The Turntable Appeal

Monday February 11th 2008 was an important date in the history of the West Somerset Railway when for the first time since the 1960’s a locomotive turntable was in position at Minehead Railway Station.

As part of the development of the “Market Site” adjacent to the station the opportunity has been taken to install the turntable which the West Somerset Railway acquired from Pwhelli in North Wales on November 2nd 1977. This was 55 feet in length, which was too short to accommodate the largest engines, such as those that work the main line excursion trains. With this in mind the turntable has been extended to a length of 65 feet by Steelway Fensesecure in Wolverhampton and it is now long enough to deal with the largest of mainline engines. It will also be useful to turn the WSR’s own engines from time to time to maintain even tyre wear on the wheels and weathering of paintwork.

The installation has been supported by funding from the South West Regional Development Agency, Somerset County Council and the European Regional Development Agency. The Railway has also agreed to raise £113,000 as part of its contribution to the overall cost of £632,000. Courtesy of the generosity of the Company’s shareholders and the general public much of this has already been raised.

However more money is needed to complete the area around the turntable to present a steam era cameo. Amongst the “extras” will be a Great Western Railway parachute pattern water tank and Victorian lamp standards. It is intended that the area around the ‘table will be accessible. The design will allow the spectacle of a mainline locomotive being turned slowly from a vantage point just a few feet away. It will be one of the few turntables in the country in the country where this can be done and will be laid out to be a valuable educational tool with interpretation to explain its role and purpose and the principles of physics that allow a 165 ton locomotive to be moved by just one man. Any financial help that you feel able to offer towards the completion will be most gratefully received.

We appreciate all donations however large or small as it all helps.

You can donate Now by Ringing 01643 704996