WSR Diesels at Home in the West 5-7th June 2015

Just a month to go, chance to get down there for the diesel event this year, looking forward to it, news on the following link to WSR:
http://westsomersetrailway.vticket....-in-the-west/952114927973b73d726d2d6fdc013121

Can't find any details of rosters yet and the freights, anyone know if there will be a 'gala' style timetable issued, or will the site be further updated?
Unfortunately it doesn't look like the Western is strutting its stuff, but there is a Warship and a Hymek at least!
Personally, can't say that I am interested much in the decorated 59003 as a visitor, but I read elsewhere this may be only Friday as a one-off run that day. I sure it rings bells for some.
Fingers cross for some good weather.

 

Loco rosters and freights will probably be available about 2 weeks before the gala. In recent years, these have been released in addition to a gala booklet, which then of course suffers from lack of sales, so maybe there is not one being produced this year. The gala timetables without allocations are available at the bottom of the page you quoted. I think the plans for 59003 are one run BL - MD on Friday, on display at MD Saturday, and several runs on Sunday - of course it has to end up at BL Sunday evening!

Another site to keep an eye on is www.wsr.org.uk which often has news before the company's site.

 

Thanks Ian - will keep watching the site.

 

I can't make the event due to other commitments but I am surprised the railway didn't try using that thumper they have at Williton, I think it is operational now?

 

The owner wants it moved to Okehampton as soon as possible now that the work is finished.

 

It's a shame that as I'm sure that would have been a good attraction for the railway at this event, the one they have seems popular on the MHR.

 

37057 is ill she has blown a turbo generator at swanage so i wonder if she will be dropped & replaced or repaired in time but the latter is possibly unlikely

 

Bear in mind that until 1118 gets to Dartmoor, the line can't operate over its full length as the only thing it has fully operational is its Class 08, and from what the crew said on my last visit they prefer not to take that south of Sampford Courtenay (seems fair, that's a long climb for a 15mph shunter). Without the overhauled Thumper, they're operating a truncated service that renders all their leaflets inaccurate, so can understand why they want it asap.

Would love to have a DEMU on the WSR one day though, 1118 was looking gorgeous out the back of Williton workshops last weekend and they make the greatest sound of any British multiple unit.

 

East Lancs' Hymek would make a nice (and appropriate) replacement for the Class 37, if it's available.

 

Timetables with loco allocations now up on the WSR website. Some very interesting diagrams including 59003+56006 double heading, not quite my cup of tea but should make an interesting comparison.
We plan to walk the line using parallel footpaths over the 3 days, walk out - train back or reverse to suit, to photograph the event. Low tide is late afternoon for anyone wanting to walk the beach from Donniford to Watchet (misses the main road with no footpath).

 

Sounds very interesting walking, hope its nice for you. 59+56 is an odd combo for sure.

 

That sounds excellent - I've always been keen to try something like that at a WSR gala but for the years I've been back into this they've always been across week/ends where I can only do a half-day around work so I've prioritised getting some travel up the hills in. It's got to be a gala mission too to make the most of it really (more trains and no tender first running - either because they're turning or they're all diesels!). If you're putting the pictures online afterwards I look forward to seeing them so I can try to trace your routes - think I know most of the WSR paths now - and try it myself one day.

 

Without wishing to be 'political', I hope that the national rail strike next Thursday/Friday can be called off. I was hoping to be on the first train of the day up from Cornwall to Taunton on Friday and back on the last service that day; now looking at whether my son's 1973 vintage Austin 1300 feels like a day out!

John