Join us as the much-loved Autumn Steam Weekend returns to mark a special milestone — 50 years of the WSR in preservation. We’re delighted to welcome an exciting lineup of visiting and home fleet locomotives, making this a must-see event for steam enthusiasts and families alike.
Across all three days, an intensive timetable will keep the action moving, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore our beautifully preserved stations, ride behind iconic engines, and take in the stunning autumn scenery along England’s longest heritage railway.
The whole railway comes alive for the weekend, with museums, heritage displays, and model railways open throughout — perfect for visitors of all ages. And with steam engines against a backdrop of autumn colour, don’t forget your camera!
The full locomotive line up will be:
- LNWR Coal Tank no.1054
- GWR Large Prairie no.4110
- LMS Ivatt 2MT Tank no.41313
- Guest Loco TBA
- GWR 78XX no.7802 'Bradley Manor'
- GWR 78XX no.7812 'Erlestoke Manor'
- GWR 78XX no.7828 'Odney Manor'
- WSR Mogul no.9351
- Andrew Barclay Fireless no.1984 'Boots no1'
- Hudswell Clark no.1857
All locomotives and attractions are subject to availability.
Ticket information: Advance ticket sales close at 10am the day before travel to allow time for preparations. After this point, tickets will need to be purchased on the day at one of our booking offices.
Please note: There are currently roadworks taking place on the A358 in Taunton - there is a diversion in place heading towards Bishops Lydeard. Therefore, please allow extra time for your journey. A one way single lane closure will be in operation between Silk Mills Roundabout and Manor Road junction for a scheduled 12 week programme between 20th July and October 2026. Traffic will be allowed to access Taunton via the A358 from the Minehead direction. Traffic leaving Taunton towards the west will be directed via Wellington Road (A38) and Silk Mills Road (A3065). Please see the following website for further information: https://staplegrove-highwayworks.co.uk/
DATES & TIMES
Dates & Times |
|---|
Prices | |
|---|---|
| Adult 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend | £43.50 |
| Child (aged 5-15) 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend | £22.00 |
| Carer 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend | Free |
| Under aged 5 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend | Free |
| Dog 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend | £3.50 |
PURCHASING YOUR TICKETS INSTRUCTIONS FOR MULTIPLE DAYS
You have the option of a 2 day, 3 day or 4 day ticket.
When purchasing a multi day ticket, the system will add the first day automatically according to which 'Book Now' button you select. For example if you select the 'Book Now' button next to 25th September, 25th September will be added to your booking. You then need to select the type of multi day ticket you require: a two day, three day or four day rover.
Once you have selected which multi day ticket you require, you will then be required to select each additional day you wish to travel. Please remember, one day has already been added when you added the item to your basket. You must add each day individually to your ticket. Please make sure you check that you have not accidentally selected the same day twice and have booked for the correct days.
If you have any issues booking your tickets please feel free to contact us either by email via [email protected] or by phone on 01643 704996 and we will be more than happy to help you.
| Ticket Type | In advance Price | On the day |
| Adult 1 Day Rover | £43.50 | £49.00 |
| Child 1 day Rover* | £22.00* | £24.50 |
| Under 5 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Adult 2 Day Rover | £76.00 | £82.00 |
| Child 2 Day Rover | £38.00 | £41.00 |
| Adult 3 Day Rover | £103.00 | £109.00 |
| Child 3 Day Rover | £51.50 | £54.50 |
Visiting Locomotives
Mickey Mouse Tank - Ivatt Class 2MT Tank No. 41313
We are delighted to announce the first visiting engine for the 25th – 27th September Autumn Steam Weekend 2026. Making her first ever visit to the WSR as part of her 2026 UK tour, Ivatt Class 2MT Tank No. 41313 courtesy of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
Built at Crewe in 1952, No. 41313 spent her working life on the Southern Region, including spells at Exmouth Junction and Barnstaple, so this is a homecoming to West Country rails. Withdrawn in 1965 and rescued from Barry scrapyard, she returned to steam in 2017 and is now a favourite on the Isle of Wight.
GWR 5101 Class 'Large Prairie' No. 4110
This locomotive will appear at the WSR courtesy of our friends at the Dartmouth Steam Railway.
Built in 1936 at Swindon Works, the loco worked from many sheds around the GWR network, until moving to Taunton Shed in 1962, from where the loco would have worked many trains along the Minehead branch. Originally purchased for preservation by the Great Western Preservation Group, the loco remained in ex scrapyard condition and was purchased by the WSR PLC in 2015. The loco was sold to the Dartmouth Steam Railway in 2019, and returned to steam in 2023 at the East Somerset Railway.
LNWR Coal Tank no.1054.
This locomotive will appear courtesy of The Bahamas Locomotive Society.
Built in 1888 at Crewe Works, the Victorian engine was primarily built to work freight traffic in the North West of England and Wales. Remarkably, despite being superseded by more modern designs, the engine continued to work until 1958 when it was sent back to its birthplace for scrapping.
Luckily, the engine was saved, eventually being put in the trust of the BLS whom restored the engine, returning to traffic in 1980. Today, no.1054 is typically found at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. However, for one weekend only, the engine is returning to the WSR having made its popular debut appearance in 2024.
WRISTBANDS
Wristbands will be issued for each day you travel for adults and children. These will need to be collected on your first day's travel from either Bishops Lydeard or Minehead station only. There is also an option to collect your wristbands early from Minehead Station only and these will be available from Monday 21st September 2026.
Due to difficulty sending wristbands to other locations across the railway, we will be unable to have your wristbands for collection from any other station.
You can indicate whether you wish to collect from Minehead or Bishops Lydeard at the check out stage of making your booking.
We value our passengers and want to ensure that everyone has a wonderful day out with us. Therefore, passengers with accessible needs who require carers to travel with them, are entitled to free carer tickets.
You can reserve your free carer tickets online when purchasing your tickets for travel or from the booking office on the day, please note we have a limited number of accessible spaces on our services for wheelchair passengers.
When you arrive for your days travel, please ensure you have one of the following with you, this will need to be shown to the travelling ticket inspector along with your ticket on board the train, or at the booking office when buying your tickets on the day.
- Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independent Payments PIP either by way of a letter or allowance book.
- Attendance allowance or carers allowance letter of award.
- Incapacity Benefit Books, or letter notifying the recipient that the benefit has been awarded incapacity benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Disability Student Allowance (DSA), or DID card (UK Disabled Card)
- A valid blue badge
- In the case of visual impairment, a registration card known as the BD8 or a certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
- Credibility Access Card with the carer companion symbol.
- An international equivalent to the above.
Failure to supply one of the above on board the train will result in the carer being charged the full on the day fare.
If you have any questions about an item that you can supply or would like help to purchase your tickets please contact the office on 01643 704996 or email [email protected] where one of the team will be able to help.
Ticket Options
Adult 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend
£43.50
Child (aged 5-15) 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend
£22.00
Carer 1 Day Rover Autumn Steam Weekend
Free
DATES & TIMES
Share this event
Don’t forget:
