Number 161 Summer urnal

Transcription

1 o Number 161 Summer 2018 JWest Somerset urnal Railway

2 Information West Somerset Railway Association The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3BX. Chairman: Paul Whitehouse, Vice Chairman: Mike Sherwood. Trustees: Geoff Garfield, John Glover, Rodney Greenway, Nigel Power, Simon Stretton. Association General Manager: Jacquie Green, , Association Administrator: Keith Sandford, , Retail Sales: Kate Beard, , Engineering Production Manager: Don Wood, , West Somerset Railway Plc The Railway Station, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5BG Talking Timetable: (24 hours) Chairman: Ian Coleby, Vice-Chairman: Vacant Company Secretary: Richard Maw Directors: Ric Auger, Geoff Evens, Rodney Greenway, Bill Knell, Geoff Pateman Paul Conibeare, Richard Maw. General Manager: Paul Conibeare. Head of Commercial Services: Mark Hill Head of Mechanical Engineering: David Horton. Head of Infrastructure: Andrew Young. Head of Operating: Richard Jones. Head of Finance: Richard Maw. West Somerset Steam Railway Trust The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3BX. President: Lady Elizabeth Gass, DCVO. Chairman: Christopher Austin OBE Directors: Ian Coleby, Geoff Evens, Alan Meade, John Jenkins.

3 Jo West Somerset urnal Railway Number 161 Summer 2018 The WSR Journal is published four times a year. It is the journal of the West Somerset Railway Association and covers activities on the whole West Somerset Railway. Editor: Ian Coleby journal@wsra.org.uk Editorial Team: Don Bishop, Nigel Kendall, Nigel Power, Martyn Snell, Allan Stanistreet, Keith Smith, Ian Tabrett, Rob Stokes ADVERTISING: please contact Martyn Snell c/o The Editor Copyright 2018 West Somerset Railway Association. Contents Editorial General News Letter from the Chair Special Events and Special Trains Rallying Around Gala Planning Team Station Synopsis A View from the Footplate West Somerset returns to the 1940s. 35 West Somerset Light Railway A double Royal cream tea Departmental Review Hawksworth Coach N A Day on the WSR Association News News from the WSR Groups No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the Editor. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor, the WSRA Trustees or the West Somerset Railway Plc. The Editor is always pleased to receive readers news, views, articles and photographs for possible use in the Journal. Material sent is at contributor s own risk. Please send all submissions by to the address above. If no clear instructions are received the Editor will retain work submitted on file. As the WSRA is a largely voluntary body, fees are not normally paid for contributions. Front Cover: Manor No Foxcote Manor leaving Bishops Lydeard on a frosty morning - 16 February 2018 with a Steam Recreations charter towards Norton Fitzwarren. Photo: Don Bishop Back Cover: Sentinel Steam Bus Elizabeth at Minehead Station, 24 March Photo: Don Bishop Frontispiece: 7822 Foxcote Manor heads the Merchant Venturer during the spring steam gala. Photo: Andrew Ponsford. Centrespread: S160 No heading past Nornvis Bridge with a military train conveying American equipment and troops on 25 March Photo: Don Bishop. COPY DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 23 July

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5 Editorial Ian Coleby previews what s in store for 2018 Our railway was founded by volunteers who turned out in all winds and weathers and who got through piles of paperwork to get trains running again. Throughout the last 40 years it is the volunteers who have supported the paid staff and have kept the railway going. It is the volunteers who have helped restore the stations, worked on engines and rolling stock and who have erected signals and cleaned toilets. The paid staff are essential and do a fantastic job, but they aren't enough to keep the railway flourishing. It has almost become a self-evident truth that volunteers are now more difficult to recruit than before. Less leisure time, greater need to earn money to pay the household bills, greater calls on the pocket that means the petrol to drive to the railway cannot be afforded. Is this true or are we convincing ourselves that volunteers are now difficult to come by? Or is it just that we are not looking hard enough to find them and to cultivate them. Recently I was at Minehead station and someone was telling me just this: we cannot get volunteers anymore. It was a Wednesday morning in March. There 12,000 people living in Minehead. I firmly believe that somewhere in Minehead there was someone sitting at home wondering what to do that day. Someone who would welcome the opportunity to serve in a shop, greet passengers, answer the phones or spend the morning stuffing envelopes over a cup of coffee. It just that we have not yet managed to get to them and not yet managed to persuade them to come and help on the railway. Without the volunteers we cannot continue the way we are. It is therefore promising that the company has now appointed Rodney Greenway to rejuvenate the volunteer committee and to get the flow of new recruits going again. Its not just the advertising, but when people do volunteer, its getting them enrolled quickly and then we need to keep their enthusiasm going. We wish Rodney well in his new task. The Hinkley Point grant bid could help raise our profile among the local community and drive in more volunteers. The proposed open day in early 2019 is an opportunity to showcase the railway, but it needs someone to organise it. We do need more volunteers in all jobs. Please contact Minehead station if you would like to help. Ian Coleby We welcome all contributions to the Journal. Reports of what you have done, interesting stories about the line, photographs and other contributions. Please all to journal@wsra.org.uk. We plan to publish future Journals as: Autumn September 2018 Winter December 2018 Spring March 2019 Summer June 2019 Copy date for each Journal is 6 weeks in advance of the publication date. Subject to production schedules. 5

6 Pannier 7714 on the WSR The spring gala saw the welcome return of GWR Collett 5700 class 0-6-0PT pannier tank 7714, on loan from the Severn Valley Railway was built for the GWR by Kerr Stuart & Co. of Stoke, Works No 4449 of The visible rivets on the water tanks are a sign of its non-swindon origin. Above, the locomotive is seen at Nornvis Bridge, Nr Crowcombe, with a BL to MD train on 25 March Below, later that day it rounds Roebuck Curve with a Bishops Lydeard bound train. Both Photos: Don Bishop 6

7 General News Best Kept Station Competition The railway has announced the return of this popular and friendly competition. It was last held several years ago and hasn t run for a while. Time to change that! A brief conversation with Geoff Cross revealed his enthusiasm and we were off. In the past the competition has been done by a 'mystery shopper' but this time there is a set day, July 15th, when the judges will visit. We have secured the services of Richard Fox of Taunton Flower Show and Peter Tinckner of Wellington Camera Club to act as judges. Both Richard and Peter are railway enthusiasts and regular visitors to the railway. We are pleased that the station staff have keenly taken to the idea and already the stations are looking fantastic. Of course, this is not a new idea. The GWR used to run a station gardens competition which sometimes was judged by George Luttrel s wife. George not only lived in Dunster Castle but was also a Heritage and modern: the 1930s station gardens certificate (left) and the modern version to be awarded in July. director of the GWR. Blue Anchor museum has a copy of a winner s certificate from the 1930s when Stogumber won it. We have designed a new certificate based on this which will be awarded in July. Below you can see both the GWR original and the modern version. Exmoor Rail The next Exmoor Coast Modellers exhibition takes place on Saturday 4 August. Opening times: 10.00am to 4.30pm Admission: adult: 5.00; child: 1.50; family: Venue: the Minehead Eye, Mart Road, Minehead, Ta24 5BJ There will be around 14 high quality layouts in many scales and eras together with wide trade support and demonstrations. There will be hot and cold food/drinks available all day and the bright, modern venue is disabled friendly and is situated just across the car park from Minehead station! ENQUIRIES:

8 Heritage Station Benches A group of West Somerset Railway volunteers, representing all the stations on the line met at Watchet Station on Easter Sunday afternoon to mark the end of the project to review and enhance the station benches at all ten WSR Stations. The last two refurbished benches had been delivered to Watchet that morning. Over three years, twenty new GWR benches have been obtained by the railway, some originals and some authentic reproductions. Stations have exchanged benches between them so that they have matching sets. Correct woodwork profiles and paint colours have been researched and used. Visitors have declared the new-old benches 'very comfortable'. A number of Southern Railway benches from the WSR have found new homes at the Dartmoor, Lynton and Barnstaple, Swanage and Kent & East Sussex heritage Railways. WSR plc Chairman, Ian Coleby said: 'There is much more to a heritage railway than our admittedly wonderful steam locomotives. It's often the small things that make our stations feel authentic, and the benches project is a good example of that. Our visitors often remark on our attractive stations and getting that environment right in heritage terms is very important. This project shows how our whole Railway can work together.' Most of the work to refurbish the new and exchanged benches has been done by the Railway's 'Repair and Maintenance Section' ('RAMS') based at Bishops Lydeard. If you would like to volunteer there, or on any WSR station, contact your local station or the Minehead information office on The project was coordinated by WSR volunteer Robin White. 8 Bishops Lydeard Shop Kate Beard writes: Towards the end of April we were well into the main operating season, with some mixed results. The shop and café were very busy during the Spring Gala, but sales slowed noticeably since then. High Street traders are reporting difficult trading conditions this year, but we remain hopeful that the railway's passengers (our main customers) and our regular supporters will help us to buck this trend. Back in January the shop and café team, with several of our supporters, rallied together to carry out our annual stock take and deep clean. On one day we had as many as 25 volunteers helping with these tasks, and I am very grateful for this Ian Coleby, WSR Chairman, hands over the final heritage bench to long-serving volunteer Steve Farr at Watchet station. Photo: Robin White

9 support. After this excitement, we have re-stocked our shelves for the season with the regular best-sellers as well as some new lines to whet our customers' appetites. Don't forget that we are happy to accept pre-orders for diecast and railway models, as well as the latest railway books, many of which are produced in limited quantities these days, with popular items selling out before they even reach our shelves. WSRA members are entitled to a 10% discount on purchases please show your membership card before you pay in order to claim your discount. We are always looking out for new volunteers to help us in the shop and café. If you can spare a half or full day on a regular basis or wish to discuss options, I shall be very happy to hear from you and can promise you will join a friendly and happy team, with full training offered. I would also like to place on record our thanks to all those who have donated railway books, ephemera and model items for us to sell as part of the WSRA's charitable fund-raising activities. Please help us to continue this good work. Changes to the railway board The PLC board were very sorry that Frank Courtney decided to resign his post as a director. Frank has been a long standing volunteer for many years organising Thomas events and he managed the successful visit of Flying Scotsman last year. We hope to continue to see Frank volunteering as a guard. Rodney Greenway was chosen by the WSRA board to become a PLC director. This creates an essential link between the two organisations that has been missing for too long. Rodney has rapidly got to grips with the volunteers portfolio and a volunteer committee has been formed. 9

10 Brake Van restoration The keen sighted amongst you may have spotted that the MoD Brake van (known also as a SR Pill Box Brake) has moved to Washford. The S&DRT have been kind enough to offer us some workspace so that we can get the wagon ready for the new body that has to be built. Progress so far is that the two subframes for the support of the duckets have been manufactured at Minehead by the C & W workshop boys and fitted, temporarily, into position. These have been made in oak and support the steel duckets that have been repaired and primed. Mike and Dave have removed all the remaining tongue and groove (T & G) boards from the up side. This has revealed that the support timbers and the bottom of the side have completely rotted away. Mike will be manufacturing new in the next few weeks. There are 2 firms reasonably local that have made this T & G pattern before and drawings have been sent requesting estimates. When they are to hand a submission will be made to the WSRA for funding assistance. If we are successful it will be all hands to the wheel as the T & G boards have to be cut to length, drilled, primed and fitted. The penultimate jobs will be to sort out the roof with a new layer of canvas and paint the top coat of drab olive. Finally, there is some fettling work on one of the vacuum cylinders and it will be sign written and be back into service, hopefully making its debut at the 40s weekend. We would like more volunteers, so if you fancy wire brushing or painting why not join us at Washford on a Tuesday anytime between 09:30 and 15:00. The ex-mod brake van stands at Washford, undergoing work by the wagon restoration group. Photo: Editor 10

11 Letter from the Chair Association Chairman PAUL WHITEHOUSE reports. This edition of The Journal comes with all the papers for our Annual General Meeting at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 7 July. I hope you will come but if you're not planning to do so please read all the papers carefully, and if you have any questions please write to me either by paul.whitehouse@wsra.org.uk or by post to our office at Bishops Lydeard Station. I don't know yet how many members will stand for election as trustees, but I hope there will be a competition for the six places available. You can find a skills audit of the current Board on our website. This is to help you choose the best candidates. The Association is no exception to the rule that good governance is critical for an institution's well being. We have been making good progress with the WSR Plc on how we can work together to maximise income to the railway. We are determined to support Ian Coleby's vision of one railway, which we consider is the only way to ensure its future. Many people are now realising that if they have a project which could be funded by the Association, they just need to ask. We shall do our best to find the funds to support it. You can read elsewhere about what we have been doing, and I am glad to say that there are other applications in the pipeline. Less than a month after our AGM our Annual Steam Fayre & Vintage Rally will once again be occupying our land at Norton Fitzwarren. If you can lend a hand, do please get in touch with the Rally Chairman geoff.garfield@wsra.org.uk. If you can't, do please come along with your family and enjoy yourselves. There's something for everybody. If you haven't already given the office your address, please do, and then you can receive our monthly s which will keep you up to speed on what we are doing. Don't forget that we always need volunteers, and there are some tasks which can be done from the comfort of your own home, if you don't want to venture out. easyfundraising.org.uk goes from strength to strength. We have raised almost 300 so far. Remember that helping the railway by using this costs nothing. It's the firms you buy from that make the donation. Are you signed up? Every time you buy something online the Association gets a donation. If you're already signed up then thank you. ses/westsomersetrailwayassociation/ Paul Whitehouse 11

12 Special Events & Special Trains The West Somerset Railway is moving into the summer months of the year with many interesting events upcoming. PAW PATROL'S SKYE AND RUBBLE On 2 June PAW Patrol's Skye and Rubble will be making appearances on Minehead station at intervals throughout the day. There will be lots of entertainment on and around Minehead Station, including a helter skelter, bouncy castle, face painting, an entertainer and crafts. The Gruffalo also arrives at Minehead Station, later in the year on 8 September. Always a popular event. CLASSIC CAR RUN 3 JUNE The Classic Car run will be taking place on Sunday 3 June. Entrants will arrive at Bishops Lydeard Station in their vehicles between 9.00 and am. They will leave following a route for 35 miles, arriving at Minehead Station Car Park between midday and DIESEL GALA 8 10 June The West Somerset Railway will host its annual Diesel Gala, an all-blue convoy of visiting locomotives arriving from Kidderminster: Class 20s and This pair of the trusty English Electrics will revive memories of The Jolly Fisherman and those trains that linked Yorkshire and the East Midlands with Skegness and the East Coast for many years. Class Royal Tank Regiment. Another class of loco that regularly appeared on the WSR. The Peaks roamed far and wide on cross country trains and were a familiar sight on the sea 12 wall near Dawlish and Teignmouth for a generation. Class Ark Royal. The first time a Class 50 will have worked to Minehead for a number of years. Affectionately known as Hoovers or Vacs, in their early days on the West Coast, they took holidaymakers on their way towards Blackpool, Southport and the North Wales Coast. Later they became associated with routes to Weston-super- Mare, Dawlish, Torbay and the resort towns of Cornwall. Class Royal Highland Fusilier. A very welcome return to the WSR for one of the surviving Deltics that revolutionised services on the East Coast main line. They could be seen powering along the coastal sections between Newcastle and Edinburgh, having stopped off at York and occasionally venturing to Scarborough. The Deltic will be supported by a selection of our home fleet of diesels including Class 33, D6566 which has come back to traffic from overhaul. ANNUAL PASS The West Somerset Railway will shortly be introducing an Annual Pass, designed for those that wish to revisit the railway throughout the year. More information on the Annual Pass can be found on our website. DUNSTER CASTLE EXPRESS The Dunster Castle Express commenced running in April. The collaboration allows

13 visitors to the railway to experience what we have to offer along with the magnificent Dunster Castle. The ticket combines the train fare from Bishops Lydeard to Dunster return, bus transfer and entry to the Castle. Tickets are on sale now, through the website, or they can be purchased on the day from the booking office. Picnics can also be purchased in advance and collected on the day from the castle, specific menus apply. WATCHET MARKETS The West Somerset Railway is linking in with the regular markets and fairs at Watchet. We are offering discounted tickets from any WSR station to Watchet on the appropriate Wednesdays and Sundays. The Market and Fairs at Watchet have grown over the years and we feel that is a perfect opportunity to support local producers. GIN TASTING EXPERIENCE New for 2018, we have introduced a Gin Tasting Experience with 'Gin and Sin Co'. Gin is very much 'in vogue' and what better way to welcome summer than your very own tasting experience. This excursion offers a return travel ticket from either Bishops Lydeard or Minehead and allows you to join a later service to enjoy tasting, sampling and learning about the gin process. After sample tasting, participants are offered 3 full measures of your favourite gin to enjoy. CATERING SPECIALS Our catering specials are coming around quickly, with many dates sold out for the Fish and Chip, Cream Tea, Cheese and Cider and Murder Mystery Specials. Tickets have sold so quickly we have added a few more dates for you to choose from. Don't be disappointed and book your tickets online today. Classic cars at the 2017 rally. Photo: WSR 13

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15 Rallying Around Making the WSRA Steam & Vintage Vehicle Rally happen. Geof Garfield explains all... On 4 & 5 August, the WSRA Steam Rally will be held at Norton Fitzwarren. For most people connected with our railway, that is not news: it has been held every year since It started in a small way, with a few static engines sited near Bishops Lydeard station. However, each year it grew, with more exhibits, more visitors, and more space needed. Eventually, it outgrew the space available, and moved to the Association's own fields at Norton Fitzwarren, its present home. And still it grows! Last year was the biggest ever, with over 6,300 visitors through the turnstiles during the weekend, plus about 2,000 exhibitors. The exhibitors are mostly enthusiasts, who bring their cherished and carefully restored vintage vehicles to display. There are plenty: 45 steam engines, full-size and miniature; 343 cars and landrovers, 113 motorbikes, 67 tractors, 89 military vehicles & displays, 43 commercial vehicles, 80 stationary engines the list goes on and on. But that is not all: there were 64 trade stands, offering everything from children's toys to willow baskets, craft stalls, models, children's entertainment, food and drink and a large bar. Not surprisingly, it can be quite a challenge to fit it all in. And, while the Rally is open to the public during the days, the exhibitors, traders & many volunteers stay onsite over the whole weekend, so it is busy during the evenings, with food and drink, A smiling rally team planning the event. Photo: Geoff Garfield 15

16 entertainment, plus, on the Friday night, a special train The Severn Coast Express run to give volunteers & exhibitors the chance to have an evening out on the railway. The different vehicles are invited and organised by our section marshals, who make sure we have an interesting and varied display, using their contacts. While all of them are enthusiasts, perhaps the most enthusiastic collector is Mike White, who has recently taken over the steam section. Mike has a collection of 9 steam traction engines, ranging from an 1881 Richard Hornsby locomotive, which worked in a diamond mine in Mozambique, to a 1932 Breda roller, which was exported to Italy. But Mike finds his locos even further than that: a recent acquisition was a Clayton & Shuttleworth loco that was sent to Phillip Island, Australia, for land clearance. It was abandoned for many years, before being rescued, and returned to the UK in a shipping container. By now, you may be asking yourself What has all this to do with the West Somerset Railway? There are 3 answers to that question. Firstly, we make good use of the rails on the Norton site. We offer brake van rides behind an industrial steam loco and display many preserved railway vehicles, to promote the work of the Association and the many preservation groups associated with the WSR. Secondly, the Rally gives our visitors the chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of preserved vehicles, which we see as being very important to inspiring the next generation of enthusiasts. And thirdly, the money we raise, over 40,000 last year, is the major fundraiser supporting the work of the WSRA. So, we have one very busy weekend. But, it does not just happen, and would not be 16 possible without our large band of enthusiastic volunteers. We have an organising committee of 26, who meet each month to plan & organise the event, And in July, this group is swelled by up to a hundred volunteers, who set up the field, staff the facilities, welcome the exhibitors & visitors, and put it all away afterwards: a huge effort which would not be possible without everybody's support. But, a whole year to organise? It starts in the autumn, when we look at last year's rally in detail, analysing the feedback, and looking at what went well, and what needs improvement. The winter is spent planning next year's layout and attractions, hiring equipment (like 30 toilets) and specialist help, like first aid & security staff. Spring sees invites being sent out to exhibitors, who reply through into the early summer. Then we spend time publicising the event, through Val Jones and helpers at the Rally Office. Photo: Geoff Garfield

17 adverts, posters, handing out leaflets, preparing the programme, and much more. By now, the summer is here, and we are kept busy sending out tickets and maps to the exhibitors, and answering their many questions. All too soon, it is time to open up the field and start marking out. By the time we have set up, run, and put away everything, most of us are well ready to find somewhere quiet to hideaway for a while. Of course, it does not happen like that. Almost all of our volunteers also do other jobs on the railway. We have steam & diesel drivers, signalmen, guards, shop & station staff, permanent way workers, buffet & QB volunteers and many more. People like Val Jones, who has run the Rally Office for 4 years. This is our vital nerve centre when we set up the Rally, and during the weekend: our 2-way communication base, a place for the exhibitors & visitors to ask their questions, a centre for volunteers to register, be allocated their jobs, get fed and watered; everything that happens on the rally site goes through Val's office. Over the years, Val has made this a family event, with daughter Lisa and grandchildren Imogen & Dexter helping out. And that's not all: husband Brian looks after all the equipment we have: fencing, water supplies, tables and chairs etc.. When they are not Rallying, Val & Brian are often found at Bishops Lydeard station, working in the café and shop. So, hopefully, you have a better insight into what goes into the Rally, and more importantly, some of the people who work so hard to make it happen. We hope to see you at Norton in August: WSRA members & WSR volunteers get in free: all you have to do is show us your ID card. Children are also admitted free, and you can buy tickets for friends and family on That is also the place to contact us if you would like to join our team and help out. We work hard, but we have fun too, and we are always keen to hear from anyone who could spare us a day or two (or more!) We would love to hear from you, and look forward to seeing you on the 4 & 5 August. Mike White s Royal Chester well known to model makers. Photo: Mike White 17

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19 Gala Planning Team Don Bishop reviews the Winter Steam Gala and looks forward... Spring Gala The Gala Planning Team have been kept very busy in recent months, following the successful Spring Steam Gala which saw over 4,300 passengers and a good increase in revenue. The final build up to the spring gala kept the team on their toes getting sufficient locomotives available to cover the timetables we had planned. There is a general shortage of locomotives around the country and this is making planning special events increasingly difficult, not just for the WSR. We were at a quite late point in the build-up when we very pleased to welcome Dennis Howell s 94xx Pannier No to join the line up, this making two BR Black Pannier tanks attending as we had already secured the Severn Valley based 57xx Pannier No We were able to offer double-headed Modified Halls with Nos Raveningham Hall from our home fleet and 6990 Witherslack Hall from the Great Central Railway, a quite unusual sight. The Halls were joined by another ex GW with Manor No Foxcote Manor, which is of course with us on the WSR for the whole of the 2018 season. Perhaps the most popular attraction at the event was the appearance of S160 No. 6046, also staying with us for the 2018 season, hauling a military freight on each day of the gala. We also welcomed Steam Bus Elizabeth, courtesy of Crosville Motors, Weston-Super-Mare, and John Jones- Pratt working shuttles between Minehead Spring Steam Gala at Minehead. 7F and Sentinel steam bus GT2827 Elizabeth brew up in the yard. Photo: Tim Edmonds 19

20 station and Dunster. This was very popular but sadly a fault developed and reluctantly it was withdrawn from the planned Sunday schedule. Diesel Gala With the spring gala completed, our attention turned to the diesel gala between 8 and 10 June. The theme for this year's event is Vintage diesels to the seaside to celebrate the years when a variety of diesel loco types worked summer Saturday trains to seaside resorts all around the country. The event will have taken place by the time you read these notes. We have booked 5 visiting locos in the form of Class 20's Nos and 20189, Class 45 No Royal Tank Regiment, Class 50 No Ark Royal and Deltic No Royal Highland Fusilier, all being brought to the WSR in one convoy movement by GBRF from the Severn Valley Railway. These will be joined by our home fleet of DEPG maintained locos Class 14 No. D9526, fresh from heavy overhaul, Class 33s D6575 and D6566, the latter also just recently back in traffic after overhaul, Class 35 Hymek No. D7017 and Western D1010 Western Campaigner. Sadly Hymek No. D7018 was not going to be ready to return to traffic in time for the gala so will be relaunched into service later in the season, the first time since August 1995 when it suffered a serious engine failure. There was a mini beer festival to complement the event held at Washford courtesy of our friends at the SDRT and Mick Cleveland of CAMRA, although it is NOT a CAMRA event. Late Summer Our next event after this is the Late Summer Weekend on September 1 and 2 with a theme of West Country Railways where we use a variety of both steam and diesel traction from the home fleet on an increased frequency 20 timetable, a good excuse to visit the railway and enjoy a traditional West Country secondary line/branch going about its daily business, just as it did in the past. Following this will be the Autumn Steam Gala with our theme this year of Cross Country Railway Routes to celebrate the variety of locomotives and trains that could be seen working on lines around the country that did not serve the capital. Our home based fleet will all be suitable for this plus several visitors that we are talking to owners about. We are unable to confirm these at the time of writing so please keep an eye on the websites for updates as the gala draws near. Nigel Adams We were very saddened to receive news of the death of Nigel Adams after a period of illness. Nigel was a long term and valued member of Gala Planning Team and has contributed a great deal to the galas over many years, most recently as roster clerk allocating our loco crews to their respective duties during special events. Nigel will be greatly missed by all on the WSR. Bed and Breakfast

21 Stations Synopsis The quarterly review of events and happenings at our ten beautiful stations. Bishops Lydeard Breaking News in the land of 'Life At Lydeard' we have a Station Master!! As from 1 May Lesley Farthing has accepted the position of Acting Station Master at Bishops Lydeard which will bring a welcome focal point to many of the activities that are currently shared amongst some of us. Lesley comments that she is back where she started on the WSR (as platform staff at BL) in 2001, and whilst there have been many changes to the railway since that time, not least in the expansion of the overall site, we are well served with well ordered daily teams. Lesley knows many of us from her time as Stations Coordinator, and vice versa, which will all help. Whilst there are probably many things for Lesley to familiarise herself with, it is a warm welcome from all at BL, with good wishes for the future in this role. Now back to more routine matters. In our last report we had just tidied up after the Christmas festivities period and were The Belmond Pullman stands at Bishops Lydeard on 28 April with its train from Penzance and Truro. Passengers had the opportunity of transferring to the steam service to Watchet or a bus excursion to Dunster Castle. Photo: Editor 21

22 looking forward to the half term reopening, then the new season. Loadings at half term were reasonable, then after another short break, it was headfirst into a busy Spring Steam Gala. You can always tell when there is a Gala looming, as the weather turns extremely wet in the run up, meaning all the plans for using the main overspill parking field are thrown, and no matter how many cars turn up they have to be slotted in a gap somewhere. Once again many thanks must go to Dunkirk House for parking help. Fortunately our professional parking marshals did their usual excellent job, and it was only at one stage on the Saturday we were having to advise that our parking was completely full and alternative hard standing parking was on Blue Anchor sea front! The wet weather period persisted, so we were in a similar position the following Saturday where there were record advance bookings for Peter Rabbit to be handled. Saturdays are always a challenge in terms of platform staffing at BL, and the combination of these two factors led Head of Commercial, Mark Hill, to arrange a short notice booking for professional parking marshals, which helped the situation enormously thank you Mark. We were also helped in our parking difficulties by the groundworks behind platform 2, which had also been delayed due to weather, being completed with just a week to spare before the Spring Gala well done to Keith Sandford, Matt Brewer and Ian Retter for this achievement. The Steam Trust, including the model railway, have had a busy winter in rearranging much in the Gauge museum, with a formal reopening of both areas on 17 March in time for the Spring Gala and the new running season. The shop and 22 café team under Kate's leadership have as always, continued to provide valued support to the station team in looking after our visitors. The RAMS team at long last have just about seen the end of work on Blackmore House and despite falling numbers of volunteers in that team, meaning they are only able to now work on Mondays and Fridays, they have also been able to start focussing again on their main function as the maintenance team for BL station. We have seen the re-appearance of the refurbished running in board on platform 2, refurbished platform barrier on platform 1 (Taunton end) and the repainted red post office trolley that lives on platform 2 all 3 items needed rotten parts replacing before repainting. RAMS have now started the long preparation/repaint task of all the platform light stands (there are quite a few) plus other major tasks e.g. prepping/painting the front of platform 2 buildings. During February we had the sad news confirmed, that we would be losing the ex post office BG wagon which has resided with us for many years, as both a workshop and store. We have had the use of this vehicle for at least 10 years and it has enabled the production/painting/ lettering of 75 Gala boards covering 3 Galas, 40 'Flying Scotsman' signs of various sizes whilst Blackmore House was out of commission, plus numerous other items. To replace the BG there is agreement for purpose built storage for commercial items within Blackmore House, plus a storage container unit for paint storage/paint shop use alongside Blackmore House. A further job on the RAMS winter work schedule has been our garden train, where, as mentioned last time, a 'heavy general' overhaul was needed due to

23 several years weathering taking its toll in causing a lot of rotting. The good news is that over the last couple of weeks the train has arrived back on platform 2 in its usual place, looking better than ever, and has now been planted up by Clive and his gardening team. Thanks also to the gardening team for turning out in all weathers over the winter to prepare for this season's displays. The loco this year is called 'Heritage 1' nothing like a bit of own trumpet blowing! As this report is being compiled we have just had the last of our 'closed Fridays' (which actually wasn't, due to the 'Somerset Day Express' running) so it's now all go with 7 days a week running through until 7 October which, if like previous seasons, will be here all too quickly! In the meantime we have main line charters (Clan Line 26 May), Paw Patrol Meet and Greet, Classic Car Run starting at BL, plus of course the Diesel Gala with an impressive line-up so hopefully lots of visitors and that's just in the next four weeks! Crowcombe s new workshop is ready to go and is seen here with the station maintenance crew. In due course the workshop will be painted to blend in with the station. Photo: Steve Leek Never a dull moment in 'Life At Lydeard' so if you know anyone who would like to join in all the 'fun' ask them to get in touch and arrange a chat with our Station Master (how long since we've been able to say that?) Lesley Farthing. Norman Barker Crowcombe Heathfield Another busy season kicked off with a very successful Gala for Crowcombe Heathfield with lots of visitors, good sales of refreshments from the shop, and lots of appreciative comments about the Gala and the railway in general. The income was a welcome boost to our station coffers. During the Gala we played host to a party from Belgium, who came to celebrate the memory of their good friend Laurent Cordier who lost his life in He was a keen steam railway supporter and Beatles Fan. Crowcombe, with its Beatles connection, was his favourite station. There was a short but touching moment where the Belgian visitors played a John Lennon song and remembered Laurent. They gave a very generous donation to station funds. Life at Crowcombe is back in full swing, and the new maintenance workshop is complete with electricity, benches, tool racks (and a kettle!). There is also a new addition to the waiting room. Transferred from Stogumber (with their permission!) we now have a video screen running current DVDs of the railway and the station created by Crowcombe P.I.C Steve Speck, with a supply for sale. The Gardening Team are heads down and the hanging baskets are just about ready to hang as I write. 23

24 The friends of Laurent Cordier visited Crowcombe to commemorate his life. Photo: Steve Leek All eyes will be on the prize when the Best Kept Station Competition Judges appear on 15 July! RAMS are busy sprucing up the main building externally, and will then progress to the Flax Bourton shed. Hopefully, this will all be completed before 15 July. Our own ever-busy maintenance team have a to do list as long as ever, but are spurred on by the new facility on the embankment. We have a small team led by Deputy Station Master Steve Leek, beavering away organising things for the 1940's weekend in September. Crowcombe will have a number of attractions including, a couple of WW2 vehicles, posters, period costumes, '40's music, taped-up windows and Union Jack bunting to please the eye as visitors travel to Minehead or even stop off to enjoy some home-made bread pudding. I'm saddened to report that Janet (Jan) Cubitt has passed away. Along with husband Ted, Jan was a founder member of the volunteer team at Crowcombe, where she worked tirelessly for 30 years helping to transform the station from a ruin to where it is today. Jan started the catering tradition, and helped design the 24 kitchen. Her favourite time was December where, with another founder volunteer, the late Jean Hodge, she helped Father Christmas deal with the thousands of children who have passed through the station over the years. Unfortunately, ill health forced her to retire a few years ago, and she passed away in Musgrove Park Hospital on 12 March 2018, aged 81. Her husband Ted, who also worked tirelessly for the station, latterly becoming Station Master before retiring from the railway, lives in Cannington. A plaque has been placed on the Crowcombe Heathfield remembrance board. Although we are able to keep open every day, we could do with a few more volunteers in all areas. Whether this be on platform duty, catering, gardening or maintenance we need you Contact the railway, pop into the station, or ring me direct on we'd be delighted to talk to you. Geoff Cross Stogumber Stogumber is happy to report that most of our under way projects as reported in the last Journal have been finalised. In particular the cabinet and lighting for the model railway was installed by RAMS just in time for the Spring Gala and has enhanced the model no end. It looks truly magnificent. Even our Loco crews have been getting off to take a quick look and we thank RAMS for their skills in making and installing the display. Our entrance embankment has been a riot of spring colour, first with a blanket of snowdrops, then wall to wall primroses

25 and now phase three the bluebells were all pushing through. The garden is looking a delight with the early flowering plants all showing well. Our gardener Anne reports that rabbit and deer damage seems to be down this year. Hooray! On a staffing note, we have kept all our existing volunteers and have recruited some new ones. Members of the Friends of Stogumber Station have risen by a few more with nobody leaving. On the catering front, our Master Baker Gil Cox has agreed to keep her somewhat famous cakes available right through the season instead of just for galas and special days. We and apparently our customers are delighted. As soon as the weather broke, and spring albeit somewhat briefly arrived, we started to sell lots of cream teas. As a postscript to our re-upholstering of our six GWR chairs, we have made moves towards having our two Bristol and Exeter benches restored to match the same style and quality, and are delighted to be able to thank Jacquie Green and the WSRA for agreeing to finance this on their match funding basis. We are also moving forward on the cattle dock after many false starts. The access fencing has been repaired and realigned along with some large entrance gates for Andrew Young's PW gang, another top job by RAMS. Next we are clearing undergrowth and getting ready to reinstall the stone steps up to the dock. Finally on a sad note. Most of you will have heard that during the gala we had a gentleman collapse and die on the platform. My thanks go out to the staff who were on duty who did a magnificent job in handling the situation and received nothing but praise from the medics and Stogumber station and its magnificent gardens rest between trains on May 12. Photo: Editor 25

26 Police when they arrived. Sadly nothing could have been done for the gentleman concerned but we feel there are some lessons for all to be learned from the incident. A guide of what actions to take, in what order, would no doubt help anybody faced with a similar problem in the future. Here's to a busy and successful Best wishes from Stogumber, the garden Station. Alan Bines Williton Since the last issue we had a good number of people around at the Spring Gala and the general feeling was that all was good! We did well in the shop and the second hand department and were able this year to sell many items of uniform which had been donated to the station, as well as books, jigsaw puzzles etc. The winter maintenance has extended into the running season and we have been able to change several sections of rail or picket fencing alongside platform one, and the repainting of this whole length of fence is well underway (early May). The flower displays will shortly be in position with some additions this year. Thanks again to Phil and Avril Chapman for the many hours spent at home in the greenhouse pricking out and nurturing the young plants in advance of bringing them down to the station. There is a piece of 'no man's land' between our maintenance hut and the river towards the A39 bridge where there is still evidence of a well-head. This has become overgrown in recent years but we are now in the process of clearing the site with the aim of making this well-head a feature. Watch this space! Manor No Foxcote Manor standing at Williton station with a photo charter on 16th February Photo: Don Bishop 26

27 We are still receiving praise for the improved car park and it was great one day of the gala to see the whole car park full with cars all parked, reversed, within their allotted spaces. I was expecting to see a car lot person with a clipboard come selling cars!! Elsewhere in this issue there may be detail of a project to replace all the lead plates for the levers in the signal box at Williton. As a station we are supporting this and will be making a major contribution to the cost. Since joining us from Doniford Halt, Chris Hooper has taken on the task of sorting out the station web site which is now back up and running with many improvements. Any reader's pictures for some of the recent years would be appreciated. Please have a look at the site: willitonstation.org.uk for details of sending them in to the webmaster. John Parsons Doniford Geoff Newland is the new day to day contact for the halt, although there is no longer a site manager. Geoff does a great job cutting the grass and gardening. All major work is now the responsibility of the infrastructure department. Editor Watchet The full season has got off to a successful start with more developments at Watchet. We welcomed two new volunteers during the winter period and between them they have taken up gardening and platform duties. The FOWS held their annual AGM in March; two committee members stood down and two new members were elected: David Brown stood down as secretary of FOWS and Melvyn Webb, in charge of maintenance, stepped down from the committee. I thank both of them for their support and for the many hours they have generously given to the station over the years. The station's refurbished shop and cafe area is now fully open and fully stocked. It is proving very popular with visitors who offer positive feedback on the atmosphere and appearance of the station. The general appearance of the station has also been enhanced by the replacement of all the window blinds as part of the recent refurbishment. In the booking office we are now using an original A J B Edmondson railway ticket date stamping machine to date stamp tickets. The machine has been repaired and repainted by a volunteer and is another addition that many visitors notice, praise and talk about. It is a reminder that sometimes it is the little things that matter and catch the eye of the public. We are seeing an increasing number of visitors who present their online tickets to booking office staff, be it a paper copy or on screen. They expect to receive a 'proper ticket' as part of their travel and are often disappointed to be told that their online booking is their ticket. Maybe an 'Online Souvenir Edmondson Ticket', similar to a platform ticket, could be a solution. Two large format WSR route maps, mounted on aluminium, have been purchased and are now wall mounted on the noticeboard adjacent to the booking office door and half way along the platform. The love and care given to our station gardens and floral displays continue to delight all. Our flower boxes have already flowered with spring bulbs and the second wave of seasonal planting is under way. Along the platform, weeding and pruning continues several times a week 27

28 and the upper garden terrace has been fully cut back and is about to flower. The banked garden in the station car park is already a blaze of colour and new buds. Hanging baskets are on order to adorn the station canopy and will complete the colourful and fragrant welcome at Watchet. A small area of garden between the booking office and goods office is being completely re-planted and is currently work in progress. Other areas where work is still in progress include the re-painting of the white line along the platform edge. This was delayed by the cold weather, but we are hoping to re-paint this during evenings in June. One of the station's two wooden GWR benches has been repaired by RAMS and is soon to be returned to the station. A large scale project by RAMS has been the construction of four replacement window frames for the back of the station. The current frames are beyond repair. Once completed and fitted this work by RAMS will transform the appearance of the station building from the car park, and will enable the repainting of the station exterior. Kevin Smith Blue Anchor Since our last report earlier in the year, we have had a very interesting few months at Blue Anchor. The year started with the usual preparation for the new running season: the tidying up, the sorting out, the finishing-off of the winter jobs, and when we thought we were all ready, down came the snow! The socalled Beast from the East brought with it a blanket of the awkward white stuff, Class 33, D6566 heads across Ker Moor on the approach to Blue Anchor with a freight Diesel Experience Course on May These have proved to be very popular. Photo: Tim Edmonds 28

29 such that we had some very nice Christmas picture postcard views in March. Treacherous driving conditions meant that our pre-season staff meeting had to be cancelled, so instead we just all carried on as normal. Our 2018 mug carries a wonderful picture of Flying Scotsman on its way from Blue Anchor towards Dunster as it crossed Ker Moor last year, the photo being taken by an FS event volunteer, Eric Vickerstaff. Priced at only 4, you will be able to continue your collection of these excellent souvenirs. All Blue Anchor FS volunteers should have received their own gratis mugs by now. The first big event of the year was the Spring Steam Gala, which was very successful, with considerably more reliable timekeeping than last Autumn, and overall a good level of catering sales and plenty of smiling faces on the platform. The train service over all four days, with the same special goods trains, etc. was a particularly good idea, and did not penalise those who could only get to the railway at the weekend due to work commitments. As ever, a lot of hard work was put in over the Gala by the catering ladies led by Gill, and we must not forget those that staffed the Booking Office and assisted with platform duties: a big thank you to everyone. We recently held the AGM of the Friends of Blue Anchor Station, which was reasonably well attended, no doubt being helped by the fact that on the same day (5 May) we unveiled a plaque on one of our new benches to our late friend and colleague Alan Scott. Membership of FoBAS is 10 per year, and all of the funds go to assist in the running costs of the station, assisted by the generous donations made by the travelling public and other visitors we always put our donations churn out when the station is manned, and the sales of donated items (jigsaw puzzles, books, magazines, etc.) plus the profit from our souvenir items and catering all help fund the ongoing maintenance work. As Ivor Baulch says, It is a full-time job. This year he has been very busy (so far) with the fabrication of a new wicket gate for the car park fencing, which will be erected once the fencing has received a refresh of white paint. There have been numerous other jobs undertaken, including the painting of much signage, e.g. the crossing gate signs, the runningin boards and the UP side waiting shelter dagger boards. Whisper it quietly, but at last the white lines along the edge of the platform have also been painted after a number of years. Both the Ladies and Gents toilets have had work done: to the seats and doors in the Ladies, and also window sills. As a result of the inclement weather already mentioned, we found that we had a burst pipe under the waiting shelter which entailed replacing some very old copper pipe with plastic and insulating this to prevent future problems. We hope to move on to the Pig Sty storage hut and Lamp Room next. The station's electrical system has finally been fully overhauled, and we have a number of useful features including a water heater in the back room, a switch for the platform lights, and the ability to be both warm and supplied with tea at the same time, if weather conditions dictate. The camping coaches are now no longer part of the Station's electrical circuits. Our communications system has also been catapulted into the 21st Century with the installation of Wi-Fi in the station, with a new router in the Booking Office. We hope this will assist in speeding up our ticket issue as well as make life a little easier for volunteers. 29

30 Thanks to Ivor and John & Linda Flippance for their help in achieving this. Ron Sidewater continues to develop our new station website which can now be found at This will be expanded over the coming months to include some more archive photos and possibly some video clips. As you will probably know, we have the Railcam webcam on the Down platform giving a good view of station activity (or lack of it, sometimes!). Following the AGM, FoBAS has a newlook Committee with new members, including Linda Flippance as Secretary, Dave Carter continuing as Treasurer, and Brian Stainton taking over as Chairman. As well as a regular platform duties volunteer for some years now, Brian The gardening can wait! Hall class, 6960, Raveningham Hall drifts into Dunster with a down train, carrying the Dunster Castle Express headboard. Val Rooker pauses in her activities to watch its arrival. 9 May Photo: Tim Edmonds regularly assists with minding the Museum when it is open (usually on Bank Holidays, Galas, etc.). The Joint Stationmasters are ex officio members of the FoBAS Committee, and further details of FoBAS are (hopefully by the time you read this) to be found on the enhanced Station website. Recent developments include the restoration (to holiday lettable condition) of the middle camping coach, and we must admit that it does look very good now, and a very different vehicle from that just a couple of years ago. We will be stocking promotional leaflets on the station for the coach, and we expect that this Journal will probably carry an advertisement for The Coastal Camping Coach Company. Do take a look when you are at the station, but please respect the tenants' privacy. Finally, we would like to thank all those who assist on the station whether it be with booking office, catering, gardening 30

31 or other activity (sometimes unseen and off-site) that helps keep the station in order and looking good for our visitors and colleagues. Gill Baulch, Derek Tarr Dunster Dunster continues its quiet activities and welcomes many visitors, numbers being boosted by the popular Dunster Castle Express. Minehead The season has started again with a bang at Minehead and the station has been spruced up to welcome travellers and casual visitors alike. As no doubt like other stations, one of the biggest problems faced is finding storage space for all the bits and bobs that are used very occasionally. There is a fairly urgent need at Minehead as most of the space is taken and the roof of Readers Halt groans under the various items that are stored thereon. Coupled with this problem is that there are possible trip hazards on the platform and the items do not make the station look as it should. We will overcome I'm sure. Plans are moving forward rather slowly to try and make the station a place worthy of a visit even when trains are not running. The station planning group (over and above FoMS) has some exciting ideas but there is much preparatory work to be undertaken before we even look at the funding. All need to carry the heritage tag so that the station does not lose its 1948 look. The initial plan is to have several areas of land surveyed to establish if there are any problems lurking beneath our feet that may prevent what is hoped for. Funding will be looked at by the FoMS committee and then we hope to move forward. In the short term, I hope, there are staffing shortage problems with the main office, the office that at the present time receives all incoming telephone calls to the Plc's main contact number. It is hoped that before too long, a new telephone system will be made available so that enquirers can put themselves through to their desired destination rather than waiting for an answer. It is hoped that the Press 1 for this and Press 2 for that etc. does not put too many people off. All in all though, the station is functioning well and is well into the swing of yet another season. Where has the quiet time gone again this winter? Martyn Snell Dunster the station robin ponders the next departure. Photo: Tim Edmonds 31

32 Steam at Nornvis Bridge Nornvis Bridge is found at the 171½ milepost and was the site of a lengthman cottage, now long demolished. The bridge carries the railway over an ancient track from Lydeard St Lawrence to Seven Ash. Above, Manor No Foxcote Manor approaches on a down train with a Steam Recreations photo charter on 16 February Below, Modifed Halls 6990 Witherslack Hall & 6960 Raveningham Hall climb towards Crowcombe on 25 March The lengthman s cottage was just to the left of the locomotive smokebox. This was the site of the old Crowcombe down distant signal and the fogman s hut for the signal still stands to the right of the track. Both photos: Don Bishop. 32

33 A View from the Footplate MIKE SHERWOOD, WSRA Vice-chair, gives his personal take on the railway. It's been a while since my last contribution to the Journal so I thought it about time for another one. As I write this the 2018 Operating season is getting up to speed and the railway is pretty much back in full swing. I passed a personal milestone a little earlier this year of 250 firing turns completed on a wide range of locomotives. Looking back there are numerous highlights but picking out one or two if I may, firing on the front of an incoming charter from Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead and then back to Bishops Lydeard stands out. Fascinating to have a full load on the back (hard work too!). A great day out on the Standard Class 2 at a gala last year sticks in my mind. Teamwork on the footplate is, of course, essential to the successful operation of any steam locomotive so I must tip my hat to all the drivers I've been fortunate enough to work with over the last few years as well. I don't think it's any secret that a lot of heritage railways including the WSR are finding the going tough in the current economic climate. The offer of a train ride behind a steam engine, while still a powerful offering, is no longer enough to generate the revenues that the railway needs to operate in the 21st century. There are now so many calls on the cash that we must find other ways to support the railway if we are going to continue to develop the offering and attract visitors. It is my view that the only way we can do this is by all acting together for the A view towards a footplate...visiting pannier 9466 and GW Hall 6990 Raveningham Hall at Bicknoller on 25 March Photo: Cliff Woodhead 33

34 benefit of the railway. I know most of you will say that's what we do already and to an extent this is true. What I am talking about is an even closer co-operation than we currently enjoy. The calls for cash and resources are so great that we must have a single coherent plan that we all agree with and all follow. It's what the current plc Chairman, Ian Coleby (also our esteemed editor) calls one railway. My fear is that without this very close cooperation we may fall behind and start to struggle. I want to offer my personal thanks to Andy Norman who, assisted by our General Manager Jacquie Green, has been pushing forward with a funding bid to the Hinkley Point Community Fund. The target of the bid is community cohesion and the intention is to help the railway better integrate into the local community and improve community engagement. The bid is being made on behalf of the railway family rather than one member of the family and Andy and Jacquie are being supported by Richard Maw, plc finance director and myself. We are learning a lot about grant funding as we go through this process and Andy has already found a way to support some engineering training on the railway via BESTT who have secured some HLA funding. My point is this needs to be what we do more of in the future. Grant funding is not something we've engaged with to any great extent in the past although The Steam Trust have made a previous attempt and are currently working on a second one. It is far from an easy thing to do as we've found out. If there are members who have knowledge in this area and think they could assist in the future then we'd love to hear from you. In a similar vein if there are members who feel they would be up for a spot of the more traditional tin shaking at galas etc. we'd love to hear from you too. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and staff I work with on the railway. Your enthusiasm, professionalism and the way you interact with the paying public are a real credit to all of you. It makes me very proud that I can count myself as one of you. I know lots of members know me by sight (if not, there is a picture of me on the WSRA web site) and I look forward to chatting with you during the rest of the season. Don't hesitate to step up and say hello if you see me on the footplate. Advertising Information 2018 The WSR Journal welcomes advertisements from heritage railways and local traders especially hospitality and catering outlets and others likely to be of interest to our readers Advertising Rates for Journal published in A5 format Quarter page (one issue), paid in advance (All 4 issues in 2018) Half page (one issue), (All 4 issues in 2018) Full page.. 80 (one issue), (All 4 issues in 2018) All prices include VAT at the current rate of 20% Advertisements are invoiced in advance Advertisements will appear in colour unless otherwise requested Advertisers to provide their advertisement in pdf format please For further information, please contact the WSRA office on or at journal@wsra.org.uk 34

35 West Somerset returns to the 1940s ROBIN WICHARD previews the keenly awaited 1940s weekend on 15 and 16 September As the relationship between Britain and rest of Europe becomes more uncertain, fascination in a time when Europe was united against Nazi Germany becomes ever more intense attracting interest from 'hard-core'-re-enactors to swing dancers and everywhere in between. The West Somerset Railway is an ideal location for a commemoration of those turbulent and defining times. All along the line there is evidence of the area's role in the great conflict the tank and infantry training sites on North Hill, Minehead, the coastal defences at Blue Anchor, the old RAF site and harbour defences at Watchet, the old army camp at Doniford, the US army base at Norton Manor and the hospitals and Sandhill Park and Musgrove Park at Bishop's Lydeard and Taunton respectively. Far from an obscure backwater, West Somerset played an important role which the WSR is able to reflect. The aim is not to glorify war or to stage any form of battle re-enactment on the line (in fact all Axis troops and vehicles are banned from the event) but to recreate the atmosphere of those days in a way which will educate and inform the public as well as entertain while introducing a whole new demographic to the railway. The fact that the WSR guest engine this season is the US Lend-Lease S160 is a fortunate coincidence which allows us to use the collection of War Dept flat trucks and other wagons to recreate a military train for the event. This has already been trialled at the recent Spring Gala and received very positive reviews thanks to Andy Norman for his work to bring this part of the project together. The plan is to have a 'theme' at as many stations as possible and, although still fluid to a point, the current thinking is as follows: Ÿ Minehead station Static Hurricane aircraft and vehicles outside, 1940s dance on the platform Saturday evening, vintage 35

36 centre spread photo page 36 36

37 centre spread photo page 37 37

38 hairdresser using the Quantock Belle; Ÿ Washford station US military camp in the field behind the station (1st US Division and 29th US Inf); Ÿ Watchet station a variety of performances and events linked to the town (see below); Ÿ Williton station a 'Dig for Victory' display; Ÿ Stogumber station a military garrison and 'Land Girls at Large' display team; Ÿ Bishops Lydeard station an RAF base recreated with vehicles and personnel around a static Spitfire display (in Darby's field) and possible WI display in station. Watchet town will be the base for the Home-front emphasis. Swain Street will have the shop windows taped and appropriate displays and posters. There will be a Vintage Market on the Esplanade and other displays along the WSR above Helwell Bay. Military vehicles and civilian vehicles (including a 1940s road mending crew) will add to the atmosphere and there will be timetabled performances by the 'Liberty Sisters', 'May Blossom' 'Ricky Hunter' and visits to the various attractions by HM King George VI and the Royal Escort and PM Winston Churchill. US General Omar Bradley may also inspect US troops. To reflect the commemorative aspect of the event there will be a service (involving laying of wreaths) at Minehead and Watchet on the Sunday morning. We are also in contact with a number of veterans and civilian survivors of those years and are looking to give them an opportunity to enjoy the event and have their contributions commemorated. The squad guard the train at the spring steam gala. Photo: Editor 38

39 West Somerset Light Railway Ian Tabrett investigates fake news or how West Somerset nearly became the centre of a huge oil industry On the face of it, a large and faded document recently acquired by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust appears to be an interesting curiosity but not much more. However, that first impression is quite wrong: the 94-year-old document in fact is part of an intriguing tale of either innocent foolishness or fraud on a grand scale by a man described in later years by an Old Bailey judge as a dangerous and plausible criminal. The front cover of the 13-sheet file, which measures 33 inches by 20 inches (81cms x 51cms), reveals that it encloses plans and sections presented in May 1924 to the Ministry of Transport for a proposed West Somerset Light Railway. The highlydetailed drawings, based on the 1905 Ordnance Survey map, were prepared after a survey by engineer Walter H. Haile, of Bridgwater, under instructions from local solicitors Reed & Reed. They show the route of a line stretching 11 miles 1 furlong and 5 chains from Bridgwater docks to the village of Kilve, passing mainly through meadows and orchards as it snaked from the river Parret past Wembdon, Cannington, and Combwich before reaching its destination just south of Kilve church and ruined chantry. The track would have avoided all houses, farmsteads and mills, had no difficult earthworks but crossed some roads and lanes as well as streams and ditches. At Bridgwater the line would have formed a junction with the town's Northgate brewery siding and connected with the wharf and dock branch of the Great Western Railway, which would have been given powers to enter into arrangements for its construction, maintenance and management. The total cost was estimated at 200,000 and, given extensive press coverage, was intended to attract considerable local investment. However, it was never presented to Parliament for approval, and the project fizzled out almost immediately, apparently with few if any misgivings among locals. The reason behind the plan for the light A copy from the parliamentary plans showing the terminus at Kilve. Note that this is orientated with North at the bottom. Photo: Ian Tabrett. 39

40 railway was to carry the huge quantity of oil which was claimed would be produced from vast beds of shale along the coast and refined at a facility to be built very close to Kilve's old wharf. Clearly, though, had the phrase been invented then, residents would have quite quickly suspected that it was all Fake News: the unrealistic pipedream of a man who told anyone who would listen that he was a world expert but was, in fact, a criminal fantasist. He was William Forbes Leslie, born in 1865 in Banchory, Scotland. He trained in medicine, changed his name several times, adopted the title of Count, and claimed to be one of the greatest experts in the petroleum world. During his duplicitous career, he declared himself bankrupt several times and appeared in court on a number of occasions because of his debts and crooked financial ways. Finally, in 1935 at the age of 70, he was sent to prison for two years at the Old Bailey for what was described as an impudent 400,000 fraud of which he was said to be the mastermind. The judge, who gave him that description of being a dangerous and plausible criminal, said that but for his age he would have been sentenced to hard labour. As a result of the case, and although he was long retired from practising, Dr Forbes Leslie was struck off the medical register by the General Medical Council. He died nine years later in Eastbourne. He had married early on in his highly colourful career, but in fact soon after the turn of the 20th century split from his wife, who appears to have been an even bigger rogue than he was. They had no children so the name which in fact he had stolen from a distinguished but childless family passed away with him. Today, although the light railway was never constructed, Kilve still has evidence of his fanciful project a long singlestorey shed and the remains of a vertical retort enclosed in brickwork close to the village's 21st century cricket pitch. Much of the information on the devious doctor and his mind-blowing ideas has been brought to light by researchers at the Scottish Shale Oil Collection at the Almond Valley Heritage Trust in West Lothian ( To them I am enormously indebted for making this article possible. They discovered that after qualifying as a Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery at Aberdeen University in 1891, Forbes Leslie briefly worked on research in South Africa then served as a ship's doctor for a couple of years. Already, they conclude on the Collection's website, he had a talent for fiction and tall tales and after his marriage in 1897 to the self- The remains of the retort and nearby shed which are the last remaining evidence at Kilve of an oil boom that never happened. Photo: Ian Tabrett 40

41 A composite picture published in the Western Daily Press on November 15, 1923, with the caption: "The shed, which is built about 50 yards from the seashore, contains the machinery for extracting oil from shale. On the left side of the building are the pipes of the oil condenser. The shale is broken into small pieces, and put into a furnace near the shed. During our photographer's visit a stream of oil much the same colour and thickness of motor lubrication oil was running into a tank." styled Duchess of Villanda he was involved with her in various legal actions for fraud and deception in one, she was called an accomplished swindler. Over the coming years he was behind several fanciful schemes which got nowhere. Then in an interview published by the Western Daily Press on November 15, 1923, Dr Forbes Leslie revealed what the reporter described as much interesting material about the potential for an oil boom at Kilve. This included claims that petroleum found in America and Russia came from the same type of shale as that along the Somerset coast which, he said, stretched from Watchet to the river Parrett and ran inland for a considerable distance in outcrops from 200 to 300 feet high which makes the quarrying proposition comparatively easy. As well as the oil to be extracted, the shale would produce a residue like black sealing wax which could be used as a wonderfully fine varnish and the ash from the process could be mixed with limestone to produce an inexhaustible amount of cement. The following year, he went even further: In his fascinating book The A-Z Of Curious Somerset (the History Press, 2013), Geoffrey Body reports another article in which Forbes Leslie gave mind-blowing statistics West Somerset's shale hitherto unknown to exist in England, is of a thickness so great and having an oil content so rich as to astonish scientific investigators. He quoted estimates that no less than nine billion tons of oil shale and three billion tons of limestone could be produced: The hills can be blasted down, great faces opened hundreds of feet high, and the rich oil fuel picked up by steam shovel and loaded onto railway trucks for 3 shillings (15p) a ton. Thus was the dream of turning tiny Kilve and the surrounding Quantock Hills into an immense industrial complex, the fantasy promoted by a rogue to draw in funds from unsuspecting investors. In reality, the pioneering retort never produced more than a tiny trickle from the small quantities of shale that were quarried, and the railway never materialised because the shale was found to be contaminated by sulphur and the slag couldn't be used for cement. And anyway the beds went far too deep to be easily mined. Thus Dr Forbes Leslie went back to his lodgings in London to ponder yet more ambitious con tricks, leaving West Somerset in peace and happy contemplation of just what might have been 41

42 Spring Steam Gala - part 1 Above: Bicknoller, and 6960, Raveningham Hall heads the Cornish Riviera made up of a train of blood and custard liveried coaches. 25 March Photo: Cliff Woodhead. Below: Severn Valley based 14xx no 1450 and autocoach head an up train over Leigh Woods level crossing. Photo: Andrew Ponsford. 42

43 A double Royal cream tea A chance for a double Royal celebration was staged by the railway to mark the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. On offer was a steam train ride on the 2.15pm from Minehead and a West Country cream tea with a glass of fizz served to passengers at their seat on the day the couple were married at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry was christened. The cream tea or a gluten-free carrot cake option and glass of prosecco with a soft drink for the under-18s were available for passengers who had booked in advance. Company chairman Ian Coleby said: We thought many passengers would like to drink a toast to the Royal couple and perhaps a second toast to the health of Prince Harry's new nephew, Prince Louis Arthur Charles. He recalled that four previous Royal occasions had been celebrated by the line over time, the first being some 139 years ago when the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, travelled to Dunster for a sporting visit to the Castle. Tens of thousands of people turned out to cheer him, special decorations with bunting and triumphal arches were put up, and the 9th Somerset Rifle Corps travelled by special train to form a guard of honour. The next visit was under much different circumstances during the First World War when King George V and Queen Mary toured the region to inspect troops at various bases. Mr Coleby said their train was stabled at Bishops Lydeard overnight, with the request or, rather, command from Buckingham Palace for strict privacy. However, preparations to make the station spick and span did not go un-noticed: for days beforehand, railway staff were seen hard at work, the goods yard was cleared of all traffic, the ground carefully swept, gravel paths laid. As arrival time approached the surrounding roads became clogged with people, and the bridge at Bishop's Lydeard station was packed. The police May , Royal Wedding day, and 7F stands at Minehead complete with wedding rosette, for its next duty. Photo: Editor. 43

44 had their instructions and at 6.00pm, with the Royal train due 10 minutes later, they pushed the crowd back towards the village, only stopping when they had reached the Lethbridge Arms! The train arrived headed by a pair of well turnedout Star class engines and stopped near the station. The locomotives were detached and the train shunted into the siding by a further pair of engines but no one left the train. As darkness fell, the station and its approaches were brilliantly lit. Early the next morning, though, the King and Queen left their coach for a walk up and down the gravel track nearest the village so a few people had a chance to glimpse them. Then, having gone back to the train, they did not leave it again. However, three hours later the King sent for the village schoolchildren and accompanied by the vicar and headmaster the party assembled on the up platform opposite the Royal saloon and sang three verses of the national anthem for which their majesties made their acknowledgement. After the visit, station master Alfred Elliott was presented with a gold tie-pin with the royal monogram it would be interesting to know if it still exists. Visit No. 3 to the line was in 1937 when the newly-crowned King George VI slept the night on the Royal train when it was shunted on to the line near Norton Fitzwarren. And the final Royal occasion was when the Duke of Edinburgh travelled to Minehead in 1952 to travel on by road to visit flood-devastated Lynmouth. 44

45 Departmental Review Another busy and interesting few months in the departments OPERATIONS THE 2018 operating season with almost five months passed already has, as usual, brought its fair share of challenges! It is a tribute to all concerned that everyone has worked together as a team to again ensure our timetabled trains and other services keep running. After six weeks at the beginning of the year when the line was 'handed over' to the Infrastructure Department, our new season started as usual for the school half term week in February and following several days of Red timetable, interspersed with a number of Steam Engineman Courses during February and March 2018 really kicked off with our Spring Steam Gala and, this year, the start of two weeks daily running around Easter. The Spring Gala on March was a very successful event and very much appreciated by those who visited us, as well as generating keen interest and enthusiasm amongst our staff. It was good to see a Great Western auto train back in action on the branch, provided by No 1450 and trailer 178, together with an interesting and varied fleet of other visiting GWR/BR(W) locos 'Modified Hall' No 6990 Witherslack Hall, 57xx 0-6-0PT No 7714, 94xx 0-6-0PT No 9466 as well as our home fleet. Our thanks go to the various locomotive owners and to our friends at the Severn Valley and the Great Central for their support to the event. One of the highlights for many at the Gala was the running of a WWII-era military freight train hauled, appropriately, by the USATC S160 Class No 6046, which certainly created a great deal of interest. The S160 is to be based on the WSR for the whole of 2018, and certainly looks 'different' to anything else the railway has hired in the past with its general appearance and distinctive whistle! No 6046 has had a few teething problems to date, principally with its air pump, but hopefully these are now a thing of past and the loco will settle down to become a reliable member of the fleet. In addition to those that were hired-in for the Spring Gala, steam locos that are expected to see regular use on the line in 2018 are Nos 6046, 6960, 7822 and It is anticipated that the fleet will be strengthened over the summer by at least one further loco, with the return of our own Odney Manor later in the year. On the diesel front, 'Crompton' No D6566 has recently returned to service after overhaul, to be followed by Class 14 No D9526 and the second 'Hymek' No D7018, with Nos D1010, D6575 and D7017 already in traffic. This year we have a new brown timetable, which runs every Saturday from 5 May to 22 inclusive except for the two 'Meet & Greet Days' on 2 June and 8 September, and 9 June (Diesel Gala). In addition to two steam diagrams (one from Minehead and one from Bishops Lydeard), this also provides a dedicated 80-mile diesel diagram for one of the DEPG fleet. It is hoped this regular pattern of diesel locohauled trains will generate increased interest and revenue. 45

46 7822 Foxcote Manor approaches Crowcombe with a down train, The Royal Duchy, 25 March Photo: Cliff Woodhead. At the time of writing our peak period of daily running (which this year runs from 1 May to 7 October inclusive) has already commenced, with the busy Spring Bank Holiday week and the Diesel Gala imminent. In addition to our regular timetabled services, the Operations Department also has to resource many other trains (including driving course, dining trains, private charters etc), as well as meeting the requirements of other Departments which are often placed on us at relatively short notice. All this demands a considerable staff resource. By way of example, from the Operations Department alone our peak (Yellow) timetable requires four guards and five signalman each day, as well as (ideally) all our stations to be manned. Earlier in the year, the PLC Board agreed that Stations would now form part of the Operations Department, with Geoff Cross appointed as the new Stations Coordinator, replacing Lesley Farthing (to whom our grateful thanks are due for all her hard work) who, subsequently, has kindly offered to fill the vacant Station Master post at Bishops Lydeard in the short term. We have recently said farewell to James Mills, who has decided to resign his post as Operations Assistant. James has shown himself to be a committed, enthusiastic and hard-working individual, and he leaves us with our thanks and best wishes. This now creates a vacancy amongst the paid staff in the Department and initial discussions have already taken place. We were also sorry to receive the news that Angie Scutt has been forced to resign as a Guard for medical reasons, but she remains active as a volunteer in the department and on the railway. Congratulations are due to Steve Martin, Barney Forsdike and Peter Clements who have recently celebrated their 40th anniversary of Guard duties on the WSR, having all been passed out on 8 May I am pleased to be able to say that all three are still very much active in the role and on the WSR! Congratulations are also due to Pete Sanger who has qualified as a Guard, and to Chris Barker for 46

47 passing out as a signalman at Blue Anchor. We have a number of other existing signalmen who are training on other signalboxes, including a pool of new trainee signalman, as well as several guards in training, so we are hopeful of being able to bring you more good news in the next issue! Richard Jones MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Steam Locomotives 7F Our stalwart performer continues to work without any incidents in traffic, though attention is required to gudgeon pins, and eroded lap seam rivet heads in the firebox. S the engine has been a popular addition to the fleet, but has suffered poor reliability for several reasons, primarily due to air pump problems. The pump was sent away for attention and returned in mid May. A further stoppage has now unfortunately occurred and the locomotive is waiting further attention Raveningham Hall in traffic, no issues to report Foxcote Manor in traffic, no issues to report Odney Manor the boiler is now expected to be completed by the middle of June. This has pushed completion of the locomotive to the right as the boiler was originally expected to be completed by end of May. The delay has been due to X-raying of the flue tube bottle end welds, which is a new regulatory requirement that came into force in the last few months and sourcing of copper for six palm stays. Volunteers and staff at MD are working hard to reassemble whatever can be reassembled of the chassis in the meantime. At the time of writing all pistons and valves have been reinstalled. Machining of the connecting rods has been completed and S stands outside Minehead shed. The engine has had a number of teething troubles with the air pump, seen here mounted on the front of the smokebox. 11 May Photo: Editor 47

48 reassembly of the motion has commenced. All the boiler fittings have been overhauled and returned to Rileys. Painting of the many dozen bits of cladding is well underway. Insulation, paint and miscellaneous small items are on order to ensure that progress is maintained on everything within our direct control reassembly work continues at Minehead and the plan is to relaunch the engine into traffic at the Autumn Steam Gala. 4F out of traffic waiting attention to cracks in the wheels Thornbury Castle Works have begun on the bogie, the two wheel sets are now in top coat, these have also seen preparation works on the NDT testing etc. We are now working through the components of the bogie in the hope to get a completed section of the engine to show a positive start. Further talks are in place with various sources to discuss the future of the engine, the focus prior to any further completed works will be to ensure we have a home Kinlet Hall has received a vast amount of work recently, a big push has been made to get the engine back on to her wheels after we were hit with a blow to the centre driving wheel where a crack was evident. We have worked closely with the VAB being that Kinlet Hall will be returning to the NR after her heavy overhaul. We are very pleased to confirm that the repair has been successful. Works will now continue to allow the horn grinding and the machining of the boxes, all brasses have now been pressed and we hope that 4936 will be sitting back on her wheels within the next five weeks. We are now focussing on completed parts that sit in the container which has seen 48 the frame plate work all prepared, shot blasted, completed cab fittings, motion clean up coupled with oil wicks all replaced and full examination to ensure lubrication ports are clear and full NDT tests. A few months back we spotted a crack on the saddle which has no doubt come from a heavy shunt, we decided to strip the full front end and examine, again a repair has been successful and we are pleased that the two major concerns when seeing cracks have now been resolved and signed off. The bogie is also in progress and the hope will be to have a completed unit within the next few weeks, the main drive as stated earlier is to get her now back on her wheels. The boiler will also be moving into the boiler shop shortly, all side sheets and plate work is ready for fitting, we have also placed the order for the stays so this will allow an active push to drive the project forward. Checks are being done on the GSRM equipment which will include a live update, works continue on the tender at Williton, this is now 80% ready in terms of the planned scheme of works. All in all some great work being done on 4936, thanks to the 4936 team as ever who continue to support this overhaul. Jon Jones-Pratt Diesel Locomotives Winter has come and gone, the days are getting longer and signs of summer are all around us. No less so than at our depot in Williton where our volunteer staff have been busy with progress being made on several fronts. Class 14 D9518 The loco frames were due to be moved out of the old goods shed and in to the Swindon Shed to have the wheelsets removed. The harsh winter weather has

49 put the programme behind by about three weekends work. Coupled to that, a so-called 'quick lifting job' by WS Restorations outside the south end of the Swindon Shed took an unfortunate turn when the motor on one of the synchronised lifting jacks burnt out. This meant that QB coach 'Phoenix' has been stuck in the air for a number of weeks. While that is unfortunate, it was the location of the coach that has had the most serious effect on the DEPG fleet as it meant that we could not move anything into or out of No3 road. That in turn has delayed the planned work on our second 'Teddy Bear' until the jacks are repaired as they are needed to lift the frames. Once the wheelsets are finally out, West Somerset Restorations staff assisted by DEPG staff will repair the axlebox horn guides where they are riveted to the frames. Some of the original rivets have worked loose in industrial service and need to be re-riveted. Shot-blasting of the frames will also be done at this time so that the repaired and repainted frames are ready to receive the re-profiled wheelsets when they come back. Class 14 D9526 Much testing, measuring and adjusting has occurred since our last report with most of the loco now reassembled, though the bonnet hoods and doors had been left off for a while to enable our engineers to observe, inspect and take measurements easily. The loco has been tested by using it as the Williton shunter for a day in January. This showed that the engine was willing and responsive to the various loads it was being asked to haul. We also managed to arrange two loaded test runs to Crowcombe and back to ensure the engine could deal with the railway's longest continuous gradient and to 'bed in' the re-metalled side rods. The test runs were mainly satisfactory, with each test building on the previous one. Seen through a window! Class 33 D6575 rests at Williton. Photo: Editor 49

50 One more test run is planned to follow shortly, culminating in a 5 coach load to simulate a fully loaded 4 car set. Once that test is satisfactory, this loco will rejoin the active fleet. Class 33 D6566 This loco has had attention to all the items that were snagged during the test runs last October and has also been to Bishops Lydeard for her underframe inspection over a pit. Ian and the 33 Team have built up the second exhauster from a kit of parts to replace the one that suffered a rare catastrophic failure of the main casing last summer. You may have seen on Steve Edge's website that we featured in the TENMAT company news magazine recently. One of our volunteers, Terry Deacon, had been successfully developing a TENMAT product to replace the original exhauster vanes, which contained an asbestos related material no longer available or desirable, with a modern PTFE based substance manufactured to very precise dimensions. The article shows a picture of the failed exhauster and another of the new vanes. Just to be really helpful, Class 33 exhausters are unique to that loco design and, being special to type, are now as rare as hen s teeth. We were lucky that our friends at the Swanage Railway had a spare casing and some other pieces that will enable us to replace the errant piece of machinery. With the missing exhauster finally installed, D6566 has had further test runs, including one where she double-headed with her sister from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. After the test runs the snagging list has been finally sorted out and the loco has now returned to the active fleet. One for our Class 33 drivers to note is that this loco now has fully operable AWS equipment which means that the WSR can use it without a secondman when necessary. 50 Class 33 D6575 With the railway shut down for the Infrastructure Department, the opportunity has been taken to carry out some much needed maintenance to give the loco a bit of TLC. While there are still some tasks outstanding that will have to wait until her sister returns to traffic, the loco remains available for WSR use. When the Bishops Lydeard 09 shunter was at Minehead for maintenance work, the 33 also saw some regular activity for a time as the BL Super Shunter! Hymek D7017 While stuck inside the shed at Williton because of the coach on jacks, our longest resident has had Terry's long-term testbed exhauster removed and her repaired original one refitted. She has also had her batteries replaced though this is not quite as simple as it sounds! Hymeks, along with most ex-br diesels, have a 110 volt DC system. For a number of years now, D7017 has been using a battery pack made of 8 heavy duty truck batteries each giving out 12 volts. We used truck batteries at the time because they were cheaper to buy, but as you can see, they only give out a peak of around 96 volts. While this will just about do, the batteries are clearly beginning to show their age and starting the engine has become a bit of a 'will it or won't it?' game of chance, which does nothing for reliability or the driver's nerves! We have a second set of railway traction batteries acquired at the same time as those for D7018 and a nice newly fabricated rack to house them. To install them, the truck batteries had to come out, together with the redundant main water tank for the train heating boiler that they used to sit on. This freed up some space inside the loco, allowed us to improve the wiring layout, and ultimately remove the source of a corrosion problem behind the B end cab

51 Spring Steam Gala - part 2 Above: Double-headed panniers and 9466 pass Crowcombe s up distant signal, approaching the station with the 1345 MD to BL train. Below: USA S is seen ready for departure from Minehead s bay platform with the 1540 train to Bishops Lydeard, complete with Quantock Belle set. Both photos: Tim Edmonds. 51

52 bulkhead. After an extended day long shunting session, we managed to extract the Hymek by running her out through 5 road to bypass the flying coach. She was launched into traffic almost straight away but managed to fail with a damaged automatic voltage regulator. Our technicians managed to replace it in an afternoon but they had to rob one from D7018 to do it. D7017 has just completed a short holiday by the sea on the Swanage Railway where she was a popular exhibit but is now back on the WSR ready for the coming season. Hymek D7018 The repaint has now gone as far as it can until some warmer weather returns which will allow us to complete the repaint in gloss. The repairs to the cab floor in B cab have been completed with all welding finished there. The cab has now been put back together and repainted. At the other end of the loco, the rotten parts of the cable trunking and floor plating have been removed and the manufacture of new trunking and floor plating has also been done. This was a particularly challenging job as the trunking would have originally been installed prior to wiring and construction of the upper body. We have had to carefully redesign the new trunking into a complex jigsaw of sections that, once fabricated and checked for fit, could be carefully inserted under the wiring and then welded into one piece in situ. This has now been done and the assembly of the rest of the cab is underway. We now have an additional job of trying to repair or replace the voltage regulator which failed on D7017 which means D7018 will not now be appearing at our Gala in June but will make her longawaited comeback later in the year. Class 47 D1661 North Star We finally managed to get the loco into the Swindon Shed in March/April to make a start on tackling the considerable body corrosion. Our specialist contractor has made significant progress on cutting out the corroded sections and re-plating where necessary but still has a long way to go. The badly corroded cooler group roof section has been removed and is having similar re-plating work together with some discreet modifications to help prolong the period before it will need doing again. The loco will receive a muchneeded repaint to finish off the bodywork after all the welding work is completed. Western D1010 Western Campaigner New batteries were definitely on the Christmas List, but Santa's poor timekeeping for delivering such heavy items, coupled with additional delays caused by the poor winter weather meant that this essential task took place a lot later than we would have liked. Sadly, we also found some frost damage in parts of the cooling system that have cost us some extra time and effort to put right. The oil in both transmissions has now been renewed as both ends were showing signs of contamination and degradation. This is something we monitor regularly, but this spring gave us an opportunity to ease the level of monitoring required by having some new oil. The loco has now had the dewinterisation work completed and preparation for the season is well underway. Both engines now start much easier on the new batteries and we look forward to entertaining our many supporters with the twin Maybach growl so familiar to Western fans everywhere. Martin Howard 52

53 Carriage and wagon GWR Autotrailer 169 In my last report I mentioned that we were getting another section of the carriage ready for a trial assembly prior to the WSR Spring Gala. I'm pleased to report that we completed that successfully with a few days to spare and now can see where some minor modifications are needed to allow us to permanently fix both parts of that section. Because of the '3 dimensional jig saw' nature of the interwoven woodwork we will need to dismantle these sections to allow final completion. The nature of GWR (or any railway's) wooden body construction sadly does not allow one component at a time progress. One of the other items from last time was the development of a riveting process to allow the replacement sections of the galvanised roofing to be repaired using the original construction methods. The roof is held together by hundreds of quarter inch cold steel rivets that require a pressure of around 10 tons to squeeze into shape so a suitable portable horseshoe shaped press/anvil is quite a construction. However, we have succeeded in riveting repair pieces onto one of the sections, saved the original GWR stamping off it and fitted it into place. Amongst other jobs the next roof section is now 'on the drawing board' but this one is a build from scratch version as the original 'took off' in some gales a few years back and ended up impaled in a nearby tree rendering it unfit for further use. We are also about to start work on the soleplates for section 3. These are 22ft long and 9 x3 so you can imagine not the easiest of items to work with. Work continues on manufacturing the window glass supports and trims which are hardly noticeable to the casual observer but with each window having Members of the 5542 Group working on autotrailer 169.The nature of the 3-dimensional jigsaw can be seen here. Photo: John Wood 53

54 about 12 foot of circumference and each one requiring 2 separate pieces on each edge the cab windows alone require something in the region of 48 ft of inch and a quarter square good quality hardwood. We are currently using donated timber for this work so if you have any hardwood that's filling your shed or garage we'll happily relieve you of it. Any size from about 18 long is suitable and as long as it is free of nails then we can convert it into something useful. We were please to see so many visitors at the Spring Gala and welcome all visitors at Williton when the shed is open, but we can arrange visits at other times by prior arrangement. Visitors are also welcome at Unit 7 Williton Enterprise Centre adjacent to the station. We will be at the WSRA Steam Fayre with our usual mix of sales, information displays and of course tea and cakes so hopefully we will see you all there. You can of course follow us on Facebook for all the latest information. INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING Permanent Way The gang have been carrying out routine maintenance over the past month. Flailing continues and the weeding RRV is due to spray the line over the coming days. Part of the delay in weeding (which is a couple of weeks later than planned) is due to other safety-related work taking priority, and also conformance with new spray equipment regulation which has come in since our last in-house spray in our rig passed with flying colours. Land Management have continued to clear the north side of Washford bank to improve service access. They have also been repairing approximately ½ mile of seven strand fencing at Kentsford. The S & D at Washford have kindly offered their 54 yard as work space for repairs to the cutting after the Diesel Gala weekend. The tidy train gangs have successfully collected three train-loads of mostly felled timber over three evenings. We had a good turnout of around 10 people each night and we plan to repeat these trains in June, subject to Ops support, which has been excellent. Our volunteer gang have been busy. During the closed period we have taken the opportunity to change sleepers within station limits at a number of sites. The reason for this is we have to jack the rails high enough to get the sleepers in and out near the restricted confines of the platforms and adjacent track work. It is not the sort of thing we can do with trains running so need to take possession of the line to ensure we have an area safe to work. Our first port of call was at Crowcombe where we changed 15 sleepers allowing us to remove three tie bars. We then moved to Blue Anchor Station. Having the use of the RRV and trolley made life a lot easier replacing eight sleepers and releasing another four tie bars. It meant we could clear all the spent ballast from the worksite and replace it with fresh ballast held in the skip on the RRV trolley. The Spring Gala found us changing ten sleepers in the sidings at Bishop Lydeard using sleepers that were not quite up to standard for the running line. They were the two hole nut and bolt type removed during the relay at Bishops Lydeard and had plenty of life left in them still. A lorry load of 200 sleepers arrived recently and were unloaded behind Blackmore House. A small gang have made a start of drilling chair bolt holes in them using our jig. So far 72 have been done which will save a little time when we come to fitting them in the running line. The gang got the Roebuck Crossing relay

55 off to a good start arriving just after the road closure early on the Sunday morning. Using the hired in tracked road digger the tarmac was broken up and moved clear of the track. When it was all cleared the two check rails were manhandled out of their chairs and moved along the track clear of the work site. After marking the top of the rails in line with the sleepers so they went back in the same position, the crossing rails and the ones either side were also removed clear of the site. When not required for manhandling rails, a number of the gang drilled holes in the new sleepers and screwed new check chairs on to them. At the end of the day the site was left ready for the contractors to move in and remove the old ballast, lay new drainage and build up the trackbed before the company gang relaid the track. Once again Mary, Terry and Mike manned our stall on Bishops Lydeard platform selling books and mainly transport related items. Takings were not as much as previous galas but we made enough to keep us going till the next gala. Work at Norton has included more slewing, jacking and packing of the track behind the platform and applying the final coat of paint to the stop blocks at the end of the platform. We have also changed two timbers on the lead at Orchard Junction. As we had the time and manpower, the excess ballast on the sleepers, left after a training exercise, was cleared from the top of the sleepers. When uncovered a significant amount of biscuits (spacers) were found to be missing or incorrectly fitted and a number of pads between the sleepers and rail had either worn away or migrated from their correct position. In the section Minehead Seaward Way trackwork in progress prior to level crossing resurfacing. Photo: Tim Edmonds 55

56 between Orchard Junction a total of 216 biscuits have had to be replaced/repositioned and 50 pads replaced. Painting of mileposts has restarted after the winter break with MP169 being the first and only one so far. Finally fishplate lubrication has started, beginning with the Triangle and its leads. To date the main line between Barnstaple Junction (MP165¼) and Deane Bridge(MP167¼) has been oiled and we will be heading to Bishops Lydeard in the coming weeks. Now that the summer is on its way why not join us for a bit of fresh air, exercise and good company. Either contact Claire at volunteer@wsrail.net or myself at kenandmaryb@hotmail.co.uk or ring on or Signals and telegraph The CCT (S&T mobile workshop) was brought back to Bishops Lydeard and items of stock have been put into store. The CCT now contains just the workbenches and a few odd tools. It will be retained as a mobile workshop, but can now be stored anywhere on the line without the need for access. Cable has been recovered from Bristol for future use on the railway. A new telephone cable has been run out from No. 4 signal to the up distant signal at Bishops Lydeard. When it is brought into use, this will complete the telephone cable run between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard (at the present time the Bishops Lydeard phone uses the signal cable). Thanks are due to the Permanent Way gang for their help using the road-railer and trailer to complete this job. Work has continued on the new telephone concentrator and the signal post telephone has been replaced on signal No. 6 at Williton. There is a telecoms cable fault between Blue Anchor and 56 Dunster which may require some new cable. The planned maintenance for Blue Anchor level crossing will be rescheduled for a future date. A number of gang members attended a first aid training course on 30 April which means a qualified first-aider should always be available while working. The token machine at Blue Anchor for the section to Minehead stopped working again. The commutator was cleaned as it had picked up quite a bit of dirt. The main cause appeared to be that the electric lock on signal No. 3 (the section signal for the section to Minehead) was sticking. There is some concern that this is the second occurrence of the problem in a matter of weeks and it will be monitored. The level crossing gates at Williton had dropped. This problem has now been fixed as far as possible but the down side gate has rotted through at the bottom furthest from the hinge. Paul Harris has asked RAMS to take a look and suggest a way forward. Paul has also spent a day moving tokens to balance the instruments. High winds caused a bolt in the up side barrier at Minehead level crossing to break. Richard Harman Blackmore House & Station Farm The RAMS continue at BL with work on the kit room and ladies toilet - electric installation is imminent and water is available in all rooms. The fire alarm has been installed in the workshop and staff have been trained in its use. RAMS continue to support the stations along the line with various jobs - BL has recently had its platform lights painted and the PW gang at DR are getting a new internal office and improved welfare facilities. However, due to falling volunteer

57 numbers the team are now only meeting on Mondays and Fridays. Anyone interested in joining RAMS please contact / Save The Date! On Sunday 15th July and Monday 23 July 2018 we are planning two IE department gatherings where we will invite public and local groups in to see what our department (and wider Railway) does. Our gangs who normally work on those days are invited for a short department update and will have an opportunity to talk with other teams and potential volunteers about the work they carry out (over a cucumber sandwich and cuppa). Staffing We welcome Phil Sizer into the Permanent Way (full-time gang) working out of DR. Phil is already a signalman with many years of WSR volunteering behind him. Adam Russell will also be joining the team in July. Adam has had a variety of plant experience in the past and more recently has been working as a windscreen fitter. They both join John Jones-Bartlett's PW track gang. IE Department Vacancies - Volunteer Opportunities TRACK PATROLLERS NEXT TRAINING JULY - last call! During the running season we patrol all 23 miles of our railway on foot, visually inspecting the condition of the track. We are looking for volunteers who are interested in engineering, but not necessarily experienced or qualified, to join our team of patrollers. You will need to be physically fit, pass a basic medical (including sight and hearing), and be willing to take part in PTS and technical training which will prepare you for the role. Lengthsmen Needed! Similar work to the Cutting Back gang: we are looking for volunteers (individuals or small groups) to own a stretch of the line and keep it cleared back beyond the flail lines. As well as cutting back, the work may involve maintaining visibility around crossings, repairing fencing and gates and maintaining signs. This is a physical activity and training will be provided. Currently only four gangs operate on the line (as well as the station groups in station limits) - but there are plenty of opportunities to choose a preferred or favourite length to set up shop. Tools and equipment will be supplied. There will also be a competition (starting this year) and prizes for the best kept length. Tidy Train We are planning more tidy up trains in June. It will most likely be a Monday, but we are yet to confirm details with Ops. We're looking for volunteers with PTS to help out. Fish and Chip Gang We are setting up a new gang dedicated to changing fishplates, oil plates and maintaining flange oilers. It's a messy, physical, outdoor job which will take you to every corner of the line. Training will be provided. Bridge Maintenance Team We are looking for volunteers to assist our experts with clearance and general maintenance of our masonry arch bridges. With 45 bridges and many more culvert, it's a year-round job. If you are interested in learning skills in lime mortaring and masonry conservation this is an ideal opportunity. Please contact Rhiannon for more details on any of the opportunities above - ieadmin@wsrail.net or leave a message 57

58 with your contact number on Cutting Back Gang Following a request from Andrew Young, Head of Infrastructure, the Cutting Back Gang visited Stogumber Station on Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 February The purpose of the visit was to clear the vegetation from the embankment on the down side behind the platform in order that a land slip could be more clearly identified. With a team of twelve people supported by hedge trimmers and a chainsaw, good progress was made on the Saturday. The only problem we had was on Saturday, the fire proved very difficult to get started leaving a lot of brash to be dealt with on Sunday. With a slightly smaller team on Sunday, the gang concentrated on first clearing and burning the brash. By the end of the day, the gang had cleared about 120 yards, thus making the land slip easily identifiable. On the weekend of Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 March, the gang returned to Combe Florey cutting to continue with clearance work on the up side. By the end of the weekend all that remained was a large area of bramble in the vicinity of the Combe Florey PW hut. The weekend of Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 April found the team continuing with clearance work in the vicinity of Greenway cutting and Whisky Trail crossing. Lengthsmen Whilst the cutting back gang meet once a month, there is another group of un-sung heroes who meet normally once a week to keep the vegetation under control and these are our lengthsmen. The section between Nethercott bridge and Combe Florey bridge is looked after by our Thursday team led by Peter Gleed and Paul Richie who have the vegetation along this section well under control. Martyn Trott, Steve Baker and Russell Coward look after the section between Leigh bridge and Roebuck cutting which includes Leigh Wood Crossing where it is important to maintain visibility. This area is always a popular spot with photographers and it looked particularly tidy for the Spring Gala. Steve Gooding and Martyn Trott maintain the section between Lydeard bridge and Nornvis bridge but not on such a regular basis as the other teams. However, it was good to see the flail had visited Crowcombe cutting this year for the first time in many years. This has greatly reduced our workload so hopefully we will have a better chance of getting the areas above the flail line tidied up. Future cutting back dates are as follows: 4 & 5 August 2018 (WSRA Steam Rally) Although I have retired as car park organiser, a job that I have done for seven years, I have decided that there will be no cutting back during August. Instead, I hope the team will support the rally, as the committee need all the volunteers they can get. 8 & 9 September & 14 October

59 Hawksworth Coach Number 6705 CLAIRE SHEPPY MRICS continues her look at the Trust s heritage coaches fleet, this time looking at the coach that will return to traffic first Many people will have seen coach No. 6705, either at one of the steam rallies or parked outside the Swindon shed at Williton. As with several other coaches, it has an interesting history is a Collett brake corridor composite coach, built at Swindon in 1938 under lot number 1589 to diagram E159. The batch was completed on 15 October Nearly 61 feet long, it comprises two firstclass compartments, three third-class compartments and guard's compartment with a small luggage space. In the early 1960s, it was overhauled by Western Region and was shipped to America as part of a heritage railway collection based in Bellows Falls, Vermont, but it ended up in Steamtown, the Erie Lackawanna Railroad Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where it deteriorated quite badly. Surplus to requirements in Pennsylvania, it came close to being scrapped but was rescued in 2006 when Robin White organised transport to Halifax, Nova Scotia, from where it was shipped to Newport, along with nine class 66 locos bound for Britain. Moved to Crewe, the coach was initially restored under contract, paid for by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust. On 4 May 2011, 6705 arrived at Bishops Lydeard from Crewe, where working members of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust Heritage Carriages team examined it in detail. It was evident that there was still a lot of work which was outstanding. Drawbars were needed but the longest at Williton was 18ins too short, so a jury-rig was needed for the run to Williton, and on transferring the coach to Williton Yard, work recommenced on it by a team led by Greg McNelly. At this time the team was very small, but the number of volunteers has grown steadily ever since the coach arrived at Williton. The coach has had an enormous amount done to it since arriving, including lifting it completely off its bogies which have been completely cleaned, restored and repainted, and cleaning and repainting the under-frame. Much work has also 6705 compartment interior and picture frames. Photo: Claire Sheppy 59

60 been done on the wooden body including locating and rectifying an annoying and recurring leak at gutter level. Internally, all the original upholstery had to be removed and destroyed as the result of the presence of asbestos, which has meant that each compartment has been totally gutted, cleaned, and much panelling replaced. Glass in many of the windows had to be replaced to have the correct curved edges in the four corners. Any damaged sections of timber panelling have been made good or replaced with new. Most recently, repair work to the floor has been carried out. Floors were originally covered in the Great Western Railway's attempt at making the floors fireproof, by using a sort of screed. All this will be replaced with a layer of protective fireboard. On checking with Greg concerning a number of details, he remarked that during the restoration of old picture frames it was discovered that they could be returned to their original places in the coach. He also revealed that some of the best parts of this sort of restoration work have been the discoveries, and that there has been a lot of detective work while restoring extant and researching replacement parts, which is all fascinating. Having discovered similar occurrences whilst measuring the coaches and preparing the drawings, I could well understand what he meant. The replacement upholstery has been ordered and may well have been delivered and fitted by the time you read this. Once No is back in traffic and earning an income, the Trust will be able to make a start on restoring further Toplight and Collett coaches to form the WSR's first historic train. In the next journal I will be writing about one of the two bow-ended corridor coaches that we have on the West Somerset Railway outside the Swindon Shed. Photo: Claire Sheppy 60

61 A Day on the WSR Timothy West and his wife Prunella Scales visited us for a day on the railway in March. Here Tim describes his experiences. I was giving a talk at the Castle Hotel in Taunton when Paul Conibeare, the General Manager of the West Somerset Railway, found me out and asked if my wife and I would like to spend a day with them before heading back to London. I said yes at once. Twin passions in my life, heritage railways and historic paddle steamers have in the past combined to let me sail aboard PS Waverley from Clevedon to Minehead, and travel on the WSR to Bishops Lydeard before taking the train from Taunton back to Bristol. So Paul duly came to get us on a Saturday morning that was registering one degree centigrade, and drove us the five or six miles to Bishops Lydeard. Intending visitors to the WSR still tend to ask, 'Where is Bishops Lydeard why couldn't they make the final leap into Taunton? Well, don't think they haven't tried. The trouble is (I gather) the Western main line authorities won't take the responsibility of allowing WSR engines on to the stretch between Taunton and Norton Junction, so the only remedy would be to lay tracks to a separate station in Taunton, wherever land could be found. Economically out of the question. Waiting for us was the beautiful Raveningham Hall with a load of five coaches to which had been attached a superb Directors' Inspection Saloon designed by the GWR's Chief Engineer FW Hawksworth. There, Pru and I together with Paul and his partner and half-a-dozen of the company's notables were able to survey the track from The General Manager stands with Timothy West at the end of the visit by Tim and his wife, Prunella Scales to the railway on March 17. Photo: Editor 61

62 substantial armchairs among elegant brass communication equipment: Slow, Faster, Stop, Reverse. Mr Hawksworth clearly understood the value of keeping his Directors happy and comfortable. Among our group I got talking to Ian Coleby, the Chairman of the Company, who gave me a copy of his really magnificent book The Minehead Branch, , charting the line's development from its inception by the West Somerset Railway (in those early days only going as far as Watchet) to its eventual closure at the hands of British Rail. We paused at Williton where the double track enables the up train to pass. While we waited, we went up into the Signal Box, a perfect example of its type, with coal fire, small desk, levers and train staff instruments. We saw the up train in and commenced our journey, soon coming into contact with the sea: quite rough today and rather near. From Taunton to Watchet, Ian told us, the line was used chiefly for goods, to load and unload at the harbour. The extension to Minehead, though, came about through the growing holiday trade to the whole area: Cleeve, Blue Anchor, Dunster. We arrived at Minehead, and walked along the platform to the Buffer Stop Shop, went in and bought a few books, as I always do. Paul invited us into his warm ex- Stationmaster's office and suggested a visit to the locomotive shed and workshops before going for lunch in the Turntable Cafe (not on the platform: curiously the GWR never built a bar or cafe on the station 62 premises (opposition from local hoteliers, perhaps?) We were treated to very good pasties, chips and coffee. On the return journey we were hauled by No Foxcote Manor, and I was invited on to the footplate for part of the journey. Sensitive and devoted handling of the engine, with spectacular work by the young fireman. Watching them was a real treat but at Washford I got down and rejoined Pru for tea and cake. On our arrival back at Bishops Lydeard we said goodbye to our companions and crossed the track to the Gauge Museum to see their restored Victorian GWR Sleeping Car: well worth a look. And so ended a most enjoyable day on the WSR. I particularly love the way in which the GWR identity has been maintained, in buildings, locomotives and rolling stock. I grew up in Bristol among Kings, Castles, pannier tanks, chocolate-and-cream livery and finials on signal posts, and it's an important part of my life. So thank you. I hope we'll be back later in the summer. Tim and Pru, complete with Buffer Stop shop purchases, at the end of their trip. Photo: Editor

63 Association News Jacquie Green reports... Hinkley Point C Community fund. As I write we are waiting for the outcome of the second stage of our funding bid to Hinkley Point C Community fund. The outcome should be known by the end of May, so check the late news of this journal as it may have made it in there. If not it will be in our regular members' newsletters. If successful this funding will enable us to better engage with the local community and draw in more volunteers to join the railway. Heritage Funding for Stogumber The Trustees have agreed to help the Friends of Stogumber station with funding for the upholstering of two benches for the booking office and platform waiting room to match the six seats recently purchased, restored and reupholstered from station funds. The proposal follows traditional designs, uses traditional materials, and offers a significant improvement in passenger comfort. The Trustees therefore had no hesitation in approving the request and the new benches are planned to be in place towards the end of the Summer. Bob Preston, Joint Station Master at Stogumber, said We are all delighted that this will enable us to complete the restoration and upgrading of the seating, and on behalf of all at Stogumber Station, I would like to pass on our sincere thanks to yourself and your Committee Wagon Repair Project As reported in the previous journal the WSRA engaged in a successful fundraising campaign for tarpaulins and the two restored wagons ran in the military train at the Spring Steam Gala sporting their new authentic tarpaulins. The total amount donated was 430 plus in recovered gift aid. The total charges applied by the fundraising facilitator were 12.08, leaving a grand total of for the wagons project. The tarpaulins were purchased for 400 and there is remaining in the fund. A further funding bid is being prepared by Ken Davidge to purchase machined wood for refurbishing a southern built brake van to also join the military set. The remaining from the tarpaulins campaign will be put towards this project and if approved by the Trustees another campaign will be launched very soon. WSRA Fifty Fifty Club We have now successfully written to eighty six people whose membership lapsed, following the banking and IT difficulties encountered a couple of years ago. Of those, twenty five have so far rejoined and the club is once again making a significant contribution to WSRA funds. In line with the new General Data Protection Regulations, we will destroy the fifty fifty club data records we hold for those who have not responded by 25th May. This exercise has enabled us not only to gain new members for the club but also to cleanse the personal data we hold. If you were not written to or have not yet responded and would like to join the club, please complete an application form and send it in. 63

64 Wick House Bed and Breakfast, Stogumber. Philip and Sheila welcome visitors to the West Somerset Railway. With a friendly informal atmosphere, your comfort is important to us. Twin double or super King rooms available. All rooms en suite with either a bath, a shower or bath with shower over. Hospitality trays, complimentary toiletries and flat screen TVs in all rooms. TV lounge, sitting room, garden and licensed bar available. Please ring Sheila or Philip or sheila@wickhouse.co.uk 64

65 News from the WSR Groups The latest reports from other groups in the WSR 'family'. West Somerset Steam Railway Trust At our AGM on 28 April, Pete Treharne was chosen as the first Vice President of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust by acclamation. Pete has been a trustee for some 35 years and was one of the founder members of the Blue Anchor Railway Museum, which he combined with being Station Master, On Call signalman and keeper of the keys for the camp coaches as well as a trustee for many years. Not only does his elevation to Vice President recognise this outstanding service to the railway, but it also means we can continue to ask his advice and help when we need it! Two other directors are moving home and were unable to stand again, and we were sorry to lose both David Baker and Chris Bolt who have done so much to take the Trust forward and grow our membership to 75. Thanks to them, we now have in place proper governance arrangements for the Trust and our finances are in good shape, as reported at the AGM, allowing the work of restoration and conservation to continue. Apart from the undersigned, trustees now include Ian Coleby, Geoff Evens, John Jenkins, Alan Meade and Steve Williams who has been co-opted to replace David Baker. We are still looking for someone to take over as Treasurer from Chris Bolt, while Pete Treharne of course, is irreplaceable! Please get in touch if you are interested in joining us as Treasurer. Some experience in this area would certainly be an advantage. At the Gauge Museum, the display has changed to reflect the theme of the June gala, Vintage diesels to the seaside. Recently unearthed treasures include the plan for the line never built from Bridgwater to Kilve described by Ian Tabrett elsewhere in this issue and this will be on display during the summer. We shall be mounting a small display about Ambulance trains at Dunkirk House at the beginning of July as part of an event to mark the end of the First World War. At Williton, work on 6705 continues apace and will include a modification to allow the lavatory tanks to be filled safely from the platform rather than requiring someone to climb up to open the tank cover on the roof. We are still trying to source the gangway bellows that will allow us to connect to other coaches, as the previous supplier has now given up making them. Any ideas on possible contractors would be welcome. New members and new volunteers are always welcome, to assist at the museums on Sundays and bank holidays, or to help out on carriage restoration during the week, and I hope you might be inspired to help by Claire Sheppy's fascinating articles on the history of the coaches, one of which is covered in this issue. Chris Austin Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust The biggest item of news to report from Washford is the signing of a new 50-year lease with the West Somerset Railway. This is a huge step forward for the Trust 65

66 and the paperwork was formally signed at our AGM on 21st April by Ian Coleby as Chairman of WSR PLC and our Chairman, Ian Young. This naturally makes forward planning much easier and we moved quickly with publicity materials and other developments. We've acquired a built BG (brake gangwayed) coach from Williton which will provide us with more museum space and work is in progress improving our existing museum displays. In terms of motive power, our two locomotives have been on their travels recently; went to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Spring Gala and on the way back was diverted to the Severn Valley Railway to replace a locomotive that was unavailable late on. Kilmersdon, our 1929-built Peckett, is now on the Helston Railway in Cornwall and will remain there until early next year. We've also been adding to the photos available in our online shop; from our collection of over 3,000 S&D images, there is now a wide selection available for immediate purchase and download, but many hundreds more will be coming. As always, if we're open, do drop in when passing Washford; there's plenty to see - you could stay a while and catch the next train onwards. On 8-10 June, during the Diesel Gala, we will be having a Real Ale Festival at Washford... another good reason to visit! Rod Ormston Taunton Model Railway Group Our ever popular Bath Green Park layout had its first public showing complete with the benefit of its new return loops, at The Spring Gala. We were very pleased with the result, as we believe were the visiting public, who also had the benefit of a visiting layout 'Coaley Junction.' This was exhibited by our Exeter based friends from The Junction 72A Model Railway Club. This is a 'OO' gauge layout with a BR/WR flavour main line with a branch line peeling off at 'The Junction 'and set in the 1950s/1960s with the transition from steam traction to diesel underway. We have been discussing at some length, what we will construct to replace our very popular 'Tamerig' layout. No easy task when we are looking to satisfy our Approach to Green Park Station Photo courtesy of Railway Modeller 66

67 membership, maintain the standards and provide something engaging for visitors, particularly the younger ones, on our open days in conjunction with WSR Galas and special events! At a recent meeting the outline of a plan was put forward to the members and unanimously approved to proceed to the next more detailed planning phase. It will offer some of the characteristics of Tamerig, in that it will enable continuous running, mainline and branch trains. It will also be modular open frame construction allowing for transport to exhibitions. Some automation will be incorporated allowing for running while (when needed) minimising the number of operators required. It will be non region specific so that we can cater for all regional tastes and interests and no doubt our younger members will be bringing along modern image models to run. We are pleased to have welcomed some new members to our number this year, one of whom was keeping an eye on our Facebook page before coming along to check us out. He has visited more than once, so he must have decided we are OK! It is a perfect time to join our group with the start of the construction of the new layout imminent. As I write this we are looking forward to the Diesel Gala when we will be opening our doors on the Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June. Speaking personally, I am particularly looking forward to seeing the Deltic Royal Highland Fusilier in action. Last time I saw one was at Kings Cross in the early '70s! While our members who are handy with woodworking get to grips with the new layout base frames, consideration is being given to extra layouts we might be able to show that weekend. To that end another of our near neighbours, The Culm Valley Model Railway Club, based in Mid Devon are bringing their 'Extown & Winsbridge' layout which is set in the 1970's to 1990's. Although freelance in design it might well have been found somewhere near the Somerset and Devon borders. It is an 'N'gauge, 16' X 2'6, with a twin track main line loop, through station, industrial area and heritage branch line there is always something to be seen moving, and although diesel traction is the mainstay of the BR line, steam trains can be seen on the heritage section. Looking further ahead we are looking at what we refer to as 'Gold Wednesdays' which tie in with the WSR 'Yellow Timetable'. These will be on the 25 July, then 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 of August. We have a number of our members who are keen to bring in their layouts and show off their modelling prowess so, keep an eye on our Facebook page where fuller details will be posted in due course. Neither have we forgotten that we will be welcoming the public for the Late Summer weekend 1 and 2 September and the Autumn Gala 28 to the 30 September! For these we are looking to have other exciting layouts on show. Again follow our Facebook page for news of these. Finally, if you have not yet availed yourself of a visit to our group (on a Gala day or meeting evening) come along and see what we get up to! We would love to see you. We meet almost every Monday and Thursday from around 7:30pm, at our premises on Platform 1. If you would like to visit, me at: secretary.tmrg@hotmail.com or use the contact facility on our Facebook page, so that I can make sure I, or one of our other members is there to greet you. We might even offer you a cup of tea and a biscuit! Simon Ford 67

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