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West Somerset Railway Latest News
Taunton Model Railway Group Win Award
		The Taunton Model Railway Group are delighted to have won a prestigious award. The readers of the “Hornby Magazine” have voted TMRG’s 4 mm scale model of the Somerset and Dorset/Midland Railway station at Bath Green Park their “Layout of the Year” and the Cup will be presented at the Thornbury Model Railway Exhibition on Saturday May 3rd. Anyone who has seen the layout which represents the station in the 1950’s/60’s will know that the prize is very well deserved.
If you haven’t seen the model for yourself and would like to do so the next public opening of the TMRG Club Room at Bishops Lydeard Station will be during the Mixed Traffic Weekend. Added 30th April 2008
May Day bank Holiday Weekend
		If you are planning a day out on the West Somerset Railway over the May Bank Holiday Weekend of May 3rd to 5th then there are some extra attractions to see and take part in during your day’s travelling. On Sunday May 4th and Monday May 5th we will be operating a vintage bus link (using a vehicle from the Quantock Heritage Fleet) to carry passengers between Dunster Station and the village.
This will be useful if you are staying in Dunster village and want to come down to us for a train ride or alternatively if you wish to ride from our station into the medieval village. And WSR passengers can obtain a very generous discount on admission to Dunster Castle and its Gardens by showing your train tickets at the entrance gates. Sunday May 4th sees the start of a new venture, regular Craft Markets on the Esplanade at Watchet, all of two minutes from our station. They will be open from 10 to 4 and feature a range of products from local crafts folk. It is also worthwhile exploring the remainder of Watchet with its selection of small shops and places to eat and drink. On Monday May 5th there is a May Fayre in Minehead between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at St Andrew’s Church and in Wellington Square (10-15 minutes walk through the town centre from the station). There will be a display of vintage motorcycles, children’s games, musical entertainment, a Fair Trade Produce stall and all the other stalwarts of May Fayres including raffle, cake and preserves stall, bric-a –brac and tombola. Other places to visit include Washford with Cleeve Abbey and Torre Cider Farm or, if the weather turns terrific there is the seaside at Blue Anchor or Minehead. Added 30th April 2008
Father's day Special offer 15th June 2008
		Father’s Day this year falls on the Sunday of the Mixed Traffic Weekend. As a one day Special Offer, Dads coming to the West Somerset Railway that day may save themselves £3 on the Bishops Lydeard to Minehead (or vice versa) return or rover fare. Return fare £12.60 (as opposed to £15.60 for adult Dads), £10.40 (as opposed to £13.40 for a Dad 60 or over) Rover fare £18.00 (as opposed to £21.00 for adult Dads), £13.30 (as opposed to £16.30 for Dads 60 or over).
THESE REDUCED FARES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASERS ON 15TH JUNE PURCHASERS MUST HAND IN THE VOUCHER AVAILABLE IN ALL MIXED TRAFFICE WEEKEND LEAFLETS – ONE TICKET PER VOUCHER Added 16th April 2008
Medieval Games at Dunster Castle
		The National Trust at Dunster Castle will be holding two days of Medieval Games on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 April. Event Company, Heuristics, will be taking over part of the Castle grounds for authentic fun and games between 10am and 4pm. Visitors can enjoy a range of medieval games and let the Lady Katharine pass on some medical tips, whilst her manservant, Tomas, demonstrates a great ability to get it wrong and pays a hefty price. Tomas also has some great inventions to share with visitors.
Heuristics were formed in 1996 after almost 20 years of experience of presenting history and making education entertaining. Liz Summers, Visitor Services Manager says “We are really excited to be working with Heuristics for the first time and hope that visitors will enjoy the experience. They are well known at several other National Trust properties and English Heritage sites and now have quite a following. It promises to be a good fun day for all the family with games such as table-top jousting and build a castle”. In addition to the Heuristics entertainment, the Knights and Dragons Trail will be continuing at the Castle (finishes on 20 April) which is £1 per child for trail and stretchy dragon toy. Normal admission applies for Heuristics. For more information contact the property on 01643 821314 or e-mail dunstercastle@nationaltrust.org.uk. You can get to the event via West Somerset Railway Steam Train. Trains leave Minehead for Dunster at 10.30, 12.30, 14.15 and 14.00. Trains leave Bishops Lydeard at 10.40, 12.40, 14.25 and 16.10. Fares for a return to Dunster can be found by clicking here. Added 10th April 2008
2874 Arrives at the West Somerset Railway
		Great Western Railway heavy freight locomotive number 2874 has arrived at the West Somerset Railway's Minehead Station after the journey from South Wales on Thursday 3rd April and arriving at Minehead at around 18.00. As mentioned in an earlier article on this site the locomotive has come from the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway and has not run since 1963. The loco and its accompanying tender will require a lengthy restoration which is likely to be a long term project for the Railway in the future due to the current commitments to other projects
including 7828 Odney Manor and the turntable. More information will be posted on this site as it becomes available. For more Pictures please see: Added 4th April 2008
“NEW” LOCO SAVED FOR WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY
		The West Somerset Railway has bought Churchward heavy goods engine number 2874. Built in 1918 at the Swindon workshops of the GWR, and originally based at Old Oak Common, the locomotive was used by the Great Western Railway for most of its life hauling coal from South Wales and was withdrawn from Neath shed in 1963. The locomotive was stored in Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry for many years and has never been restored. It is currently kept at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway in South Wales. WSR General Manger, Paul Conibeare said:- “Rarely does an opportunity arise to purchase an un-restored GWR locomotive complete with tender. Chief Mechanical Engineer Andrew Forster and his team have the necessary skills at the Minehead workshops to carry out the work required, and at a cost that will be less than the high prices now being asked for serviceable locomotives. The Railway is pleased that it has secured the locomotive to protect it from further deterioration and demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the heritage of the GWR.
The acquisition and restoration of additional locomotives form part of the Railway’s business plan and so this is a positive step towards that aim. Considerable funds will be required for the restoration which will be phased over a number of years. It is expected that the first phase will be the restoration of the tender in order to augment our existing fleet, whilst a decision on the timescale for the locomotive will follow a detailed inspection of the remaining components.” Negotiations for the locomotive were conducted by Andrew Forster, who will move it to Minehead shortly for examination and protection. Added 26th March 2008