WSRA - West Somerset Railway Association

» Lots more news about the Railway can be found at » the official WSR website and also at » www.wsr.org.uk

Don Bishop writes...

"I’m pleased to be able to inform you that I have now secured a lease deal, subject to final contract, on the Quantock Motors office building adjacent to Platform 2 at Bishops Lydeard sta with the owner. Once the legal stages are complete the building will be brought into use for the dual purposes of bringing all the WSRA’s administration and office functions under one roof with a much better public interface, for memberships and Quantock Belle bookings etc., and a new buffet/café to replace the current cramped facilities in the shop. This will in turn enable the shop to be expanded, a desire of the WSRA Promotions team for some time.

The range of food in the new café will be expanded, although full detail’s are yet to be worked out. There will also be some outside seating for the use of our passengers on those balmy summer days (!). A new entrance from the platform and foot crossing will be installed to enable safe access to the building across the station approach road for our passengers.

As the project progresses it is also planned to restore the waiting room on Platform 1 (currently in use as an office) as a heritage feature and to use the room for our on train staff’s signing on etc., a much needed improvement over the current hut used adjacent to the signal box.

A good deal of work is now required to plan and design the new café, to be called “The Coal Yard” after the sites original use in earlier railway days, and get the conversion work carried out. It is however hoped that the new café will be brought into use during the first half of the coming season.

I believe this is an exciting development for the WSRA at Bishops Lydeard and will improve the offering to our passengers and bring additional funds into the WSRA to support the railway as a whole."

Posted: 1 March 2010

The Quantock Belle dining set will be out all six days of the 2010 Spring Steam Gala.

For this event, the activity will be managed by the plc Catering Manager, Jacquie Green.

Volunteers are urgently needed, so if you can help with this service, please contact Jacquie on her office number, 01643 700390, or her mobile number, 07895 808934.

Posted: 21 February 2010

A great way to celebrate Mothers Day.

Enjoy a superb three course lunch on the Quantock Belle First Class Dining Train on Sunday 14 March 2010.

Depart Bishops Lydeard Station at 12.55pm and journey through the glorious countryside to the coast at the seaside town of Minehead.

Plenty of time to stroll along the promenade before the cream tea on the return journey!

The all inclusive fare is £42 per person.

The Quantock Belle is very popular so don't delay - ring 01823 433856 for reservations.

Posted: 19 February 2010

Due to retirement, a vacancy has arisen on the » "Quantock Belle" for a Bar Manager to oversee the running of the dining train bar.

This is a volunteer position. Duties will include stocking and preparation prior to each train, and preparing drinks for the wine waiters to serve during the journey.

It will also be necessary to purchase drinks for the bar, and keep a stocklist.

If you would like further information contact the QB Volunteer Co-ordinator Mrs Larraine Willmott on 01934 732171 or email » qbvolunteers@tiscali.co.uk.

Richard Knight.

Posted: 12 February 2010

The next WSR Association Taunton Group meeting will be at the GW Staff Association Station Approach Taunton on Monday 1 February at 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start. Until the next coordinator is appointed, the monthly meetings will continue on an ad hoc basis with slide shows, videos and DVDs covering railway history and events. The February meeting is a slide show presentation by long-time WSR supporter Peter Triggs.

Meantime, veteran WSR volunteer Keith Smith writes about a talk at Slough Station, "Members in the London/Thames Valley area are invited to attend the Slough and Windsor Railway Society's meeting on Friday 5 February, where I will be giving my new all-digital show on the WSR. The show will commence at 7.45pm at their building 'The Manor'. This can be found at Slough Station, situated on the Reading end of the down side, next to the Windsor branch bay platform. For further information, visit their web site at www.swrs.co.uk."

Posted: 30 January 2010

The next Volunteer Liaison Meeting has been scheduled for Saturday 13 March 2010 at Bishops Lydeard Primary School at 3pm.

These meetings allow the volunteers of the railway to come along and talk to the managers of both the Railway Company and the Association.

Parking for the event will be in the school playground accessed via Quantock Road.

Posted: 28 January 2010

Chairman David Holmes writes "Following the resignation of Gareth Winter as West Somerset Restorations Works Manager interviews have been held to appoint a replacement. I am delighted to tell you that Ray Waldron has accepted the post and will take up his duties immediately."

"Ray who has been involved with West Somerset Restorations as works foreman stepped into the position of Works Manager temporarily when Gareth left and will now head up the team as they complete the tender for Braunton, continue the assembly of Raveningham Hall and carry out work for Dinmore Manor Ltd on the chassis of the Manor. These three contracts will receive priority."

"Once Ray and the team have got to grips with that little lot then 4561 will enter the shops for assessment. With all this work there is plenty to do at Williton for both staff and volunteers alike!"

Posted: 22 January 2010

Steve Roberts and Don Bishop have jointly stepped into the position of Vice Chairman of the Trustees Board of the WSRA. Both are already heavily loaded, Steve with S&T work and assisting with Williton, Don with the Heritage Carriage Project and Station Farm. David Holmes, WSRA Chairman comments "It was felt that by combining the roles it would allow the additional duties to be shared and I am grateful for their additional help."

Andy Chatwin, chairman of WSRA (Promotions) Ltd the wholly owned trading subsidiary of the Association has announced his intention to stand down as Chairman. Andy who served as Loco Officer on the Main Committee and then Vice Chairman to Humphrey Davies took on the role of WSRA (Promotions) Ltd in 2008. Andy who is also a Director of 4160 Ltd has confirmed his intention to remain a Director of Promotions. The main Trustees Board is very grateful to Andy for his work over the last two years.

At their meeting of January 21st the Promotions Board elected Susan Kaufman as their new Chairman. Andy will assist Susan as Vice Chairman.

Peter Darke who has led the Taunton Area Group for several years has stepped down due to ill health and we both thank Peter for his hard work over the last couple of years and wish him in his retirement.

The Taunton meetings were key to the early development of the WSRA and remain an important meeting point for local members. The group is now looking for someone to help organize and arrange its monthly meetings which are always well attended by WSRA supporters and volunteers alike. Meetings are held in the GWR Staff Association adjacent to Taunton Station.

If you feel you would like to help either as an individual or maybe as part of a small group organizer then please get in touch through Susan Kaufman at Bishops Lydeard or any member of the Trustees Board.

Posted: 22 January 2010

Beaten back by the snow the Special Projects Group will be re-forming for an assault on coppiced re-growth at Combe Florey on February 20th and 21st. This was originally planned for January but had to be called off due to the severe weather conditions – a real tragedy as the Cutting Back gang Christmas Dinner was scheduled for the same night! However not to be beaten the Xmas Dinner is also re-arranged although whether we are now late for 2009 or early for 2010 is a moot point for debate. As usual all hands will be welcome and if you contact David Holmes quickly enough there may be a Xmas dinner available as well!.

Posted: 22 January 2010

Spurred on by an increasing pile of concrete sleepers the WSRA P.Way gang have been busy of late laying out sleepers along the original Barnstaple formation. These now stretch from Orchard junction toward the new junction with the East Chord and with the track already laid make a total length of over ¼ mile relaid on the Barnstaple alignment which takes us well alongside the Up main line.

The Plym Valley railway has bought a lead surplus to or requirements and this will be dispatched shortly to Marsh Mills where it will form one end of their new run round loop. Whilst the lifting plant is on site the P.Way gang plan to lift the new lead between the East and West chords into position taking advantage of the current HOBC outage to get possession of the track. Completion of this task will mean that two of the three triangle points will be in place, one side of the triangle fully laid and railed, a second side laid in concrete sleepers and the Allerford headshunt laid.

Posted: 22 January 2010

Norton is to play host to a two day practical exercise jointly organized by Birmingham University, the HRA and ORR.

Designed as part of a course to train the new breed of Independent Competent Persons required for safety verification under the new ROGS regulations the students will crawl over the triangle design and construction looking for design and safety flaws – just for once we hope they will be unsuccessful!

Posted: 22 January 2010

Make a diary date now for the 2010 Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally. One of the biggest shows of its kind in Somerset, the Rally attacts thousands of visitors who flock to see the spectacular showman's engines and the workhorse traction engines, along with over 150 vintage cars, military vehicles of all types, and fire engines, police cars and ambulances. Add to this the minituare railway, steam vehicles, tractors, motorcycles and stationary engines, children's entertainment, large craft marquee, railway art display, fairground and street organs, trade stands, food and drink, beer tent, all topped by the parades in the main arena. The Rally is organised by the West Somerset Railway Association and is held at the WSRA Fields, Norton Fitzwarren on 7 and 8 August 2010. For more details please » email or call 01823 433856. » More details...

Posted: 16 January 2010

Actor and author Bill Pertwee will be at Bishops Lydeard Station Shop on 2 January. Bill, known to millions as ARP Warden Hodges, will be signing copies of his latest book "Dad's Army - the making of a television legend".

This fully revised guide, published by Conway, includes biographies of the whole cast of actors on "Dad's Army", full episode listing, as well as new appendicesto cover recent musuem openings, restored episodes from the BBC archives and anniversary celebrations also featured.

Come along to the Bishops Lydeard Station Shop between 12.30pm and 4pm on 2 January 2010 and meet Warden Hodges himself!

Posted: 22 December 2009

WORKS MANAGER

Williton Restoration is the Heritage Engineering Excellence centre based on the West Somerset Railway and run by the Association through its Promotions trading organisation. Restoration has grown through the long term restoration of Bullied West Country 34046 Braunton, which is currently having a new build tender completed and OTMR fitted. Further details of the Association, Promotions, Restorations and Braunton are all on this website.

Williton Restoration has recently taken on additional internal and external work and is currently working on a variety of projects in addition to Braunton including the assembly and completion of Raveningham Hall, the complete heavy overhaul of the Association's small Prairie 4561, and overhaul work on 7820 Dinmore Manor. Other work is planned including boiler repair and heavy and light overhauls of the Association's Mk 1 coaching stock including the prestigious Quantock Belle first class dining train.

The works employ a mixture of skilled staff, subcontractors and volunteers most of whom have been associated with the railway for many years. Together they have been responsible for the extremely high quality work seen on Braunton, Pannier 6412 before it and now continued through the projects currently going through the works.

Williton Restoration is situated at the centre of the West Somerset railway line between Taunton and Minehead and close to the Exmoor National Park and Severn coast.

The WSRA is looking for an experienced Heritage railway Engineer to take up the post of Works Manager. He/she will effectively and efficiently plan, control and report the work of Williton Restorations taking the existing workload forward and developing the business whilst maintaining high standards of workshop safety and craftsmanship.

Key areas of the Manager's role will include managing;

Health and safety
Customer satisfaction
The reputation and image of Williton Restorations in particular within the Heritage railway and related industry
Training and motivating staff and volunteers
Costs and overheads
Forecasting and reporting on quotations, sales, costs and business performance
Workshop loading, layout and work flow
Ordering, goods receipt and invoice approval systems
Upkeep and condition of all equipment, fixtures and fabric of workshop premises
Contributions to company strategy and policy-making as required

It is expected that the successful candidate will already posses a good knowledge of Heritage Engineering and be used to working with and motivating staff and volunteers. 'Hands on' ability in locomotive assembly and fitting is essential, whilst experience of the management activities required to control an expanding busy traditional workshop is highly desirable.

The position of Works Manager is a full-time, paid, staff post and attracts benefits including paid annual leave, sick leave and access to a pension scheme. Salary will be agreed with the successful applicant.

Applications for this post are invited with CV to
» chairman@wsra.org.uk
or by post in a sealed envelope marked Private and Confidential to;

The Chairman
West Somerset Railway Association
The Railway Station
Bishops Lydeard
Taunton
Somerset
TA4 3BX

Closing date for applications is December 31st 2009.

DIRECTOR

The trading activities of the WSRA are run by a separate Board of Directors (WSRA (Promotions)) who report to the Association's Trustees. Promotions comprises a number of cost centres including Restorations, the Bishops Lydeard shop, Quantock Belle and Rally.

A Director is required to take responsibility for Williton Restorations on the Promotions Board. The post is voluntary and is not a direct line management position. It would therefore suit a person with a broad mixture of business and engineering skills who would have one or two days per week available to devote to assisting with the development of Williton Restoration together with the new Manager and our existing staff and volunteers.

If you believe you have the necessary skills to develop and steer this business and a few hours to spare please forward brief details to the Chairman at the above address. Candidates will be expected to live within a reasonable distance of the railway. The post will be subject to interview.

Posted: 30 November 2009

The 2009 draw was held on the 14th November 2009 at 1.00pm at Bishops Lydeard Station. Mr Paul Conibeare drew all the winning tickets. Raffle ticket sales totalled £23,096.00 and all profit from the draw will be put towards the restoration of Ditcheat Manor. The WSRA would like to thank all those who took part in the draw and to the those volunteers who sold tickets on the trains and helped to raise the much needed funds.

Position	Prize	Name	Ticket No	Town
First	£1,000	Mrs Wells	123759	Wells
Second	£500	Mr Dore	156620	Brixham
Third	£200	Mr Cooper	14108	TBA
Fourth	£100	Mrs Edgington	081041	Kingsbridge
Fifth	£50	Mrs Colley	118933	Ipswich
Fifth	£50	Mrs Thick	122233	Burnham on Sea
Fifth	£50	Mr Hales	149904	Exeter
Fifth	£50	C Newman	51430	Weston Super Mare
Fifth	£50	Mrs Saunders	004264	Tetsworth
Fifth	£50	J Druif	118333	The Netherlands
Fifth	£50	Mrs Febrey	096153	Wrington
Fifth	£50	Christine Brown	113576	TBA
Fifth	£50	Kerry Ham	030736	Wells
Fifth	£50	K Sagar	074472	Northolt
Fifth	£50	Sharon Hadley	090400	Birmingham
Fifth	£50	Mr Kendall	55708	Northwich
Fifth	£50	Mr Palmer	147924	Bristol
Fifth	£50	Mr Moffat	017437	Waterlooville
Fifth	£50	Mr Lee	125688	Taunton
Fifth	£50	Jenny Thomas	125489	Camborne
Fifth	£50	Mr Cottrell	120748	Taunton
Fifth	£50	Mrs and Mrs Rendell	001277	Weston Super Mare
Fifth	£50	Mrs Hipwood	124425	Bristol
Fifth	£50	Mr Fowler	114885	London

Posted: 28 November 2009