ASSOCIATION ADVENTURER THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY ASSOCIATION Registered Charity No.1041901 A Company Limited by Guarantee ISSUE ONE JUNE 2013 Established 1971 The Great Western Society s Railmotor No.93 stands at Crowcombe Heath ield station on the evening of Saturday 23rd March 2013. OUR FIRST ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER Welcome to this, our irst electronic newsletter. Firstly, let us assure you that this will not be replacing the quarterly West Somerset Railway Journal, but supplementing it by providing information and updates on the many Railway and Association activities that, due to when they occur, fall between publication dates for the Journal. In this way, we hope to be able to provide an even better service to our members, by keeping everyone abreast of the latest news and developments - illing a gap, rather than intending to compete with our award-winning magazine, and carrying news of current activities rather than the in depth reports from departments contained in the Journal. The newsletter will appear, at least initially, quarterly, at times when we feel it will be of maximum bene it to provide members with fresh information, whether that be on restorations, acquisitions or events; we hope you will enjoy it! SUCCESSFUL FIRST RAIL MOTOR VISIT The Great Western Society s Railmotor No.93 paid a very successful irst visit to the Railway during the Spring Steam Gala, courtesy of the Great Western Society at Didcot. The Railmotor appeared at an evening photographic shoot at Crowcombe Heath ield station on Saturday 23rd March and looked very much the part in the beautifully restored station. The event was run by Association Chairman David Williams and lighting was kindly supplied by Jason Cross of the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society. A number of the station team stayed on into the evening to provide visitors with much-needed hot refreshments and everyone who attended was very grateful for their efforts. Your Association budgeted 3000 towards the transport costs of bringing this living piece of Great Western Railway history to the line and was pleased to be able to support the Special Events Planning Team in a positive and meaningful way. Page One
QUANTOCK BELLE SEASON LAUNCHED WITH NEW LIVERY Easter Sunday saw the irst outing of the Association s Quantock Belle dining set, with a new livery being unveiled for the start of the 2013 operating season. It was decided that the maroon livery carried for over a decade was becoming somewhat tired and that the set was in need of a repaint over the winter period. As early as April 2012, consultation started with volunteers on the set to ind out what livery those who actually worked on Page Two the train would like to see the coaches carry. As always, there was a diversity of opinion, but the vast majority favoured an umber and cream Pullman-style livery and it was this colour scheme that was eventually adopted. A great deal of hard work was put in at Williton during January, February and early March to ensure completion on time; the set will be lined out in due course, and has already met with the approval of passengers and diners.... AND TWO NEW VEHICLES ARE ACQUIRED FOR THE SET! FO 3131 at Williton following delivery from Eastleigh. DJW Recent weeks have seen the delivery of two new vehicles which are, in due course, destined to become part of the Quantock Belle dining set. The irst arrival was former BSK E35408 which was latterly in service with Balfour Beatty. This vehicle is a useful acquisition in that it is generator itted, which will give greater power supply on board the dining train and therefore allow items such as fridges and freezers to be added, making a wider variety of foods available to diners, as well as keeping drinks chilled as required. The Association is committed to providing the Railway with a quality dining train that is continually improving and this vehicle is another acquisition that will, in due course, allow that to happen. A vehicle with generators will also be an asset for heating the train, as it will have the bene it of not requiring a steam locomotive to be attached prior to departure in the cold winter months but still to have a warm train for passengers when they board. The most recent arrival, on Thursday 4th April, was First Open (FO) No.3131 from Eastleigh. This Mark I vehicle was formerly with the main line operating company Riviera Trains and currently carries maroon livery. The coach was inspected by Association Trustees in January of this year and a deal subsequently agreed to purchase it, on the condition that it was not resold for use in a main line coaching set for a period of ifteen years. The latter condition was fairly easy to ful ill, as the Association has no intention of selling the vehicle back into main line use. The FO is to be restored using largely volunteer labour over a two-year period. When it enters traf ic, it will then be possible to withdraw one of the other vehicles for a full overhaul without compromising capacity; in this way, another vehicle can receive necessary attention without the problem of losing the seating capacity that they provide. In due course, it will be possible to increase the number of diners that can be accommodated on each train, but this will have to go hand in hand with an improvement and expansion of the kitchen and preparation facilities available and an increase in the pool of volunteers who have been trained to work the train. It would be unfair to expect staff to serve more diners using the same facilities and the Trustees realize that the train cannot be upgraded and expanded in one area without improvements in other areas, too. Of course, do not expect the vehicles to enter traf ic in the very near future - plans take time to mature and come to fruition, but the Association is fully committed to upgrading the dining car service available to passengers travelling on the West Somerset Railway. DINING TRAINS BOOKING WELL FOR THE EARLY MONTHS OF 2013 After a slightly slower start than usual, bookings for this year s Quantock Belle have greatly improved in recent weeks, with bookings easily comparable with the same period in 2012. For modern traction enthusiasts, there is the chance to ride behind one of the DEPG s classic diesel locos whilst enjoying a quality meal and great day out on Wednesday lunch trains in June, July, August and early September. With prices at just 26 (or 30 if you would like a cream tea on the return journey) these trains represent excellent value for money and are a chance to enjoy the delights of both the Quantock Belle and the Somerset countryside for an exceptional price. A handful of seats remain available for the diesel-hauled Wednesday lunch trains on 19th June, 3rd July and 31st July, and all services during August. The evening train on Saturday 25th August will feature prestige hydraulic haulage when D832 Onslaught will head the train. At the time of writing, there is still plenty of space on the steam-hauled trip on the evening of Saturday 27th July, with around 25 seats still available. Undoubtedly, all of the trains will start to ill up quite quickly so, if you would like to join us, please book early to avoid disappointment. For more information or to make a booking, please call the Association of ice on 01823 433856.
BOILER OF 4561 PROGRESSING WELL AT BUCKFASTLEIGH Progress on the boiler of the Association s Small Prairie No.4561 has been progressing rapidly at the South Devon Railway s Buckfastleigh Works. The pictures (right and below right) show ongoing work and were taken on 16th April. The new smoke box and door ring have been manufactured and riveted together. The new front tube plate, parallel and tapered barrel sections have been made and joined together. Following stripping down and detailed inspection, it has been decided to replace the complete backhead, so a new one has been made and langed. Meanwhile, the new pony wheel castings have been completed and collected from the foundry in Stourbridge where they were cast, and these are now being machined. The picture below left shows No.4561 climbing Washford Bank at the head of a goods working during its irst period in steam on the Railway. The locomotive is now well on the way towards returning to steam for the irst time since 1999, and we are all looking forward to the day, hopefully in Autumn 2016, when the Small Prairie steams again. Photo courtesy A.J.Whitby Photos courtesy Ray Waldron DON T FORGET THIS SPRING S DRAW IN AID OF 4561! Don t forget that one of the easiest and cheapest ways you can help hasten the restoration of No.4561 is to support our Spring Draw. Every ticket sold pushes us another 1 closer to getting our 4500 Class 2-6-2T back into steam and working on the West Somerset Railway. With a top prize of 500, second prize of 250 and ive third prizes of 50, why not give it a go? Tickets were sent out with the Winter 2013 issue of the Journal, and additional tickets can be obtained from the Association of ice on 01823 433856. The closing date is 27th June, and the draw will be held at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 20th July. Please help us put 4561 back into traf ic, and give yourself a chance of winning a prize into the bargain! We really appreciate your support. Page Three
ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES NEW MEMBERSHIP DRIVE Trustee Nigel Bruce Robertson (left) and Association Manager Susan Kaufman launch the Association s new membership drive at Bishops Lydeard Signal Box The West Somerset Railway Association has this week launched a drive to attract new members. The WSRA was formed in the early 1970s and has worked alongside the Company that runs the Railway to further the heritage and educational aspects of the line for over forty years, becoming a Registered Charity in 1994. Association Manager Susan Kaufman said, The Association has been instrumental in the survival of the West Somerset Railway since its inception in 1971. We are committed to developing the heritage aspects of the Railway that so enhance the experience of visitors and passengers. To help us further our work we are raising our profile and hope to encourage many who are not familiar with the efforts of the charity to support us. It is 42 years since the inaugural meeting of the West Somerset Railway Association took place at the Black Horse in Taunton, on 7th May 1971. Since then, the Association and its members have bought and operated Nos.6412 and 4561 (6412 is now resident at the South Devon Railway, whilst 4561 is currently being overhauled) and also own No.7821 Ditcheat Manor which is on static display at STEAM in Swindon. The charity owns and operates the lineʼs heritage dining train and has contributed both money and manpower to many of the heritage projects that have made the Railway what it is today; it is fully committed to its brief as an educational charity and currently has three apprentices based at West Somerset Restoration, Williton. Any members who would like to lend a hand in the new campaign by distributing leaflets or displaying a poster in their local area would be very welcome to do so; please call us on 01823 431311 for more information. Posters can also be downloaded directly from our website at www.wsra.org.uk Don t forget that you can now purchase copies of Steam Railway and Heritage Railway from the Association shop at Bishops Lydeard, as well as buy daily copies of some national and local newspapers. To ind out about our wide range of books, models and countless other railway-related items, call us on 01823 432125 or email us at wsrashop@btconnect.com Amongst items currently in stock are DVDs of the 2013 Spring Steam Gala by Oldham Video Productions, featuring Railmotor No.93 and the auto-train, plus much more besides! Page Four
STEAM FAYRE 2013: SATURDAY 3RD & SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST Members of the Rally Team will again be in Taunton town centre on the two Saturdays prior to the Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally to promote the event. Here, the team is seen promoting the 2012 event along with Jesse Waldron s 1930 ive-ton Foden steam lorry. Pictured from left to right are Mike Buttel (Rally Chairman), Terry Small (Arena Marshal), Ted Scott (Stationary Engine Marshal), Richard & Diane Charlton (Military Section Marshals) and Rob Coombes (Commercial & Emergency Vehicle Marshal). This year s Steam Fayre & Vintage Rally will be held at Norton Fields over the weekend of Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th August 2013. The Rally Committee is currently looking for more volunteers to help man the event which is held in aid of the West Somerset Railway Association. Help is always needed, and there are a wide variety of tasks to suit all talents and availability. Prior to the event, help is needed with the placing of road signs and publicity, both in the vicinity of the Norton site itself and in the surrounding area. During the event itself, help is particularly needed with selling admission tickets at the two site entrances, selling programmes, providing guidance and information to visitors and exhibitors around the site and providing assistance as understudies to the many section marshals. If you Page Five are interested in helping out, please contact the Rally s administrator, Keith Sandford, by telephone on 01823 433856 or email Keith at wsra@btconnect.com or contact Richard and Diane Charlton via email at thecharltons@coxsfarm.wanadoo.co.uk For visitors, the show will provide a wealth of family fun and entertainment, as well as a huge selection of vintage vehicles to keep even the most ardent transport enthusiast happy. It is hoped that steam ploughing will be a feature of the event for the irst time, as well as tractors, cars, commercials, military and emergency vehicles. Shortly after the last event, the Trustees authorized expenditure to plough and reseed the ield, and the grass is growing healthily again, ready for what we hope will be a drier weekend in 2013!
GWSR CLASS 37 AND TAUNTON RAIL SHUTTLES FOR MIXED TRACTION GALA! No.37215 (originally D6915) pictured at Toddington on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway. The inal details are being put in place to bring the 37 to the West Somerset Railway, which will be the locomotive s irst visit to another heritage railway since it arrived on the GWSR some twenty years ago. DJW Plans are now in hand for the Mixed Traction Gala which will be held on Friday 7th, Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th June. Friday will be an all-diesel day, whilst two steam services will be running on both Saturday and Sunday. Originally a Direct Rail Services Class 20 locomotive was due to attend, but the loco has been unable to visit, so its place will be taken by a member of another popular class amongst modern traction enthusiasts, Class 37 No.37215 from the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway. The Class 37 is owned by the Growler Group based at Toddington, formed in 1986 and which purchased the loco from British Rail in 1994, returning it to service four years later; 37215 currently carries corporate blue livery. The second visiting locomotive, as mentioned in the Winter issue of the Journal, is expected to be Class 24 No.24081 which is also resident at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway; it is one of only four surviving members of the class and was the last to be withdrawn in January 1981. This loco is also in BR corporate blue livery which, along with the Class 37, will give a 1970s lavour to the event, complementing members of the home leet that will be in action, too. The two visiting locos are expected to arrive by road at Bishops Lydeard on Wednesday 5th June. Diesel-hauled goods trains are expected to run on both Friday (08.50 from Minehead, 17.45 from Bishops Lydeard) and Saturday (08.00 from Minehead and 17.45 from Bishops Lydeard). There will also be the chance to drive a locomotive at Minehead for 10 on all three days. On Friday evening at 18.40, there will be a limited stop service hauled by D832 Onslaught and D1010 Western Campaigner running Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, with the same locomotives working a non-stop service from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard at 11.55 hours on the Saturday. On arrival at Bishops Lydeard, the two Class 33 Cromptons will be attached to the rear of the train and, with two locos at each end, the train will proceed to Norton before Nos.D6566 and D6575 take full charge of the train from Norton to Minehead. On Saturday and Sunday, First Great Western will be running shuttle services between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. There will be seven services operating on both weekend days of the event, with the irst train out of Taunton being 09.32 on Saturday and 09.36 on Sunday; the last departure back to Taunton from Bishops Lydeard will be at 17.32 on both days. Tickets will cost 5 return for these services; no concessions apply. On Sunday 9th June, special tickets will be available allowing travel from Minehead into Taunton and back by train. Tickets will be valid on the 08.45 and 09.45 services from Minehead and on the 15.45 and 16.45 services from Bishops Lydeard. The return fares between Minehead, Dunster, Blue Anchor, Washford, Watchet and Bishops Lydeard will be 10 and from Williton, Stogumber and Crowcombe Heath ield 7. Passengers will need to book 5 return tickets between Bishops Lydeard and Taunton aboard the First Great Western train from the Travelling Ticket Inspector. Page Six