W S R
JOURNAL NUMBER 154
AUTUMN 2016
:: Countdown to Closure - Somerset & Dorset :: Broadening Our Appeal :: :: Through-Ticketing Launch :: Brunel K Beagle ::
INFORMATION West Somerset Railway Association www.wsra.org.uk The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3BX. Association General Manager: Jacquie Green, 01823 431311, manager@wsra.org.uk Association Administrator: Keith Sandford, 01823 433856, wsra@btconnect.com Retail Sales: Kate Beard, 01823 432125, wsrashop@btconnect.com Engineering Manager: Ray Waldron, 01984 633547, admin@wsrestoration.co.uk Chairman: Frank Courtney, Vice Chairman: Michael Rowe. Trustees: Nigel Adams, Barrie Childs, Magda Davies, Will Foster, Rodney Greenway, Simon Stretton, Martyn Snell, Roger Thompson, Company Secretary: Paul Whitehouse Area Groups HOME COUNTIES: Keith Smith, 29 Avington Close, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5LW, 0118 942 2833, TAUNTON: Robin White, Station House, Stogumber, Taunton, Somerset. TA4 3TR
West Somerset Railway Plc www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk The Railway Station, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5BG. 01643 704996 Talking Timetable: (24 hours) 01643 707650. Chairman: John Irven, Vice Chairman: Ian Coleby. Company Secretary: Geoff Pateman, Finance Director: Chris Bolt. Directors: Ric Auger, Humphrey Davies, Geoff Evens, Ian Harrison, Mark Smith, Steve Williams, Richard Lillis, Ken Davidge. Associate Directors: Paul Conibeare, Andy Forster GENERAL MANAGER: Paul Conibeare. HEAD OF COMMERCIAL SERVICES: Colin Howard. CHIEF MECHANICAL ENGINEER: Andrew Forster. HEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE: Andrew Young OPERATING SUPERINTENDENT: Steve Martin
West Somerset Steam Railway Trust www.wssrt.co.uk The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3BX. President: Lady Elizabeth Gass, DCVO. Chairman: Christopher Austin OBE Directors: Christopher Bolt CB (Treasurer), Ian Coleby, David Baker, Claire Sheppy, Pete Treharne, John Jenkins.
W S R
JOURNAL NUMBER 154 AUTUMN 2016 The WSR Journal is published four times a year. It is the journal of the West Somerset Railway Association and covers activities on the whole West Somerset Railway. Editor: RICHARD JONES wsrjournal@gmail.com 30, Park Avenue, Oakworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD22 7JJ. Editorial Team: Tom Adams, Don Bishop, Ian Coleby, Richard Jones (Editor), Martyn Snell, Allan Stanistreet, Keith Smith, Ian Tabrett ADVERTISING: please contact Martyn Snell c/o The Editor Š Copyright 2016 West Somerset Railway Association. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the Editor. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor, the WSRA Trustees or the West Somerset Railway Plc. The Editor is always pleased to receive readers news views articles and photographs for possible use in the Journal. Material sent is at contributor’s own risk. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope for acknowledgment of material. If no clear instructions are received the Editor will retain work submitted on file. As the WSRA is a largely voluntary body - fees are not normally paid for contributions.
Contents Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Brunel K Beagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Consultation Day - from the outside. . . . 11 Countdown to Closure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 GWR Away Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Just Another Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Travel by Train and Foot!. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Broadening Our Appeal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 WSR People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Departmental Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Special Events and Special Trains . . . . . . 60 Dear Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Station Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 News from the WSR Groups . . . . . . . . . . 75 Association News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Front Cover: Recalling memories of double-headed trains on the Somerset & Dorset, LMS '4F' No 44422 and SR 'Battle of Britain' No 34070 Manston pass Sampford Brett on 12 March 2016. Photo: Don Bishop Back Cover: During the early evening of 9 August, Peckett 0-4-0ST No 1788 Kilmersdon approaches Kentsford Crossing whilst heading back to base at Washford after appearing at the Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally at Norton Fitzwarren. Photo: Tim Edmonds Frontispiece: Having arrived in Platform 2 at the head of "The Somerset Coast Express" from London Paddington, LMS 'Royal Scot' No 46115 Scots Guardsman is about to be uncoupled, with the train being taken forward to Minehead by S&DJR '7F' 2-8-0 No 53808 on 16 July 2016. Photo: Cliff Woodhead Centrespread: The classic West Somerset Railway scene. GWR 'Hall' Class 4-6-0 No 4936 Kinlet Hall approaches Blue Anchor with the 10.15 MineheadBishops Lydeard on Thursday 14 July 2016. Photo: Alan Turner
COPY DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 20 OCTOBER 2016 1
EDITORIAL n THE last few months have been another very busy period in the life of the West Somerset Railway, and you will be able to read about much of the progress that continues to be made in the pages of this issue. It has not all been plain sailing of course – there will always be challenges we have to face – and there have been times when, operationally, the railway has been considerably stretched over the summer, but the last quarter has again seen the Railway, and the Association, make further strides forward. However, one thing is certain – there is always room for improvement and we can never afford to rest on our laurels…… n SINCE the Summer issue, the WSRA Trustees have continued to work very hard – a lot of it behind the scenes – both to get the Association 'back on track' after all the recent problems and to address some of the poor decision-making of the former Trustees, and to start plotting a positive course of action for the future. It has taken a great deal of effort and commitment, but there are already many positive signs of recovery, which is to be commended. One of the tasks the Trustees have been actively engaged in is reading and assimilating the various responses from members to the Consultation Paper sent out with the last WSR Journal. Whilst we are grateful to everyone who has contributed to the process, this has been no easy task. Enclosed with this issue you will find a number of important documents, including the formal notice of the AGM and associated papers, and a draft Development Plan to be discussed, and hopefully endorsed, thereat. A new set of Trustees will be elected at the
AGM, whose principal task will be to continue to take the Association forward – they deserve our support.
n One could be forgiven for thinking that the WSR has been in the midst of a Midland takeover! With the only two surviving S&DJR '7F' 2-8-0s, Nos 53808/09, and '4F' 0-6-0 No 44422 based on the line this year (and next), the summer of 2016 has also witnessed the visit of an impressive quartet of main line certificated LMS locomotives on charter trains off the national network – Nos 46115 Scots Guardsman, 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, 45699 Galatea and 46201 Princess Elizabeth. n Finally, at the end of October the railway says 'farewell' to Andrew (Andy) Forster, who retires as the Company's Chief Mechanical Engineer after many years' service. After starting as a volunteer in the late 1970s – and getting actively involved with the restorations of No 4561 and 'Terrier' No 32678 among other things – Andy was appointed to the paid staff as CME in late 1989, and has thus held the post for some 27 years, which is quite an achievement in itself. In such a role, you are never of course going to please everyone all of the time – nor, indeed, should you ever seek to – but over that period Andy has overseen many developments in the Locomotive Department, not least the significant improvement in shed/workshop facilities at both Minehead and Bishops Lydeard, and projects to restore/overhaul Nos 9351, 7828 and 53808. Thank you Andy, and best wishes in your retirement. Richard Jones 3
NEWS NEW BOOK
RAIL-EX TAUNTON 2016
A comprehensive history of the Taunton to Barnstaple line – which, like the Minehead branch, joined the West of England main line at Norton Fitzwarren – is to be published in the autumn, written by Freddie Huxtable.
READERS will be interested to know that the very popular annual Rail Ex Taunton exhibition will this year be held at Taunton School (Staplegrove Road, Taunton TA2 6AD) on Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 October, organised by the Somerset Railway Modellers Club.
Published by Lightmoor, and to appear in two volumes, it will be a sister book to Ian Coleby's excellent book on the Minehead branch. Volume 1 is due for publication in October – for more information see www.devonandsomersetrailway.co.uk . STAYING PUT AGREEMENT has recently been reached with the owners of the second S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No 53809 for the locomotive to remain based on the WSR until the end of 2017.
Open from 10.00-17.00 on the Saturday and 10.00 to 16.00 on the Sunday, the 2016 show will be the largest organised by SRMC, with the addition of an extra room for exhibits, yet the entry price remains unchanged. It will also feature one of the largest and most impressive model railways in the region, the O gauge double track main line 'Summit' (Railway Modeller April 2016) by the Yeovil Model Railway Group. Admission costs £6.50 (Adult), £5.50 (Senior), £3.50 (Child 3-16) and £15 (Family 2+2), whilst the under-fives get in free. A wide variety of layouts in all the other main gauges will be represented, supported by a comprehensive trade presence. Following the success of SRMC debut layout 'Oake' last year - club members have constructed three new layouts especially for the show (Pant-yLlynr, Seven Ash & Westwood Yard). In an effort to encourage the next generation of modellers the show has a Brio layout and toddler friendly trail to find the ten missing 'show helpers' in the form of cuddly toys which are hiding around the exhibition. A family 'Can you find it?' trail
Now staying for another year - 53809 at Williton on 4 March 2016. Photo: Alan Turner
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should help maintain interest for older children and adults when viewing the exhibits. A wide range of food will be available served in the historic main school restaurant, including Sunday roast. The venue is fully accessible and there is ample free parking. For more information about the event see www.somersetrmc.org.uk/Rail-EX/index, or contact Peter West on 07891 041026. FREEDOM OF THE LINE IN a new initiative, the Railway launched a brand new ticket – 'Freedom of the Line' – on 13 June. This new ticket aims to encourage visitors, particularly holidaymakers, to use the trains for more than one day. The ticket is valid for unlimited travel for up to seven days and sold in three classes only – adult, young person or family – and attractively priced at £25, £12.50 and £60 respectively. The ticket is not valid during Special Events and cannot be used with any other discount, voucher or pass.
TANKS IN TOWN! TWO Great Western tank engines – both at one time based at Taunton shed (but not at the same time) – have been confirmed for the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala on 6-9 October. GWR '8750' Class 0-6-0PT No 4612, which is making its second visit to the line having previously attended the 2014 Autumn Gala, is based at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in Cornwall, whilst '4575' Class 2-6-2T No 5542 is no stranger to the line and will be based back on the WSR from mid-September for around six weeks. NEW WEBSITE THE Company have been seeking, and are currently in the process of reviewing, quotations received for the redesign of the Railway's official website. DUCHESS VISIT THE Railway hosted the visit of a 'Duchess' over the first weekend of August………by The first appearance of a 'Duchess' on the Minehead branch since 13 March 1975! LMS 'Coronation' Class 4-6-2 No 46233 Duchess of Sutherland waits 'for the road' to exit the Up Sidings at Bishops Lydeard on 6 August. Photo: Peter Darke
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none other than the immaculate LMS 'Princess Coronation' Class 4-6-2 No 46233 Duchess of Sutherland. The loco arrived with its support coach for overnight stabling in connection with working Railway Touring Company's “Royal Duchy” charter train, which it worked between Taunton and Par on 7 August. Not to be outdone, two further ex-LMS main line-certificated locomotives – 'Royal Scot' No 46115 Scots Guardsman and 'Jubilee' No 45699 Galatea – have also worked to Bishops Lydeard on RTC's “West Somerset Steam Express” summer programme of charters, the train being taken forward to Minehead in both cases by No 53808. SOMERSET CAMRA FESTIVAL THE Somerset Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) this year held their 17th Annual Real Ale & Cider Festival at the Quantock Brewery, adjacent to Bishops Lydeard station, on 9-10 September with 50 real ales and 10 ciders available, as well as hot food. The Company had previously decreed that the CAMRA-organised Festival could no longer be held on the platform at Minehead as it had been for several years, citing 'safety reasons', so as a gesture of goodwill the WSR offered card carrying CAMRA members a discount of 25 per cent on Standard Adult Day Rover tickets for this year's event. RAIL ALE TRAIL ON a similar theme, the PLC is planning to hold its own first 'Rail Ale Trail' event as part of the 2017 Mixed Traffic Weekend – more details to follow in due course. ALL CHANGE THE Company has recently signed a new lease into one of the offices at The Hub, 6
which is one of the offices adjacent to the railway at Minehead, which by the time you read this should be occupied by the Commercial Department. WATCHET BOAT MUSEUM VISITORS to the WSR, and to Watchet station in particular, will have noticed that building work has been going on in and around the former railway goods shed over recent months. The building, which is occupied by Watchet Boat Museum, has been refurbished and extended, and some adjacent fencing and path work undertaken as part of the project. PLAYING AWAY SEVERAL WSR-based locomotives have visited, or are due to visit, other heritage railways in the second half of 2016. Class 33 No D6575 was the guest locomotive at the Diesel Gala on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 29-31 July, whilst 'Hymek' No D7017 attended the MidNorfolk Gala on 9-11 September. On the steam front, 7F No 53809 visited the North Norfolk Gala for their Steam Gala over the first weekend in September, before moving on to attend similar events at both the Swanage and Mid-Hants lines the following month. WSR CLASSIC CAR RUN Event Organiser Robin White reports: THE second annual WSR Classic Car Run was held on Sunday 19 June, Father's Day. A total of 56 classic cars from the 1920's to the 1970's gathered at Bishops Lydeard Station from 9am, and set off at 11am on a 37-mile route taking in some wonderful West Somerset scenery, staying close to the Railway. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
In the pouring rain, an impressive array of classic cars line-up on the forecourt outside Minehead station on 19 June. Photo: Malcolm Garner
After passing most WSR stations the cars parked up at Minehead station for the afternoon and many participants then took a trip on the train. Thanks are due to Colin, Rachel, John and Phil for their marshalling. We are also grateful to the Beach Hotel, Minehead for making their forecourt available, as they did last year. Through the generosity of Watchet Town Council the Promenade at Watchet was opened for the run this year as an addition to last year's route. The oldest car on the run was a 1925 Riley, brought by Mr Coomber of Hinton St George. British cars were strongly represented, including a particularly good showing of MGB's. Next year's Run will be on 4 June 2017, the first Sunday in the month, which will avoid clashes with other events and should bring an even bigger turn out! WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
Wick House Bed and Breakfast, Stogumber. Philip and Sheila welcome visitors to the West Somerset Railway. With a friendly informal atmosphere, your comfort is important to us. Twin double or super King rooms available. All rooms en suite with either a bath, a shower or bath with shower over. Hospitality trays, complimentary toiletries and flat screen TVs in all rooms. TV lounge, sitting room, garden and licenced bar available. Please ring Sheila or Philip 01984 656422 or sheila@wickhouse.co.uk www.wickhouse.co.uk
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BRUNEL K BEAGLE Marketing Officer, SAMANTHA WHITE, reports.
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behind the character. We sent the two options to a design company called Colour Heroes, after we did some research into companies that could provide us, not only with activity sheets but with the design element of our character and offered a fantastic service, with brilliant support throughout the creation, allowing us to have as much input into the character as we needed. We also sent them pictures of members of staff and their uniforms, as it was important to make our character part of the team. Colour Heroes design team looked at the two options and came up with a design; they chose the beagle as being the best-looking out of the two designs and introduced this to us, they added a hat and jacket and the first draft of Brunel was sent to us. Within a second of seeing him, we knew he was the character for us. They had used a photograph of one of our guards (James Mills) to design his outfit and we finally had our character.
We managed to introduce the activity sheets and Brunel himself in the summer of this year (2016). We intend to enhance the use of Brunel to its full potential throughout 2017 so watch this space. For more details of Brunel please visit our website where we have a dedicated page for Brunel.
PHOTOGRAPHS The Editor welcomes the submission of good quality photographs for the WSR Journal. It would help if these contributions (including articles, news items etc) were submitted in electronic format, on disk or emailed to wsrjournal@gmail.com. Digital photographs should be supplied as high resolution images, with a caption and photographer's credit. These should be at least 2MB. All contributions will be retained on file for possible future use unless advised otherwise.
We had to then think about his name and look further into his character. We wanted to spark a link to railways and heritage and have this projected in his name to show the connection between us. We felt that Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a key character in the creation of railways, would be a great link that would get children thinking and we could develop links to the history of Brunel in the future. However, after doing some research, we felt that we did not want to take such an iconic name and use it directly, so we thought up a name that used the general ideals and Brunel K Beagle seemed to do the job. The alliteration of the name would create a feeling of rhythm like the sound of an engine going over the tracks and grabs children's attention. We also added to the mystery by using the K so that we could use this to generate interest in the character at a later date. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
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COTTIFORD BRIDGE Cottiford Bridge is located near the hamlet of Woolston, between Williton and Stogumber. Above: BR(W) '5101' Class 2-6-2T No 4160 bursts under the bridge with a photographers' charter train on 2 January 2016. After ten years excellent service on the line, No 4160 is now undergoing overhaul at Llangollen. Meanwhile, the Company are raising funds to restore sister locomotive, No 4110. Photo: Alan Turner Below: In a more distant view, and taken from the opposite side of the line, the double-headed combination of LMS '8F' No 48624 and SR 'Battle of Britain' No 34070 Manston head for Bishops Lydeard with the 08.45 from Minehead on 10 March during the highly successful 'Somerset & Dorset 50' Gala. Photo Alan Turner
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CONSULTATION DAY – FROM THE OUTSIDE IAN TABRETT gives a personal perspective on the WSRA Consultation Day held on 24 July. FOR an outsider like me, hostilities between elements of the WSRA and other Trustees plus the WSR plc seemed to go on bafflingly and increasingly unpleasantly for years. I have been supporting both organisations for three decades, mostly as an occasional passenger and now and then financially, but I knew none of the individuals involved, had absolutely no clue as to the origins of all that rancour, real or imagined, or all those insults that were flying around with ever-growing frequency. It all seemed so very unpleasant, unnecessarily and potentially ruinous to both groups. But then came the Association's EGM in February to bring a new regime to the helm; now there seemed every prospect of sanity returning. And it was with enormous relief for me, and I am sure for many hundreds of other “outsiders”, that the idea of the Association's Consultation Day was formulated by those new Trustees. The object, they said, was to gain the opinions of members while giving them an interesting and productive event. There can be no doubt that was achieved with spectacular success. The planning and organisation of the event was immaculate, and clearly involved a huge amount of thought, planning and very hard work, but for all those who turned up on the day, it was all well worthwhile. The DMU, laid on as a special charter by the PLC, was not only an excellent way for everyone to travel but also to get to know WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
one another – it was quite astonishing how far, hundreds of miles in a number of cases, people had come to take part and show their support for the WSRA and its Trustees. During the trip it was also good to meet and chat with Association Chairman Frank Courtney and the other Trustees while at Williton, after very welcome refreshments, it was fascinating to see the loop extension, the vital work of the Restorations and DEPG workshops, and to meet staff and volunteers. The journey back to Norton Fitzwarren also gave an idea of the fine fettle in which the line and its locomotives and rolling stock are maintained, and to learn about the management of the triangle and operations on the surrounding land...and to discover that the white line on the edge of the platform on the side away from the rails isn't a safety measure but marks the boundary between WSRA and PLC land! A quick walk to Bishops Lydeard Village Hall for an excellent buffet lunch prepared for us, then down to serious business. Frank Courtney, PLC Chairman John Irven and the other speakers then briefed members on the incredible task they have undertaken to find a better way ahead. They spoke with humour and clarity of vision, and – incredibly, in view of what has gone on before – without rancour, bitterness or recrimination. They still have a huge task ahead but the trustees showed they listen to members and have the integrity, skill and determination to achieve a much better and brighter future. 11
COUNTDOWN TO CLOSURE JOHNATHAN EDWARDS provides a different perspective leading to the closure of the much-loved Somerset & Dorset line in 1966*
A costly way of working...... A trio of LMS '2P' Class 4-4-0s, Nos 40700/40564/40657 wait in the centre road at Evercreech Junction on Saturday 2 August 1958 ready to pilot Up trains over the Mendips to Bath. Photo: John Woods/S&DRT Collection
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increase on those of 1913, as a result of increases to compensate for high wartime and post-war inflation. Work shifts had not been recast to take account of the introduction of an eight hour working day across the railway industry as a whole. The cost of raw materials, outdated working methods, and outdated plant and machinery at the Highbridge Works all impacted negatively. Staffing across the board was reduced in number - at stations, at running sheds, in administrative functions at headquarters in Bath. No-one was immune - clerks, porters, Permanent Way gangers, foremen, signalmen, station masters; even the Assistant Locomotive Superintendent was made redundant. Two of the Commission's recommendations were not immediately proceeded with, but merely delayed until 1930. These were the abolition of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, the system to be worked by the parent companies, the rolling stock to be split between the parent companies; and the closure of Highbridge Works, with Derby undertaking all locomotive repairs. The Grouping of 1923 Britain's entire railway system had emerged from the First World War in a poor state. Nationalisation was considered, but deemed politically unacceptable. The outcome of the Railways Act of 1921 was the amalgamation of over one hundred companies into the 'Big Four' to achieve economies of scale and 'critical mass'. From 1 July 1923, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Company was dissolved, the line becoming the legal property of the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) and Southern Railway (SR).
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The LMS - biggest of the Four - was principally concerned with goods and passenger traffic in and between Britain's major industrial conurbations - London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool (with its docks and trade with America and Ireland), Glasgow - plus coal from the East Midlands. The SR's foremost consideration was its expanding commuting passenger traffic derived from the growing London conurbation, as people moved out from overcrowded inner London to the leafy suburbs - and the electrification that went with it. This was assisted by government incentives, such as grants to cover interest payments from 1929(1). In the 1930s electrification was extended further afield Brighton in 1933, Portsmouth in 1937. There was little modernisation in longer distance steam routes which were not hugely profitable, if at all - such as those to and within Devon and Cornwall. Set against these commercial and financial priorities, the Somerset & Dorset was never going to be high on the list for investment and improvement. The Motor Menace At the end of the war, road competition became an increasing threat, initially in the carriage of goods. Many former First World War servicemen invested their demobilisation money in the purchase of lorries which were now surplus to wartime requirements, and entered into an unregulated road haulage market to compete with the railways. The essentially rural nature of S&D territory with its hinterland of farms, villages and small towns made it ideal for small to medium local goods deliveries by road. The General Strike in 1926 boosted small independent carriers and encouraged larger firms to set up their own road transport delivery fleets. 13
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Midsomer Norton station, 11 September 1961. Photo: S&DRT Collection
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BR Standard Class 4 No 76029 stands at Blandford Forum station with the 6.48am Bath Green park to Bournemouth West on 24 August 1963. Photo: John Woods/S&DRT Collection
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Although this proposal did not come to fruition, the commitment of the LMS to retaining the main line was amply demonstrated just after the war. In February 1946, a part of Bath Road viaduct at Shepton Mallet carrying Up line collapsed, and required rebuilding. The following year, the Down line across the viaduct was closed for nearly a month to permit remedial work to the stonework. Repairs not necessitating closure were undertaken on Nettlebridge, Ham Wood, Charlton and Prestleigh viaducts(14). The overall cost was nearly £100,000 - around £3.7m in today's prices. As after the previous war, the close of the Second World War saw Britain's railways in a rundown condition with a backlog of renewals. This time, nationalisation was seen as the way forward, and took place in 1948. Post-war austerity meant, however, that finance for renewals was not immediately forthcoming. Within a few years, a number of unremunerative branches were closed; these included Highbridge-Burnham, Wells and Bridgwater on the S&D. Upon nationalisation, the S&D was assigned to the Southern Region. Commercially, the line was subsequently split between the Southern and Western Regions, the boundary moving progressively ever-southward; in the vicinities of Cole in 1950, Templecombe in 1958 and Blandford in 1963. The 1950s - no sign of closure British Railways' Modernisation Plan of 1955 concentrated on dieselisation, electrification, the modernisation of the signalling and permanent way, and the updating of rolling stock. In terms of the Southern Region, this meant a continuing emphasis on electrification, particularly the outer commuter lines in Kent, rather than WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
renewals and upgrading on loss-making steam lines in the West Country. As the postwar recovery picked up, so increasingly did private car ownership. Rail-borne traffic continued to decline, both in terms of passenger and freight. In retrospect, the plan sought to modernise the railways on the basis that the system would continue to carry traffic that it had traditionally carried. It should have taken into account changing patterns of travel - crucially, mass car ownership and the loss of single wagon-load freight to road hauliers. Twerton Viaduct over the Lower Bristol Road in Bath had caused structural problems over a number of years. The Western Region took over the proposal to re-deck the viaduct in 1950 and persisted with it until the work was completed in 1958(15). In 1959, trials took place with a WD 2-8-0 and an ex-GWR 66xx 0-6-2T with a view to finding a replacement for the aging S&D 7F 2-8-0s(16). Evidence that, even in the late 1950s, there was still a commitment to keep the line open. On the S&D, the availability of new BR Standard Class locomotives should have enabled faster passenger schedules to be run - S&D Fireman Peter Smith has noted that a 20 minutes late departure from Templecombe could be turned around with a right-time arrival at Bournemouth West(17); however, timetables were not recast to take advantage. One bright spot was the growth in summer Saturday holiday traffic during the 1950s, only to fall back again in the 1960s as mass car ownership took hold. The S&D benefitted temporarily from this trend, but by 1963, the decline meant that Bournemouth services to and from the Midlands and the North could be accommodated via Basingstoke, Reading and Oxford. 17
Pylle (Halt) on the S&D Highbridge branch - 4 July 1959. The station had only five passengers per day by the early 1960s. Photo: Ron Toop/S&DRT Collection
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councillors and other leading local figures. The purpose was to discuss in private what prospects there might be for new traffic on the S&D, thereby averting its closure. Unfortunately, it became clear that the aforementioned dignitaries neither envisaged nor intended to plan any industrial developments that might revive the line(21).
signalling and a consequent speedier service failed to materialise; there would not have been an adequate return on the necessary investment. At closure, it was still operating essentially as it had done in its Victorian and Edwardian hey-days. The First World War had been the turning point, as indeed it marked the turning point for all Britain's railways.
Closure was set for 30 September 1963, but the intensity of the opposition was such that an inquiry could not be completed in time. In June 1964, closure was scheduled for the subsequent September; again, the Transport Users' Consultative Committee could not complete its deliberations within the short timescale. However, from 7 September, all overnight freight trains were withdrawn.
* This article was originally published in 'Pines Express' No 280 and is reproduced here with permission from the author and the S&DRT. The Editor is grateful to Johnathan Edwards and Rod Ormiston for their kind assistance with the publication of this article.
Due process having finally been completed, on 6 September 1965 the Minister of Transport gave his consent to closure. On 12 November, a BR spokesman confirmed that the line would be closed as from 3 January 1966. But the drama was not over yet. On 14 December, it became known that one of the bus operators was unable to deliver one of the replacement services, due to staff shortages and other difficulties. Hence, an 'Interim Emergency Service' was put into operation, and the line staggered on another couple of months before services were finally discontinued on 7 March 1966. The S&D had primarily connected a small city with a modestly-sized holiday resort, serving only small rural towns and villages in between. It had been a difficult and expensive line to operate. Costs had been rising, whilst traffic had stagnated and gone into decline as early as the 1920s. Latter-day upgrading in the form of dieselisation, centralised traffic control with modern WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
Notes Note 1: Last Trains, Dr. Beeching and the Death of Rural England - Charles Loft; p23 Note 2: Somerset & Dorset Joint Line Officers' Minutes 1923 - 1930, Item 7889, General Report from the Traffic Superintendent, 11 April 1927. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/28) Note 3: Somerset & Dorset Joint Line Officers' Minutes 1923 - 1930, Item 7870, General Report from the Traffic Superintendent, 5 July 1927. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/28) Note 4: Somerset & Dorset Joint Line Officers' Minutes 1923 - 1930, Item 7936, General Report from the Traffic Superintendent, 1 January 1928. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/28) Note 5: Somerset & Dorset Joint Line Officers' Minutes 1923 - 1930, Item 8112, General Report from the Traffic Superintendent, 25 October 1929. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/28) Note 6: Somerset & Dorset Joint Line Officers' Minutes 1923 - 1930, Item 8024, General Report from the Traffic Superintendent, 25 January 1929. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/28) Note 7: Southern and London Midland & Scottish Railways Joint Conference Minutes 1930 - 1936, Item 67, 8 January 1931. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/29). Note 8: Southern and London Midland & Scottish Railways Joint Conference Minutes 1930 - 1936, Item 288, 11 November 1931. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/29) Note 9: Southern and London Midland & Scottish Railways Joint Conference Minutes 1930 - 1936, Item 298, Report on Traffic Department submitted by
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Messrs. Byrom and Ashton Davies, 13 January 1933. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/29) Note 10: Southern and London Midland & Scottish Railways Joint Conference Minutes 1930 - 1936, Item 358, 7 July 1933. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/29) Note 11: Southern and London Midland & Scottish Railways Joint Conference Minutes 1930 - 1936, Item 436, 13 April 1934. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/29) Note 12: Southern and London Midland & Scottish Railways Joint Conference Minutes, Item 719, 15 January 1937. (The National Archives; RAIL 626/31) Note 13: Line Drawings - Roger Newman; Pines Express No. 194, p16 Note 14: Viaducts & Tunnels around Shepton Mallet, Part 3 - Mike Beale; Pines Express No. 196, pp8-10
Note 19: Committee for the Review of Uneconomic Branch Lines and Stations - amendment to the notes of meeting held at Waterloo on 10 May 1962. (Courtesy Bristol Railway Archive, via Tim Chapman) Note 20: British Railways Board History - The National Archives Note 21: Remembering the Somerset & Dorset railway Stephen Townroe; SDRT Bulletin No. 110, p6 General Sources Railways Since 1939 - H C Casserley A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol 2 - Southern England - H P White The Last Years of the Somerset & Dorset - Colin G Maggs Radstock Coal and Steam, Volume 1 - Chris Handley The Somerset & Dorset Railway - Barrie & Clinker The Somerset & Dorset Railway - Robin Atthill
Note 15: The Bridge File - Re-decking Twerton Viaduct Rod Ormston; Pines Express No. 267, pp9-11 Note 16: Mendips Engineman - Peter Smith; p31 Note 17: Mendips Engineman - Peter Smith; p33 Note 18: Radstock Coal and Steam, Volume 1 - Chris Handley; p117
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SOMERSET & DORSET '7F’ The WSR is currently the home of the only two surviving 7F 2-8-0 locomotives, a class of just eleven locomotives built by the Midland Railway in two batches (1914 and 1925) for the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. Above: No 53808 - owned by the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust and based on the WSR - passes over Mineral Line Bridge on the climb out of Watchet with the Bishops Lydeard-Minehead leg of the Railway Touring Company's "West Somerset Steam Express" charter train from London Paddington on 16 July. Photo: Cliff Woodhead Below: Back in the early spring, No 53809 - the penultimate member of the class, also turned out in unlined BR black - makes an impressive sight at Stones Wood on the climb up to Crowcombe Heathfield with an Up train on Sunday 13 March 2016. Photo: Don Bishop
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GWR AWAY DAY COLIN HOWARD gives the background to the new through ticketing initiative, the launch of which saw a Class 150 DMU traverse the branch. WHEN I joined the WSR plc as Retail manager in 2007, I recall that passengers could buy an inclusive ticket with First Bus from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. This new arrangement with GWR (formerly First Great Western) of the national network, is a rebirth and extension of that. Having become Head of Commercial Services – in other words I am responsible for all the services and products that make money – I was aware that there were two relationships that needed some work in developing; those with Butlins at Minehead and with GWR. As a result of introductions by Visit Somerset, who are involved with GWR to increase tourism to Somerset, the General Manager, Paul Conibeare, John Turner, Chief Executive of Visit Somerset, and I set off on a crisp January morning to Paddington Station in London to meet with representatives from First Bus, owners of Buses of Somerset, and GWR. Those present included: Partnerships Manager, David Gardner; Fares Implementation Manager Major Projects, Guy Watts; and First Bus' Operations Director, Andrew Saunders. In advance of the meeting, our target was to get an agreement in principle for through ticketing from Paddington to Minehead – no easy matter when you think of the parties involved and their different systems and targets. In reality, the meeting was friendly and cordial and the GWR and First representatives couldn't have been more WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
helpful. Right from the start they approached the issues in a positive manner and were prepared to look at how things might be achieved. Including allowing the lower, discounted fare to be valid on the peak period, 07.30 departure from Paddington, which meant that travellers could arrive at Bishops Lydeard in time to catch the first departure at 10.25. It was also agreed that through ticketing would be offered from most major stations, including Reading, Swindon, Exeter, Plymouth, Cardiff, Bath, Bristol and Oxford, all at a reduced rate on the standard fare. We left Paddington feeling a real sense of achievement, but there was much work ahead to make it all come to fruition. We had agreed a target of the beginning of April to get the first tickets on sale, GWR took the lead in pulling together all the ticket prices and options from the three parties involved and set to work on the marketing – creating leaflets and posters, which would be distributed along the mainline network and through travel shows that we attended. After much form filling, proof reading and more meetings nearer home, the tickets went on sale in early April. GWR have kindly stood the cost of ticket printing, online ticket sales, leaflets, posters and even our first class return fare to London. In a matter of a few days the first tickets had been sold to customers from Exeter and Plymouth. On Sunday, 19 June, GWR brought a Class 150 unit (No 150 247) in brand new GWR 23
GWR AWAY DAY With the visiting Class 150 2-car DMU and No 6960 Raveningham Hall as a backdrop, represenatives from GWR (formerly First Great Western) and the WSR pose for the camera on the platform at Minehead on 19 June 2016, the day of the through ticketing launch. Photos: Colin Howard
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green livery on to WSR metals for an official launch of the product at Minehead Station. GWR sold tickets from Taunton for the event and donated the fares and money taken for souvenirs and on the buffet to local charity, Conquest, which provides horse riding for the disabled near Bishops Lydeard Station. They also auctioned off items on the station, including a limited edition print of the Class 150 and, in the end, several hundred pounds went to the charity. In addition, the WSR donated its share of the fare to the same charity. A representative of Conquest was present at the launch to receive the donation. Representatives from GWR, Buses of Somerset, the local authority, Visit Somerset, local tourist attractions and plc board members and staff took part in the launch ceremony and a letter of support from actress Jenny Agutter was read out by John Turner. John Turner the Chief Executive went on to say: “We have studied a previous example of this kind of development in East Grinstead on the Bluebell Railway. Although it was a cross platform link we still believe that we can derive connections between the two schemes due to West Somerset Railway as an attraction being far larger. The Bluebell Railway team saw 60,000 more visitors and an increase of over a million pounds. With some extensive marketing for West Somerset Railway we will hope that we can see those types of increases over a five-year period.” GWR's David Gardner said: “Dedicated to the communities and the region we serve, this new ticketing deal is ideal for daytrippers, helping them to leave the car at home and make the most of the attractions that Somerset has to offer.” WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
This represents a major breakthrough for the WSR and gives added publicity and credibility to the area as a visitor attraction; not to mention the added kudos for the WSR in working with its big railway partner. It has created the framework for the day when trains will come from the network to Bishops Lydeard, as is intended now in 2018. All the ticketing arrangements and systems will already be in place, so that is one less barrier to be breached. We plan now to develop the product, which at the moment is only valid for day trips. The next stage, to be launched just before Easter 2017, is the extension of the validity of the through tickets to allow visitors to travel to Minehead from the aforementioned stations and return after a longer visit. This may then appeal to holidaymakers and Butlins visitors and will extend the reach of the product. Some work needs to be done before this can happen, but I am confident that, with the co-operation we have had so far, our target can be achieved.
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JUST ANOTHER DAY…… THE EDITOR reports on events on Saturday 18 June, which saw no less than ten locomotives in action on the line during the course of the day. SATURDAY 18 June 2011, some five years ago now, was just another day in the life of the West Somerset Railway. That day saw the Railway operating its (then) Green timetable, which featured six trains in each direction, four steam and two diesel, and required two steam locomotives and the DMU to fulfil the advertised service. Fast forward five years, to Saturday 18 June 2016, and – in marked contrast – train operations presented a very different story! This year, in addition to the standard Yellow ('D') timetable – which features seven passenger services in each direction (one running only between Minehead and Williton), with three steam diagrams and one diesel diagram – the railway hosted two charter trains from the main line network. This required five steam locomotives (100% availability of the then serviceable fleet) and some of the afternoon trains having to be slightly retimed in order that everything could be accommodated. The day began with the in-house cast of six locomotives stabled as follows: Bishops Lydeard – 7828 Odney Manor, 44422, 53808; Minehead – 6960 Raveningham Hall, 53809; Williton – D6575. The threecar Class 115/117 DMU was spare at BL. With locomotive crews booking on from 06.30, there was plenty of early morning steam activity at both ends of the line – which, as so often is the case, largely went un-noticed. 26
At the southern end of the line, first off-shed at 09:25 was No 7828 which was the rostered loco for the BL-end 80-mile diagram (two round trips) starting with the 10.25. This first Down train departed BL on time, crossing No D6575 at Crowcombe Heathfield – which was working light engine from Williton to BL – and the 10:15 exMinehead at Williton. Back at 'Lydeard', as '4F' No 44422 was waiting in Platform 2 with the 11.05 departure for Minehead, No D6575 arrived from Williton in Platform 1. The Crompton was, on this occasion, the rostered main line loco for the one diesel diagram, starting with the 11.45 ex-BL. The principal incoming train off the national network was the “Whistling Ghost IV” charter from Tyseley to Minehead, organised by Vintage Trains. In previous years, this has been hauled by steam (last year by 'Castle' No 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe), but this year – with West Coast Railways (VT's preferred train operator) having only then just been allowed back onto the network – was diesel hauled throughout between Tyseley and Bishops Lydeard. In order to lay on something a little special for VT – who have loyally supported the WSR over several years now – the WSR 'powers that be' decided to roster the unique pairing of the two Somerset & Dorset '7F' 2-8-0s to haul the charter between BL and Minehead. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
In order to facilitate this, No 53809 – repairs to which had only just been completed in time – piloted No 6960 on the 10.15 exMinehead. Upon arrival at BL, the '7F' was detached and retreated to the Shed to join up with No 53808, which was the third loco to have been 'prepped' at BL that morning, to await the incoming charter. Operating procedures agreed with Network Rail, and written into our Rulebook, require the WSR to provide a Conductor Driver and a Conductor Guard to accompany the crew from the main line train operating company (on this occasion WCRC) over the junction at Norton Fitzwarren and over the Minehead branch. In the case of passenger/ECS trains, the WSR crew almost always join the train at Taunton station. We have a small pool of senior and experienced Drivers able and authorised to conduct trains from/to the main line network, all of whom are required to have a Train Operator Personal Track Safety Certificate of Competence.
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For incoming trains, the WSR crew normally book on at BL and – once the Conductor Driver has been issued with (and signed for) the Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren token by the BL Signalman – then proceed by road to Taunton. Upon arrival at Taunton the Conductor Signalman needs to speak to the Network Rail signaller at Exeter PSB, not only to confirm his presence but also to place the BL-NF token into a specially modified token machine at the station (there is also a similar machine on the lineside near to Silk Mill Bridge) in order to obtain a 'release'. Without this 'release' the NR Signaller would be unable to set the road and clear the relevant signals in order for a train to pass over Norton Fitzwarren Junction and onto the Minehead branch. Missed by many who were travelling on the WSR that day, the smartly turned-out pair of 'new' GBRf Class 73/9 locomotives, Nos 73961 and 73964, haul 5Z62 from Weston-super-Mare to Bishops Lydeard past Longlands Farm Bridge on 18 June. Photo: Adam Snow
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On this occasion the WSR crew arrived in good time in order to await the arrival of train 1Z73, the 08.04 Tyseley Steam Trust to Bishops Lydeard, which was due into Taunton at 12.13. The “Whistling Ghost IV” charter was originally rostered to be hauled by a Class 47 and a Class 20, the latter dictating a maximum speed of 75mph on the network. This was later changed to a '47' and a '37', but on the day 1Z73 arrived into Taunton station – just a few minutes late – behind a pair of the ubiquitous Class 47s, No 47773 The Queen Mother (in two-tone green) leading No 47237 (in standard WCR maroon), hauling eight chocolate and cream liveried coaches from the Vintage trains fleet. Upon arrival of 1Z73 into Platform 2 at Bishops Lydeard, the pair of Class 47s were detached (and stabled in the Up Sidings to await the return journey) and replaced with Nos 53808 and 53809 for the onward journey to Minehead. After a few minutes' delay, the pair of 7F's made a spirited departure from Lydeard – their 'barks' being heard for some time as they made the 4-mile climb to the summit of the line at Crowcombe Heathfield. 1Z73 crossed the 12.30 ex-Minehead (7828) at Crowcombe and the 13.20 ex-Minehead DMU at Williton, then ran non-stop from there to the terminus. In light of this, all afternoon trains after 14.00 were retimed in order for both the outward and return legs of the charter to be accommodated. Subsequent service train departures from Minehead were at 14.40 (6960), 15.30 (44422), 16.25 (7828) and 17.55 (D6575), and from BL at 14.35 (7828) and 16.20 (6960). Whilst most of this was going on during the afternoon, something else was happening 28
on the southernmost section of the branch, which would have been completely oblivious to those at Minehead! Saturday 18 June was also the day that GBRf ran one of their popular private staff charter trains, “The Tonbridge Trailblazer”, which on this occasion ran from Tonbridge to WestonSuper-Mare hauled by a pair of that company's newly-engineered Class 73/9 locomotives. With limited facilities at WSM, the WSR had been asked if it could accept the empty stock of the charter at Bishops Lydeard for servicing, replenishing the water tanks and rubbish removal. As a result, Nos 73961 and 73964 worked a ten-coach rake of Mark 1 stock, train reporting number 5Z62, to Bishops Lydeard in the early afternoon. After the locomotives had run-round, and with the stock being stabled in the platform for 1½ hours, the ECS departed again from BL at 15.45 (5Z63), stopping at signal E627 (effectively the last signal in the Up direction on the Minehead branch) to await its booked path back to Weston. Careful consideration has to be given by the WSR to 'delivering' charter trains back to Norton Fitzwarren Junction on time in order that they do not miss their booked path on the national network. On this occasion, the return “Whistling Ghost IV” (1Z74) was timed to depart from Minehead at 17.15, crossing the 16.20 ex-BL (6960) at Blue Anchor, before then running non-stop to Bishops Lydeard. Upon arrival, Nos 53809 & 53808 were detached from the charter and ran to shed – their day's work having finished – to be replaced with the pair of Class 47s, this time with No 47237 leading, for the onward journey to the main line and back to Tyseley (booked arrival time 22.50). Following arrival of the last Up train (17.55 WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
ex-Minehead) at BL, and after the stock had been shunted, No D6575 returned light engine to the D&EPG's base at Williton. By 20.00 everything was 'back in the box' and an air of calm descended again on the Minehead branch.
which saw no less than ten locomotives, representing seven different classes, in action on the line within the space of ten hours! Spare a thought, too, for the number of staff required to facilitate such a day's operation.
As if all this was not enough for one day, 18 June was also one of the Company's designated 'children's character days', which on this occasion saw Fireman Sam m a k i n g m e et a n d g re et p e rs o n a l appearances at intervals during the day on Minehead platform. One can only speculate what Sam made of all the action along the railway on the day of his visit!
For many railways – including the WSR in the not-too-distant past – that would have been considered a spectacular gala line-up! However, on this occasion, it was just another day……
Saturday 18 June 2016 was thus a rather special day in the life of the WSR – a day
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In a scene that has changed markedly over the past 40 years in particular, Nos D1755/47773 The Queen Mother and 47237 depart from Taunton station and head onto the Up & Down Relief Line with a smart 8coach chocolate-and-cream rake in tow with the "Whistling Ghost IV" charter from Tyseley to Minehead on Saturday 18 June. Photo: Adam Snow
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APPROACHING & DEPARTING MINEHEAD Above: GWR 'Modified Hall' 4-6-0 No 6960 Raveningham Hall slows for the approach to Seaward Way level crossing with the 14.35 from Bishops Lydeard on 23 July 2016. Photo: Matthew Southall Below: Now back in Somerset for the next 25 years, LMS '4F' 0-6-0 No 44422 departs from Minehead on 13 May 2016. North Hill forms the backdrop. Photo: B246
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WASHFORD BANK In the Up direction, the Minehead branch climbs continuously from Blue Anchor to Washford, the final mile or so being at 1:65, the steepest gradient on the line. Above: Against a splendid scenic backdrop, No 53808 climbs the bank with the 10.15 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard on 20 April. Photo: Alan Turner Below: BR(W) 78xx 4-6-0 No 7828 Odney Manor approaches the end of the climb from Blue Anchor with a Bishops Lydeard-bound train on 12 May. Photo: B246
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TRAVEL BY TRAIN AND FOOT! ROB STOKES, a lifelong railway and steam enthusiast uses the recentlypublished book 'West Somerset Railway Country Walks from Our Stations'* to take a stroll from Williton to Watchet. THE West Somerset Railway has some lovely stations along its route and Williton is a gem. Baskets of flowering plants hang from the canopy of the stone ticket office, its paintwork is immaculate, its staff and volunteers are dressed in period uniforms and smiling as they go about their daily tasks. It is a mild summer morning and the sun is just breaking through the clouds. Around me, children wait excitedly. Two men sitting near the signal box end of Platform 1 prepare to raise their cameras. A signal drops and the sound of steam can be heard. Moments later the line's Somerset and Dorset 2-8-0 7F locomotive comes into view at the head of a train of six coaches. Doors open and close, a whistle blows and the train continues its journey towards the coast. Time for me to turn away from the station and begin the walk to nearby Watchet. The instructions in Malcolm and Natalie Short's book are simple and direct. Each has a map, photos of places along the route, as well as the distance and a brief synopsis. Mine was labelled “a splendid walk at low or falling tide”. So I follow the directions and find the promised footpath sign to Doniford, a few yards from the level crossing. For the next 20 minutes or so I walk along a path across farmland, sometimes bordered by hawthorn bushes in spring bloom, 32
sometimes stretching across open fields. I love the fact that I am in open country following a route that generations before me have walked. This little book has opened up a new world. To my left about a quarter-of-a-mile away, the railway line heads for Watchet. The sound of rumbling diesel engines drifts across the fields as locomotives are shunted at Williton. But this soon fades and only bird song breaks the silence. I reach the main road at Doniford after passing a handful of houses. My book steers me past Doniford Farm and then to Queenbee Bungalow where I turn right down a path and steps towards the beach. My guide says: “Cross the shore to the headland on the left…” This actually involves a walk of almost a mile along the rocky and pebbly Doniford beach. Don't get me wrong: it is lovely, strolling with the tide lapping against the shore. But you'll need a pair of stout shoes! I aim for a flight of 72 concrete steps built into the contours of the headland. At the top there is a striking view of the coast in both directions. It's cloudy but glorious all the same. The path leads inland a little way and then skirts along the top of the cutting where it again meets the railway. Call me a romantic, but this is like a scene from the Railway Children. As I stroll towards Watchet I expect any minute to see Bobby, Phyllis and WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
TRAVEL BY TRAIN AND FOOT! Above: Williton station - the start of Rob Stokes' walk. No 53809 departs with an Up train on 13 May 2016. The infrastructure work carried out last winter can be seen to good effect. Photo: B246 Below: Having climbed up from the beach at Doniford, the walk from Helwell Bay to Watchet station offers excellent views of the line. No 44422 rounds the curve and approaches Helwell Bay Bridge with a MineheadBishops Lydeard train on 12 May. Photo: B246
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Peter sitting on a fence or a gate in their Edwardian clothes overlooking the line. My walk now takes me on a gentlish descent towards Watchet station where the path and railway line run side by side. The boats in the marina are now bathed in early afternoon sunshine and a number of weekend sailors are preparing to make their way out into the Bristol Channel. I head for the station platform, find a bench. I notice it has a plaque. “Rest Awhile, safe journey. Terry Seward 1941-2000 Dedicated railfan”. I hope he enjoyed days like I'm having. The twoand-a-quarter mile walk has taken just under an hour allowing for my wayward passage across the rock on the beach. It really didn't feel very far. Watchet is a welcoming town and I spend half-an-hour browsing in the shops and walking around the marina. But the sound of a whistle draws me back to the station and there is the 7F again, making its return trip to Bishops Lydeard. As it pulls away sending whisps of steam into the air people stop, wave, point cameras and phones and, of course, the driver and passengers wave back. This only ever happens with steam trains.
my arm and the driver waves in acknowledgement. There is the sound of brakes being applied and the train gently coasts to a standstill before me. I climb aboard quietly delighted that I made a train stop, and complete the final mile or so of my round trip. “You've earned a cup of tea, I should think,” says the guard after handing me my ticket after I tell him about my walk. And after drawing into Williton I cross the footbridge and find the tea room. Not only is there tea but also some chocolate ginger biscuits. Now what better way could there be to finish a summer walk?
*West Somerset Railway Country Walks from Our Stations by Malcolm & Natalie Short is available from all WSR shops, price £5. Heartily recommended! A busy scene at Doniford Halt as passengers alight from the 16.20 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard - 8 June 2016. Photo: Tim Edmonds?
I wonder whether to get a train back to Williton. Then a thought occurs to me. Doniford Halt is one of the few stations left that allows you to request the train to stop. I have never done that, so I decide now is the time to try. I stroll back along the road from Watchet instead of the beach. I wouldn't recommend this, though, as it is busy and the pavement runs out on the edge of the town. Anyway, I make it safely to Doniford Halt, which I have to myself. The sun is now shining brightly. Soon I catch a glimpse of a 1960s diesel multiple unit coming round the bend. I tentatively raise 34
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BROADENING OUR APPEAL COLIN HOWARD, the Head of Commercial Services, highlights the need to widen our mass appeal and how the Company is seeking to attract new customers. THERE has been much talk recently of the importance of enthusing the next generation of volunteers. Of similar importance to the heritage railway movement is the demographic of our customers. Steam enthusiasts will always have a small part to play, but it is only natural and good practice that as the number of those who remember mainline steam services decreases, then heritage railways have to appeal to a wider market. This is not to suggest that enthusiast events are a thing of the past, but as a business we have to evolve. So how do we approach this conundrum? Every railway is different and we all have our unique selling points. Ours is that we are the longest standard gauge heritage line in Britain. We are also one of the first to recognise the need to attract younger visitors. About six years ago we introduced a series of 'Meet and Greet' events at the railway. These events can be expensive to hold and for the West Somerset Railway the only way to get a financial contribution to these costs was to encourage people to travel to the events on our services. As the greater part of our market commences its journey at Bishops Lydeard, it was decided to stage them at Minehead where there are currently more facilities. As we run almost to capacity in the main summer holidays, we hold these events WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
during the shoulder periods of April, May, June and September. Standard prices apply and young families fill our trains to come and visit 'Peppa Pig', 'Shaun the Sheep', 'Paddington' and other popular children's characters. In addition to the actual character, we also offer face painting, craft activities, heritage bus rides and other 'onplatform' entertainment such as a bouncy castle, helter-skelter and magic shows etc. Unlike our 'Days out with Thomas' events, for which we have won an award in 2014, there is no charge for entry onto the station. This has the added benefit of attracting local families who feel that they are getting good value, and contribute by spending in the station shop and cafÊ. Many of these families will return to use our standard services on another day. The next stage of this strategy, was the design of a new, exclusive, WSR children's character, so that we can provide activity materials and, potentially souvenirs, with our own fun character [see pages 8-9 – Ed.] The bottom line is that our fares, retail and catering income receives a welcome boost, whilst a different market experiences the joys of travelling by steam on a heritage railway. Also, for some time it has been an aspiration of the railway to improve its relationship with Butlins at Minehead. As a result of connections through 'Visit Somerset' lighter loaded, early trains from Minehead 35
are now filled with family visitors from the resort. Like all relationships it will need nurturing, but the foundations have been laid. For much the same reason we target what is commonly known as the 'Grey Market'. These more mature visitors tend to have a greater disposable income, can often travel midweek and often appreciate a planned itinerary which may include visits to local attractions. A prime example of this is our recent valuable business relationship with the Warner Leisure Hotel at Cricket St. Thomas near Chard in Somerset. The hotel's customers tend to be older, retired customers at the high end of the Short Break market. On two days every week, on average fifty of their visitors travel by coach to Minehead where a train with reserved carriages is waiting to give them a nostalgic trip to Bishops Lydeard. The West Somerset Railway also offers bolt on trips involving train and bus travel to nearby Dunster Castle, a local National Trust
property, and Hestercombe Gardens in Taunton. Both of these options can be booked in advance with a single transaction covering travel and entry to the attraction. Travel times are set and the visitor has the comfort of knowing that everything is arranged for them. In addressing this changing market, we are not alone. The heritage movement must adapt and develop alternatives in order to survive, even if this means a move from traditional markets and opening our minds to working with other complementary attractions. Without making these changes, the railway will not have sufficient income to re-invest in the business. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, a similar situation exists with the availability of volunteers; people are no longer able to retire early in their fifties and early sixties. The length of a volunteer's working life may, therefore, be appreciably less than in the past. As a business, we cannot survive without voluntary labour, as
Steam Engineman's Courses make a very valuable contribution to the Railway's finances and are an excellent example of how the WSR has broadened its appeal over recent years in a bid to attract new customers. Here, LMS '4F' No 44422 passes Castle Hill and Williton's Down Distant signal with one such working 16 May 2016. Photo: Alan Turner
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the business is unsustainable, if we have to pay for posts that are currently covered for free. This is a major challenge, which is the responsibility of all staff. Volunteers should be treated in the same way as customers; if they do not get satisfaction from their visit, then they will not return or will do fewer duties. We must make sure that volunteers enjoy their work and feel valued. The availability of capable volunteers is more of an issue at the Minehead end of the line. Minehead has around 12,000 people (Census 2011) and is the largest town in West Somerset. The population is older than the rest of Somerset with 30% over 65 years compared with 21% across the County and 16% nationally. Retaining young people in the town is a critical challenge especially with no University presence anywhere in the County. Whilst the overall working age population is lower, however, there is a relatively healthy labour market in Minehead with above national average levels of economic activity and a high level of local self-employment in the town. Unemployment is generally low although considerable seasonal variations reflect demands in the local tourism economy. Nevertheless, there is considerable concern over in-work poverty in Minehead as wage levels are generally low and seasonal. This would suggest that there may be the availability of younger, unemployed people to take on these roles, but many of these are only seasonally unemployed. That is to say, they are in work when we need them. Many organisations which rely on volunteers are facing similar challenges. As such the WSR finds itself in a growing competitive market for unpaid staff. Even now, there is a major risk to our services WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
through lack of trained and available guards and signalmen. It may be time for the railway to look seriously at the timescale involved in training such critical staff and, if necessary and safe to do so, look to reduce the length of time it takes to qualify, or run fewer days in off peak periods. When in June 2008, the railway suffered from abnormal flange wear on its track, there was a major reduction in the railway's fares income. Proof if anyone needed it that the overwhelming majority of our visitors want and expect to travel behind steam hauled trains. The risks to the railway of lack of steam haulage are therefore apparent. Such shortages may be due to mechanical breakdown, planned maintenance or just the requirement by the locomotive's owners for it to visit other railways. Whatever the cause, there needs to be a contingency plan to ensure continuing availability of steam haulage, with adequate spare locomotives. Some of the risks to our business are beyond our control, but still need to be considered. The recent bomb scare at Watchet is a prime example of this. Major disruption to services was caused through no fault of our own. Customers were given refunds, casual visitors were turned away and additional expense was necessary for free refreshments and rescue locomotives, for example. Similar risks might be accidents on the direct routes to the railway, the competition from major sporting events and global financial crises. In summary, it is vital that the railway family, including other heritage railways, work together and combine to address these issues, as they will surely become more challenging over the years to come.
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WSR PEOPLE Personality Profile No 2 ALAN BOND
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Edgware. He drove the ubiquituous RT d o u b l e d e c ke r w i t h p r e - s e l e c t o r transmission and the single deck RF type with the underfloor engine and the same transmission system. Alan says the latter were really lovely buses to drive - as smooth as a Rolls Royce! Then in 1967 he moved to Bletchley to work for the United Counties Company driving single and double decker Bristol buses. The routes operated from Bletchley served Stoke Mandeville, Leighton Buzzard, Newport Pagnell, Winslow and Buckingham as well as the Bletchley town services and from 2 January 1968 included the Bletchley to Oxford rail replacement service jointly with City of Oxford Motor Services. This two-hour long route ran via Newton Longville, Drayton Parslow, Mursley, Swanbourne, Winslow, Middle Claydon, Steeple Claydon, Twyford (Bucks), Marsh Gibbon, Launton and Bicester but offered a shadow of the train service it replaced. Alan was a shop steward for the Transport and General Workers Union. He later drove for a number of operators, public and private. He fondly remembered family holidays to various destinations in the west country, including a caravan holiday at Blue Anchor in the 1950's. And so he and Sandra both transferred to Minehead in 1999 to work for First Group, on the 28 to Taunton and other local services then run including Bridgwater, Tiverton, and Porlock.
NEW COMERCIAL DIRECTOR IAN Harrison has been appointed by the West Somerset Railway Plc as its new Commercial Director with effect from 1 July. This follows the retirement of David Baker, who continues as share registrar, and after advertising and interviewing candidates for the vacant position. Ian brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a background as a mechanical engineer who moved into senior commercial and financial management in industry, consulting and the health service. Ian has been a volunteer on the West Somerset Railway for some years and is currently a Passed Fireman. PLC Chairman John Irven comments: “I am very pleased that Ian will be joining us to provide invaluable support to the commercial and management team of the WSR as we continue to develop existing and exciting new commercial activities for the railway. Please wish him every success in his new role.” BL ENTRANCE SIGN MEMBER Harry Kirkland has made a new sign for the main car park at Bishops Lydeard (see photo), replacing the previous one he made back in 2003. This time, in true GWR style, Harry cut out and used raised letters on the sign.
As well as the railway, Alan's retirement interests include transport history, and he is working on the bus company records held at the London Transport historical depot at Acton. He describes himself as interested in 'anything that moves'. His contributions to the letters page of the West Somerset Free Press, especially on local transport issues, are well known. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
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centre spread photo page 42
centre spread photo page 43
DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW Another busy and interesting few months for our various departments OPERATIONS AS reported last month, Peter Vile has retired. Stepping into the role of Guards Inspector we welcome Steve Bailey. Steve will be known to many on the railway as Guard and Signalman and will carry on the good work that Peter did. If you are a guard and have not seen Steve yet, he will be round to see you! Also retiring from the Guards side is Ian Monkton, although keeping his involvement with the railway. Not even the promise of regular Class 47 haulage could persuade Ian to reconsider! To balance this departure, we welcome Peter Blakes to the department, hopefully shortly to be followed by Trevor Battle returning after a few years' absence. On the signalling side we welcome back Alan Chatfield (perhaps time belatedly in these notes to thank Alan for his work on the 2016 Rule Book), Brian Cann and Steve Tompkins after breaks for various reasons. We also welcome Nick Anderson as a new recruit at Crowcombe Heathfield. Our thanks as ever to those who spend time training new recruits, also thanks to Mel Hillman for his efforts as New Volunteer Coordinator. We also thank Fenton Fouracre for his efforts as Signalman Roster Clerk, a job he carried out for many years. John Griffin has kindly agreed to take on this role. On the traffic front we have recently had a couple of through excursions. Saturday 9 July saw GBRf No 66732 bring an excursion 42
from Cardiff, whilst a week later saw LMS 'Royal Scot' 4-6-0 No 46115 Scots Guardsman arrive on a steam charter from London to Bishops Lydeard, where it was replaced by No 53808 for the onward journey to Minehead. One wonders how many times the exchange from a 'Royal Scot' to a 7F took place at Bath Green Park in times gone by..? Two major events have come and gone. The June Mixed Traction Gala brought Nos 66757 and 56302 from the mainline, the latter as part of a naming ceremony for PECO Rail, supplemented by the home fleet of Classes 09/14/33/35/47 with No 53808 on the steam front. Whilst not being as busy as some years, it was a good event. Following on at the beginning of July was the visit by Thomas. This year the event ran over three days (Friday-Sunday), rather than two weekends as was the case last year. The Friday experiment was not that busy, but considered worth doing again, the Saturday and Sunday were as busy as can be expected – a count of lever movements at Minehead Box accounted for 562 individual moves! At the time of writing, we are in the middle of the main season yellow timetable. Some days it is 'all Midland' with Nos 44422, 53808 and 53809 working the timetable, whilst on other days (I think to some crew's relief!) a Swindon product will appear! Our thanks as ever to everyone who has answered the call to keep the trains running. Steve Martin WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
Now in its last few weeks of service prior to withdrawal for overhaul, GWR 4-6-0 No 4936 Kinlet Hall approaches Crowcombe Heathfield with the 10:15 ex-Minehead on 22 July. Photo: RPJ
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return to the South Devon Railway for some routine winter maintenance work. (5542)
restoration). General refurbishment of the bunker continues in situ.
GWR 0-6-2T No 6695
The three main wheelsets have returned from South Devon Railway Engineering where they have had the tyres reprofiled, all balance weights removed, cleaned and reriveted (many rivets were loose), and the centre driving set has had the RH crankpin replaced as the original was excessively worn. The radial truck wheelset remains at SDR awaiting delivery and fitting of new tyres. As a point of interest, these wheels were last reprofiled at BREL Swindon just before closure and may have been the last steam loco wheels to have been turned there (unless, of course, you know differently!). All the springs have been refurbished/renewed by Owen Springs as part of the insurance claim (all were subject to excess loading during the incident with many leaves broken) and have been returned to Williton. Trial fitting of axle boxes and springs has been taking place and once the radial wheels are back we should, hopefully, be in a position to re-wheel the frames sometime this coming Autumn.
The two replacement brake hangers have now arrived at Williton and will allow work on the brake gear to head towards completion. All the wear-pads in the original brake hangers require replacement and these have been manufactured. The replacement hangers are from a 28xx class loco and require various additional holes to be drilled (28xx didn't have safety chains) as well as wear pads to be fitted (28xx didn't have these either). A vast amount of work has gone into refurbishing the brake gear as these items suffered badly in the low-loader incident. By the time you read this Bryn Engineering should have fitted the new cylinder liners which will allow work to proceed on machining the new piston heads & fitting to the rods. Work can also then commence on setting up the re-ground slidebars, and white metalling and machining the crossheads. During cleaning of the mainframes, the large cast steel motion bracket (stretcher) was found to have some half dozen hairline cracks (some of these were already known about but had worsened). The casting was removed from the frames and sent away to a specialist firm for weld repairs. The bracket has now been returned, refitted to the frames with new fitted bolts and painted. Much work has been undertaken at the back end, especially around where the radial truck sits and slides. Reassembly of the back end has progressed with refitting of the vacuum reservoir tank and the vacuum cylinder itself; the coal bunker has been refitted to the frames following cleaning & painting of the bottom surfaces and provision for a water tank drain (should have had one but it was omitted during 44
Refurbishment of various parts has been, and continues to be, undertaken alongside the work mentioned above. One of the next jobs will be to start on the side tanks; we intend to reinstate the proper tank water gauge equipment to replace the current brass taps, also retro-fit inspection hatches which will improve access to the balance pipes and the new water gauge! Group members Ollie Furnell and Scott Barnes have been assisting the staff at Williton with some of the work. With regards the boiler, we are currently in discussion with our contractors and, dependent upon funding, hope to be able to finalise the plan and timescale shortly. We hope that during 2017 work can focus on the WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
6695 Two photographs which highlight the very good progress being made on the overhaul of the privately-owned GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2T No 6695 at West Somerset Restorations at Williton, as highlighted in Nigel Clark's report. Photos: Scott Barnes
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The frames of No 9351 (left) and No 6024 inside the workshop at Minehead on 2 July. Photo: RPJ
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Barnstaple branch during the Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally. Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No 1219 1219 continues to be based at the Pontypool and Bleanavon Railway, where it is running well and proving popular with their crews. The loco was part of a five-loco line up (including pannier tanks Nos 1369 and 1501) at the P&BR's Steam Gala in June. (RP) Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No 1857 Much progress has been made at Williton over the past few months. The frames have been set up on stands outside the shed. All the new frame stretchers and buffer beams have been fitted. New side rails have been fabricated, and the tanks, bunker and cab roof have been temporarily put back on the loco in order to assess the 'fit' of the various parts. The wheels have been painted, and plates are currently being fitted to the horn guides to remove all the wear and corrosion. Our target remains to have the frames rewheeled in time for the Autumn Gala. (RP)
DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES Class 42 No D832 Onslaught Having worked on all three days of the Mixed Traction Weekend, the 'Warship' returned to the East Lancs Railway as planned after the event, departing Bishops Lydeard (by road) on 21 June. Class 52 No D1010 Western Campaigner The 'Western' is now back in service and took part at the Mixed Traction Weekend. Class 47 No D1661 North Star Available for service. Class 03 No D2133 The fully overhauled Gardner 8L3 engine has now been refitted into the 03 by WS Restorations at Williton, who are undertaking the swap for us as they have a suitable overhead crane in the workshop. Assembly to operable condition will continue at Williton to a point at which the locomotive can work back to Minehead to have all the bodywork replaced. (APF) Class 04 No D2271 Out of service at Minehead. Class 09 No D4107 Continues in service at Bishops Lydeard as station pilot. Class 33 No D6566
No 1857 undergoing overhaul at Williton Works. Photo: Ryan Pope
Work on the overhaul continues at Williton.
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST's No 1260 & 776
Class 33 No D6575
Both locomotives remain at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway awaiting attention. (RP)
Available for service.
Locomotive notes kindly supplied by Andrew Forster (APF), Nigel Clark (NC), Ryan Pope (RP) and 5542 Limited (5542). WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
Class 35 No D7017 Available for service.
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Class 35 No D7018 The full overhaul of this locomotive continues with the Maybach MD870 engine now fully operational, the replacement new main engine to transmission unit drive shaft sourced from Germany and fitted, a new set of batteries fitted and most of the electrical testing completed. A start on bodywork repairs has been made as we have decided No D7018 will not now be ready to return to service until 2017. (D&EPG) Class 14 No D9518 On Saturday 23 July, the preparation of the last area of the inside frames to be repainted was put into work. Completion of which will achieve an important milestone in the restoration of D9518. Debris including bits of a glass bottle, nuts and bits of broken cable to a depth of up to three inches (75mm) were levered out of the tray shaped frame stretcher, A-end, near the Buffer beam. The original Indian red paint that then came to light, for the first time since the loco was built by BR Swindon in 1964, was seen to be largely intact, clearly providing excellent protection to the underlying steel structure over the years of BR (W) and later NCB service. With no rust seen, the item will be prepared and repainted easily. This last area completes the full repaint of each end, the frame tops, Hunslet gearbox, and inside frames of the rolling chassis, which D9518 now is. When lifted, an inspection can be made and any small inaccessible areas we may find that are not up to our required high standard of restoration will be finished off. That lift now being planned, will see the release of the frames from the wheel sets and enable some worn rivets in the frames 48
to be replaced, and then we can set to on the outside of the frames and prepare and repaint them also. At that point we shall need the wheel sets back in ready to start the rebuild in earnest. The tyres on the wheels, when out of frames, will be machined to correct their profile. Those six work worn tyres do have enough thickness to allow them to be reprofiled. This work will be done by an outside contractor. In the meantime, other work continues to plan. For example, restoration and refitting of the air brake cylinders and brake valves and pipework, now well underway, is almost done. The cab, already painted, needs a new floor made and fitted and is this planned to restart soon as volunteer labour is freed up from the frame restoration work. (D&EPG) Class 14 No D9526 Available for service. With thanks to Andrew Forster (APF) and the D&EPG website (D&EPG). DIESEL MULTIPLE UNITS Class 115/117 3-Car DMU The DMU continues in regular service. OTHER LOCO DEPT NEWS Watchet Paper Mill The closure of the paper mill at Watchet after three centuries of paper making resulted in a large auction of all equipment and machinery recently. Although the WSR is not in the business of cardboard manufacture the opportunity was taken to acquire large stocks of items that we would normally use for overhauls and maintenance. The future of this very large site is yet to be decided. Andrew Forster WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
CARRIAGE & WAGON Company Mark 1 Fleet Work continues at Minehead on the third wheelchair accessible TSO carriage. (APF) BR(W) Auto Trailer No W233 Wednesday 6 July arrived sunny and bright at Buckfastleigh, and No W233 was ready for its first test run. On board were many of those involved in the restoration work, and so the single coach train (hauled by ex-WSR favourite GWR 0-6-0PT No 6412) made its way, cautiously at first, but then with more purpose to Staverton. Everything was fine so the next test was to drive the train from the auto trailer. The general workings have been tried whilst stationary but this was the first time in action. Everything worked wonderfully, as we expected of course, and once the train arrived back at Buckfastleigh the coach was declared fit for passenger carrying service for the first time in 54 years, and then awaited the call when trains required strengthening. The wait was not long and by 8 July No W233 found itself added to the SDR regular passenger set with travellers by-passing the 'ordinary' carriages to travel in Auto style and feeling pleased there was no supplementary fare. By Saturday 30 July its quality had been recognised by many and was then coupled to one of the other SDR Autos to form its first 'Wedding' train, transporting the happy Bride and Groom along with numerous guests from Nappers Halt. How the bride managed the Auto steps in her finery sadly goes unrecorded! All that remains now is to see 233 in action with 5542 before too long…… (5542) GWR Auto Trailer No 169 As mentioned in the last WSR Journal, we WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
have been concentrating our work on the main wooden framework of the front two flooring sections, and we are now nearing completion of that work. We are hopeful that that part of the carriage can be permanently refitted to the chassis soon allowing us to start further work on reassembly of the bodywork. We look forward to seeing everyone at Williton during the WSR Autumn Gala where we will have our usual sales and information stand. (5542) C&W notes kindly supplied by Andrew Forster (APF) and 5542 Limited (5542). INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING Williton Loop Preparatory work for the final two phases of the Williton project continues. Three new location cabinets have been completed in Brunel House and testing is underway. One further location cabinet is still to be made on a back board in Brunel House, as the cabinet is already on site. The board will be taken to Williton when complete and will be tested on site. Work is still required to complete the new signals. A pair of 4-core cables will be fitted to each signal (except for Nos 4 & 23). The two wicket gates at Williton have been adjusted so that they shut hard against posts. The circuit controllers in the Signal box have been adjusted. Issues with No 12 points have also been resolved after P-Way modified the fixtures around the stock rail and switches. The summer heat was causing a fault with the detection - which is thought to have been always there - but only now apparent with the increased sensitivity of the new point machines. 49
VISITING MAIN LINE DIESELS Above: One of the highlights of the June Mixed Traffic Weekend was the visit of Colas Rail Class 56 No 56302, which was named 'PECO' during the event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of that company. The brightly coloured loco departs from the bay platform at Minehead on 11 June with the 15.47 to Bishops Lydeard. Photo: Tim Edmonds Below: A Pathfinder Tours charter from Cardiff to Minehead on 9 July was hauled throughout by GBRf Class 66 No 66732. On the return leg, the loco passes Splash Point on the climb away from Watchet. Photo: Alan Turner
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P-Way will be installing more insulated fishplates in November to allow for electronic track circuits which will control the signalling interlocking. The project is still on track to complete in February 2017. (RH) Brunel House Replacement The concrete slab for the new building is now laid and the building is booked to go up at the beginning of August. We will then start to look at the services and internal work needed to get it operational. A planning amendment has also been accepted by the Local Authority to allow additional portacabins and outdoor storage; offices will be set up for the Infrastructure Department and Association staff. The water tower has been moved to a new temporary location which also now facilitates its restoration. (AY) Building Surveyor & Bridges Team Stafford Taylor has recently joined the department as a volunteer looking at buildings surveys across the whole railway and supporting stations with various building works, starting this month at Dunster and Blue Anchor. Stafford has more than 45 years' experience surveying, renovating and repairing properties, and we very much welcome his support. The last building survey was carried out in 2010, which John Baines of RAMS has been working to up to now; it's certainly time for a review. David Depoix is now volunteering in the bridge engineers team and will look at the Mineral Line Bridge (near Watchet) as the first area of work. David has spent many years as a site supervisor/manager for contractors on bridge and road construction projects and will help us organise maintenance this winter. We are looking for WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
labourers and engineers to assist with this work – if anyone would like to get involved please get in touch. (AY) Permanent Way Weekly line patrols continue between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead. Each visiting main line charter train requires an additional line walk to Norton Fitzwarren. Each patrol results in around three sets of fishplates needing to be changed, and the Mixed Traction Gala produced 12 breakages in just one weekend. More clamps have been fitted to rail where defects are emerging and these will be swapped out later in the year with replacement rail. We are looking for volunteers to become track patrollers - training will be given, so if you are able to spare a day per month to walk around five miles please get in touch with the Minehead Office on 01643 700400. You will need a sound knowledge of basic engineering principles, a PTS and you will need to take a medical. Point oiling and weedkilling has been carried out along the whole line and sidings. Increased manual effort has also been necessary clearing many of our level crossings to improve visibility. Since we were unable to find an affordable flailing contractor this year, the gang have been allocated time next winter to carry out a thorough job. We also have a number of overhead locations planned for trimming overhanging trees with a mobile lift platform. This year has seen a rise in twist faults and we have been monitoring many locations. Temporary Speed Restrictions are being placed on twists which exceed 14mm, such as (unfortunately!) the sewage works between Dunster and Minehead. Dunster 51
Sea Lane crossing has also been measured for voids/twist using the RRV to check the dynamic twist where void meters could not be used under the tarmac while trains pass over. We have recently had a few trees down on neighbouring property and a stretch of fencing at Nethercott foot crossing down to culvert has also been repaired due to sheep escaping onto the line. The LM gang has combined with PW in the last few months due to low gang numbers through holidays, but we are pleased to report we have recently recruited the vacant position and a new Trackman will join the team in September. Once again the bridge at Norton Fitzwarren has been struck and we have renewed our plea to Highways to reduce the speed limit on this dangerous bend. The gang attended the site and broke up/removed a considerable amount of brickwork which was left on the track. They measured the track and inspected the bridge before reopening the line. Concrete has been poured at Nornvis for the manholes in the drainage system. These will be topped off with engineering bricks and steel grills. The work should resolve the wet beds forming in this section of track. During the dig we found the pipe, leading all the water down the cutting, simply hit a deadend, which meant the area was effectively a large soakaway. The remedial work ensures all the water coming down from the station follows on its original route, over the aqueduct at Nornvis bridge and on to the River Tone. This autumn, instead of undertaking a substantial track relay, the gangs will instead focus on the twist and wetbed sites. Sea Lane level crossing near Dunster might also 52
need to be re-laid depending on how the condition degrades over the next few months. (AY) Signal & Telegraph Following our visit to the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway last year when we were made very welcome by their S&T Department, a very successful reciprocal visit took place on Saturday 14 May. Over a long day they were shown our S&T facilities and, with the help of the Operating Department, they were able to visit all five of our signalboxes. They were also shown around Minehead shed and the restoration facilities at Williton. Thanks are due to Andy Forster and Ray Waldron for their assistance. A visit by 12 members of the S&T gang to the Swanage Railway on Saturday 11 June was another notable experience. We were given a guided tour of their impressive signalling installation which is of L&SWR and Southern Railway heritage. It was a good day out with a stop at a good pub on the way home for a meal and suitable liquid refreshment. Our thanks are due to their S&T group for giving us such a good day out. Looking at general maintenance, Bishops Lydeard, Blue Anchor and Crowcombe Heathfield have had their routine oiling and greasing sessions, with some additional clearing of the rodding run of leaves and other vegetation. The train approaching annunciators and indicators for station staff use have been commissioned at Watchet and Washford stations, so giving the station staff accurate indication of the direction and imminence of approaching trains. All of the WSR's manned stations which do not have a signalbox are now so equipped with similar indicators. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
FPL gauging has been completed out at Allerford Junction. Plans to do the same at Barnstaple Junction had to be postponed as the token was being used by the HOBC. FPL gauging at Washford was also postponed as the result of a last minute timetable alteration. A task for later this year is replacing the wooden doll post on signal No 24 at Crowcombe Heathfield. This is the bracket signal at the end of the Down platform. All relevant nuts/bolts have been checked to see that they can be undone to allow the old doll post to be removed at a suitable date where Down trains will need to be hand signalled through the station. It is also planned to repaint the rest of the signal during this time. (RH) Volunteer Cutting Back Gang The weekend of 14-15 May again found the gang continuing with vegetation clearance at Watersmeet. However, due to holidays the gang had to manage without a chainsaw operator, but despite that good progress was made and the up side is finished to Whisky Trail Crossing. With that completed the remainder of the time was spent on clearing the Down side although another visit will be required. Our June weekend brought a change of venue for the gang with a return to the cutting at Turks Castle. Parking and access to the line is always difficult at this location so prior arrangements were made with volunteer Martin Southwood to use his yard and permission was also granted by the local farmer to gain access to the railway via his field. A large turnout of 22 on the Saturday saw good progress made. A small team of people concentrated on cutting back vegetation around the field access crossing point of the railway thus improving visibility. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
The remainder of the gang worked on clearing the up side of the cutting of coppiced regrowth heading towards Newton Bridge. By the end of Saturday it was once again possible to walk along the top of the cutting. On Sunday a smaller team concentrated on clearing the slope near Newton Bridge and burning any remaining brash from Saturday. The weekend of 9-10 July found the gang making their annual visit to the Norton Fitzwarren Triangle site to help prepare it for the Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally. During the course of the weekend the platform was weeded and the area opposite strimmed. Weeds were removed from the area around the platform and the whole site was inspected for ragwort which was removed. All of the gateways had vegetation trimmed back and all of the taps were located and vegetation was carefully removed from around them. Weeds were pulled from the stone access tracks and smaller stone was spread out to provide a smoother finish to the stone tracks as the finer stone gradually gets washed in. The main access point to the rally site was strimmed and the areas adjacent to the fencing tidied. A very successful weekend, with 12 members of the gang also taking their PTS refresher course on the Saturday too! Future cutting back dates: 12-13 November 10-11 December 14-15 January (SG) Volunteer Permanent Way Gang NOW that the weather has improved and there are more dry days than wet the ongoing refurbishment/painting of the mile 53
The volunteer PW Gang busy track laying beside the cattle dock at Stogumber. Photo: Steve Westlake
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ON HOLIDAY IN SOUTH DEVON GWR '4575' Class 2-6-2T No 5542 has spent the summer working on the Dartmouth Steam Railway, the seven-mile branch running between Paignton and Kingswear, where it has been both successful and proved extremely popular with their crews and visitors alike. Above: The 'small prairie' tank passes Waterside on the climb to Churston with the 15:00 ex-Paignton on 30 August 2016. Photo: Phil Seymour Below: With the River Dart in the foreground, and nearing journey's end, No 5542 approaches Britannia Crossing with the 12:15 Paignton-Kingswear on 30 June. Photo: Nathan Williamson
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MEMORIES ALLAN STANISTREET provides the latest quarterly look highlighting key events of 40, 30, 20 and 10 years ago. 40 YEARS AGO (From Newsletters June-August 1976) THE fifth AGM of the Association was held on 2 June with an attendance of 80 members. There were less than 800 members at that time, so an attendance of ten per cent was most creditable and compares well with modern attendances. Inter alia, it was reported that a member and his friends were making a professional film of the reopening in 16mm. What happened to it, one wonders? Steve Martin (who he?) had been appointed co-ordinator of volunteers at Minehead and John Jenkins “who works for BR S&T at Gloucester” was hard at work wiring all the electrical circuits in Williton signal box. Both, it is gratifying to report, are still with us. On the DEPG (then D&EG) front, No 7017 had been fired up and did some shunting of the two Park Royal DMUs, while over at the S&DRMT at Washford, much effort was going into turning the site of the former yard and goods shed into the marvellous layout seen today. Helping to restore mile posts, gradient posts, etc, was one Fenton Fouracre, described as “unable to take part on working parties (under age) but he is doing his bit at home!” He, too, is still a stalwart volunteer. On 23 August, the first train under the new 56
management ran through to Williton and appeals were still being made for more volunteers to assist. There were seven departures each way, though only three were steam, the rest being the Park Royals. The majority of the work needed to achieve this was done by members of the Association. 'Hugh' Perrett had started on the construction of the locomotive inspection pit in Minehead shed (he, too, is happily still with us). Victor was the only serviceable steam locomotive. 30 YEARS AGO (From the WSR Journal Summer and Autumn 1986) EVEN in 1986 the Association only had around a thousand members, despite a brief surge when the line reopened. However, it is pleasing to record that volunteers from thirty years ago are still around, including Frank Houlding and Phil Weaver, the latter being instrumental in the WSR acquiring several valuable ex-GWR or BR(W) items from the recently-closed Tiverton Junction station. A special Minehead-Blue Anchor service of three return trips, hauled by Victor, was arranged to celebrate the tenth anniversary of reopening on 28 March (Good Friday). A special run for Butlins “Spring Harvest” to Blue Anchor saw signalman Rob Lindley greet the train. He's still here, as well. John Greenslade took over as Membership Secretary from George Hitchcock, who had WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
done the job for twelve years. Sadly, George died on 24 June shortly after retiring as Membership Secretary. There was a vintage transport rally on 16 May, in Bishops Lydeard yard, which attracted some 90 (!) exhibits. David Northey (still a member) organised and ran this event. Victor, Vulcan, 6412, Jennifer and 53808 were still the only steam locomotives on the line, with only the first three operational and then not all at the same time. Indeed, Jennifer only worked for one season and spent the rest of its time on the line in bits. How did we do it? But all was to change in the summer of '86, when GWR 'small prairie' tank No 5572, on loan from the Great Western Society at Didcot, arrived on the line to support the flagging home fleet. The result was dramatic. At last, the railway had a locomotive that was up to the task of hauling trains of a respectable length from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and back without running out of coal and water. It was a portent of things to come and the days of the Bagnalls were numbered. Two major projects for those days were the building of Doniford (Beach) Halt and the installation of the new booking office at Minehead (ex-Cardiff General – now Cardiff Central). 20 YEARS AGO (From the WSR Journal Summer and Autumn 1996) IN mid- 1996, the first history of a heritage railway appeared in the shape of Portrait of the West Somerset Railway by Journal founder editor Allan Stanistreet. It was published by Ian Allan and retailed at £9.99. In June, long-standing Chairman of the WSRA, John Pearce, handed over the reins WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
to Humphrey Davies. John had been Chairman for eight years but his association with the railway goes back to the beginning in 1971 and he had been Chairman on three separate occasions. The railway's Safety Case had been approved in May and it was announced that as a result of a record number of passengers carried (128,328), the plc had made a pretax profit of £11,756. Things were now definitely on the up. In June, a feasibility study was announced on the possibility of connecting the WSR with the main line. First mooted as far back as 1971, this hardy annual still rumbles on today. Restoration of the GWR Sleeping Car No. 9038 was still ongoing in the Swindon shed. 10 YEARS AGO (From the WSR Journal Summer and Autumn 2006) GALAS on the line were by now attracting many well-known locomotives and the Autumn Steam Gala in October attracted, amongst others, ex-Southern Railway 4-6-0 No. 850 Lord Nelson, which would remain on the railway from mid-August until October. A notable event took place on the weekend of 5-6 August, when electric key token (known on the GWR as electric train token) working was instituted between Williton and Bishops Lydeard, thus covering the whole line (it had been operating between Minehead and Blue Anchor for some years). Thus, the staff and ticket working which had been in use since 1976, was finally relegated to emergency use only, no doubt much to the relief of all the signalling staff, who had become used over the years to frequently required staff transfers.
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Two personalities were in the news: Mark Smith, who retired as Managing Director after sixteen years in post (although he remains on the Board of the plc) and Mick Phelps, who retired as civil engineering supervisor after fifteen years. 13 May saw the first run on a passenger train for seventy-five years of sleeping car No. 9038. At the end of May, the last of the Park Royal dmus left Williton for Cornwall, having been on the WSR for over thirty years. The autumn WSR Journal announced the plan to provide at least one set of vintage GWR carriages. One of these carriages is now close to completion under the auspices of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust and others are in the pipeline. The railway had begun to receive awards of various kinds for its excellence in different
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fields, among which were a Westinghouse signalling award for the best restored signal box or signalling installation; this for Bishops Lydeard. At the same time, Ian Allan Publishing voted the WSR the Independent Railway of the Year winner for 2006. Clive Goddard, head gardener at Bishops Lydeard, along with his volunteers, was awarded the Summerfield cup in the Taunton in Bloom competition. On 28 April, one of the very few charters to operate from Minehead to an outside destination ran from there to York. The train was diesel-hauled and stopped at all stations on the WSR, as well as Taunton, Weston-super-Mare and Bristol. Many WSR staff and volunteers took advantage of this rare event and had a thoroughly enjoyable day, travelling over some lines which seldom see passenger traffic.
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UNUSUAL VIEWPOINTS Above: A cluster of local fishermen wait in hope on the beach at Blue Anchor as, in the distance, the double-headed pairing of S&DJR '7F' No 53808 and SR 'Battle of Britain' No 34070 Manston head across Ker Moor with a train bound for Bishops Lydeard on 13 March 2016. Conygar Tower dominates the centre background. Photo: Alan Turner Below: A Driver's eye view through the front cab of the DMU on 22 July as it awaits departure from platform 2 at Bishops Lydeard with the 11:05 to Minehead. Photo: RPJ
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SPECIAL EVENTS & SPECIAL TRAINS RECENT EVENTS DAY OUT WITH THOMAS Friday-Sunday 1-3 July THIS year's Thomas event was staged over three days, rather than two weekends as in 2015. In addition to an intensive whole line timetable, Thomas, Kilmersdon and D2133 (Maude) entertained the crowds at Minehead, whilst 53808 was on static display in the main platform, and a heritage bus service was provided by Crosville Motor Services. Takings on the Saturday and Sunday were higher than last year, but the experiment of holding the event on a Friday 'will need to be assessed'. STEAM FAYRE & VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY Saturday-Sunday 6-7 August THE annual Rally was over the weekend of 67 August. We were again fortunate to have excellent weather, both for the two days of the Rally, and for all the hard work to set up the event, and clear it away. Our visitors, young and old, flocked to the event, and while we do not yet have complete figures, it looks as if we might have equalled last year's record-breaking numbers of visitors. Every year the event gets bigger, with a record-breaking number of full sized steam engines this year. Our exhibitions of miniature steam, classic cars and land rovers, motorcycles, military vehicles, classic tractors & agricultural equipment, large commercial vehicles and stationary engines were also full. Children enjoyed the 60
fairground attractions and free entertainment, and the hot weather made the bar and ice cream vans very attractive. The railway events were popular with our visitors, who enjoyed the brake van rides behind Kilmersdon, the pump trolley rides, and the exhibition of restored rolling stock. Our exhibitors packed the 'Severn Coast Express' special to Minehead on the Friday night. All members of the WSR “railway family” were represented at the event. We would like to thank them for their contribution, and record our appreciation of the hard work and cheerfulness of our very many volunteers from throughout the Railway. Without everybody's help and support, this great shop window on our Railway would not be possible. We look forward to seeing everybody next year on 5-6 August 2017. In the meantime, there are more pictures and contact details on www.steamrally.org. Geoff Garfield, Chairman, Rally Organising Committee.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AUTUMN STEAM GALA Thursday-Sunday 6-9 October THIS year, the home fleet – expected to be Nos 4936, 6960, 7820, 44422, 53808 and 53809 – will be joined by GWR '8750' Class 0-6-0PT No 4612 from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway and a return visit from the very popular 'PFP', GWR '4575' Class 2-6-2T No 5542. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
STEAM FAYRE & VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY This year's annual Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally, held over the weekend of 6-7 August at Norton Fitzwarren, was blessed with excellent weather and was another resounding success. The events is one of the Association's principal fund-raising activities and this year's event featured over 50 steam exhibits and over 700 exhibits in total. Above: An impressive line-up of steamers. Photo: courtesy of Andy Griffiths. Below: A general view of the main ring at the Rally. Photo: Geoff Garfield
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At the time of going to press, timetable and other details have yet to be released – check the WSR websites for updated information. MURDER MYSTERY SPECIALS Saturday 29 October THEMED 'Another Op'ning, Another Murder – 1929' the next Murder Mystery special evening train departs from Bishops Lydeard at 19.00. The Progressive Repertory Artistic Theatrical Strollers are on tour and due in Little Hampton. But the train must wait and the show may not go on, as leading lady, Carmen Rollers has been found murdered in her First Class compartment. Is ingénue actress Mae Kupp desperate for a bigger part? Is Manager Ivor Bucking looking to fill a vacancy? Or has elderly actress, Dame Artvest played out her final scene? As ever, DI Archie Bauls is on hand to set the scene and assist your enquiries before the final curtain comes down on your investigation. Saturday 10 December 'Christmas to the Sound of “Slay” Bells – 1929” is the title of this season murder mystery evening, with the special train again departing from Bishops Lydeard at 19.00. It's the time of year when families travel to visit their loved ones, but for poor Mary Unbryte, it's a one-way trip. She has come to stay in Thymely for Christmas but she's been murdered on the train! Has fellow passenger, Chris Tingle given her the wrong present? Has his devoted companion, Bea White discovered something untoward beneath the mistletoe? Or has Mary's sister, May Yordayze been filled with the wrong kind of the Christmas spirit? Fortunately, DI Bauls is on hand to help you unwrap this seasonal mystery. 62
For both trains, all-inclusive tickets are priced at £57 per person and pre-booking is essential - book online at www.westsomerset-railway.co.uk or by telephone on 01643 704996. THE QUANTOCK BELLE NO annual visit to the WSR is complete without sampling our First Class Luxury Dining train, 'The Quantock Belle', owned and operated by the WSRA. Whatever the occasion – a special anniversary or birthday, a romantic dinner or just a Sunday lunch out together – we are sure you will find your trip on the Pullman style 'Quantock Belle' a delightful and memorable experience. On boarding the train, you will be shown to your reserved seats by our volunteer stewards. Tables are for two or four persons. Running at a very leisurely pace, the 'QB' (as it is affectionately known) gives an opportunity to view the passing scenery whilst being served with pre-meal drinks, before your freshly cooked meal is served. We use local produce, prepared and cooked in our award-winning kitchen on the train. Quantock Belle dining trains offers a range of options – Sunday Lunch, Saturday Evening Dinner or Wednesday Lunch – and are scheduled to operate on the following dates over the next few weeks: Sunday Lunch: 2 and 16 October Friday evening Dunster by Candlelight: 2 December The all-inclusive fares is £55 per person (£48 for DBC). Pre-booking is essential – please telephone 01823 433856.
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DEAR EDITOR…… Dear Mr Jones,
Hello Richard,
Having now had a few days to browse my recently received copy of the new-era Journal, I would wish to offer my humble congratulations on the quality of the publication you have overseen. The clean and open appearance of the pages enhance my personal confidence as to the likewise integrity of the information imparted, a huge contrast to the propaganda to which the membership have been subjected for the past year or three by this avenue. The new Journal well reflects the dramatic progress made by the fresh Board of Trustees and I wish you continued success in this work, so essential to ensuring that the whole membership can be confident of timely and accurate information relating to both the Railway and the Association.
I just had to tell you that the Journal you just produced is the best I have read for a very, very long time. The layout is easy to read and follow. The balance of articles and photos is good. The photographs are big and bright, and last but not least the articles are informative, concise and to the point. Much kudos to you for a brilliant job on the journal. Thank you for your efforts and long may you reign!
I write to compliment you and your team on the 'new-look WSR Journal. It is refreshing, p o s i t i ve , s u c c i n c t , att ra c t i ve a n d informative. Well done!
Robin Parker (WSRA No 18)
Garth Wright (WSRA No 10872)
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Mike Wightman Dear Editor,
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STATIONS SYNOPSIS The quarterly review of events and happenings at our ten beautiful stations.
No 7828 Odney Manor coasts into Platform 2 at Bishops Lydeard, and past this year's "Garden Train" beneath the running-in board on Platform 2, with a train from Minehead on 19 July. Photo: Clive Goddard
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Fayre posters all over the station like a rash! We have been visited by several charter trains from the main line, which whilst passing straight through other WSR stations on their way to Minehead, often means a deluge of visitors at BL either to watch the loco changes, or for a leg stretch. It is now apparent that there is a shortage of main line steam locos, as some of the 'West Somerset Steam Express' charters have been cancelled by the company concerned. The good support provided by RAMS continues in terms of fence painting, bus stop repairs, ongoing seat renovations, replacement of rotting signage etc. The RAMS workshop and paintshop coach is now permanently sited in the bay siding, which has the added benefit of showing passengers what we do and often leads to conversations – good PR! It is also very good news to see John Baines around the station again following his enforced absence on health grounds – welcome back John. Work continues on the Station Farm site, where contractors have now moved the storage containers and replacement (in due course) water tank further into the site, then following extensive ground works have now laid the concrete base for 'Brunel House – The Sequel'. Our garden train duly arrived on Platform 2 in May following winter overhaul by Clive Goddard our head gardener, and was planted up by Clive and his team. However, just as everything was bursting into bloom, we suffered a theft of many plants by a thief reaching through the railings. By utilising plants from our other display areas, we were able to correct the damage and looking at it now you would not know what had happened. The sad thing is that the thief obviously did not appreciate that it was not WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
theft from the WSR but from hard working volunteers who make the displays happen through fundraising and gardening activities. Now on to brighter things as we move into a prolonged period of peak timetabling, school holidays and hopefully good weather. Before we know it we will be into Late Summer Weekend, Autumn Steam Gala and then the Christmas lights! Norman Barker CROWCOMBE HEATHFIELD ALL change again at Crowcombe! Following my appointment as Deputy Station Master in May, I suddenly found myself getting a rather rapid promotion on the 8 June to Acting Station Master, just in time for the Mixed Traffic Weekend. The station staff rallied around and the event passed off very successfully, but we were not quite as busy as in other years. Since then we have been spending time consolidating, and re-defining priorities. The general feeling is that we are well set for the future. Pete Darwent and his maintenance crew, in tandem with Penny Gardiner and her gardening team are keeping the station looking great, with many compliments from visitors on their efforts. Preliminary work on the Goods Store continues, and the mains electrics are now installed under the lawn. Actual building work is now scheduled to start at the end of August. I have actively been advertising for more volunteer Station and Maintenance staff. At the time of writing, we have three new starters, with two in the pipeline – great stuff, as I have had to close the station for a number of days during July, due to leavers, 65
and sickness. There is still a requirement for a couple more volunteers for station work if anyone is interested. The station is looking forward to welcoming travellers and visitors alike for the rest of the season, and our current motto of “onwards and upwards” is our collective rallying cry. Geoff Cross STOGUMBER THE volunteers and Friends of Stogumber Station would like to wish our former Station Master Tom Usher all the best in his increasing involvement with Locomotive Services and thank him for his years in charge at Stogumber. Tom's departure has meant a change of roles at SR for the rest of us. Peter Cox takes over as Chairman of The Friends, Gil Cox as Secretary and Colin White will be the new Treasurer. Bob Preston, our Project Manager is now also the Assistant Station Master. 66
No 53808 departs from the very smart and wellpresented platforms at Crowcombe Heathfield on 16 June 2016 with the 14:35 Bishops Lydeard-Minehead. Photo: Tim Edmonds
There has been a flurry of activity at Stogumber in recent weeks with much that has been planned coming to fruition. Our barrow crossing lamp, which has been missing for several months, having been blown down in the storms, is ready to go back up. It has been straightened, repaired, repainted and partially re-glazed and now looks very smart with just the electrics to reconnect. Many of you riding by on the trains will have noticed that SR now sports a new length of track laid down in front of the Cattle Dock, thanks to Andrew Young and his crew. We are now looking at ways of making the dock safe to access and Robin White has promised we can have the steps back which gravitated up to Station House back in Harry Horn's days. WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
Our Garden picnic tables have become a little tired and despite Bob managing to cannibalise three reasonable ones from four, the Friends have agreed to purchase two new round ones for the garden. Our dearly loved but much maligned Southern seats are off to pastures new, more fitting their heritage. Following on from the purchase of a good number of GWR seat ends by the PLC, Stogumber along with Dunster has done a deal with the Dartmoor Railway who are buying our Southern seats for Okehampton. They will be departing for Devon as soon as our replacement GWR ones are completed by RAMS. Thanks to Robin, Chris Bolt, John Baines and FoSS for their efforts in securing this deal. We now look forward to a busy Summer, serving lots of Cream teas in the garden. Alan Bines WILLITON RECENT weeks (mid-July) have been showing an increase in numbers travelling through Williton with the car park very busy on many days. One day it was good to see several vintage sports cars which had travelled down from Wiltshire to park with us before travelling to Minehead and back. Several school parties have also boarded here. It has been good to see the PW Gang continue to finish off the new bridge over the stream and tidy the area generally following the handing over of the loop. A new fence alongside our mess room and work shop has also given the area a new look. Hopefully we will have a new gate later in the year so that the 'temporary' metal barrier which has been by the crossing for the past three years can be returned to its WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
rightful owner! In the meantime, the S&T gang have been regular visitors to the station to fit signal cables and other bits and pieces in readiness for the new signalling etc to be completed in November. There is still keen anticipation for the time when we can say 'all done', up and running. Even so I realise there is a massive amount of work to be undertaken underneath the 'box' before we reach that point. Our floral displays have been even better this year and have brought many good comments. Congratulations to Phil Chapman who has put everything together. I am sure if there was still a station competition we would come out best! The rest of the staff do their share in the constant watering of the baskets and pouches on the fences. We could do with a couple more platform staff, especially for weekends and more help in the shop would also be appreciated. Anyone able to do just one day a week would be welcome. John Parsons DONIFORD THE new path is proving a great success with visitors to Doniford Farm Park and with holiday makers staying at the Doniford holiday parks. As an added benefit, the views from the path are lovely as well as enabling all users of the Halt to avoid the narrow, busy road. Unfortunately, somebody has smashed and removed the notice identifying the path to the Halt and some walkers are mistaking it for the coast path which, to most locals' dismay, has been routed across the beach. The beach is very rough and virtually 67
impassable to pushchairs and buggies and, at high tide, is impassable to all but the strongest swimmers! We are investigating the possibility of affording to have a finer covering to the Halt path, making it less bumpy for buggy users. Meanwhile the Doniford Halt team is sweating in the heat, keeping the undergrowth from repossessing the path not a small job! Similar rapid growth is occurring on the original path to the road, still being used by some passengers arriving by car or walking to Watchet along the road during high tide, using our new path to avoid the worst bit of the Doniford Road. With the added footfall at the Halt we are hoping to extend the platform width over some 20 feet so as to be able to place our two platform benches (one now being restored by RAMS) there for the comfort and safety of passengers. I applied for a grant to fund this ÂŁ5,000 work to the WSRA in 2014, and again in 2015 but, despite constant chasing, have never heard (at least n o t ye t ! ) i f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n w a s successful...... Chris Hooper The new footpath, creating a much improved and safer access to the station from the direction of Doniford Farm Park. Photo: Chris Hooper
WATCHET THE news story about the 'device' or 'bomb' found just outside our station made local and national news during the summer. It presented the WSR and Watchet station with an unprecedented situation. The suspect incendiary was spotted during the regular weekly track inspection. It appeared a rabbit or heavy rain may have dislodged it from the embankment and it rested on the Minehead side of the road bridge at Watchet station. Just as it was discovered a train pulled into the station heading for Minehead. It was held in the platform as we awaited the arrival of the Police. Concerns were expressed that any vibrations from the locomotive could trigger the device and so it was decided not to even try and reverse under its own power, a wise decision as vibrations from a departing train will sometimes trigger a car alarm parked in our station car park adjacent to the line. It was the Police who photographed the device and sent the image to superiors for analysis. On viewing this image a full scale incident was declared and the bomb disposal team from Tidworth was summoned. The Police closed all surrounding roads including the road bridge over the line linking Watchet town centre. The only road into or out of Watchet that was open was via Blue Anchor. Local bus services ceased and the contractors working on the renovation of the nearby Boat Museum were directed to stop work and leave the site. At the station the train waited with its full load of passengers who had been moved to the rear carriages of the train, as far as possible from the unfolding incident. Station staff also moved waiting passengers to the far end of the station. The majority of
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train passengers and those waiting at the station to embark were cooperative, sensible and good humoured. It was important for passengers and the local public to be reassured and for distressing rumours to be corrected. Rumours spread very quickly: within minutes of the initial delay station staff were being asked if it was true it was a World War Two bomb, then it became a mortar, then a torpedo dropped by an enemy plane on land by error. The most alarming and distressing rumour that quickly surfaced was that a woman had hung herself from the railway bridge. Where or how this originated remains unknown. It was important to be reassuring, factual and consistent in dialogue with the public. Only one or two passengers decided to try and push at all the boundaries, constantly questioning railway colleagues with the same repeated questions, and so receiving the same answers. One passenger repeatedly ignored requests to move away from the front of the train and kept trying to get past colleagues in order to reach it. The passenger kept referring to the name badges of staff, declaring he knew senior people at WSR, probing with comments designed to be provocative as he repeated the same questions: 'so, it is a bomb then?' Or, 'why are you people all getting so stressed?' He declined to move back away from the unfolding incident. Skill, training and sensitive people management were required to handle this situation in front of other passengers, the worried, the annoyed, the infirm and the very young. Mobile phones were in the hands of several passengers recording all that was said and could be seen. The loco and train crew, permanent way and WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
station colleagues worked collaboratively under the direction of the emergency services and WSR. The station had to be secured as an exclusion zone was created around the suspect device. The station had to be secured and its approaches taped off. At Watchet there is public access to the platform and facilities from three directions: the footbridge and both ends of the platform. All had to be secured. It soon became clear the station and train would have to be completely evacuated and nothing was going anywhere for some time. The evacuation was undertaken calmly and with good humour by most passengers. Whilst this drama was unfolding at the station contingency action was being implemented by WSR at Minehead: liaison with the emergency services, the media, stations and signal boxes along the line and stationary train loads of passengers; the organising of local coach companies to transport delayed passengers to where they needed to be. I was at the station that day and praise the calm professionalism of all our colleagues who were involved either there or on the end of the telephone. The task of managing the flow of information and decisions between the various groups (passengers on the train, on the platform, loco and train crew, police, WSR, press, local residents, colleagues, and so on) was handled tactfully and professionally with great credit to Watchet and WSR colleagues. Reporters from the local media and BBC news managed to find their way to me and were politely directed to contact Minehead for an official statement. At Watchet, we were made aware of a group of vulnerable youngsters caught up on the delayed train. Their carer said they had to 69
return to Minehead by a certain hour as some needed time critical medication. Station colleagues organised a taxi to Minehead for them and their carer, escorted them to the town centre away from the station and waited with them for their taxi to arrive. Colleagues advised others on the unfolding alternative arrangements, and, as an example, liaised between WSR at Minehead, Berry's coaches and a party of 17 people from Butlins, many of them youngsters, to ensure they were all safely picked up at a safe place on one of the closed off approach roads from Williton in the late afternoon. It is helpful to remember that most of our passengers are not locals. They are not familiar with street names or local places, that their mobile phones may have no charge left or may now be out of signal range, and by remaining with them, phoning on their behalf, and escorting them to local meeting points for taxis or for relatives to collect them, they are reassured, worries resolved and people feel secure and cared for; in my experience the majority of our customers do appreciate this care and service and have commented so.
family holiday and felt the WSR at large could have handled some matters better. With some thoughtful and sensitive customer care by those on duty he and his children left Watchet with a smile, a thank you and an apology for being so upset. When at the station on the following days many passengers came to talk with me about the incident and one group opened their conversation with cries of 'Don't' panic! Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!' In short, procedures and training were critical to the safe management of the incident; there was disruption and delay; they could not be avoided and nearly everyone understood that. I wish to take this opportunity to recognise the care and professionalism of all involved on the day and subsequent days. On the following morning train stock was in place and ready to run a full timetable from the first train of the day with no cancellations or delays. Much goes on that is not seen or known about by the public and this incident serves to illustrate the benefits and strength of team work, training and customer service. At the end of the day people finally got to where they needed to be and everyone was safe and no one was hurt.
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The trapped train was eventually towed back towards Williton in the late afternoon, ensuring no vibrations from its locomotive could antagonise the device. It was late in the afternoon when the bomb disposal squad arrived. The last few station staff left the premises on Police advice as the entire area was about to be locked down and secured as an enlarged exclusion zone was to be imposed.
AS everyone knows, it is 50 years since closure of the Somerset and Dorset in 2016. The Trust is having a busy year.
The following day there were several quite complex refunds undertaken by our booking office. One customer was very upset and annoyed at the disruption caused to his
The 1886-built Somerset and Dorset First Class coach number 4 was in action at Minehead for the Spring Steam Gala, hauled in station limits by our Peckett 0-4-0ST
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Bomb Disposal safely removed the item and described it as 'an inert device'. Kevin Smith WASHFORD
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Kilmersdon and carrying its first passengers in 86 years. At the time, only two compartments had been completed in time. Since No 4 returned to Washford after the Gala work has continued by Trust volunteers. The restoration of the coach is now nearly complete, with all the compartments upholstered and just the luggage racks to go in, whereupon the restoration will be complete after 30 years dedication. The coach is attending the WSRA Rally in August and will be back at Minehead for the October Steam Gala. A big thank you to everyone who has been involved in the restoration of coach 4 over the last 30 years. We now have just two more similar coaches to go, Nos 114 and 98, both being 3rd Class. The Trust is endeavouring to seek grant aid to assist with the restoration of these vehicles.
Meanwhile, the station and museum continues to be staged wherever possible. The Trust is always looking for new volunteers at Washford to help run the shop or volunteer with the restoration work – please contact me if you are interested (pdguppy@btinternet.com). Paul Guppy BLUE ANCHOR WITH never a dull moment, there's always something to be sorted out at the station! Recently, we have had problems with both our plumbing and drains. Unfortunately, one of the two Ladies WC cubicles has had to be closed due to an unsafe cistern that has started to come away from the wall, and will require its mounting board re-fastened. Ivor Baulch has successfully co-ordinated matters with the PLC so that we will soon have 100% loo capacity again! Not to be outdone, the Gents WC drainage has a
With the small Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DM ex-Bath Gas Works locomotive shunting wagons in the adjacent sidings, Class 42 'Warship' No D832 Onslaught passes through Washford station with the limited stop 13:45 Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead on 10 June, during this year's Mixed Traction Weekend. Photo: Tim Edmonds
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longer standing problem that has manifested itself, and will require ground works to resolve, and again Ivor has coordinated this with Stafford Taylor who is assisting the PLC with infrastructure matters, and has put us in touch with a suitable contractor that we hope will be able to fix the problem for the long term. A station which opened in 1874 is likely to develop such problems, so we have to be ready (as custodians for the time being) to deal with these as best we can. Sometimes modern technology has to intrude on our 19th and 20th century heritage atmosphere, but with good cause. In connection with his interest in Geocaching, an online based game/treasure hunt using GPS, Robin Fisher has recently installed a logging-in box/cache (apologies Robin, if it has a more accurate description) at Blue Anchor in common with other WSR stations, where those that are following the Geocaching process on their smartphones can register their presence at the cache on the station. It is aimed at bringing new visitors to the railway and to each station, so we are all for that! Perhaps we can sell them a tea, coffee or ice cream or provide some useful WSR related information while they are here! Let us hope that the visitors soak up the atmosphere too. A lot of people put a lot of effort into keeping the station looking good for all our visitors, whether they travel on the train on their first visit or not. Many thanks to all of you. This involves cleaning and tidying, emptying the rubbish bins, tending the gardens, painting and maintaining things etc. etc. All done for the love of it, rather than the reward, and I hope with a desire that the station and the railway prosper through success.
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It is most important that we try and keep the station staffed for as long as possible throughout the 'working day' but also bearing in mind that we are all volunteers, and not all spring chickens. This need for a presence is particularly helpful when there are operating difficulties and trains are running late, and our passengers need assistance, if only through information. We are luckier than some WSR stations in that we have a signalman to provide a direct and onsite link with Control, and if there are occasions where very late running occurs, it is possible for them to let people know what is happening if we have already 'clocked off'. It is always nice in such situations for people to see someone they can approach and who might be able to sell them a cup of tea or an ice cream, etc. and give advice on alternative travel options, if necessary. There are often a few little jobs that could be done (mug wrapping, polishing or cleaning etc) during the quieter periods, and I would like to thank all station staff volunteers who do this as a matter of course. I would also like to thank a couple of colleagues in particular – Richard Brentnall for his sterling work on providing much produce for sale at the station including cakes, as well as his regular Wednesday ticket office duties; and Steve Hunt – for the administration of the (now fully by email) rostering system, which we are all finding is working very well, with only a couple of minor teething troubles. I know that all of the booking office staff are continuing to offer their services when they can, so a big thank you to you all. It would always be nice to have more people, especially if we could 'double-man' the station, now that all timetables have at least one crossing move.
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Two of the Camping Coaches in the car park have been receiving some serious TLC in recent months, both inside and out, but it won't take visitors long to see which one hasn't. There may be some developments about the middle coach in the pipeline – we shall see! The ongoing process of signing a formal agreement with the PLC – the “Stations Agreement” – which FoBAS as custodians of the station are being asked to enter into, is rumbling on and by the time you read this we may have come to a resolution on roles, responsibilities and obligations. FoBAS will always take its role very seriously as we all recognise that the WSR of 2016 is very different animal to that of 1976, and the world in which we live does not accept organisations such as ours living in a time warp. We have been lucky to have been offered the opportunity to upgrade some of our station benches to authentic “GWR” style benches, and we will be proceeding with this project as the year progresses. A number of other stations are participating in this project that is being co-ordinated with the PLC and RAMS. We have still to organise the collection and refurbishment of the ex-Blue Anchor Ground Signal that Chris Osment has very kindly offered us as a long term loan, and siting it at the station. All offers of help greatly appreciated…… Other jobs that will need organising soon are Platform Awareness Training, and all of our station staff will need to attend a refresher course on this. The long awaited “station bible” of notes and useful information is still a work in progress too. By the time these notes appear, we might also have our new WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
cast signs for the level crossing wicket. We might also have sold all of our 2016 Blue Anchor mugs – buy now while they are still available! Derek Tarr DUNSTER OUR long awaited plumbing improvements have now been started, with the installation of a hot water system fit for the 21st century. This now serves both the staff facilities in the parcels office and the ladies room, and the system will be extended to serve a sink in the gents when the roof eventually materialises. The installation of this has been somewhat protracted but we are now coming to the point where the plans will be submitted for approval. Part of the delay has been due to the ill health of John Baines and we all wish him a speedy recovery. The loss of his partner so tragically cannot have helped his condition and we also offer our most heartfelt sympathies for his loss. The new hot water facility replaces a rather tired and outdated water heater in the parcels office which served a tatty and tired sink unit. This has been superseded by a Belfast sink with lever taps attached to the wall. The replacement sink has seen better days but is an improvement on the one which was used as a planter outside the lamp hut for so many years. In due course the 'new' sink will probably be replaced by an even newer one. Part of the plan for the gents toilet involves the installation of urinals and proper plumbing and drainage in the stalls. The new plumbing will go a long way to alleviating the problem of unsavoury odours emanating from the existing drainage! As far as the ladies room is concerned, there is now a rather large and bulbous water 73
heater, along with its accoutrements, standing in the corner by the toilet cubicle. The intention is to box this in and at the same time provide a flat surface which can be used for baby changing, a process which is not easily accomplished at present. When we finally have a roof on the gents toilet, we will be able to re-decorate in the knowledge that the weather will be prevented from undoing all our hard work. Currently, the wall inside the ladies room suffers from damp for most of the year and the outside of the window frame is desperately in need of a coat of paint. As everyone knows, toilets need drains and drains need somewhere to deposit the effluent they are meant to dispose of. In the case of Dunster station, we have a large cess pit which seems to be operating efficiently as it has not needed emptying during my tenure as station master. The level of demand on the facility dictates its efficiency and it is a testament to Victorian planning that, thus far, this has coped very well. As part of the recent consultation meeting the pit was examined (but not too closely!) and
was in a healthy and robust condition such as to continue to serve for the foreseeable future without intervention! I am also pleased to welcome two further volunteers to swell the ranks at Dunster – Keith and Pauline Musk, who are the new residents of Station House. I must also mention their large and imposing black, shaggy German shepherd dog who goes by the name of Jack and is our loyal and faithful watchdog during the time that the station is closed. Due to the good offices of Robin White, we are in a position to add another GWR/BR seat to our collection and this will replace the Southern one which currently sits towards the up end of the platform. This will now go to the Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association along with three more of the same type from Stogumber and they will eventually grace the platforms at Okehampton. Once again my thanks go out to all Dunster staff for their invaluable contribution to the continued wellbeing of the station. Alan Bond The visiting Stanier 'Black 8F' No 48624 makes an impressive sight as it approaches Roebuck Crossing with the 12:45 ex-Minehead on 13 March 2016. Photo: Don Bishop
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NEWS from the WSR GROUPS The latest reports from other groups in the WSR 'family'.
DINMORE MANOR GROUP OUR flagship locomotive 7820 Dinmore Manor is, at the time of writing, enjoying a seaside “holiday” on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway – running at times with another West Somerset favourite, No 5542. But our working volunteers don't take time off! Work in progress is on completing our tender number 2928 (which spent many years in Minehead yard – including a period partially submerged which did it no good at all) – the finishing touches are now being added and it is being prepared to run with Dinmore Manor. When the swap takes place it will be the turn of the tender that ran with No 3850 – and previously with Dinmore – to get some TLC. Also underway is the heavy overhaul of No 3850 – stripping down has continued and a start has already been made on refurbishing all the brake and suspension parts. We have a dedicated team of machinists working at our own site near Evesham on this vital work. Hand in hand with the physical work we are busy raising funds to speed-up the overhaul – the main thrust is our “Club 3850” initiative – full details on our website. We are also placing adverts in selected publications to widen the audience. Taking more of a backseat is another past resident of Minehead – our GWR heavy freight No 2874. The August edition of Heritage Railway carried an article about WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
the Charitable Trust that has been formed to aid the restoration of this loco and we are very grateful for the support we are receiving from STEAM, the museum of the GWR at Swindon. The more members of the Trust we can gain, the better our chances of attracting some external funding – full details at www.2874Trust.org. As always, we are happy to see old friends and new riding behind one of our locos wherever we may be – perhaps on the WSR at some point. David Foster STEAM TRUST FOLLOWING the restructuring of our membership fees, we have noticed a significant increase in the number of both members and volunteers. Work continues to be focused on Collett coach number 6705, where much of the work recently has centred around varnishing the wood panels within the various compartments. Other than varnishing, the other significant work to still be carried out involves the upholstering and the floor finishes. With the increase in membership and in particular with the increase in the number of volunteers, and at the request of certain volunteers, it has been suggested that we consider starting on a second coach. Having consulted the various interested parties (in particular the volunteers themselves), the 75
Board of Trustees have decided to sanction the recommencement work on GWR Toplight coach 3639, on which work had started but was shelved in favour of completing 6705. Recommencement of this work could happen as from September or October. By the time that this report appears in print, both 6705 and 9038 will have been to the Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally. There is in fact still some work to do to complete 9038, which to the casual observer would seem to be totally finished, but there are a few jobs internally that still require finishing, including fitting the remaining hand basins within the sleeping compartments. Work continues to be carried out on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays of each week, and additionally on the last Sunday in the month. Further thought has also been given to the museums (The Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard and Blue Anchor Railway Museum), one aspect of which is to endeavour to make it possible for the former to be a little more interactive. Finally, having been invited to submit a team for the Oake Village Hall quiz night by Steve Williams, planning director for the West Somerset Railway plc, we are very pleased to be able to say that we fielded a full team of six people (Chris Austin, Chris Bolt, Ray Clack, Ian Coleby, Greg McNelly and Claire Sheppy) on Saturday 2 July, and are very pleased to say that we came a very respectable 3rd place out of 15 or 16 teams. As the Steam Trust do not seem to have many social events as such, (something that I hope we may rectify a little in due course) this in itself was very pleasing. Claire Sheppy 76
SOMERSET & DORSET RAILWAY TRUST AS reported elsewhere (see Washford station notes), the Trust is delighted to report that restoration work on coach number 4 is virtually complete. The coach is now upholstered throughout and boasts an emergency brake system to enhance safety. The coach, together with the LSWR road van, made a very impressive sight on display at the recent Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally, travelling both ways between Washford and Norton Fitzwarren hauled by Kilmersdon, and providing excellent publicity for the Trust. The prestigious Transport Trust award for work on Coach 4 was received on behalf of the Trust by Ted Lambe on 6 June. It was presented at Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, who is the Patron of the Transport Trust. The GWR 'Fruit D' van is to be refurbished inhouse and, when complete, will replace the existing SR PMV as museum display space, as the latter also requires refurbishment. The Trust's annual special train took place on Saturday 4 June and this year had a very distinct S&D flavour to it, being hauled by the two 7F's on the outward leg to Minehead and by Nos 44422 and 53808 on the return. The series of walks, illustrated talks, exhibitions and other special events has continued throughout the summer as part of the programme commemorating 50 years since the closure of the S&D line in March 1966. The programme continues into the autumn and full details can be found on the Trust's website – www.sdrt.org. (RPJ) [The above was written by the Editor, with the information gleaned from Issue 282 of the S&DRT's Bulletin, 'The Pines Express'] WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
TAUNTON MODEL RAILWAY GROUP SADLY, we have to record the passing of one of our life members, Doug Cranney, who has been a very long serving participant in many activities. He was admitted to hospital just three days before he passed away at the age of 93. Just a week beforehand he had been busy as usual working on our new layout of Bishops Lydeard. Many of our Group were able to attend his funeral at the end of July. His very regular attendance is being much missed, together with his equally regular replenishment of our tea and biscuit provision which was for many years his personal domain – we never had to think about it, it was always readily available! Thank you Doug, you were always so reliable. Since submitting our last report we have been occupied doing maintenance on our Bath Green Park model, together with plenty of tender loving care given to our Tamerig model. Construction of the new Bishops Lydeard model continues steadily with the scenics now well advanced and the second (Minehead end) fiddle yard being built which will complete the baseboard construction works prior to the final portion of track laying. We had an encouraging Mixed Traffic Gala opening with the attendance well up towards the usual level. Our initial Wednesday opening for the school summer holidays had a very poor attendance, with just ten visitors, our fingers are very much crossed for the remaining Wednesday openings, which hopefully will be more favourable. Our hoped for complete repainting of the external building was not fully achieved before last winter arrived, and our schedule is to get this finally finished, by the time you WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
are reading this. Our building structure has been well cared for over the years, and only one final area requiring attention has to be carried out, so it should be a straightforward task to complete. We will be open again on three days (FridaySunday) of the Autumn Steam Gala (7-9 October) from 10.30 – 16.30. Light refreshments etc will, as usual, be available. David Butcher
LATE NEWS LSWR 'M7' Class 0-4-4T No 30053 from the Swanage Railway has been added to the list of 'guest' engines for the Autumn Steam Gala, joining Nos 4612 and 5542.
ADVERTISING RATES FOR JOURNAL If your business wishes to advertise in future editions, the rates and contact details are detailed below: Quarter page: £30.00 (one issue), £125.00 to end of 2017 (next 5 issues) Half page: £42.00 (one issue), £180.00 to end of 2017 (next 5 issues) Full page: £80 (one issue), £340.00 to end of 2017 (next 5 issues) All prices include VAT at the current rate of 20% Advertisements are invoiced in advance Advertisements will appear in colour unless otherwise requested Advertisers to provide their advertisement in pdf format please For further information, please contact the WSRA office on 01823 433856 or at journal@wsra.org.uk 77
ASSOCIATION NEWS BL SHOP REPORT
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
THE Station Shop and the Whistle Stop Café are enjoying a steady 2016 season to date. We have recently welcomed a few more new volunteers to join our team, including another four Trackers keen to 'learn the ropes' of retail.
A date for your diary – the WSRA AGM will be held on Saturday 22 October.
We have a wide range of sales lines to offer you over the forthcoming months: Books: Selling well at the time of writing are Lightmoor's Somerset and Dorset volume in their series BR – The First 25 Years, the magnificent Broad Gauge at Watchet and Amberley's Seventies Spotting Days around the Western Region. In the next quarter we are expecting Ian Allan's The Green Diesel Years to be popular, as well as the Atlas of Railway Station Closures and another volume in Noodle Books' series of Impermanent Ways covering South Wales. Model Railway: We stock all the latest releases from Hornby, Bachmann and Peco, to name but a few, and the new Oxford Rail locomotives and wagons. We do offer competitive pricing in addition to selected discounts for WSRA members. Diecast: We stock all the recent models from Oxford Diecast in addition to Corgi's 60th anniversary celebratory range covering a selection of different scales inc 1:76, 1:43 and N gauge. Customer Orders can be taken via e-mail on wsrashop@btconnect.com, by telephone on 01823 432125, or please call into the shop. We are open every day timetabled trains are scheduled to run. Kate Beard (Retail Manager) 78
QUANTOCK BELLE NEWS WE are now operating our Autumn programme with several full or nearly full trains. This is a very pleasing position to be in and is a combined result of WSR plc’s reintroduced (and very welcome) promotion of the QB, along with the success of our current 10% discount offer applying to certain trains. At the time of writing there are still seats available for Sunday lunch on 16 October (discount available, quote QB10) and Christmas lunch on 4 December. We are also operating a Sunday lunch service on New Year’s Day and that is likely to be a very special train. On 10 September we ran a prestigious private charter train as a joint operation with our plc; it was the QB at its absolute best. A bespoke menu had been created in consultation with the customer. Among the QB crew were a WSRA trustee (me!), a WSRA Promotions director, a WSR plc manager and several plc catering department staff. One of our regular crew members told me it was the best QB turn he had ever worked. As soon as we came to a halt at Minehead, I stepped from the train before anyone else and admired the view with all the table lamps lit, hearing the sound of conversation and laughter from within and realised why we do this. Our customer was clearly delighted: I cannot thank you and the QB / WSR team enough for the fantastic night you gave the WSR JOURNAL – AUTUMN 2016
Paediatric Visiting Club guests - they absolutely LOVED it! They were particularly grateful to all the staff who made it such a special evening - but others also commented on the scenery, the sunset, the beautiful stations, the food etc. etc. It made the weekend for us all. The following day, introduction of an element of silver service was trialled. Robin White is working with us to assist in the introduction and implementation of a number of changes to the service element of our operation and those changes are generally extremely well received by our diners. We are reviewing every aspect of the QB operation and intend to raise our game significantly in 2017 and beyond. Our contribution to the Autumn Steam Gala is now being planned with enthusiasm. We are looking forward to details of our Full
English Breakfast and Hot Luncheon service being published in the ASG souvenir booklet. An exciting and innovative programme for next year has been drawn up and is now being considered by our colleagues in the various departments. We hope to have the 2017 promotional brochure available before Dunster by Candlelight, as was tradition for many years. The QB will be open at BL on the morning of 22 October (AGM day) to serve WSRA members teas, coffees, biccies and cake. It will also be an opportunity to take a look behind the scenes. Please come and see us and take the opportunity to have a chat about anything QB! Barrie Childs (Quantock Belle Manager)
A photograph that positively oozes interest and atmosphere! A work-stained GWR '2884' Class 2-8-0 No 3850 heads through Trowbridge with a mixed freight in August 1961. Photo: Cliff Woodhead
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