Bishops Lydeard
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A Class 117 DMU to join West Somerset fleet
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AN OFFICIAL announcement is awaited from the West Somerset Railway following the arrival of DMBS No. W51354 at Bishops Lydeard on October 30. It has been stored at RSS Wishaw since January 2018, together with DMS No. 51396. Both were previously based on Peak Rail following acquisition from the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway, prior to that…
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Western Cinderella awaits attention at Williton
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THE Diesel & Electric Preservation Group’s Class 52 No. D1010 Western Campaigner is seen alone in Williton diesel depot, West Somerset Railway, on June 22. For nearly a quarter of a century this loco, when in the shed (completed late 1997), has had Class 35 No. D7018 for company. However, on this day the ‘Hymek’ was out…
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Broken piston sidelines Bradley Manor for ‘considerable period’ at West Somerset
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COLLETT ‘Manor’ No. 7802 Bradley Manor has been withdrawn from traffic at the West Somerset Railway (WSR) after suffering a broken piston rod while in service on the line. The Erlestoke Manor Fund’s (EMF) 4-6-0 was working the 10.15 Bishops Lydeard- Minehead service on July 7 when the incident occurred, busting the cylinder end cover off…
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Double-headed ‘Manors’ help WSR mark 40 years of steaming to Bishops Lydeard
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A FOURTEEN-coach train hauled by a pair of Collett ‘Manor’ 4-6-0s was the undoubted highlight of the West Somerset Railway’s 40th Anniversary gala on June 8-9. The event celebrated four decades since the ‘Wizzer’ returned steam to Bishops Lydeard on June 9, 1979, and was a strong illustration that the worst of the railway’s problems…
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Enhanced diesel loco services on West Somerset
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CLASS 37 No. D6948 arrived at the West Somerset Railway (WSR) on April 29 for a two-month visit. The privately owned loco is in the care of the Growler Group, based at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. The blue-route loco is helping with WSR timetable services during the weight restriction period, and worked several days…
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Highs and lows at the West Somerset
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THE West Somerset Railway reopened on March 30 after a three-month winter closure. There was much celebration, but a lot of work is required and money spent to bring the railway back its former glory. Weight restrictions have been introduced, down-grading the line to a GWR Blue route (17.9T axle loading). This follows advice from…
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6412 returning as WSR marks four decades of BL steam
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COLLETT ‘64XX’ 0-6-0PT No. 6412 will return to the railway it called home for 33 years next month when it takes part in the West Somerset Railway’s anniversary gala on June 8-9. The event will celebrate 40 years since trains started running to Bishops Lydeard on June 9, 1979, and aims to capture some of the…
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Vandals hit West Somerset Railway
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Estimated £1,000 worth of damage caused by smashed windows in Mk.1 carriage.
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‘Duke’ will return in 2020 – but only if £100,000 shortfall can be met
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A FINANICIAL shortfall of more than £100,000 could delay the return to service of unique BR ‘8P’ Pacific No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester. This follows a series of unforeseen but necessary repairs were highlighted at Tyseley Locomotive Works (TLW). The BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust had been working to a forecast cost of £620,000 to…
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West Somerset rescued from the brink of collapse
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THE West Somerset Railway has been saved from closure by a whisker – after failures were found in its finances, infrastructure and safety systems. In an open and frank meeting, 320 supporters gathered at the Oake Manor Golf Club, Wellington, Somerset on March 2 to hear first-hand of the plc’s dire position, as well as…
