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

Am I the only one who thinks renaming the stations is a bit OTT?

 

I like the stations being renamed because it's something different to what happens at other railways, and because (in my opinion) it's a great idea!

 

I don't really see what's the advantage of doing it though, it's still Minehead or Washford etc.

 

With the announcement of 2 guest engines already, with the possibility that a third is under negotiation. I am really looking forward to making my 1st ever visit to the WSR next March.

 

Station renamings are a bit cute and amusing, and it is something a bit different that to me seems harmless. And while instinctively I'm not a vast fan of renumberings, if a Cl.50 owner put their engine in black-roofed large logo, scruffed it up a bit and made it 50046 Ajax for a weekend, that would tick some personal nostalgia boxes for me in a way that probably doesn't make total logical sense (as it would still be a different engine) but that I'd enjoy nevertheless. I'm sure for some people with a few decades' headstart on me, Nunney Castle's Cambrian gala identity change raised some nostalgic smiles too, same as 7827's occasional outings as 7800. Think the hint that renumbering 5322 would be an insult to those who lost their lives in WWI was taking things a smidge far.

 

Personally, I prefer authenticity with both station names and loco numbers. But if renamings and renumberings make the gala more attractive to enough people to help bring in more of the much needed pennies, then so be it. When I've won the Lottery big time, I'll be in a position to dictate.

 

If you've never been to the WSR before, I can assure you (and may other will confirm, I'm sure) that you'll be in for a treat. 20 miles of lovely scenery, plenty of steep gradients to give the engines a good work-out, attractive well-maintained stations.. I could go on, but throw in a few guest engines as well as the regular fleet and I can't see you being disappointed. The only area in which the WSR does not yet come in the premier league is that the carriages are virtually all Mk 1s, apart from a few converted DMU trailers, but even here, that is being worked on, with a number of GWR coaches purchased (about 8, I think). I think one or two are not far off being ready for service; others may know more.

 

I think the GWR BCK coach number 6705 is planned to be in action at the gala, would be great if they used their new Hawksworth Saloon with it too.

 

I don't think 6705 will make it for March but could well be making a Gala debut at the Autumn event in October. A recent look at the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust's website suggests that there is a need for a burst of cash coming in to pay for some contract work to be done to complete it.

 

Date 25/10/2013
"Restoration is well advanced on ex-GWR Brake Composite coach no 6705 with the aim of delivering it to the company during 2014 to run attached to regular trains. Passengers will be able to experience the soft cushions, the comfortable springing, leather window straps and polished woodwork of another era. No 6705 was built by the GWR at Swindon in 1938 and withdrawn from traffic in 1967. It was overhauled at Swindon and shipped to a railway museum in Vermont, USA, and latterly kept at Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was brought back to the UK in 2007 and the bodywork was partly restored at Crewe. Restoration is now being completed at Williton, through a combination of volunteer input and contract work with West Somerset Restoration."

Maybe I just made up the SSG bit!

 

I hope Manston is the one that gets selected if they are gunning for an unrebuilt.

 

It would be an appropriate choice for the "Withered Arm" theme, as its final shed was Exmouth Junction.

It doesn't look like the T9 will be coming, as it's off to Swanage instead:-
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news905.htm

 

We are also endeavouring to have at least two of the Withered Arm Stations present and operating in Model form at the Spring Gala. With regard to the comment about the heritage carriages project, this is a long and painstaking task, requiring an enormous amount of both expense and patience, and several of those involved in it, are also active in other areas of the West Somerset Railway or other railway topics as well, which in my case involves modelling the Withered Arm, with other members of my family and friends. Claire Sheppy, West SomersetSteam Railway Trust, heritage carriages project.

 

Since I was the person who first raised the subject of the GWR coaches, I do apologise if my comments sound in any way like a criticism. They weren't meant to. In my post, I said that the WSR was a superb railway, and that the only area in which it couldn't be regarded in the premier league yet was that it runs mainly Mark 1 stock at the moment. I then pointed out that the railway was making amends even here, and I fully appreciate that restoring these carriages is indeed a long and painstaking task (I have been a member of the Bluebell for over 40 years, and am fully aware of the effort put in by the C&W people at Horsted Keynes to outshop their pre-nationalisation coaches.) I wish you well, and look forward to seeing coach 6705 in action next year, hopefully.

 

Thank you John. I did not take this as a criticism at all, but I do take every opportunity to publicise the work of the Heritage Carriages project. It was partly because of the very fact that the WSR were well aware of the almost exclusive use of Mk 1 coaches, that this project was started, and also with a view to increasing coaching capacity at special events such as galas. We are always happy to show people round the project at Galas if you make yourselves known to us and ask to be given a brief tour of the coaches. I am usually at Williton during some of a gala, but we try to have at least one steward there throughout the gala. But as this coming Gala is a specialist subject of mine I will probably be somewhere around the railway on all four days. For up to date information on 6705 please visit the WSSRT heritage carriages project website.
Claire Sheppy

 

Some news just in - SR 4-6-2 no 34053 Sir Keith Park confirmed as a visiting loco

More newsy stuff about WSR special events just published on wsr.org.uk

Steve

 

For those of us who like exploring old trackbeds etc this may be of interest.
Following the publication of his book “Cycling the Somerset and Dorset Railway” Robin Summerhill (self-described as “the old geezer on a bike”) is releasing a similar volume about the “Withered Arm” in spring of 2014. Appropriately enough Robin will be launching the book at the Minehead Railway and Transport Literature Fair at the railway station over the three days March 28th to 30th when the West Somerset Railway will be commemorating the “Arm”, the “Atlantic Coast Express” and the ending of steam trains on the Taunton to Barnstaple line 50 years ago. Although Robin’s S&D book was titled as a cycling guide those who have bought it will know that it also served as a good overview of what of the old line can be seen and visited today. With the Gala also marking the longer hours of daylight the book about the “Withered Arm” may well be all the encouragement readers need to go exploring North Cornwall and North Devon by two wheels, four wheels or foot in the months to come. The Literary Festival will be housed in a marquee outside the station and will be shared with a Model Railway Exhibition. Admission to the Festival will be free but there will be a charge to go into the Exhibition.

 

I think the 'ending of steam on the Taunton to Barnstaple branch 'and indeed the 50th anniversary of closure of Taunton Shed is the theme of the Autumn Gala with the 'Withered Arm the Spring Gala theme. (Strangly, the WSR co site mentions the above so perhaps I have it wrong :-( )
Cheers
John

 

Certainly the Autumn Gala will hinge around the end of steam at 83B and steam ending on the Taunton-Barnstaple line at that time. However with 5322 being available for March and the long connection the 43xx had with Taunton-Barum-Ilfracombe it would be silly not to include that piece of nostalgia and do some targetted marketing along the route of the lost line as well.

 

Hey All,
Just Wondering Has 31806 Been confirmed as attending the event yet or not
many thanks
YRM.