WSR S&D Spring Steam Gala, 5-6 and 10-13 March 2016

Not very good for us enthusiasts really. 2006 weren't they all on display at Williton? The WSR will only have 3/4 anyway in March? WSR taking things way over the top as per usual.

 

I don't see why they couldn't be put in a corner where we could see them if we wanted to, but there was no need to look at them... If there was the space of course.

 

Sorry, my sense of humour I'm afraid, please don't take my remarks too seriously about sheeting them down, they will be somewhere on the line for all to see. We have a split of GWR fans and S&D Fans in Minehead, I fall into the S&D camp (although after a year of training to be a fireman on GWR engines I'm becoming a convert) so the GWR guys keep ribbing me.

Yes you are right regarding the numbers, 4160 is out of ticket in the next few days so will be going for overhaul shortly, 3850 has already gone also out of ticket. 4936, 6960 & 7828 will be there, 9351 is still under heavy overhaul and 4110 is a long term rebuild both at Minehead alongside 6024. 53808 is nearly completed at Minehead as per above post in this tread and 44422 is nearly finished and will be coming to Minehead shortly (on 25 year lease) so will taking over from 4160 & 3850 into 2016.

 

Glad you were joking! Not that it makes much difference to the event but always nice to see every loco you can even if she is cold.

 

Technically you could have 6960 running in the gala if we are counting Modified Halls running into Green park as part of the S&D,
Its shaping up good so far loco wise, missing a 9F atm which is worrying and the lack of standard 5s around a Standard 4 in its tender flavor would be good,

All depends how far you wanna strech the theme,

 

Yes. A standard 4 tender engine, a standard 5 and a 9F are musts but the gala's looking very good. The WSR always puts on a good show.

 

The glory days of the S&D were 1960-62. These were the years that were most captured by Ive Peters. I must have about 50 books on this period and a 4mm scale Midford! This period was characterised by 76xxxs, 75xxxs, 73xxxs, 9Fs, 4Fs, 7Fs, Bullieds and crazy combos!

 

6960 is my favorite at wsr though.
Whether that has any relevancy for this gala I don't know.

 

Ivatt class 2 tank?? Standard 4 4-6-0 anyone??

Basically though as its the S&D isn't it pretty much anything non GW - that exists in preservation anyway apart from non Southern Pacifics

Oh, and rename one of the stations Parkstone or Branksome so I can take advantage of the £2 child offer on Sundays & dump my 14 year old son off there at 5pm on Sunday evening............. .

 

This does sound good I have been to the WSR a few times but never to a steam gala might consider this one.

 

If you are thinking of staying in West Somerset you will need to arrange accommodation reasonably soon as it books up quickly around Galas.

Kind regards

Robin

 

If there is a morning goods run planned between MD and BL on the second weekend timetable, I assume it's planned to be before the first 0925 train BUT I've looked at the timetable and it's possible to path the goods departing MD at around 10:10 as it can cross at BA, and if the ex1045 BL from CH is pushed back 5mins (this train is due to wait at WN for 10mins so would not disrupt the timetable), the '1010' goods could pass at Crowcombe. I hope there are goods planned for Saturday 12th, and that would be an ideal time for one.

 

Spring Steam Gala - brake van and footplate rides

An added attraction at the 2016 Spring Steam Gala is the opportunity to ride the full length of the WSR in a goods brake van as part of the Gala goods train workings. What better way to carry yourself off to reliving the experience of being on an S&D goods over Mendip Hills. Some Gala goods workings will be hauled by a 7F - the 7Fs were a class of powerful steam locomotive specially designed to work goods on the S&D line over the Mendips. Also available will be a limited number of footplate passes to ride on the loco footplate over the full line or on a shorter trip from Bishops Lydeard and around the Norton Fitzwarren triangle and return light engine. Both of these extra opportunities are very limited and are available for an extra charge by calling the WSR's main office on 01643 704996 to discuss the options available. The finalisation of what trips are available will depend on which locos are working which diagrams and the presence of trainees and owners' representatives on footplates. Tickets for passenger services during the 2016 Spring Steam Gala can be purchased online

Steve

 

Steam test for the boiler of LMS 4F 0-6-0 no 44422 at LNWR Crewe. All is progressing well for delivery of completed loco in February 2016.

© via Andy Forster WSR Plc

Steve

 

And I see that its tender has been retrieved from its storage on the spur at Norton Fitzwarren - seen in the Bay Siding in the background of this photo: http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2016/01/044

Ian M.

 

Has there been any work undertaken on the mechanical side of the 4f or has it been only a boiler job?

 

Sort of. See Latest Pix on www.wsr.org.uk One caption says "Work on the frames is being limited to known faults at this stage so that the locomotive will be complete and available for the S&D Gala." Hope that helps.

Steve

 

WSR Plc have issued a press release:

"On 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 March 2016, passengers will have their first opportunity since 1930 to travel in Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway coach number 4. The coach was built at the SDJR's Highbridge workshops and carried passengers from the last decade of the 19th century until it was sold out of railway service in 1930. The chassis went for scrap but the body found a new life as a sports pavilion in Templecombe.

In 1986 the body was recovered by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust and moved to its museum and restoration base at Washford station on the West Somerset Railway. After many years of painstaking restoration and now with a replacement six wheeled chassis it will soon be ready to carry passengers again. Painted in the famous Prussian Blue livery of the Somerset and Dorset it will offer a taste of railway travel as it was 125 years ago.

On the dates shown above, when the West Somerset is holding a special Gala event to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the much loved Somerset and Dorset line, the coach will run shuttle trips over a short distance of track from Minehead Station. It will be hauled by Peckett saddle tank locomotive Kilmersdon which once worked the former Somerset coalfields and is now owned by the Trust. Various guest steam engines of classes that once worked over the Somerset and Dorset will haul an enhanced service of trains on the Minehead Branch and the Trust's museum at Washford will be open to visitors. Full details of the event can be seen at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or obtained by ringing 01643 704996."



Steve

 

It looks like we are going to also try and get the Whitaker Tablet Exchange working on the 7F, the item below is on Steve’s wsr.org.uk site. I guess this hasn’t been seen for 50 years !!! I’m also in Minehead tomorrow bolting some more bits onto 53808, last week we were putting the damper and steam cock linkages on underneath so no big visible changes but work is progressing nicely.

Courtesy, www.wsr.org.uk:... The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust owns one of the only surviving 'Whitaker' tablet exchange apparatus units. The lineside apparatus is installed at Washford Yard and the home based SDJR 7F 2-8-0 no 53808 is fitted with the locomotive part of the gear. Work is underway seeking to move the lineside tablet exchange arm from the Yard to the adjacent running line at Washford so that demonstrations of this equipment working can be held as the 7F passes through the station.

 

Sorry to be a spoilsport, Andy, but it was used only 2 years ago!
http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2013/10/071013_39