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

Still green. Due to be Evening Star at GCR Winter Gala according to their website.

 

Early public timetables available on WSR website, obviously without motive power as yet. Either they need a bit of modification or I can no longer read timetables as there appears to be some a few collision potentials! Several trains appear to depart north from Bishops whilst the the southbound is still somewhere mid-way between Crowcombe and Bishops, or have the loop extension gang moved from Williton and done another job further south?!
If anyone is looking for a hotel recommendation we use the Foxes Hotel just a few strides along the beach road from Minehead station, given the right room you can hear the shunting. Foxes is a training hotel for students who are challenged in some way and featured in a channel 5 documentary last year. The missus and me featured in the program so we will be available on Minehead station to sign photographs and take selfies with (LOL). I hasten to add, we have nothing to do commercially with the Foxes, it's just a good hotel, great food, wonderful staff (the students are great) and close to the railway, been stopping here ever since we started coming down to the WSR, long way from Lancashire.

 

Any chance of advising me where the errors are? I've put the times on www.wsr.org.uk too and (obviosuly!) want to make sure these are error-free. PM me if you prefer. Thanks in advance.

Thanks too for info about the Foxes Hotel.

Steve

 

Having had a quick look myself, I think some confusion could arise with the times of up trains extended to Norton Fitzwarren - the given times are most likely departure times to Norton, the train could have arrived at Bishops Lydeard 10 or 15 minutes previously. As a general rule, trains are allowed 10 minutes from Crowcombe to Bishops Lydeard and 15 minutes Bishops Lydeard to Crowcombe. The flyers available on the railway show arrival and departure times and there are no conflicting moves on those.

 

I've scanned the leaflet - here it is. I haven't checked it against the tts on the website, but one notable difference is that the 1745 SaO BL - MD also runs on Sunday.

 

Hi Ian - I am looking at the links on the website, one example below:
http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/shopimages/articles/extra/SSG 11032016.pdf
Friday 11 March shows 10.45 departure from Bishops for Minehead before 10.50 arrival from Minehead. Same later, 13.03 departure Bishops for Minehead before the 13.15 arrival.
The same is true on other days.
Looks like your leaflet is probably the best bet at the moment, where is it available please?
Thanks, Harold.

 

As I said before, the times on the website for up trains at Bishops Lydeard are arrival times if the train terminates there, and departure times if it is continuing to Norton Fitzwarren, so at present the leaflet gives most detail. It is available at WSR stations although they will be closed until trains start running again, with the exception of the information office at Minehead which is currently manned Monday - Friday. If you don't live locally, you could contact the information office at Minehead and see if they will post you a copy, otherwise the final and definitive timetables (working timetables) will be published in the Spring Steam Gala booklet which will be available nearer the event, and can be purchased by phone or via the 'shop' option on the website.

 

WSR Plc tell me that "The WSR has been informed by the National Rail Museum that it will not be permitted to rename 92214 as Evening Star during its appearance in the Spring Steam Gala."

Steve

 

I wonder what the reason behind that decision was?

 

Thanks Steve for the info, seems a bit petty, especially as it will be running as such at GCR Gala.

 

Have booked for this...1st serious visit to the WSR. Will buy a three day rover and use the train for photography opportunities along the route

 

Fine!!! I'll do it myself in photoshop then! T*&^rs

They should go back to do what they do well.... waste £4.5 million of money that could be better used else where restoring something that's not authentic anymore. Seriously what is going wrong up there these days!!!

 

Was really pleased to find this....

http://www.wsr.org.uk/photospot.htm

......though at the moment, the images in the menu don't load.

 

I think that's an archive page from Steve's old site.

 

Ah, an old page that got away. Try this one: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-spots.htm

Sorry!

You may also find this page handy: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-photters.htm

Steve
www.wsr.org.uk

 

Thanks Steve, that is really helpful, makes planning my days much easier. Looking forward to seeing what you guys have on offer down there

 

Worth reminding ourselves perhaps that as Citizens of this country we own the NRM!

 

Also worth remembering that 92214 will never be Evening Star no matter how many times people wish it so

 

The NRM are a publicly accountable body.

Perhaps someone would care to ask them for the reasons for this decision?

Robin