West Somerset Railway

  • Highs and lows at the West Somerset

    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…

  • 6412 returning as WSR marks four decades of BL steam

    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…

  • Vandals hit West Somerset Railway

    Vandals hit West Somerset Railway

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    Estimated £1,000 worth of damage caused by smashed windows in Mk.1 carriage.

  • 1501 and Barclay heading to west country for golden celebration gala

    1501 and Barclay heading to west country for golden celebration gala

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    Outside-cylindered Hawksworth pannier No. 1501 is making its first visit to the South Devon Railway.

  • Back from  the brink

    Back from the brink

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    The West Somerset Railway (WSR) held a frank and honest briefing for members and shareholders on March 2, at which it laid out the problems it faces, and discussed the ways in which the WSR hopes to overcome them. Gary Boyd-Hope reports. YOU could be forgiven for thinking the title of this article is a…

  • ‘Duke’ will return in 2020 – but only if £100,000 shortfall can be met

    ‘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…

  • Restoration of West Somerset’s little-known diesel ‘shunter’

    Restoration of West Somerset’s little-known diesel ‘shunter’

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    RUSTON & Hornsby 200793 of 1940 has been beautifully restored and is used as yard shunter by West Somerset Restoration, the commercial engineering arm of the West Somerset Railway Association at Williton.  The 48DS-type arrived on the West Somerset Railway from South Wales in 2016, but as far as is known, has never made a…

  • ‘Peak’ No. 46010 restoration completed

    ‘Peak’ No. 46010 restoration completed

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    CLASS 46 No. 46010 has been overhauled at GCR(N) Ruddington under contract by ‘Peak’ experts, the Pioneer Diesel Locomotive Group. It is owned by D05 Preservation Ltd and will make its debut at the Severn Valley Railway’s May 16-18 diesel festival.  It will then star at the West Somerset Railway’s June 20-22 diesel gala, along with…

  • West Somerset rescued from the brink of collapse

    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…

  • Another U-turn as WSR plc sells 4110 to Dartmouth line

    Another U-turn as WSR plc sells 4110 to Dartmouth line

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    THE saga surrounding the sale of West Somerset Railway (WSR)-based GWR 2-6-2T No. 4110 took another unexpected turn on February 3 when it was revealed the unrestored Large Prairie had been sold to the Dartmouth Steam Railway (DSR) at Paignton. The surprise announcement came just three weeks after the loco’s owner – West Somerset Railway…

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