West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Oh that looks superb! Congratulations to everybody involved.

 

Andy, do you have any period british military vehicles?

DJB.

 

Yes, there is an Austin K3 on the train and others will be at various places along the line, I've lost track of which vehicles are where as the list changes constantly as owners let us know they are coming. Of course any WW2 vehicles are welcome to turn up over the weekend in addition to those who have booked in.

 

Hope the 1940s weekend becomes a regular event, today was brilliant.

 

Sadly I am still not receovered sufficiantly from a major operation to venture out but I have to say the rolling stock the Wagon Restoration Group have worked on looked particularly good. Well done Ken Davidge and his team. I hope we shall see the results of more of their labours soon as they work their through the linear scrapyard West of Dunster.

 

I agree entirely. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day. Trains busy, live music great and the military train impressive! Also well done Watchet town for entering into the spirit of the event.

 

Currently exiled 1100 miles or so south of BL, so am unable to enjoy this weekend's tremendous event in person. Consoling myself by reading old WSR Journals, currently issue no. 67 (Summer 1994). It contains a report and pictures of Wartime Weekend held on 7th & 8th May 1994. I attended that one and well remember the Saturday evening's 'Midnight Patrol' special train. The interval between these two events roughly matches that between the start of WW1 and WW2!

 

Pretty cool today - enjoyed watching the military train from Blue Anchor. A credit to all involved!


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What are the soldiers singing in unison?

 

Home guard were singing it’s a long way to Taunton. I mean Tipperary

 

Bomb disposal talk is very good and funny

 

Brilliant Anthony! I felt I was there and saw much more than if I had been. Thank you very much.

 

Thanks to Andy Norman and the team for a great day.........was a pleasure to talk with you Andy,

my observations of The Military Train..................Hand held Ipad 3. I enjoyed being told to step back a bit......!
Minehead; Williton; Bishops Lydeard.

 

Anthony

Thanks for posting pictures, as one of the organisors I was busy rushing round all weekend so didn't actually get to see much of the event so if anybody else has pictures please post them here for me to see. Its been an overwhelming success, the Facebook page that the participants use to communicate (West Somerset Railway Forties Weekend 2018) is full of pictures and very positive comments. The Saturday night 1940's Dance on Minehead platform was the best bit for me, everybody getting very involved and enjoying themselves. We don't know the numbers yet but advance tickets sales exceeded other events and busy days this year and Minehead Cafe had its busiest day ever by far (even exceeding the Flying Scotsman event takings wise), others along the line reported the same and every train was full with seats difficult to find. Most importantly there were a lot of existing and new faces on the WSR smiling and enjoying themselves. Thanks to all who played a part, its all about people working together and getting involved for their own enjoyment.

I'm happy to say that we have the 2019 event in the calendar and confirmed as 14/15 September 2019.

 

I did see Mr Churchill talking to General De Gaulle. I should have whispered in Churchill's ear that if De Gaulle started talking about a single currency and a super-parliament in Brussels after the war then to drop him over Berlin. The parachute would be optional.

It was a cracking event. Well done everyone.

 

Congratulations Andy N and Robin W (And the many others i'm sure who helped) on organising what looked like a spectacular weekend. Unfortunatelly some of us were stuck in the capital and were unable to make it but next year is in my diary for sure!

Who would have thought Andy, those early conversations about 3 years ago stood in the md loco yard discussing how a forties event was a great idea that it would come to fruition. Great example of the WSR and its community working together! Long may it last!