WSR Spring Steam Spectacular - Fri 2nd May to Mon 5th May 2025

More exciting news thanks to the WSR and it's planning team. <BJ>

''We are delighted to announce our final visiting locomotive for the Spring Steam Spectacular as Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Aspinall Class 23 0-6-0 Saddle Tank no.11456.
Built in 1881 by Beyer Peacock, the engine was originally outshopped as an 0-6-0 tender engine, before being rebuilt in 1896 into her current form to an Aspinall design. This is the opposite to our own no.9351 which started life as tank engine and is now a tender loco. No.11456 gained her current LMS livery and number after the 1923 grouping and in 1937 the engine was sold into industry. It was from the National Coal Board that the engine was purchased for preservation in 1967. The engine entered traffic in early 2020 at the East Lancs Railway after a long overhaul.
Appearing at the WSR for the first time between Friday 2nd and Monday 5th May, no.11456 will also be the first Lancashire and Yorkshire engine to visit the WSR in preservation. This will be a unique sight with the other Victorian locomotive at the event, Terrier 0-6-0 no.72 'Fenchurch'. Expect to see the loco share 'local' train duties with the 'Terrier' including some double headed and top and tail trips.
Our thanks go to the East Lancashire Railway where the engine is based, and the owners the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Trust''.


Kenny Felstead

 

Hip job postponed so hotel booked, tickets bought, awaiting timetable. Interesting to see how our L&Y enjoys a holiday by the sea, hope it performs better than the Caley tank did! Please, no double header with the A1X !

 

The latest gala update thanks to Seb Welsh at the WSR.<BJ>

''We are pleased to confirm that the timetable for the Spring Steam Spectacular is now available. Hope you like it
Individual days can be seen at the links below''

Friday friday_2nd_may_compressed.pdf
Saturday saturday_3rd_may_compressed.pdf
Sunday C:\Users\richa\AppData\Local\Temp\mso6B23.tmp
Monday C:\Users\richa\AppData\Local\Temp\mso3184.tmp

 

2999 has arrived at Bishops Lydeard this morning. Will be running as 2986 "Robin Hood" at the gala

 

Another brilliant set of timetables there, I love how innovative and ambitious WSR events are again these days. It's always a good sign when you read a set of event timetables and realise you need to change a load of plans so you can spend two days at a gala because you're not going to be able to fit in everything you want to do or see in one!

Questions for probably Seb Walsh - the website lists 7828 as '(subject to return from repairs in time)' but it's not on the timetable - does that mean it's now a confirmed no-show or might there be a timetable update if it is ready in time?

And if the Fireless is ready in time, what's the plan for what it would be doing? The fact there was a Fireless on the WSR - especially one anywhere near working - had totally passed me by, I've never seen one operating before.

 

Hi, thankyou for the kind comments regarding the timetable. I like to keep it fresh!

I didn't want to include 7828 until it's attendance was confirmed following repairs. If she is available by then, I think we will swap her out for 9351 for a day or two.

With the Fireless, hopefully she will be Minehead Station Pilot doing some shunting demonstrations between trains. Currently tbc if she will be powered by steam or compressed air. Should hopefully be an interesting thing for people to see! The loco has been under restoration in Williton Works for the last few years and is owned by our Chief Mechanical Engineer so will reside on the Railway permanently I believe.

 

Looking at the weather forecast up to and through the event there is not a drop of rain on the horizon, hope this doesn't result in fire risk problems..

 

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

 

When do advance ticket sales close for the gala?

 

I believe 24 hours before for each day but don't quote me on that one.

 

Cheers.

On the Saturday the 15:25 from Minehead with 11456 and 9351 says it will stop north of Williton for water, I presume you can still got off to change to the train heading the other direction after the water stop?

 

Yes you'll be able to, once watered the train. Will stop in the platform.

Cheers, B

 

Another question for Seb Walsh and any other gala organisers passing here - will there be any positioning moves or shunts going on on Thursday?

I'm thinking of popping in to collect a Friday gala wristband from Minehead early so I've got more flexibility for which station to start my moves from on Friday when I whizz up after the school drop-off, and will time my Thursday drive accordingly if there'll be any gala preparation workings going on that I could try to get some shots of. Coincides nicely with the last day of the local residents' discount week on the Lynton & Barnstaple too.

 

Yes, there will be at least three moves

11456 + LMS Brake to WN at 1030 from BL to MD (collects two wagons at WN)

72 + GW set 1200 from BL to MD

72 + GW set 1445 from MD to BL

 

Great stuff, thank you. Will time my trip to Minehead accordingly!

 

Information on my tickets receipts say wristbands must be collected from Minehead station on first day of travel, no mention of getting them early on Thursday. Last event there was a collect table on the station entry point by the cafe.
Can someone clarify, if Thursday is an option for collecting what time is the station/ticket office open until. We don't anticipate arriving until after 5pm Thursday after a long drive south.
Thanks, Harold.

 

Not sure about the opening times, but I made my Thursday plan based on this info at the very bottom of the gala page on the WSR website:


Wristbands
Wristbands will be issued for each day you travel. These will need to be collected on your first days travel from either Bishops Lydeard or Minehead station only. There is also an option to collect your wristbands early from Minehead Station only and these will be available from Monday 28th April 2025.

(from https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/view/spring-steam-spectacular-2025)

 

Do you have a useable water supply at Williton? Just thinking of what is a sensible range with Fenchurch.

Tom