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

I think you'll find it was 7820, not 7828 which stepped in.

 

John Simms, WSR Publicity Officer, has announced "Following talks between West Somerset Railway CME Andy Forster and Ian Riley the WSR is pleased to confirm that LMS Black 5 4-6-0 no 44871 will be attending the Spring Steam Gala in place of the sadly unavailable no 45379. This will be 44871's first appearance on the route between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead. Thanks go to Ian Riley for making the locomotive available."

Steve

 

Yes, that brought back some memories for me. Family requirements ruled out the weekend; boys too young for me to take them with me on a lads' weekend in the youth hostel even if it had been open in March, but I managed to beg and plead with the boss to take Friday off. Not great photography weather, but atmospheric.

John

 

March 1996 S&D 30 Gala made a real impression on me. It was that particular event that made me realise just how special the Wizzer is and it sealed my commitment to the line. I was stewarding aboard Quantock Belle kitchen/restaurant 1909 Orion for the 3 day gala duration and we had a whale of a time chatting to and serving several S&D old timers and S&DRT members. From memory I think the event attracted somewhere around 4560 visitors.

On the Sunday evening we were formed in the last up service and were held at Crowcombe Heathfield to allow 34039 to proceed down with ECS. I stood at the platform end that cold, quiet, dark evening and could hear the Pacific some distance away. I recall the amazing sound of that engine working hard up the bank as though it were yesterday, not 20 years ago! Vague memories of Parkstone Bank in '67.

Then there was the pigeon special, pausing at Washford for the birds to be released. Bet we don't do that this year. Back then someone suggested sending a Hymek out with a demolition train. Now that IS happening.

1996 S&D 30 was the very best steam gala I have ever experienced, before or since. That said, next month's event certainly has the potential to better it. Let's all make the most of this one as I suspect it will be the last time SEPT are awarded a budget anywhere in this league. WSR knows how to put on a good show and this forthcoming event may well come to be remembered as our best ever. Whatever you do, don't miss it. I reckon you'd regret it for a long, long time.

Barrie

 

Who on earth are SEPT? Are they separate from the WSR?

 

The Special Event Planning Team.

A very hardworking group, chaired by John Cronin of the D&EG.

I think their title says it all...

Robin

 

Are there seven of them?

Tom (fetching hat and coat ...)

 

They're clearly very very good at what they do! I'm a little surprised that no extra coaches have been hired in, when I have been to previous Galas I haven't been able to get a seat on trains! With this event probably being busier I wonder how it will be overcrowding wise...

 

Sometimes unofficially known as Special Engine Procurement Team, particularly apt for this event.

 

Until the 'Cronin' event timetable introduced a while ago, I have heard it rendered as the

Signalman's Evening Plans Trashed.....

But that would be unkind (and inaccurate in recent years).

Robin

 

Even though SEPT seem to have been given a larger budget for this gala than usual, they probably thought that it was better to spend it on hiring locos than coaches. I anticipate that overcrowding may not be so much of a problem, because most of the locos will be visitors and the passengers will be more evenly spread out over all trains, rather than concentrated in the visitors' trains and leaving the home fleet ones relatively empty.

 

An aspect of the WSR is that it is a very 'big' railway, 22 miles, 10 stations, four trains in circuit etc etc.

So for Galas there can be a lot of folk on or around the Railway without reaching the 'crush' factor seen elsewhere.

Robin

 

Yes, that is a very cogent point. Even the Severn Valley can be uncomfortably crowded at a gala, which is why I prefer to go at a quieter time - even though I miss out on some highlights that way.

John

 

Partly, I think it comes from the WSR having been a broad gauge railway originally, and partly from being a 'holiday' line built to handle long trains, in comparison with the SVR which was built for local trade, and so has smaller, more compact stations etc etc.

Robin

 

I actually have to say that from a gala perspective I believe the longer the railway then more awkward and busy it can be. Imagine Williton, people get off to see the sheds/exhibits, trains pass here, some people just going back up the hill (all day) and crowded platform waiting to get on. With the timetable there can be sone quite long gaps, that being said, I'll be there the second weekend!

 

It's interesting to see just how different the railway is on Gala Days. Most stations are much busier than usual, especially the crossing points and Washford. If anyone who only came for galas visited on a 'normal' day, they would probably be surprised to find that 90% of passengers just travel BL - MD and return, most intermediate stations only seeing a dozen or so passengers throughout the whole day, with the exception of Watchet, Blue Anchor and Dunster which do have significant numbers of passengers, and only the 'odd'(!) few dashing between trains at crossing points!

 

I remember wanting to do a 'dash across' at Harmans Cross' on a non Gala day - the staff were baffled...........

Although they did escort my son & I across the barrow crossing rather than having to schlep over whatever it is you schlep over there

 

Does ex-Caledonia Works 0-4-0ST no 1219 have any reference to the SDJR? And the gala theme?

 

No.

New to Stewarts & Lloyds ltd Clydesdale Steel & Tube Works Mossend, then to AB c1951 as a work shunter until 8/1970 when sold into preservation to R J Robinson South Cambridgeshire Steam Museum, and then to the WSR so all its working life was in Scotland.

 

I was at Bishops Lydeard just before 4 o'clock this afternoon when the WSR's latest acquisition arrived in the form of 4F no.44422. Within 30 mins it had been unloaded in the yard. It appears in 'as withdrawn' condition ......just as I remember them. <BJ>