Gala Team News

Don Bishop updates the latest plans

After 21 months it was fantastic for the WSR to be able to put on a gala event once more after the Covid pandemic. As things had slowly returned towards normality in the summer, the gala planning team resumed their meetings, but online using video conferencing software. We looked at the options available to us and it was agreed to run two events in September and early October. There would be no budget for visiting locos so we put together the events using the home-based fleet of locos and rolling stock. The timetable was dictated by the resources we had available, and because the level crossing work at Minehead was still going on, the line could only be used to Dunster where the special shunting arrangements were in place. The bus link was provided between Dunster and Minehead, and the timetables had to be worked out from scratch. Our ever-enthusiastic team member Seb Welsh did a fantastic job putting these together for both events, especially given the limited resources available. The timetables also had to allow for the temporary closure of both Doniford Halt and Washford stations. The first event, the Mixed Traffic

Mogul No. 9351 enters Bishops Lydeard from under the road bridge 3 October 2021. Photo: Keith Smith

Weekend, used the home-based diesel fleet from the DEPG plus a couple of steam locos. The event was held on Friday and Saturday 17 and 18 September as we have found in the past that many diesel followers prefer to include a Friday in their visits rather than a Sunday, probably due to easier travel options when using public transport to get to and from the WSR. The DEPG fielded their two matching Class 33s, Nos. D6566 and D6575, and ever popular Hymek diesel hydraulic No. D7018. The operational Class 14 D9526 was away at the Kent & East Sussex Railway on a longer-term visit, so was unavailable. One steam loco (No. 5199 with a two-coach set) covered shuttles between Norton Fitzwarren, Bishops Lydeard and Williton on the Saturday, with the other worked top-andtail with one of the diesel fleet to and from Blue Anchor, to reduce running round times and provide for a reasonably-frequent timetable by not running these through to Dunster. The event ran very well, with time-keeping excellent overall and very few operational issues. So full credit to all involved in achieving this. We planned the return of our Autumn Steam Gala two weeks later, on Friday to Sunday 1 to 3 October. As we had just four steam locos available for traffic – Manors No. 7822 Foxcote Manor and No. 7828 Odney Manor, WSR Mogul No. 9351 and Large Prairie No. 5199 – we decided to ask the DEPG for their help by providing one diesel loco so we could offer as intensive a timetable as possible. For operational reasons a Class 33 was used on the first return trip and Hymek No. D7018 on the subsequent runs except the Class 33 covered all trips on the Sunday as the Hymek was stopped for an inspection following some concerns about a possible fault. The Quantock Belle team operated an allday breakfast service, and we had an additional Fish and Chips Special on the Saturday evening to Blue Anchor with double-headed Manors, which proved popular. We also had excellent support from our colleagues in the museums, and

An incoming RTC special hauled by LMS Jubilee Class No. 5596 Bahamas is seen entering Bishops Lydeard, 14 August 2021. Photo: Cliff Woodhead.

displays at stations along the line to put on a great show for our supporters despite the difficult circumstances. Both events were well supported and although they certainly didn't break any records for revenue they were enjoyed by visitors, staff and volunteers, which is a very important part of running our heritage railway. If we provide good gala events that supporters enjoy, they are more likely to give to appeals at a later date, and our staff and volunteers are more likely to continue working on the railway. These facets of the railway must never be forgotten, and although they can't always have a monetary value to show in the accounts, they are invaluable. After some 25 years being involved with gala planning (although I did take a short break between 2009 and 2013), having started with a diesel gala back in 1995 and then the first big Somerset & Dorset event in 1996, I have decided to retire as chairman of the gala planning team. I took over as chairman in 2017 after my former colleague John Cronin retired. During my years on the team, I have often taken a lead in obtaining visiting locos and I look back with pride at being responsible for the first visits to the line of both King and Castle classes alongside Bulleid Pacifics, Black Fives, Britannias and many others. Diesel galas also have been an important task, and several diesel hydraulic galas and visits by 40s, Peaks, Deltics and others have been a joy to see. The complexity of putting these events together is huge and I have enjoyed working with a great number of team members to bring it all together. I hope you, our members and supporters, have enjoyed it too. The good news is that there will still be WSR galas in the future and I have handed over the reins to Seb Welsh, who is very enthusiastic to see them continue. I will still be very much a supporter of the WSR and will be seen around the railway when time allows, and I will be available to Seb and the team to give any advice and experience that I can.