West Somerset Railway Autumn Steam Gala Thu 4-Sun 7 October 2012

Don't forget you can meet some of the team and see the fantastic progress we're making with Auto 169 at Williton during the WSR's Autumn Steam Gala this Saturday and Sunday 6 & 7 October.

As always keep up to date by visiting 5542 - The Planet's Favourite Prairie and Auto Trailer 169

 

Day one of the WSR Autumn Gala over - nice selection of pics now on WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News - big thanks to photographers for sending in their contributions.

Steve

 

I was planning to go today, decided not to bother in the end. If 43106 had done more than work once, in one direction, double headed, I'd have gone. But it wasn't worth the time, effort and money to go down there for the home fleet and locos I've had on that line before.

 

some photos from yesterday 4-10-12 from along the line at autumn steam gala 4-10-12 - keyhamtrain video at keyhamtrain's channel - YouTube

 

Do we know what loco will be on the front of the freight tomorrow morning anyone?

 

Should be the Somerset & Dorset 7F

 

Many thanks.

 

Many thanks to the organisers of the West Somerset Steam Gala. What a wonderful event ....including the weather! A fantastic line up of engines and every train running smokebox first. The goods train ran at the start of the day and again in the evening, both in glorious sunlight. 9F 92203 hauled the 9 coach 'Pines Express' adorned with headboard and reporting code '1O95'. An excellent gala, certainly the best that I have attended this year. As for the souvenir programme, it was worth every penny. <BJ>

 

A collection of photos from the second day of this excellent gala now online at my Zenfolio website here: Mick Rogers Photography | West Somerset Railway Autumn Gala, 5th October 2012

It was a great day, despite the steadily worsening weather. I particularly enjoyed seeing those GWR locos on shed at Minehead.

Cheers,

Mick

 

Photos of the WSR's Autumn Steam Gala now on WSR 2012 including 92203 non stop with the Pines Express.

 

I'll second that. Having every train running smokebox first is a real selling point - I managed to get a decent picture of every loco for the first time I can remember! Trying to ride behind a number of different locos, visit a number of stations and photograph as many locos as possible is a bit of a juggling act but it helps if you don't have to work out which way the locos are facing.

 

Not quite - the last train to Minehead last night was 9351 tender first as it and the 9F had swapped trains on their previous journeys (to avoid 9351 having to work a 9 coach train) so there was insufficient time to turn the mogul before the last train.

Also, 3850 (tender first) piloted 7828 from Washford to Minehead this afternoon after it had been posing in Wasford Yard for the rest of the gala.

So, not 100% chimney first but as close as any (standard gauge) railway has ever managed.

Incidentally, my favourite run of my visit was actually last Wednesday (the day before the gala) - front coach behind 7828 running tender first - LOUD! Pity the noisy bit was a loco length away for the next four days! Great gala though (as always)

 

If you had been around on Friday you might not have included the comment about the weather! But apart from Friday's rain (there were floods in the Leigh area and a hedgerow was washed into the road near Blue Anchor!) it was a very good gala. The only downside for me was the condition of the roadside vegetation at Crowcombe Heathfield Station, it caused quite a lot of scratching on the car, and the bizarre England football flag on the embankment overlooking the station which ruined a planned sequence of the Ivatt. Never mind, a good gala and the B&B is already booked for next year's SSG.

Regards

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 gala days I had riding on Thursday and Friday and part of Saturday watching before we had to come home. Shame about the weather on the Friday as it gradually got worse and worse and listening to it during the night on our campsite I was amazed to see what a glorious day Saturday was.

Having been down near Crowcombe on holiday for the week before the gala I also managed to spend quite a bit of time in and around the railway in the build up. Had a very enjoyable trip with that very loud Manor on the Monday before! It was pleasing to see that there were good numbers riding on the railway in the week before the gala and on the three days of the Gala that I was around for. Difficult really to pick favourite moments but watching the Pines on the Saturday brought back some very fond memories. Good to see Peter Smith (driver of last Pines) around on Saturday and also David Sheppard who was riding on Black Prince. I'll be back for some more next year!! I enjoyed it!! Dick

 

Best WSRly Gala yet for me. We juggled between riding and linesiding on the Saturday all in superb sushine. Best run without doubt was 6960 on 9 for 350 tons on the 0945 BL. Absolutely stormed the climbs with this heavy load. 92203 also good on the 1155 non stop gaining 3 minutes despite a signal stop before Blue Anchor to wait for a train off the single line. Typical S&D! Good to talk to David Shepherd who I think rode the 9F all day. Pity about the usual bad manners from the linesiding hi viz brigade, most no doubt freeloaders. A wonderful day's gricing on the best preserved line in the country bar none.

Don

 

Glad you enjoyed yourself. Mind you I didn't see very many linesiders at all. I was linesiding at Blue Anchor out towards Ker Moor on Saturday afternoon and didn't see any other linesiders at all, although plenty of photographers in the fields. Guess you found a bad lot somewhere

Steve

 

First part of our story from this years autumn gala,
[video=youtube;ymDOK5uOc7Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymDOK5uOc7Y&hd=1[/video]
We had a excellant three days, despite getting slightly damp on friday, we may be down again over christmas week.

 

Like you I didn't see many linesiders, I think the PTS has reduced their numbers. I had an excellent two and a bit days, arriving about 3pm on Thursday and leaving early Sunday morning. I had planned to leave later on Sunday, but I developed a cold and lost enthusiasm!

I did see two incidents of staff at BL having a real go at linesiders, one of which amounted to abuse. There is, I think, a general prejudice amongst volunteers at most railways against linesiders, but now people pay serious money for their privileges, perhaps the managements of the railways should make sure that this attitude changes. Personally I gave up all my lineside passes a few years ago, the few additional shots I could take as a linesider weren't worth the hassle of having to deal with the unpleasantness. It wasn't constant but it did happen too often. Being a 'normal' visitor as it were pretty well guarantees a good reception most places and the staff at the WSR are very friendly at all times to the general public. I would like to thank, in particular, the footplate crew of the Ivatt when they had charge of the freight on Friday morning. They put on a good display when they saw people at Stogumber as they came around the corner. The loco was opened up and the racket and exhaust are brilliant on the video!

Criticism is reserved really for the condition of the lane that runs alongside Crowcombe Heathfield station. The roadside vegetation has been permitted to overgrow the road and the brambles scratched my car. It must have had a similar effect on others too. Please strim it! On the other hand there has clearly been some lineside tree clearance at Kentsford Farm which has opened out the vista and the turntable is now being operated, generally by the loco crews, in a very slick and professional way. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into the way MD is now operated and it has improved the railway no end. I had intended to try to get close to the triangle on Sunday but the cold intervened so that spectacle is for a later occasion.

A very good gala! The first all chimney first gala in the country and more than likely the first of many chimney first galas in the future.

Regards

 

There were over 30 photographers in the field at Watersmeet/Eastcombe for the goods train to Minehead hauled by 'Black 5' 45379 on Saturday evening. They all appeared very happy after the event! <BJ>

 

Were they trespassing?

Regards