WSR Autumn Steam Gala, Thu 6 to Sun 9 October 2016

6960 Raveningham Hall was out of service for nearly all of August, for work on valves and pistons and also attention to the boiler. But it is good to see that it is now back in regular service again. It seems to be the most popular engine on the line with footplate crews.

David

 

Any chance of a 'snap' of the poster?

Anyone seen one on their local station?

Robin

 

Does anyone know what the code MLS2 means on the 1545 departure from minehead on the 8th or the code BLS1 on the 1745 departure from minhead, again on the Saturday?

Thanks
Adam

 

I understand BLS indicates smaller trains likely to be hauled by M7, 4612 or 44422. MLS indicates larger trains including QB hauled by the bigger locos.

Steve

 

BLS should be 4-coach trains, MLS should be 8-coach trains.

 

Thanks both, do you know why the code only appears on 2 services?

 

Probably inadvertently omitted from other services!

FYI, from staff rosters, the sets start as follows on Saturday:

MLS1: 0855 MD.
MLS2: 0950 BL.
BLS1: 0945 MD.
BLS2: 0900BL.

You should be able to work out the diagrams for the rest of the day, as they turn round each end and form the next train back, except the 1155 MD continues to NF and comes back to form the 1400 BL.

 

Anyone know if there is a 4th blood and custard due to be ready for the gala?

 

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust say on Facebook:

"During during the WSR Autumn Steam Gala from 6 to 9 October, our superbly restored 1886-built S&D first class carriage will once again be providing short trips within the Minehead Station area, steam-hauled by our Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon. However, on the Friday and Saturday, we will also be offering the 'sunset shuttle' travelling to Blue Anchor and back."

Tickets from their sales stand on Minehead platform during the gala.


Pic of Kilmersdon and Coach no 4 at Williton by Bev Z

Steve

 

Something for (almost) everyone - big locos with longish trains, smaller locos with shorter trains, even smaller loco with even shorter train, and even Prairie-powered one-coachers. Plan it well and travel over 23 miles of WSR rails. We can even get you to and from Taunton by rail on two of the Gala days. There's brekkies and lunches too on certain trains. Going to be a good one. Be there.
http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.php/105/autumn-steam-gala/

Steve

 

If coming by road, allow a little extra time when making for Bishops Lydeard Station.


Pic by Robin White.

Works for the long awaited roundabout on the A358 is underway.

Access to the Station is maintained from the A358 so that's good news for most visitors. But the village end of Station Road (from the A358 to Gore Square) will be closed which will affect the bus route so best check with Buses of Somerset.

Steve

 

Buses of Somerset have advised that there will be NO bus stop in Station Road for the duration of the works. Unfortunatly they have not responded to a question of where the closest bus stop is to replace the station road stop.
This would only effect the early and late buses that are not booked through BL station.
By looking at the diversion route for the bus I expect the closest bus stop will be somewhere around Gore Square.

Robin F.

 

Is there working timetable available? Need to work out day. And loco mileage.

 

Links to the working timetables are on the Gala page of the WSR website. If you want the loco allocations, you will need to buy a Gala booklet, either from the website, by phoning Minehead or from stations, although the stations didn't have them for sale as of yesterday.

 

Mine arrived today

 

So did mine. It appears that locos are being turned at the triangle on Thursday and Friday BUT on Saturday and Sunday they don't appear to be. Is this correct? I can find no mention of it anywhere else.
If they are not turning locos on the triangle, is there any way of finding loco directions as they do not appear in the programme.

 

Does anyone know which way the auto train will be facing?

 

The Norton section will be occupied most of the day on Saturday and Sunday with the GWR Taunton shuttles, so it is extremely difficult to find paths to/from the triangle. I think it will be a case of 'pot luck' which way the locos will be facing, except that instructions in the Ops Notice for Saturday and Sunday say that locos will be turned 360 at Minehead to give a turntable demonstration, so they will always be facing the same way all day. Some may be turned on the triangle after the shuttles have finished. No doubt this will annoy some photographers who have got used to locos always being turned at each end!

 

From what I can glean from the Ops Notice, the auto coach will be at the TN end, but don't blame me if that is wrong or if it changes during the course of the event!

 

Why has it taken so long for this important piece of information to get out? The WSR must have known about this for a while yet have not seen fit to tell anyone. Do they fear people being put off coming? If so, that is a bit cynical.
Before the triangle/turntable, souvenir programmes listed chimney/tender first. There is no mention of this. Does that honestly mean "pot luck" and they don't know? If, as Ian seems to think, directions freeze on Friday evening, why not just stick to that AND TELL US.
If the triangle is not available, fair enough. If locos are tender first as a result, fair enough. But tell us that in good time, not hide it.