West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Have just been browsing the wonderful wsr.org site and noticed some new photos added of BCK no.6705 - doesn't it look fabulous


(Pic by @SebWelsh)

It's hoped to be in service for the Spring gala - I know that it's been fairly close to completion for a while, but am I correct in assuming this will be the first time it's properly run in service?

 

The present sets of carriages on the WSR do look good as does the DMU. The line seems too be well cared for now, probably as there is no longer a tug of war it seems. Full marks for those responsable.

 

Not wishing to stir things up but, last year weren't we told the DMU was on its last knockings and would cost an armful of cash to fix? Maybe someone came up on the lottery. If you look at the Mk 1 carriage roofs aid of the webcams things ain't so good. But , it's all heading in the right direction. I may even use my shareholders pass this year.

 

Yes and the hope is to run it with a hired-in heritage vehicle to provide a two-coach train of restored GWR coaches.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to attend the WSR gala in a couple of weeks time, and will certainly be on the look-out for this vintage branch train. Perhaps it will be paired with the visiting Terrier loco - the GWR acquired a Terrier via the WCPR, so there is historical precedent for one to work a GWR train.

Are you able to say anything about plans for restoration of the further GWR vintage vehicles now assembled at Washford? When passing the site earlier this month, I noted several coaches under tarpaulins at the east end of the yard, with an uncovered coach outside the shed looking sort of "air-conditioned". If any coach is currently being worked-on, it will presumably be inside the shed?

 

The terrier would be an ideal engine! At Washford, attention is on 3639. The other coaches wait in the queue. Much time and money has been spent at Washford on fully equipping the workshop, on training and on h&s. We are now looking at building mess facilities. The workshop is beginning to look like a fully fledged carriage restoration works.
Ian C

 

Spoilers!!

 

The WSR Gala Planning Team is excited to announce one final surprise guest for the Spring Steam Spectacular event next weekend (Friday 2nd to Monday 5th May)!

Events are of course not just about the visiting locomotives, so how about a visiting coach announcement?

We are delighted to confirm, with thanks to the Severn Valley Railway, that GWR Collett Third Corridor no.1086 will be appearing at the Spring Steam Spectacular! And we are also excited to confirm that the WSR Heritage Trust's own no.6705 will make her debut in passenger traffic at the event. This vehicle has been undergoing restoration for many years, and this will be the very first time in preservation that the vehicle will carry passengers on the WSR.

The two Colletts will run together for the whole event, and form 'Set E' on the timetable, available on our website now! This will mean you will be able to see and travel in Great Western vehicles for the first occasion in a very long time at the WSR.

Tickets can be prebooked at advanced discount rates at our website here - https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/view/spring-steam-spectacular-2025

Image with thanks to Kenny Felstead

 

45596 Bahamas due to arrive WSR Tuesday evening:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K32472/2025-04-29/detailed

 

66 mins early at Cogload.

 

Early Morning Maurice the Morris

 

Spotted you on Antiques Roadshow yday.

 

Pleased to get a small slot for grandad and his Rifle Brigade mates.

 

Can anyone kindly advise if Bahamas is likely to haul any service trains before it departs from the railway? TIA. <BJ>

 

No unfortunately not. She is due to depart us on Tuesday. She has been a fantastic performer on the WSR over the Gala and we are very grateful to be given the privilege to host it. A credit to the owning group (as are the other engines we've seen this year).

 

The gala was fantastic. So well organised and such a great variety of services. Well done to everybody involved in its running. The WSR really does seem to be highly successful at the moment and looking at its very best.
Ian Coleby

 

I was unable to get to the gala, so missed my hoped-for trip behind "Fenchurch" with the GWR carriages. But I visited the WSR on Wednesday of this week. Expecting diesel haulage, I was pleasantly surprised to find the visiting "Saint" on my train, back to its normal identity of 2999 "Lady of Legend". So at least one gala visitor was staying a bit longer. 7812 "Erlestoke Manor" was also at work.

"Fenchurch" and LMS 11456 were by the shed at Bishops Lydeard, presumably awaiting transport back to their home bases. A GWR tender engine was behind them, possibly 2807, with Braunton and a support coach on the other shed road.

 

Had a brilliant trip yesterday! the lineside looks very good, lots of flower (patriotic red Campion and Valerian, white Ox eye Daisies and blue Borage) Train crews as usual very helpful. the only slight downside was the poor timekeeping, due I believe to "ovoid" coals. What is the future for coal?

 

Under active consideration. See for example https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/no-smoke-without-coal.1423744/ and https://advanced-steam.org/projects/biofuel-testing/

 

Regarding the use of ovoids. Aside from their different combustive characteristics,is there any evidence, one way or the other, regarding their propensity to start lineside fires? An important consideration in the current "climate".