[WSR News Archive 1999]

West Somerset Railway


NEWS ARCHIVE 1999

Current News

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A second Western

[Sun 12-Dec-99] The National Railway Museum's Class 52 Diesel Hydraulic D1023 Western Fusilier is to return to its old haunts in the West Country from April to August 2000 when it will be on loan to the WSR, in the care of the DEPG at Williton. This will be the loco's first visit to a heritage line since its overhaul at York. It's first run on the WSR is expected to be on April 5. It will also operate on April 29 in company with resident sister loco D1010 on a Western Running Day.
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Autumn Steam Gala Report

[Sun 28-Nov-99] The WSR's autumn steam gala event on 10-12 September proved a great success with an overall attendance of over 4000 visitors, despite the unfortunate non-participation of the star attraction BR 9F 2-10-0 no 92212 from the Great Central Railway, Loughborough. The event featured seven engines in service with 7820, 7828, 4160, 6412 from the home fleet, and visitors 76079, 4277 and 5541. Both 4277 and 6412 operated goods and milk trains, and 5541 featured in shunting demonstrations at Dunster. The 9F arrived at Bishops Lydeard by road during the previous week, but during initial steaming tests extensive leaks from the boiler tubes were discovered. Heroic efforts by GCR engineers allowed a number of tubes to be replaced in the few days before the event. The 9F was steamed on the morning of Saturday 11th and undertook a test run run from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead coupled to 7820 Dinmore Manor. However the inspection on arrival at Minehead revealed further leaks, and the 9F was declared a failure. It spent the rest of the gala on shed at Minehead and its turns were covered by 7820. The event also marked the end of service on the WSR of visiting BR Class 4MT 76079, which departed from the line shortly afterwards for the start of its overhaul.



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A King and two Castles

[Wed 28-Jul-99] If current plans come to fruition for the WSR Spring 2000 Steam Gala scheduled for Friday 24 to Sunday 26 March 2000, the event could see a King and two Castles operating together on the West Somerset for the first time ever. No 6024 King Edward I is expected to make its third visit to the West Somerset where it should be joined by two single-chimney Castles - Nos 5029 Nunney Castle and 5051 Earl Bathurst, both making their first visits to the line (subject to final confirmation). No 5029 is currently in the latter stages of an overhaul at the premises of Riley and Sons at Bury on the East Lancs Railway. It is expected to return to the main line later in 1999 with its first booked mainline turn on 4th December from Crewe to Leamington Spa and Stratford-on-Avon and return. No 5051 Earl Bathurst completed an overhaul at the Great Western Society, Didcot last year and is in full operational order, although it is not currently recertified for main line use. Uniquely among the surviving Castle class locos, no 5051 is currently paired with a Hawksworth flush sided tender (from 6998) which should make an interesting contrast to the Collett tender behind 5029. In addition to 6024, 5029 and 5051 the attendance of a fourth visiting GWR tender engine is also a possibility. The Spring Gala will have a Great Western named train theme and promises be a key event for fans of GWR/BR(WR) main line express motive power.
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Williton Diesel Heritage Centre

[Wed 28-Jul-99] In 1997 the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group were awarded a National Lottery grant towards a new Visitor Centre at Williton to relate the story of diesel hydraulic and diesel electric traction on BR. The Centre is to be housed in the 150 year old former Bristol and Exeter Railway Goods shed at Williton, itself a grade 2 listed building. Progress on this project has had to wait the establishment of the brand new diesel shed which is now essentially complete following the commissioning of the 10 ton gantry crane earlier in 1999. This has allowed work to start on clearing out the old goods shed and conversion of the building for its new use. It is hoped that the centre will be opened during 2000. Further details are available at the Williton Traction Group web site.
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GWR Toplight Coach 3639

[Fri 16-Jul-99] With restoration work on the historic GWR first class sleeping car no 9083 now approaching completion, plans are afoot for the next WSR Steam Trust restoration project which will be GWR Toplight Third Class Coach no 3639. Built at Swindon in 1911 under Lot 1179 as a 57ft eight compartment corridor coach no 2469 to Diagram C31, this vehicle saw only four years service before being converted for use on one of the GWR WWI Ambulance Trains. When rebuilt under Lot 1292 and returned to service in 1921 it was renumbered as 3639. It was withdrawn from service and converted to camping coach no 9887 by British Railways in 1958 and until 1970 it was berthed at Blue Anchor. Formerly privately owned, it has now been donated to the West Somerset Railway Steam Trust, and has been moved to Williton for eventual restoration.
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A tender change for Dinmore Manor

[Fri 16-Jul-99] A recent arrival in the loco yard at Minehead is the Churchward 3,500 gallon tender belonging to 7820 Dinmore Manor. This tender which is believed to be no 1761 built in 1908, has been undergoing an extensive restoration at the Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley. The tender attached to 7820 since it originally returned to steam is a newer Collett 3,500 gallon tender from 2-8-0 no 3803 and is on hire from the South Devon Railway. This tender is due to be returned to the South Devon Railway soon. It differs from 7820's own tender in having a continuous fender and deeper Collett style frames.
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Diesel Traction

[Sun 11-Jul-99] On the weekend of August 7-8 and again on August 14-15 the scheduled dmu workings in the WSR D (gold) timetable (09.40 and 13.05 Bishops Lydeard-Minehead and the 11.10 and 17.30 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard) are to be replaced by heritage diesel loco hauled services. This is primarily to provide additional driver training. Any of the operational locos may be used from the resident Williton Traction Group fleet (D1010, 50149, 33048, 25173).
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Minehead 125th Anniversary

[Sun 11-Jul-99] July 16 marks the 125th Anniversary of the arrival of the first trains at Minehead. The event is being marked by local celebrations. On Friday 16 July local children will arrive by train at Minehead for country dancing on the platform. On Saturday 17 July the Friends of Minehead Station are holding a barbecue with a bar, and Traditional Jazz music provided the the Teign Valley Stompers. 8pm to 11pm, Tickets £5. On Saturday there will be a NENTA railtour from Felixstowe to Minehead and return scheduled to be hauled throughout by a Class 50 diesel, and on the same day there is a private charter and an evening QB dining service running.
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Vintage road coaches

[Sun 11-Jul-99] Visitors to Bishops Lydeard may have noticed a growing collection of vintage road coaches in the premises of neighbours Rexquote Ltd, who now occupy the former MOD store adjacent to Bishops Lydeard station. The popular vintage coach service linking Dunster Station with the historic Dunster Village and Castle on Bank Holiday weekends has already proved a great success. Now a new venture will begin in mid-July, running on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays and linking the Railway at Bishops Lydeard to a variety of attractions in the Taunton Deane area, including Hestercombe House, the Willows and Wetlands Centre, Fox's Mill, and Sheppy's Cider. Vehicles will be four vintage single deckers from the Rexquote Fleet and they will also link the Railway with the Crescent in Taunton. Different attractions will be linked on different days. Through tickets from the WSR to Taunton will not be valid on these buses.
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Autumn Diesel Gala

[Wed 07-Jul-99] The WSR Autumn Diesel Gala to be held Friday 24 to Sunday 26 September is expected to feature a number of visiting mainline diesel locos from the East Lancs Railway. Warship D832 is due to join WSR-based D1010 and D7017 to provide the Diesel Hydraulic Power. Class 25 no D5054 will join home based sister loco 25173 for "double rat" traction. English Electric Class 40 D345 will make a welcome return to work alongside EE Class 50 no 50149. Home based 33048 will also feature, along with at least two diesel shunters on the Norton Fitzwarren shuttle. Both D7017 and 33048 are scheduled for repainting into new liveries before the event, courtesy of the Williton Traction Group, the new collective name for the two diesel preservation groups on the West Somerset Railway, the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group and the Class 50 Society.
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WSR Plc AGM Report

[Wed 07-Jul-99] At the Annual General Meeting of the West Somerset Railway Plc, held on Saturday 26 June, the Company reported that the annual profit before tax in the year to 31 December 1998 was a healthy £42,896 notwithstanding heavy investment in upgrading the infrastructure. The profit is about £13,000 less than in 1997 when the income received a large boost from the EWS stone trains. Total of passengers carried in 1998 was 144,160 slightly down on the 1997 figure of 146.883. However this is accounted for by the extended closed periods in 1998 to allow for additional engineering work. Income from fares nevertheless rose slightly to £714,879.

The Board were commended on their prudent financial management of the company with a healthy profit and loss account. Nevertheless the Chairman emphasised the need to grow the annual income to fund planned projects including restoration of the recently acquired prairie tank 5193, overhaul of many of the line's bridges and other structures, contributing to the cost of additional sea defences near Doniford, and the expansion and enhancement of the coaching stock fleet including acquisition of a further buffet car.

The topic of through running to Taunton was again discussed. It was confirmed that Railtrack have now formed a project team who are undertaking detailed planning for upgrade of the existing Railtrack connection at Norton Fitzwarren. Timescales for implementation of the upgrade have yet to be agreed. However the WSR will be pressing forward in the next six months with the next stage of the Bishops Lydeard resignalling programme covering the Paddington end of the station. This is an essential prerequisite of the improved through running arrangements. Discussions were being held with several Train Operating Companies concerning the running of through passenger trains off the Railtrack Network. However studies suggest that there is little realistic prospect of regular through freight services, beyond the occasional "one-off" operations such as the sea-defence stone trains. In answer to questions, the Chairman reiterated that current WSR plans do not include operation of WSR trains into Taunton. However a representative of the County Council confirmed that policy was to protect the existing formation and not to permit developments that would preclude the future possibility of reinstating the former up relief line to provide independent WSR access from Norton Fitzwarren to Taunton station.

Many shareholders travelled to/from the AGM in a special train using the Quantock Belle dining car set attached to the regular 12.30pm Bishops Lydeard-Minehead service train. The combined 10 coach train was double-headed by 76079 and 7820. The return Shareholders Special ran independently as a 5 coach extra behind 7820.
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Autumn Steam Gala Plans

[Mon 05-Jul-99] Plans are now being assembled for the WSR Autumn Steam Gala to be held Friday 10 to Sunday 12 September inclusive. Several visiting engines will be participating including GWR 42xx class 2-8-0T no 4277 and BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 no 76079 both of which are visiting the WSR for the peak summer season. Also expected for the gala is Dean Forset GWR 4575 class 2-6-2T no 5541 making a return visit, and first time visitor BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 no 92212 from the Great Central Railway. The 9F is the second member of this class to visit the WSR in preservation days, the first being no 92220 Evening Star which visited from the National Railway Museum from March 1989 to April 1990. It is intended that the Saturday and Sunday gala timetables will feature a recreation of the "Pines Express" using 92212 and 76079 double-headed. Nos 7820, 7828, 4160 and 6412 from the home fleet will also be operating during the gala with up to eight engines in steam. Once again two visiting railtours will traverse the WSR during the event. The Mid Hants Railway "Green Train" headed by BR Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 no 73096 will haul the "West Somerset Limited" from Alton via Guildford, Reading, Newbury and Taunton on Saturday 11 September, while a Hertfordshire Rail Tours charter will bring a Great Western HST Train from Paddington, Slough and Reading to Minehead and return on Sunday 12 September.
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A turntable for the WSR ?

[Sun 04-Jul-99] There can be little doubt that a turntable would be an attractive additional feature for the WSR. The tentative long term aspirations of the WSR Plc do indeed include the installation of a turntable, probably at Minehead. However several major hurdles must first be surmounted before an operational turntable becomes a reality. Firstly there is the need to acquire access to more land, as there is insufficient space available within existing boundaries at Minehead for convenient operation of a turntable. Secondly it is likely that expensive foundations will be required because of the relatively poor load bearing capability of the ground at Minehead. Finally, although the company does already own a turntable, it is too short for regular use by the larger classes of tender engine. The existing turntable is a GWR 55ft design which was originally installed at Pwllheli in North Wales. However the GWR extended many of its 55ft tables to 65ft diameter, and extension of the WSR's turntable to accommodate the largest visiting engines is deemed to be a perfectly feasible proposition. In the meantime the turntable rests on a pair of accommodation bogies in the headshunt adjacent to Minehead signal box. The addition of a turntable could eventually open up many additional opportunities for through steam hauled charter trains from other centres such as Didcot, Alton, Kidderminster and Tyseley. It will probably be some years yet however before engines on through workings can be turned on the WSR. At present the nearest turning points are the triangles at Westbury and Bristol, and the turntables at Yeovil Jct and Churston.
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Tamper at work

[Sun 04-Jul-99] A visitor to the West Somerset during May has been Plasser and Theurer tamper DR73912 owned by Amey Railways. This has been carrying out training duties for Amey Railways staff, and in return has undertaken track tamping at several locations on the WSR.




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3205 back in service

[Wed 02-Jun-99] WSR based Collett 2251 Class 0-6-0 no 3205 has recently returned to service on the South Devon Railway, after being out of action for over a year. This unique loco, the sole survivor of its class, was last in use in April 1998 when it failed on the WSR with a broken driving wheel crank axle. A new crank axle has been manufactured by Ian Riley, and the has now been fitted by the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh, where it was seen in light steam on Monday 31 May (photo). The loco is expected to remain on the SDR for at least a year before returning to the West Somerset.
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Bishops Lydeard celebrations

[Wed 02-Jan-99] 1999 marks the 20th anniversary of the reopening of the West Somerset Railway throughout to Bishops Lydeard, thus establishing the WSR at Britain's longest heritage railway. To mark this anniversary, and to celebrate the achievements of the past twenty years, the West Somerset Railway Association (which is based at Bishop Lydeard) is staging a mini-gala' event at the station over the weekend of June 12-13. The theme of the event will be "The WSR At Home", and the various groups associated with the railway have been invited to contribute to the event by way of a rail exhibit, a display/information stand or a sales stand.

Meanwhile planning is already underway for a major gala event over the weekend of 10-11 June 2000, to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the reopening to Bishops Lydeard. This promises to be a great contrast to the gala of June 8-9 1979, which featured one of the Bagnall 0-6-0ST's Vulcan (which failed over the weekend!), Hymek no D7017 and the two Park Royal dmus.
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Class 50 Royal Oak for mainline

[Wed 02-Jun-99] English Electric Class 50 Co-Co diesel electric loco no 50017 Royal Oak is due to leave WSR metals shortly. This loco which belongs to Dr John Kennedy has recently been in the custody of DEPG at Williton Diesel Depot and was returned to operational service when in 1998. It is due to move to Crewe for main line certification, where it will join the pool of diesel locomotives including Class 55 Deltics D9009 and 55019 and sister Class 50 no 50008 Thunderer for working the new northern VSOE dining car train services. It is anticipated that 50117 will make occasional return trips to the WSR for special gala events etc.

[Postscript Sun 04-Jul-99] 50017 was towed from Bishops Lydeard to Crewe on Thursday 17 June by Deltic 55019.
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Phoenix returns

[Wed 02-Jun-99] The BR Mark 1 Corridor brake composite coach (BCK) W21174 "Phoenix" returned to the WSR by road in late May after completion of an extensive overhaul carried out at the carriage workshops at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway. This coach is now finished in BR lined maroon livery, and is scheduled to run in the Quantock Belle dining set, replacing the full brake (BG) no 80724. The arrival of Phoenix will enable additional accommodation to be provided for non-dining passengers.
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GWR Special Saloon W9007W

[Wed 12-May-99] The GWR Special Saloon no W9007W currently housed in the Visitors Center at Bishops Lydeard is shortly to return to the National Railway Museum at York. This coach has been on display at Bishops Lydeard since 1997. The vehicle was originally built at Swindon to Diagram G65 under Lot 1673 in 1945. It is equipped with a single observation saloon, two large bedrooms, and a guards compartment with radio. A very similar vehicle W9006W with a slightly different internal design was built at the same time to diagram G64. It was equipped with a kitchen, a dining room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and two lounges, one of which was an observation lounge at one end. Both vehicles were preserved as part of the National Railway Museum's collection. The two vehicles frequently operated together as a VIP set, marshalled with the observation saloons at the outer ends. In 1955 both vehicles were refurbished and fitted with air conditioning for use in the Western Region Royal Train. They were repainted at this time from chocolate and cream to royal claret livery which is still carried. W9007W was last used by HM The Queen Mother in 1979. When it leaves the WSR, its place in the Visitor Centre will be taken temporarily by the WSRA's small prairie tank no 4561 which is awaiting overhaul following expiry of its boiler certificate at the end of 1998.

By coincidence, another GWR Special Saloon no W9004W was due to visit the WSR on Saturday 1 May 1999, as part of the Regency Rail Tours "Cheddar Cheese" charter train from Preston to Minehead. W9004W was built to diagram G59 in 1931 and has observation lounges (and corridor connectors) at both ends, together with kitchen, pantry and guards compartment. In 1960 W9004W became the Chief Civil Engineers saloon for the North Eastern Region of BR. It is now privately owned, based at Carnforth, and sees frequent use on special charter trains.
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Diesel Running Weekend 15 & 16 May

[Tue 04-May-99] Plans are now being finalised for the Diesel Running Weekend on 15/16 May (not 8/9 May as published in some magazines). The event will feature all the available resident mainline diesel locomotives based at Williton Diesel Traction Depot, and is expected to include 50017, 50149, D1010, 33048 and D7523. With the exception of one steam diagram, all trains will be diesel hauled. The timetable features up to 9 departures each way with through running to Norton Fitzwarren and double heading of some services. Bargain one and two day rover tickets at £9.50 and £18.00 will be available.
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GWR Freight engine 4277 returns

[Mon 03-May-99] GWR freight engine 2-8-0T no 4277 arrived by road at Bishops Lydeard on 27th April, and has now entered service. Along with 76079, it is one of two visiting engines that will spend the 1999 summer season on the WSR. No 4277 is a member of the 42xx Class 2-8-0T designed under Churchward at Swindon in 1910 for use on short distance heavy freight. No 4277 saw extensive use in the Welsh Valleys. During much of the 1950s and early 1960s, it was allocated to Aberbeeg Shed (86H later 86F), on the Western Valleys line from Newport to Ebbw Vale. where it hauled heavy freight including coal, steel and iron ore on the steeply graded lines up the valley. It was withdrawn from service from Aberbeeg shed in June 1964 and was sold for scrap to Woodhams Bros of Barry where it lay for some years. It was purchased for preservation by the Curchward Group and was subsequently stored on static display at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. It was subsequently purchased by Pete Best, and restored to full working order. It has since operated on several lines including North Yorkshire Moors and Gloucestershire & Warwickshire and the West Somerset (1995/96). No 4277 (unusually) retains the original style inside steam pipes and square footplate drop ends as originally built. It is currently painted GWR green with full "Great Western" lettering. No 4277 is one of four surviving 42xx series engines, although it is the only one to have been steamed since preservation. There are also three surviving engines in the 5205 series which differ very slightly in having larger cylinders. No 4277 is expected to remain on the WSR until after the Autumn Gala in September.
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Braunton progress

[Sat 17-Apr-99] Good progress is being maintained on the restoration of rebuilt West Country Class pacific 34046 Braunton. The work is being funded by a businessman and is being undertaken by the WSRA team at Williton shed. The loco has now been fully stripped, and many component parts have already been refurbished and returned to Williton. The frames are being cleaned, repaired and painted. Plans to use the boiler from sister engine 34053 Sir Keith Park have been dropped after it was found that the reconditioned boiler on 34046 is in better condition. The wheels have been despatched to Swindon for turning. A new tender is required for Braunton and a suitable tender body has already been acquired from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Grosmont, while the steel for new tender frames has also been acquired. Tender wheels from a scrapped diesel loco will probably be used. The target date for return to steam is the early millennium. Restoration is being carried out to full main line standards with the possibility of future main line operation. A suitable support coach has already been selected.
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Locomotive mileages 1998

[Sun 11-Apr-99] Details of steam locomotive mileages run in 1998 have been published by the WSRA. For the second year running 7820 Dinmore Manor has achieved the highest annual mileage covering 10,956 miles in 1998, and bringing its total since restoration to 31,680 miles in just three and a half years. No 4561 achieved a total of 3,512 miles of which 729 was on the WSR and the rest on the South Devon Railway. No 4561 which has now been withdrawn for overhaul has covered a total of 47,862 miles since restoration, just short of the record held by S&D 2-8-0 no 53808.

Loco noMiles
1998		Total
miles
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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Spring Gala Success

[Sun 11-Apr-99] The WSR Spring Steam Gala event of 19-21 March was widely acclaimed as a great success, and amongst the best yet, with three days of intensive operation and no fewer than eleven engines in steam (including Mid-Hants 73096 and Peckett 1788 Kilmersdon). Services between Norton Fitzwarren, Bishops Lydeard and Minehead were covered by nine engines (7820 7828 4160 6412 5541 7325 9466 41312 and 76079), with 14 different double-headed combinations. The event attracted over 4,800 visitors who enjoyed a total of more than 1,350 miles of steam haulage over the three days. Saturday was the busiest day ever on the WSR with 13 trains each way including two through charter trains from the main-line. Although not widely advertised, the Quantock Belle stock on Set C provided meals all day and was well patronised. For more pictures of the weekend's events see the Gallery pages.
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GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412

[Wed 10-Mar-99] WSRA owned pannier tank no 6412 will again be spending the summer season away from WSR metals. After operating the additional Thursday Shearings Special trains in March and featuring the the WSR gala weekend of 19-21 March, it will depart in late March for the a visit to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway. In mid May it will then move on to the North Norfolk Railway. No 6412 is due back on the WSR in September in time for the autumn gala weekend of 10-12 September. Because the heavy 7-9 coach trains operated by the WSR in the peak season are beyond the capacity of 6412 and require at least Class 4 motive power, there is little requirement for its use on the WSR during the main season.
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Winter PW works

[Wed 10-Mar-99] Extensive permanent way works have been undertaken by the WSR during the closed periods in November and in January-February. This has included work between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren in association with the planned Norton Fitzwarren main line connection upgrade by Railtrack. Also a quarter mile of track was relaid before Christmas at Eastcombe cutting where a temporary 15/20mph speed limit was in force for most of the 1998 season. In the first few weeks of the new year a further major track relaying exercise covered the stretch from Woolston Moor to Sampford Brett Bridge. In all, over one mile of track has been relaid in the closed season. The bridge over the A358 Minehead-Taunton road at Castle Hill has been repaired following a strike by a local council lorry earlier in 1998. This bridge is being repainted in GWR light and dark stone colours. Among several jobs for the new year is the installation of a facing connection from the down line at Williton into the west end of the Williton sidings. This will provide much easier access to the west end of the "Swindon" shed and obviate the extensive shunting that is often necessary to extricate stock. PW trains during the closed season were worked by a variety of diesel traction including Class 35 and Class 08. Finally the weekend of 6/7 March saw operation of the annual Steptoe rubbish clearance trains.
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More EWS stone trains

[Sun 07-Mar-99] Funding is now in place to undertake further coastal protection works, this time near Doniford where steady erosion over the years has left the WSR track close to the cliff edge. Reinforcement will be undertaken using large stone blocks at the foot of the cliff and is due to start in May. Although arrangements for transport of stone have yet to be finalised, it is likely that it will be brought in by train from the Mendip Quarries. Because a dedicated unloading siding is impractical, it is likely that EWS trains from Westbury will therefore run only as far as Bishops Lydeard. Wagons will then be tripped to the site as required by WSR heritage diesel traction based at Williton. The sight of Western hauled stone trains in Somerset looks a distinct possibility once again.
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Extra Trains in March

[Fri 26-Feb-99] Although the published timetable for March shows public services on only three days, in addition to the Gala weekend of 19-21 March, in practice many additional trains will be operating. These include a return Minehead-Williton service on Thursdays 4, 11, 18 and 26 March in connection with coach tour operator Shearings. These trains depart Minehead at 1400 and will be open for public use. In addition, footplate training courses using empty coaching stock trains will operate between Minehead and Blue Anchor on 9, 13, 15 and 29 March, with freight turns between Minehead on Williton on 23, 24 and 25 March. Special charter services operate between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead on six other days in March. Finally the weekend of 6/7 March will see the annual rubbish clearance train operating over the line.
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BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 no 76079

[Fri 05-Feb-99] Negotiations have now been completed to bring a further visiting engine to the West Somerset this year. This is BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 No 76079 which is currently based on the East Lancs Railway. The engine is expected to arrive at Bishops Lydeard by road in March, and will stay on the WSR until after the Autumn Steam Gala weekend of 10-12 September. This will be the sixth BR Standard engine to work on the WSR since preservation, the others being 70000, 71000, 73096, 75069 and 92220. The 82xxx class 2-6-2 tanks are the only BR Standard type known to have operated on the line in BR days. It is hoped that 76079 will arrive in time to take part in the Spring Gala weekend of 19-21 March, although this is not yet certain.
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Minehead station improvements

[Fri 05-Feb-99] Since the middle of 1998, responsibility for maintenance of Minehead Station area has been taken on by "The Friends of Minehead Station" (FoMS), an active band of volunteers who have already made their mark on the station. Among recent developments has been the resurfacing of the island platform with tarmac. Minehead station platform is believed tobe the longest on a preserved railway, with an overall length of sufficient to accommodate 16 BR Mark 1 coaches. The new surface complements the traditional style station lighting which has now replaced the modern fluorescent light fittings. In addition a new disabled toilet is being built under contract.

July 16 1999 marks the 125th anniversary of the arrival of the first train at Minehead, with the formal opening of the extension of the line from Watchet. The 125th anniversary is to be celebrated by a number of events. The first was on Sunday 17 January when the Grimethorpe Colliery Band presented an evening concert at the Regal Theatre in Minehead. Proceeds will be shared between the RNLI and the Friends of Minehead Station. During February a special screening of the feature film "Land Girls" will be held at the Regal Theatre. This film features shots at Crowcombe Heathfield station recorded in March 1995.
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Taunton Link developments

[Thu 04-Feb-99] A significant milestone in the development of the Taunton Link was achieved on January 25 when Somerset County Council agreed to provide a grant of £110,000 towards the £200,000 cost of re-signalling the junction at Norton Fitzwarren, where the WSR joins the Railtrack Taunton-Exeter main line. The remainder of the cost will be met by two other local councils together with Railtrack. The resignalling will allow the current limitation to a max of six through (chartered) passenger trains per year to be lifted, and would allow other operators such as Great Western, Virgin or Wales & West to schedule regular through services to the West Somerset within about two years time. The WSR does not currently intend to operate its own services through to Taunton because of the very high additional running costs that would be incurred.
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1999 Spring Gala Visitors

[Wed 13-Jan-99] Negotiations for visiting engines for the 1999 Steam Gala weekend on 19-21 March are now well advanced. In addition to the Severn Valley Railway GWR Mogul no 7325 already announced, the line-up of visiting locos is now expected to include Dennis Howell's large 94xx pannier tank no 9466 from Quainton Road, and the Mid-Hants' newly restored LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T tank no 41312. In addition it is hoped that the Dean Forest's small GWR prairie tank no 5541 will also be attending, although this is subject to the timely completion of winter maintenance work on the engine. Pannier 9681 will deputise if 5541 is unavailable. The visiting locos will be supplemented by members of the WSR's resident fleet to provide a weekend based on the theme of "Railways of Somerset Remembered"
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Diesel news

[Fri 01-Jan-99] Several changes of livery are planned for the resident WSR diesel loco fleet based at Williton Depot. Class 50 no 50117 Royal Oak currently in Railfreight two-tone grey livery is to be repainted into overall blue livery as D417. Crompton Class 33 no 33048 currently in blue is to be repainted back to green/white livery as D6566, while Hymek D7017 currently in blue with full yellow ends is to revert to blue with small yellow panels. Meanwhile work has commenced on the overhaul of sister Hymek D7018 which suffered a major engine failure in 1995. Components are being assembled to equip this loco with air brakes for possible main line use in due course. The diesel weekend on 15-16 May 1999 will this year feature the home fleet. The main diesel gala will be on 24-26 September and is expected to feature several visiting locomotives including a class 17 Clayton centre-cab Bo-Bo and an English Electric Class 40.
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The 1999 Service Timetable

[Fri 01-Jan-99] The West Somerset Railway's timetable for the 1999 season has now been published in a new colour brochure. Details may be found here. The operating season is broadly similar to 1998 - i.e. mid-March to late October, plus the Santa specials and the post-Christmas period. In addition, train services have been re-introduced on Sundays in November, which were postponed this year to allow important civil engineering work to take place.

The 'A' and 'B' timetables (Blue and Red dates respectively) remain more or less the same as last year, with four trains each way covered by two diagrams. Departure times in both timetables are the same, The 'A' timetable features, as before, 1 Steam and 1 Diesel diagram, whilst the 'B' timetable is exclusively all-steam.

The 'C' timetable (Green Dates) is more or less the same as in 1998 and features seven trains each way (five over the whole length of the line). It is covered by 2 steam diagrams (1 from BL, 1 from MD, each of 80 miles) and 1 dmu diagram. Two of the seven trains each way are Williton-Minehead dmu workings. This timetable will operate around the 'shoulders' of the high peak summer period, plus Friday & Saturdays during the high peak period.

The principal difference between 1999 and 1998 is in the 'D' timetable (Gold Dates), parts of which have been substantially re-cast in order to meet passenger needs and now features eight trains each way, all but one of which operate over the whole length of the line. This timetable is covered by 3 Steam diagrams (2 from BL, 1 from MD) and 1 dmu diagram. Whilst two of the steam diagrams are the same as in the 'C' timetable, the third steam diagram sees an 11.35am departure from BL, followed by an 'out and back' afternoon trip to Williton, before returning from Minehead at 4.45pm. Two workings each way including the first Down departure from Bishops Lydeard (9.40am) and the last Up departure from Minehead (5.30pm) are covered by the dmu, while the 5.55pm ex-BL, which was always lightly loaded, has been discontinued.

Trains will run on a total of 217 days in 1999, (compared with 211 in 1998), with Timetable 'A' on 75 days, 'B' on 42 days, 'C' on 32 days, 'D' on 46 days and Special Events on 22 days. Total mileage (excluding galas, special events, charters and extra services) is as follows:-
1999 1998
Steam 27,960 25,400
Diesel 12,240 13,880
Total 40,200 39,280

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