West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala, 27-30 March 2014

Hoping to make my first ever visit to the West Somerset next year. Just waiting on confirmation from the B&B about the dates if they have a room available.

 

I think people get a bit carried away with the theme. The WSR is not a line where they recreate scenes of a beyond era in terms of galas, it's more we got these locos... come see them here. If you want locomotive's on appropriate stock go elsewhere. This Autumn's Gala is an exception as it's all Western locomotives so the carriages match, particularly those in BR (so all the Manors, 5029 and 4160 at this year's ASG).

I think this 'Withered Arm' should be taken like the S&D gala from last year, it's just a few locomotives from that theme thrown in with the homebased lot.

 

Fair enough, but I wouldn't complain about two or three locos associated with the "Withered Arm" sharing duties with the likes of 7828 and 3850.

 

For a good Withered Arm line-up you need (in order of importance) a T9, an N and/or a U, an unrebuilt West Country (or BoB), and maybe a Beattie well-tank or an M7, if the budget will stretch that far. GW interlopers might include a pannier, a small prairie or a mogul but probably not a named 4-6-0 class nor a 2-8-0. I wouldn't worry about bringing in BR standard classes, unless some of the first-choice SR locos are not available. Although appropriate, they don't evoke the LSWR in Devon & Cornwall in the way that a Greyhound or a Spamcan do.

Given the ballast recycling operations undertaken at Norton Fitzwarren, could a Meldon Quarry train be recreated somehow? What a shame none of the Z tanks were preserved. One of those would be just the job for banking a ballast train up Washford bank! 88 or a GW 2-8-0T might have to deputise.

As for choc & cream coaches, it depends which bit of the Withered Arm you are portraying. AFAIK, GW trains were common on the Barnstable-Ilfracombe section, at least.

 

Ilfracombe (and Minehead) were served by the Cornish Riviera Express sections slipped at Taunton.

 

Nearly as many portions as the ACE!

 

Can you confirm timings on that? I looked in my winter 1957 Bradshaw and I can see connections for Minehead and Ilfracombe at Taunton off the 09:30 from Paddington, but nothing which would match a connection or slip coach off the CRE which left at 10:30.

Just checked Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_Riviera_Express which does refer to a slip coach, but that doesn't seem to match the 1957 times.

 

Personally i would like to see 41298, 34007, 30120 and 31806.

But i would really like the WSR to do a Bristol theme at some point with say Leander, a 4F and Black 5 to mix with their GWR stuff.

It would be nice.

 

Hi Railway Folks,
As Gav106 Gave his idea about a future gala here's my suggestion
I Would like to suggest A Mainline Engines Gala with visiting mainline registered steam engines.
These would be from a cast of 46115 Scots Guardsman, 4965 Rood Aston Hall, 35028 Clan Line, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, 63106 Mayflower And Lastly
45305 Alderman A.E Draper.

0r

Another Idea
Pride Of The L.M.S Engines.
featuring a cast of 44806 Kenneth Aldcroft, 46223 Duchess Of Sutherland, 43924, 45699 Galatea Or 45690 Leander, 46512, 47406, 45160.

Many Thanks
YRM.

 

Whlist 46115/5043/4965/35028 would be great, these engines do not visit heritage railways*. I'm not having a go but it's not worth mentioning these locomotives, but somebody does everytime it seems.

* - To haul revenue earning services directly for the said railway.

 

Well... You might possibly be surprised next year !
(but not necessarily at a gala).

 

35028 was due to appear at a gala on one railway this year( although not formerly annouced ) until flats were discovered on its tender wheel(s).

 

Bluebell Grinstead Opening!

 

JBTEvans said that 5043 does not visit heritage railways
It did visit the West Somerset Railway in 2013 with the Whistling Ghost railtour and on the west somerset railway website's list of visiting engines has 5043 down as the following : GWR 4-6-0 no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

many thanks
YRM.

 

It bearly ran on the WSR, it got chucked off at BL. As Pete Thornhill said, I meant running at galas hauling public passenger services for people who have tickets under the conditions of carriage as set out by the WSRA/WSR plc whoever if you wanna be smartassy about it.

Many thanks JBTEvans

 

Was it due to haul public passenger services, or was it just taking a railtour there?

 

The former.

 

Apart from the loco lineup maybe we should discuss what the stations will be called. I'm wondering whether they will rename the stations like they did at the Autumn Gala to re-create some of the places on the Withered Arm. Does anyone have any suggestions? I guess Minehead could become Padstow or Ilfracombe for starters.......

 

If Minehead becomes Ilfracombe, Blue Anchor would become Braunton.