the WSR, the usual practice to date has been to run late afternoon, with the loaded westbound train passing Bishops Lydeard at about 5pm, after arrival of the last up WSR service train ran at 1706. The incoming loaded wagons are exchanged at Minehead with the empty wagons from the previous service. Departure of the return service from Minehead is at about 8pm. Most trains consist of 12 TURBOT bogie wagons loaded with stone block and 4-12 4-wheeled BARBEL wagons loaded with stone chippings. Trains are normally hauled by a single Class 37 - No 37711 has been a frequent performer.
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Manor class progress

[Sat 29-Mar-97] The Heavy General repair of 7828 Odney Manor at Swindon is making better progress than expected, and the engine is now likely to return to the West Somerset by the end of May. However the rapid progress on 7828 is likely to delay the return to steam of 7821 Ditcheat Manor currently being restored at Swindon Locomotive and Carriage Works. This, the last of the surviving GWR Manors to return to steam, has now passed its hydraulic boiler test and should reach the WSR during August.
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Inaugural EWS stone train to Minehead

[Sat 29-Mar-97] The inaugural EWS stone train from Merehead to Minehead ran on Monday 24 March. The train was booked as 8Z90 13:15 Merehead Quarry to Minehead, but actually left at 11:36, some 99 minutes early. A 37/7 was the power, reported to be 37711. The train is likely to run for at least 18 months, but it may not run in July and August owing to line capacity constraints. The EWS maroon liveried bogie "Turbot" wagons which are used to carry the stone blocks are unloaded in the new 210m siding which has recently been laid on the North side of Minehead station, adjacent to the contractors compound.
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Filming at Crowcombe

(Sat 29-Mar-97) Filming for the Television series "Land Army" took place at Crowcombe station on 17 and 18 March. Shots used GWR liveried 4561 and 7760 together with two GWR liveried coaches from the Severn Valley Railway. These were Collett Dia E148 Corridor Brake Composite no 6913 and Dia C77 Corridor Third no 1116. Both coaches were used in WSR passenger service over the following Gala Weekend.
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Through trains to the WSR

(Sat 14-Mar-97) 1997 has got off to a busy start with through trains to the WSR from the Railtrack network. On Saturday 15 March, LSWR railtours charter from Ealing Broadway to Minehead was worked by 6024 King Edward I from Didcot, travelling via Reading West, Newbury (water), Frome (water), Taunton and Norton Fitzwarren. The King and its 12 coach Riviera Trains chocolate and cream set was piloted by 7029 Clun Castle from Bishops Lydeard through to Minehead. The return working was also hauled by 7029 and 6024 as far as Bishops Lydeard, where RES class 47 "Holbeck" took over for the return working to London. The following day saw a Hertfordshire Railtours HST working from Paddington to Cranmore (for the East Somerset Railway) and Bishops Lydeard. Just one week later, an HST made history by working over WSR metals throughout to Minehead. This was a Sparkle Express excursion from Peterborough via Ealing Broadway, Bath and Bristol, and was worked by a newly reliveried Great Western Trains IC125. The visit of this train coincided with the busy 21st Anniversary Gala, and local WSR passengers were able to use the service in both directions between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, between King, Castle, Hall, Manor and Mogul hauled trains.
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Training for German drivers on WSR

(Sat 14-Mar-97) Mendip Rail Class 59 no 59004 "Paul A Hammond" visited the West Somerset Railway together with five Mendip Rail bogie hopper wagons on February 27. The visit was to provide German footplate crews experience of the Class 59, prior to the transfer of 59003 "Yeoman Highlander" to Germany in mid-March. The training as provided by Mendip Rail in association with the training arm of National Power, and involved running between Norton Fitzwarren and Blue Anchor. The loco and wagons returned to Westbury on the morning of Feb 27.
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Steptoe special

(Sat 14-Mar-97) A regular feature of the WSR annual calendar is the running of the Steptoe Special which this year ran over the weekend of March 8/9. This is an engineering train conveying a dozen or so wagons into which more than 30 volunteers throw the scrap and rubbish which accumulates along the 20 mile line during the course of the operating season. The train has operated for the last six years, and the scrap goes to a foundry whose managing director Humphrey Davis is the WSRA's chairman.
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A second Bulleid Pacific for the WSR

(Sat 18-Jan-97) The West Somerset Railway Association has purchased rebuilt Southern Bulleid Battle of Britain class Pacific no 34053 "Sir Keith Park" from Dr John Kennedy. The locomotive together with an LMS full brake coach were moved to the WSR from Thingley Junction near Chippenham in early January. The future plans for Sir Keith Park have yet to be decided. However rebuilt West Country no 34046 "Braunton" has been sold to a Kent based business man who is preparing to fund a fast-track restoration on the WSR at Williton. Braunton will then operate on the WSR for a period of at least ten years. Proceeds from the sale of Braunton will be used by the WSRA to accelerate the overhaul of GWR pannier no 6412. Both 34046 and 34053 are expected to move to Williton shortly.
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WSR cleared for High Speed Trains

(Sat 18-Jan-97) The West Somerset Railway has been cleared for operation of IC125 trains throughout to Minehead following track realignment at Watchet and cutting back of the platform edge at Doniford Beach. The first through railtour working is likely to be the Hertfordshire Rail Tours "Mendip and Quantock 125 special" from Paddington to Cranmore and Minehead on Sunday 16 March. On Saturday 22 March another IC125 is due to work an East Anglia to Minehead tour during the 21st Anniversary Gala. This IC125 set will work a Minehead-Bishops Lydeard service during the afternoon. May 10 will see the first railtour originating from Minehead, when Cheshire Railtours "Somerset Cambrian" to Llandrindod Wells on the Heart of Wales Line will run from Minehead at 07.00 calling at Watchet, Williton and Bishops Lydeard, arriving back at Minehead at 11pm. Tel: 01984-640005
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Eurocash for WSR engine shed

(Sat 18-Jan-97) The West Somerset Railway has been awarded a £65,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund. The grant application submitted jointly with West Somerset District Council and Business Link Somerset will support the building of a new £185,000 loco shed at Minehead. Construction of the shed will commence in Autumn 1997, with completion due in time for the 1998 operating season.
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Revenue stone trains on the WSR

(Sat 18-Jan-97) The WSR has won a contract to transport over 80,000 tons of rock from Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead. The stone in the form of boulders between 2 and 7 tons each which will originate in the Mendips and will be used for Minehead's £15 million sea defence project. The stone will be transported in EWS "Turbot" wagons, and will be powered by EWS traction (1 or 2 Class 37s) throughout its journey to Minehead. The three year project will require the construction of a 210m new siding on the seaward side of Minehead yard to stable the wagons while unloading. The trains are expected to run at least twice per week, leaving Taunton at about 0800 and arriving at Minehead by 0940. Trains will return mid afternoon after the five to seven hour unloading period. These trains will take full advantage of the WSR's recently increased 23.5 tonne axle load limit.
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Super season for WSR

(Sat 18-Jan-97) The WSR has ended the 1996 season with a record breaking Santa Special service which has provided the icing on the cake of a super season with a total of 144,000 passengers carried. The end of year events included a further visit by an IC125 railtour on December 1 (power cars 43129 and 43179 with new liveried GWT set), and several other specials. Carryings in November were so strong that the planned haulage by 14xx 0-4-2T no 1450 had to be dropped and larger engines substituted.
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Class 25 D5222

[Sat 18-Jan-97] Class 25 Sulzer Bo-Bo diesel no D5222 arrived at Williton on the WSR on December 6. It will undergo body repairs and a repaint at Williton Traction Depot.
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No 7029 Clun Castle for WSR 21st Gala

[Sat 18-Jan-97] GWR Castle Class No 7029 Clun Castle from the Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley is now scheduled to appear at the WSR Gala Weekend on 21-23 March, in place of its class mate no 5029 Nunney Castle which remains under repair at the Severn Valley Railway.
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No 7821 Ditcheat Manor

(Sat 04-Jan-97) No 7821 Ditcheat Manor is currently approaching the end of its restoration from scrap yard condition at Swindon, with a hydraulic boiler test due in January, and full steam test projected for mid-March. All being well, 7821 will enter service on the WSR later in 1997. In common with 7828 Odney Manor, No 7821 is owned by Ken Ryder who is also a director of the Swindon Locomotive Carriage and Wagon Works.
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Locomotive mileages 1975-1996

[Sat 04-Jan-97] Details of steam locomotive mileages run on the WSR since reopeneing of the line in 1975 have been published. All the locos listed have worked passneger trains between Minehad and Bishops Lydeard except those marked thus (*).

Loco noMiles
1998		Total
miles
2996 Victor 24,121 
1450 43 732 
3205 1,143  28,049 
4160 5,175 39,825 
4561 3,512*47,862 
4920 6,098 12,170 
6024 246 449 
6412 3,252 39,441 
6990 466 466 
7820 10,956 31,680 
7821 323*323 
7828 5,492 16,705 
9681 1,365 1,365 
45110 6 6 
48773 6  
686 20 36 
1788 32 357 
TOTAL 38,135  

* includes mileage run on other lines
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