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Visting Loco's

71000 Duke of Gloucester

92203 Black Prince

92212

78019

80104 at Harmans Cross on the Swanage Railway

Home Loco's

King Edward

4160 on Minehead Shed

5553 approaching Stogumber. Picture by Don Bishop

All locomotives are listed in Good faith and correct at the time of writing

Pictures Courtesy of Alan Meade and Jason Hull

Spring Steam Gala 2009

20th & 21st and the 25th to the 28th March 2010

The West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala is a great way to start your 2010 Steam Season and is now firmly established as one of the top heritage railway events of the year.

The 2010 event, as part of the GWR 175 celebrations, recalls the latter days of Western Region steam and BRs continuation of Great Western practice with Standard designs. It is hoped that many different standard designs will appear at the Gala alongside some ex GWR designs and details can be found below.

Quick Links

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Highlights

  • British Railways Standard Class locomotives of varying types
  • Other locomotives in British Railway Liveries
  • Return to the WSR of 71000 Duke of Gloucester - last visited in 1994
  • Interesting and intensive Timetable
  • Trade stands and stalls
  • Minehead Turntable in use
  • Visits to the shed at Minehead and the Diesel depot at Williton
  • Limited service on Wednesday 24th March with Gala Rover Tickets to cover this day
  • Rover Tickets for 7, 6, 5, 4, 2 and One day Rover Tickets available - cheaper if booked in advance

Locomotives

The following locomotives are expected to be in action at the Gala:

  • Guest Engines including:
  • BR Standard Class 4-6-2 No:71000 Duke Of Gloucester
  • BR Standard 9F Class 2-10-0 No: 92203 Black Prince
  • BR Standard 9F Class 2-10-0 No: 92212
  • BR Standard Class 4 Tank 2-6-4 No: 80104
  • BR Stanadard Class 2 2-6-0 No: 78019
  • Home Fleet Engines in Operation:
  • GWR King Class 4-6-0 No. 6024 King Edward 1
  • GWR '4575' Class 2-6-2T No. 5553
  • BR (W) '5101' Class 2-6-2 No. 4160
  • Home Fleet Engines on Thunderbird Duties:
  • WSR Mogul Class 2-6-0 No. 9351
  • S&DJR 7F Class 2-8-0 No: 88

More Guest Engines are being Sought and details will be posted when available

All locomotives subject to availability

Catering

Bar and buffet facilities will be available throughout the Gala on most trains serving a very good range of high quality hot and cold food, tea/coffee and a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
At Bishops Lydeard, light refreshments will be on offer in the W.S.R.A Wheel Tappers Buffet in the WSRA Shop. The Station Cafe at Minehead selling a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks. There will also be food vans at Bishops Lydeard, Williton, Watchet and Minehead.

Quantock Belle

A bar and buffet service will be available including bacon butties and other hot foods. More details will be announced as they are available.

Museums & Model Railways

The Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard, Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust museum at Washford and Blue Anchor Railway Museum will all be open. Trackwork display at Crowcombe Heathfield. The Taunton Model Railway Group’s base at Bishops Lydeard will also be open (small separate admission charge payable).

Shed Visits

MINEHEAD shed will be open from 10am to 5pm on both Saturdays & Sundays (admission charge of £1 per person). Come and see engines ‘resting’ on shed in between their duties, and visit the workshop and view work on the overhaul of BR(W) ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 No 7828 Odney Manor.

WILLITON DEPG Diesel Depot Visior Centre and Yard will be open every day of the Gala from 10am to 5pm (Admission by donation). Several Heritage Diesel locomotives will be berthed on the depot plus the ‘standby’ steam locomotive that you will be able to ‘cab’.

Turntable

The turntable at Minehead will be in use on all days of the Gala. Details of turnings will be published when available.

Souvenir Programme

Our new format colour souvenir programme which will include the complete working timetable & locomotive rosters for all four days will be available from mid-March from Minehead and at all stations during the event priced £3.00 per copy.

Book Signings During the Gala

In what has become a West Somerset Railway tradition Alan Hammond will be launching his latest book about the Somerset and Dorset Railway at the Spring Steam Gala with signing sessions at Minehead Station.

The book is entitled “Splendour of the Somerset and Dorset Railway” and follows the successful established pattern of memories of the former line from former staff and enthusiasts, plus an essay about the 7F 2-8-0’s, and over 230 photographs of the former S&D.

Published by Millstream Books of Bath the print run will be limited to 2500 and it will cost £20. If you are unable to visit the Gala but would like to order a copy please send your order plus a cheque for £23 (which includes postage and packing) to the Buffer Stop Shop, West Somerset Railway, The Railway Station, Minehead, TA24 5BG. Cheques should be made payable to West Somerset Railway plc

Free Bus Link

No information at present

Timetables

Thursday 25th and Friday 26th March

Bishops Lydeard 0900 1000 1100 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800
Crowcombe 0923 1023 1123 1323 1423 1523 1623 1723 1823
Stogumber 0931 1031 1131 1331 1431 1531 1631 1731 1831
Williton 0950 1050 1150 1350 1450 1550 1650 1750 1850
Doniford Halt 0953 ---- 1153 1353 ---- 1553 ---- 1753 1853
Watchet 0959 1059 1159 1359 1459 1559 1659 1759 1859
Washford 1008 ---- 1208 1408 ---- 1608 ---- 1808 1908
Blue Anchor 1019 1119 1219 1719 1519 1619 1719 1819 1916
Dunster 1027 1127 1227 1427 1527 1627 1727 1827 1924
Minehead 1034 1134 1234 1434 1534 1634 1734 1834 1931
-
Minehead 0900 1000 1100 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800
Dunster 0908 1008 1108 1308 1408 1508 1608 1708 1808
Blue Anchor 0920 1020 1120 1320 1420 1520 1620 1720 1820
Washford 0929 ---- 1129 1329 ---- 1529 ---- 1729 1829
Watchet 0939 1039 1139 1339 1439 1539 1639 1739 1839
Doniford Halt 0942 ---- 1142 1342 ---- 1542 ---- 1742 1842
Williton 0950 1050 1150 1350 1450 1550 1650 1750 1850
Stogumber 1003 ---- 1203 1403 ---- 1603 ---- 1803 1903
Crowcombe 1021 1121 1221 1421 1521 1621 1721 1821 1913
Bishops Lydeard 1031 1131 1231 1431 1531 1631 1731 1831 1923

Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th March

- SO -
Bishops Lydeard 0800 0900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800
Crowcombe 0823 0923 1023 1123 1223 1323 1423 1523 1623 1723 1823
Stogumber 0831 0931 1031 1131 1231 1331 1431 1531 1631 1731 1831
Williton 0850 0950 1050 1150 1250 1350 1450 1550 1650 1750 1850
Doniford Halt 0853 0953 ---- 1153 ---- 1353 ---- 1553 ---- 1753 1853
Watchet 0859 0959 1059 1159 1259 1359 1459 1559 1659 1759 1859
Washford 0908 1008 ---- 1208 ---- 1408 ---- 1608 ---- 1808 1908
Blue Anchor 0919 1019 1119 1219 1319 1719 1519 1619 1719 1819 1916
Dunster 0927 1027 1127 1227 1327 1427 1527 1627 1727 1827 1924
Minehead 0934 1034 1134 1234 1334 1434 1534 1634 1734 1834 1931
- SO -
Minehead 0800 0900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800
Dunster 0808 0908 1008 1108 1208 1308 1408 1508 1608 1708 1808
Blue Anchor 0820 0920 1020 1120 1220 1320 1420 1520 1620 1720 1820
Washford 0829 0929 ---- 1129 ---- 1329 ---- 1529 ---- 1729 1829
Watchet 0839 0939 1039 1139 1239 1339 1439 1539 1639 1739 1839
Doniford Halt 0842 0942 ---- 1142 ---- 1342 ---- 1542 ---- 1742 1842
Williton 0850 0950 1050 1150 1342 1350 1450 1550 1650 1750 1850
Stogumber 0903 1003 ---- 1203 1350 1403 ---- 1603 ---- 1803 1903
Crowcombe 0921 1021 1121 1221 1403 1421 1521 1621 1721 1821 1913
Bishops Lydeard 0931 1031 1131 1231 1421 1431 1531 1631 1731 1831 1923

SO = Saturdays Only

Tickets

Please note that ALL privilege tickets, free passes and voucher facilities will NOT apply at the Spring Steam Gala. Special Event fares apply to all passengers. Discounts are available on Rover Tickets purchased IN ADVANCE - see the Booking Form or alternatively you can buy tickets online by clicking on the ticket.web logo below

Ticket.web

THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY THE SPRING STEAM GALA IS TO PURCHASE A
ROVER TICKET - WHICH GIVES YOU COMPLETE FREEDOM TO TRAVEL
ON THE LINE FOR THE VALIDITY OF THE TICKET.

All Information is listed in good faith and is subject to availability.

Back to the Special Events Pages

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