West Somerset Railway Autumn Gala 17-19 October

https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...team-weekend-breakfasts-on-the-quantock-belle

 

Excellent, well spotted. Seb, recommend a link from the event page.

 

Enjoying this a lot so far. Trains were already about 25 mins down when I arrived at 9.30 but are catching up a bit now. The T3 looks as stunning as ever but it's making pretty light work of its 3-coach set today. Nunney Castle on load 8 is very decent, though. 813 looks lovely on the local set and that GWR coach is a treat. Definitely appreciate the bonus 33 as well (though I do prefer Manors. And Hymeks.)

Some of the trains feel a bit quiet. But there is a lot on this weekend and the sets with the visiting locos on seem full enough. I reckon 9351 and 7828 are probably providing the best entertainment so far, though.

 

That mixed set behind 813 is one of the nicest mixed trains I have seen for a long time.
This weekend would have been my, so far only weekend, this year that involved somewhere other than Swanage. I even changed my Bluebell plans for this. But needless to say other domestic and care issues have meant I miss this one as well, other than a few webcam glimpses.
Hope all who are there enjoy it.

 

The updated web cams have made a tremendous addition to viewing the WSR from a distance. The T3 from Swanage looked superb when seen by the Williton platform cam and the shunt moves by 813 provided interest at Minehead. A good day it seems.

 

7828 failed at Minehead late this afternoon, train and path cancelled, we arrived back in Minehead 45 mins late as a result. 7828 on shed with a 'not to be moved' flag on it. Anyone know what the problem is, is it fixed, if not what's covering its diagram tomorrow (Sunday)?

 

7828 and 9351 worked the goods back to Bishops Lydeard this evening presumably to get 7828 in the correct place for Sunday's timetable.

 

Here's my footage of the gala filmed on Friday and Saturday. The highlights were of course Nunney Castle hauling the 8 coach trains up the steep hills, The T3 going well despite the load limitations on the route and in particular the Manor putting some brilliant performances including the 8 coach train departure from Bishop's Lydeard. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Spent 2 thoroughly enjoyable days at this gala, particularly enjoyed the Castle on load 8, and the Manor, and a pity the Saturday non-stop run with Nunney didnt quite make it, can we try again in the Spring ?

The WSR is a great railway, and the staff/volunteers are a a credit to it. Thanks to all involved in this event.

 

From the little I watched on the cams, the timetable most of the afternoon from the Minehead end bore little resemblance to what was actually happening. Flicked on Blue Anchor and I thought it was 7828 running round its train and going back to Minehead. At the time I assumed it was just some attempt at trying to get back on time.

 

Here's my video, from mainly the first day......

 

Timetable badly delayed all days, not getting off to a good start each morning, then slowly worsening as the day went on. Big mistake first thing Sunday morning was sending the small Barclay pug out to Blue Anchor and back from Minehead with effectively a coach and 3 vans, got back full hour late, the problems hatched.
The 5029 Nunney Castle principle train had 8 on to cope with anticipated numbers, but no buffet car. Conversely, T3 563 only had 3 on (4 advertised), a buffet and two accessibility coaches, effectively limiting the train to about one and two thirds carriages for seating, standing became par for course until Sunday. Most trains were lightly loaded Sunday, I think the weather had something to do with it.
Photo's to follow.

 

I may be wrong but most of the later trains on the Sunday appeared to be ECS. Probably a combination of poor weather and the timetable being about 60 mins adrift. The footplate crews seemed to be enjoying themselves. The webcams are great , even with the tech problems at times. Saved me the cost of travel and a ticket!

 

My Wife and I attend a lot of galas and travel on the trains more than we did previously, mainly due to Arthritis of my hips, but also a belief in putting money where my mouth is. Without ridership our hobby would not survive.
Most galas in our experience tend to less well attended on the last day/Sunday, particularly in the late afternoon, but would agree it would appear that the trains are running at that point mainly for the entertainment of the crews and a few hardy rover bashers squeezing the last out of their investment. A weekend of rover tickets is hard on the pockets of pensioners and younger people if you want to travel all three days.

 

Worth noting that the T3 is running today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) if you missed her over the weekend...

 

And has just left Williton piloting 7812 on a four coach set. The DMU ( wasn't this in dire need of overhaul?) is working the service to Minehead.

 

The last trains of the day were very quiet with only a few of us hardy souls on board, probably due the reasons you mentioned. The run back with Odney was splendid, steam at night with the sound echoing around the Quantocks hits different! Finally arrived back 86 minutes late after a stop at Crowcombe due to injector trouble. Glad 1219 got it's farewell outing after the middle shuttle was cancelled, it was a very nippy run to Blue Anchor and was one of the many highlights at yet another great day out on the WSR.

 

Had a good day on the Sunday but chose to avoid the T3 due to it's load 3 until the final BL-WN-BL of the day, and had a whole compartment to myself

I thought chocolate and cream had gone out of fashion at the WSR, so to see a 8 carriage rake paired up with 5029 was splendid as well the complete 6 carriage blood and custard rake too. A healthy amount of vehicles now in traffic.

The wagons in the goods train all look excellent, superb effort from the team.

I have liked seeing the evening photography from this event.

Well done to the team, small on the amount of steam locos in comparision to previous WSR steam galas but it meant the engines were constantly in traffic and personally I didn't mind the 33 being out, it reminded me of the 'Somerset in Autumn' events held in the late 00s.

Excited for May, would be great to see some former residents return

 

I've become really fond of staying to the very end of the final day of a gala, there's something a bit special about it. The final up train of last May's WSR gala had 9466 + Jessie double-heading with (I think) a Cambrian Coast Express headboard, which was a nicely bizarre and extremely noisy combination, and there seemed to be plenty of railway personnel and gala organisers in the front coaches finally being able to let their hair down a bit and reward themselves for producing a brilliant event. It had a lovely atmosphere and made me think those last runs of a great weekend should be part of my planning more often.

 

The T3 also left BL 20mins late with the first train Sunday morning. It was a shame no buffet on 5029s rake but I guess this was done due to the buffets not being chocolate and cream. Sunday saw the b/c buffet rake mainly behind the 33 which probably wasn't the best idea but I guess it was that or diesel haulage for the QB breakfast. I think all are good learning points.