Join us for a special celebration of 50 years of steam on the revived West Somerset Railway.
Our 4-day steam gala will showcase a slice of the incredible variety of motive power that has graced the metals of the preserved WSR.
From Manors and Moguls to the smaller tank engines that were so important in the early years, this will be an unmissable show of what has made the WSR one of Britain’s favourite heritage railways for half a century.
Visiting Locomotives
- GWR 78XX No.7802 'Bradley Manor'
- Bagnall 0-6-0ST No.2996 ‘Victor’
- GWR 2884 Class No. 3850
Further locomotives to be announced shortly.
HOME FLEET
- GWR 78XX No, 7812 'Erlestoke Manor'
- BR(WR) 78XX No.7828 'Odney Manor'
- WSR Mogul No.9351
- NCB Hudswell Clark No.1857
- Andrew Barclay Fireless Boots No.1
Important information
We have 1-day tickets at an advance rate or multiple day tickets which offer a discount on the bundle available through our website.
Advance tickets are available to purchase up until 24 hours before the day of travel. This enables us to prepare your wristbands and to ensure all ticket information can be downloaded to our ticket machines. After the 24-hour period, tickets can still be purchased on the day from the booking office. Rover tickets will be at the on the day fare listed below.
If you would like guidance on how to book your tickets, please see the instructions below under the title 'How to Book Multiday Tickets'. Please ensure you check your multiday tickets are for the right day before proceeding to checkout.
Wristbands will be issued on your first day of travel from either Bishops Lydeard or Minehead stations for Rover tickets only. You will be asked to identify your preference for collection at the check-out of your order. Under 5's do not need to wear a wristband.
Our special offer 'Kids for a Quid' is back for Bank Holiday Monday only. These tickets can only be purchased through our website up to 10am on Sunday 3rd May 2026. Otherwise, tickets for the full on the day child fare can be purchased from the booking office.
DATES & TIMES
Dates & Times |
|---|
Prices | |
|---|---|
| Adult 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular | £43.50 |
| Child (aged 5-15) 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular | £22.00 |
| Carer 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular | Free |
| Under aged 5 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular | Free |
| Dog 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular | £3.50 |
Prices in advance and on the day
|
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 |
|
Adult 4 Day Rover |
£125.00 |
£136.00 |
GWR 78xx Manor Class No. 7802 ‘Bradley Manor’
We are delighted to announce the first guest for our 1st – 4th May Spring Steam Spectacular, GWR 78xx Manor Class No. 7802 ‘Bradley Manor’.
The Manors could be considered the most important class in the WSR history, with 7 of the 9 examples having worked on the line in preservation. The first of these was indeed Bradley Manor in 1994. In fact, the class were banned from the Minehead Branch in the steam era, therefore the locomotive was the first of its class to make it to the seaside resort. It is fair to say therefore, that Bradley holds an important part in WSR history and is a perfect engine to visit for our 50th birthday celebrations, setting the standard for what would become the regular ideal motive power for the modern preserved line.
We’d like to thank The Erlestoke Manor Fund and the Severn Valley Railway for making the engine available for the gala, as well as for the summer season on the WSR. She will then return to the SVR in time for their winter services.
Bradley joins her 2 sisters for the event, 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ and 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ alongside the wider home fleet. The final Manor on the WSR, No. 7822 ‘Foxcote Manor’ is also at Williton under overhaul whilst WSRA owned no.7821 ‘Ditcheat Manor’ takes pride of place on display at its birthplace, Swindon Works.
Bagnall 0-6-0ST No.2996 ‘Victor’
We are delighted to announce that after nearly four decades, Bagnall 0-6-0ST No.2996 ‘Victor’ is returning to Somerset to celebrate 50 years of our heritage railway in style!
Thanks to sponsorship from one of the railway’s supporting charities, the West Somerset Railway Association, ‘Victor’ will take centre stage at our ‘50th anniversary event’ from the 28th – 29th March where it will pull a recreation of the first WSR public service as it did in 1976, 50 years on to the minute. This event will also see multiple recreations of scenes not seen for 5 decades across the WSR, with these representing major milestones of those early days of our history.
The pioneering WSRA members saved 'Victor' from scrap and brought the engine to Taunton south yard on 23rd November 1973. Once in Somerset, Harry Lee and his gang set to work to put ‘Victor’ into working order in time for the reopening train. 50 years on, we are grateful that the WSRA have sponsored the visit of ‘Victor’ for the event.
We are also thrilled that ‘Victor’ will also feature at our May 1st – 4th ‘Spring Steam Spectacular’ starring alongside visiting locomotive ‘Bradley Manor’ and others yet to be announced.
This rare extended visit would not be possible without the support of Victor’s private owner Mr M A Maher, The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway and the West Somerset Railway Association, who are covering the costs of the visit of the engine.
GWR 2884 Class 2-8-0 no.3850
We are delighted to announce former resident locomotive GWR 2884 Class 2-8-0 no.3850 will be returning to the railway.
The locomotive operated on the WSR for the duration of her first ten year boiler ticket between 2006 and 2015. This powerful locomotive was a regular sight on the Minehead Branch during that time and was very popular with both visitors and volunteers alike.
Coming due for a heavy overhaul, the loco was moved to her new home at Toddington for an extensive overhaul. She benefited from a new cylinder block and set of extension frames amongst other work, and returned to steam in August 2024.
She will be making a very welcome return to WSR metals as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebrations and we are very grateful to our friends at Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd. and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for making the visit possible. She will look perfect hauling our ever-growing 1940s Goods train with the engine appearing in her wartime black condition.
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 1st May, 1st May 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.
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 27th April 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.
Kids for a quid online offer Monday 4th May 2026
Our kids for a quid ticket is back for the Bank Holiday Monday only and can only be redeemed in advance. To benefit from this discounted ticket this ticket needs to be added individually. The ticket is valid for children aged between 5 and 15.
If your child is travelling for the Monday only, your discount will be added at the checkout.
If your child is travelling for two days, add two one-day rovers separately for the days they wish to to travel. The discount for the Monday child ticket will be added automatically at the checkout.
If your child is travelling for three days, select a two day rover, select the two days (not Monday) then add a separate child day rover for Monday.
If your child is travelling for all four days then select a three day rover, add the days (not Monday) and add a one day rover for the Monday separately.
Ticket Options
Adult 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular
£43.50
Child (aged 5-15) 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular
£22.00
Carer 1 Day Rover Spring Steam Spectacular
Free
DATES & TIMES
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