Get ready for the return of one of the most popular events in the West Somerset Railway calendar, the Spring Steam Spectacular 2024! Join us between Friday 3rd May and Monday 6th May for a feast of steam action, with something to suit enthusiasts and families alike.
Multiple visiting locomotives will join our own faithful home fleet, all working hard hauling a variety of services through the Quantock Hills and along the Bristol Channel.
We will be operating a busy timetable, allowing you the chance to get off at as many stations as you wish, and to travel behind all of our operating locomotives. A variety of special trains will be in operation, including local passenger, parcels, demonstration goods and even some exciting non-stop express journeys. You'll also be able to travel down our rarely opened section of line between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren. The turning triangle at Norton Fitzwarren and turntable at Minehead will both be in use, ensuring as many trains as possible will be facing smokebox first. Don't forget your camera! Various heritage displays, model railways and museums will also be open along the line.
Our first confirmed visiting locomotive for the Spring Steam Spectacular 2024 will be an unusual one for the WSR. London and North Western Railway 'Coal Tank' no.1054 will join us for the first time, this visit will be the furthest into the West Country this engine has ever been! Being built way back in 1888, she is the sole survivor of the class which originally numbered 300 examples. When WSR flagship locomotive no.7828 Odney Manor was built in 1950, the 'Coal Tank' was already 62 years old! No.1054 will travel from her usual home on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and is courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society. She is sure to make an impact on our passengers at the Spring Steam Spectacular, with the engine planned to work local passenger trains and short goods workings.
Our second confirmed visitor, like no.1054, is a rare sight in Somerset. Joining us for the event will be LNER B1 4-6-0 no.61306 'Mayflower' courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd and Locomotive 61306 Ltd. The B1 will be working WSR services for the first time at this event. The last visit where a B1 hauled services at the WSR was way back in 2002. Being a mainline engine, a preserved line visit is rare by no.61306, usually to be seen hurtling up and down the national network!
For our third visiting loco, we'll see an old friend of the WSR return, GWR 66XX 0-6-2 tank no.6695. Appearing with thanks to 6695 Locomotive Ltd and the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, this engine will make its first appearance away from home since return to traffic in September 2022. No.6695 will work a variety of services during the event, including Goods workings, where she will look a treat paired with our restored GWR wagons.
Sticking with the Great Western, our fourth engine to be confirmed as visiting the event is GWR Modified Hall, No.6990 'Witherslack Hall', courtesy of the Great Central Railway and the David Clarke Railway Trust. We have been lucky enough to have hosted no.6990 twice before, in 1998 and more recently in 2018.
Further visiting locomotives are in discussion and will be announced soon. These guest engines will be joined by our faithful home fleet.
All locomotives and attractions are subject to availability and may be changed at short notice.
Locomotive Line-up
- LNER B1 4-6-0 no.61306 'Mayflower'
- LNWR 0-6-2 'Coal Tank' no.1054
- GWR 66XX 0-6-2 tank no.6695
- BR(W) 6959 no.6990 'Witherslack Hall'
- Hunslet 0-6-0 no.1873 'Jessie'
- BR(W) Manor Class 4-6-0 no.7828 'Odney Manor'
- WSR Mogul 2-6-0 no.9351
- BR(W) 94XX Pannier Tank no.9466
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE IMPORTANT TICKET INFORMATION.
DATES & TIMES
Dates & Times |
|---|
Prices | |
|---|---|
| Spring Steam Spectacular Adult 1 Day Rover | £38.00 |
| Spring Steam Spectacular Child 1 Day Rover | £19.00 |
| Spring Steam Spectacular Infant (Under 5) 1 Day Rover | Free |
| Dog Ticket | £3.00 |
Spring Steam Spectacular Timetable Downloads
Ticket Prices
| Ticket Type | In advance Price | On the Day Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult 1 Day Rover | £38.00 | £42.00 |
| Child 1 day Rover* | £19.00* | £21.00 |
| Under 5 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Adult 2 Day Rover | £60.00 | £65.00 |
| Adult 3 Day Rover | £80.00 | £87.00 |
| Adult 4 Day Rover | £98.00 | £105.00 |
* please note child day rovers are £1 on Sunday and Monday this discount will be added automatically at checkout when you select a child one day rover and choose either Sunday or Monday as your travel days.
Important Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased in advance of travel at a discounted rate or on the day at the full price.
Wristbands.
Wristbands will be in use for each days travel, you will therefore be required to collect a wristband for your days travel. The wristbands will be available for collection either on the day from Minehead or Bishops Lydeard station only where we will have a specified collection point for pre booked passengers.
You will be required to show your purchased ticket for collection.
If you would like your wristbands in advance of your date of travel, they will be available for collection from Minehead Information Office only from 29th April 2024.
Multi Day Tickets
When booking a multi day ticket in advance through the website you will required to select your chosen days of travel.
Children's Tickets.
On Sunday and Monday only we are offering kids for a quid, meaning that when you add a child ticket to travel on these days an automatic discount will be added to your basket where you will only pay £1 for child travel, children are between the ages of 5 and 15 on our railway.
If your child is traveling for two days on Friday on Saturday you can purchase the two day child rover, however if your child is travelling on Sunday or Monday it is advised to purchase the indivdual child one day rover as these will be discounted at the check out.
To receive this automatic discount, you must purchase an adult ticket at the time of booking,
Locomotive Line Up
Locomotive Line Up:
- LNER B1 4-6-0 no.61306 'Mayflower'
- LNWR 0-6-2 'Coal Tank' no.1054
- GWR 66XX 0-6-2 tank no.6695
- BR(W) 6959 no.6990 'Witherslack Hall'
- Hunslet 0-6-0 no.1873 'Jessie'
- BR(W) Manor Class 4-6-0 no.7828 'Odney Manor'
- WSR Mogul 2-6-0 no.9351
- BR(W) 94XX Pannier Tank no.9466
Ticket Terms and Conditions
- 1. This ticket is issued subject to the Rules and Regulations of the West Somerset Railway PLC. Full details are available on request.
- 2. Please check your tickets as mistakes cannot be rectified.
- 3. It is the responsibility of the ticket holder to ascertain whether a service has been cancelled and the date and time of any rearranged service. If a service is cancelled or rescheduled, we will use reasonable endeavours to notify ticket holders of the cancellation once we have received the relevant authorisation from the West Somerset Railway PLC. Please note that we cannot guarantee that ticket holders will be informed of such cancellation before the date of travel.
- 4. The management reserves the right to refuse admission should patrons breach any Rules and Regulations of the West Somerset Railway PLC. The management may on occasions have to conduct security searches to ensure the safety of the patrons.
- 5. A £5 administration fee per booking will be charged for any subsequent booking alteration. No refunds will be given once tickets are issued. The Management cannot be held responsible for any tickets which are lost or stolen. West Somerset Railway PLC reserves the right to cancel ticket bookings which it reasonably suspects to have been made fraudulently.
- 6. The West Somerset Railway PLC operates a No Smoking policy this includes e-cigarettes.
- 7. The unauthorized use of photographic and recording equipment for public use is prohibited.
- 8. The West Somerset Railway PLC accepts no responsibility for any personal property.
- 9. Ticket holders consent to filming and sound recording as visitors.
- 10. If a service is rescheduled, ticket holders will be offered tickets to the rescheduled service, equivalent to the face value of the ticket. If a service is cancelled, ticket holders will be offered travel on an alternative service (subject to availability) up to the value on the ticket.
- 11. Purchase of a ticket does not guarantee a seat unless otherwise stated.
- 12. All of these terms and conditions are governed by English Law.
- 13. The ticket holder must comply with all relevant statutes, safety announcements and West Somerset Railway PLC regulations whilst visiting the railway.
- 14. Breach of any of these conditions or any unacceptable behaviour likely to cause damage, nuisance or injury shall enable the railway to refuse to carry you as a passenger.
- 15. Tickets may be restricted to a maximum number per person. We reserve the right to cancel tickets purchased in excess of this number.
Conditions of Carriage for Bicycles, Perambulators and Animals - Conditions of Carriage - Part 2, Section 4
4. Additional Conditions applicable to Bicycles, Perambulators and Animals
- a) Passengers may take with them by train, bicycles, perambulators, push chairs, cats, dogs, or other small and inoffensive animals and birds and such articles as the Company may from time to time permit to be taken on payment of extra charges as applicable and providing the Company has suitable accommodation. These are carried at the company's discretion and their decision is final.
- b) Animals are not allowed upon passenger's seating accommodation. They must remain on the floor at all times.
- c) For reasons of hygiene, animals are not permitted in catering vehicles or in any carriage where pre-booked catering is being served. This condition will not apply to assistance dogs accompanying registered persons.
Brake Van Rides - Spring Steam Spectacular
Making a welcome return at this event following its debut in 2023 will be brake van rides. For a small additional supplement, you can travel on the brake van of our restored 1940s era goods train on a selection of different journeys. You will be able to experience what it is like to work as a goods guard, with the verandas offering a great chance to soak in some of the wonderful countryside we run through. If you are quick enough, spaces may be available in the brake van right behind the engine for a front row seat of the action!
Spaces are first come, first served and will be sold in advance or on the day. You will need a valid rover ticket and supplement ticket to travel on the brake van.
Trip details are as follows below:
𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐲 – 08:10 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, £20
𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 – 19:35 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, £20
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 – 09:30 Bishops Lydeard to Williton, 11:02 Williton to Bishops Lydeard, 13:10 Bishops Lydeard to Williton, 14:57 Williton to Bishops Lydeard, 17:05 Bishops Lydeard to Williton, 19:07 Williton to Bishops Lydeard, £10 each for a single trip
𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲 – 08:00 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, £20
Please note that other goods trains will run at the event but only the ones listed above will offer brake van rides.
The following Terms and Conditions are deemed accepted by anyone purchasing a WSR Spring Steam Spectacular brake van ride:
- Age limit: 18 Years +
- Passengers must be physically able to board and alight the brake van unassisted.
- Alcohol must not be consumed prior to or during your Brake Van Ride
- No toilet facilities are available on the Brake Vans
- No catering facilities are available on the Brake Vans
- These are working heritage Brake Vans, and so the WSR will take no liability for any damage to clothing or personal possessions Any member of WSR staff can refuse travel to anyone not compliant or unfit to travel.
Non ticket holders for the particular train are not to be permitted nor are ticket holders for other trains. Due to the age and design of the Brake Vans, we are unable to accept people who require the assistance of a mobility scooter/walking aid or wheelchair.
To purchase a brake van ride please visit our brake van ride here Brake Van Rides - Spring Steam Spectacular (west-somerset-railway.co.uk)
Evening Photographic Shoot at the Spring Steam Spectacular Sunday 5th May 2024
This year as part of our Spring Steam Spectacular we will be offering an evening photographic shoot at Minehead Station.
This will feature a variety of locomotives, including visiting locos. We expect to be able to offer a selection of locomotive poses both with rolling stock in the Main Platform, and ‘on-shed’.
Subject to volunteer availability we will also have some reenactors available in some scenes. Poses will be carefully arranged so that modern features are hidden to create some heritage scenes to remember.
Opportunities will be available with both the shed floodlights switched on and off.
Please note that access to these photo shoots will be open to participants only, and will require pre-booking. Gala Rover tickets will not allow access to these evening events. Participants will be allowed platform access only, no trackside photographic opportunities will be available.
The Turntable Cafe will be open until 8pm offer hot and cold drinks plus snacks.
Sunday 5th May Right in the middle of the event, we will be offering a great opportunity to capture some photographs at Minehead. This photographic charter evening will feature visiting ‘Coal Tank’ no.1054, visiting 66XX no.6695 and another locomotive in a variety of poses.
The evening will begin with a loco posed in the platform with a passenger train. Several shots will be available whilst this loco is positioned in the platform, both with and without other engines on shed in the background. One loco will face Minehead, two locos will face Bishops Lydeard. The latter part of the evening will see all engines shunted over to the shed to pose together in some shed scenes. This event will take place between 19:45 and 22:15 on Sunday 5th May only.
Pricing information – 40 spaces at £40 per head.
To book please click this link Tickets for Spring Steam Spectacular Evening Photographic Shoot (digitickets.co.uk)
Ticket Options
Spring Steam Spectacular Adult 1 Day Rover
£38.00
Spring Steam Spectacular Child 1 Day Rover
£19.00
Spring Steam Spectacular Infant (Under 5) 1 Day Rover
Free
DATES & TIMES
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