The West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala has established itself as one of THE heritage railway events of the year. The 2002 event promises to live up to the high quality successful Spring Galas over recent years...a three day feast of steam!
Up to ten engines are expected to be in steam - including at least five ‘visitors’. The following engines are all expected to be in action and working passenger trains over the Gala:-
*| First appearance on the WSR, courtesy of the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway.
| ** | Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.
| *** | First appearance on the WSR, courtesy of Mr Pete Waterman/LNWR Company
| |
All events listed subject to availability
A comprehensive timetable will be in operation on all three days of the Gala; for full details please click here. A complete working timetable - which will include full details of all train workings and the locomotive and coaching set diagrams - will be printed in the special souvenir programme (see below).
Please note that ALL privilege ticket, free pass and voucher facilities will NOT apply at the Spring Steam Gala. Ordinary fares apply to all passengers. Discounts are available on Rover Tickets purchased IN ADVANCE (see below).
Buffet and bar facilities will be available on ALL train services during the weekend, serving a range of hot and cold food, tea & coffee and a range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The Railway’s luxury dining train set - on which the famous all-day breakfasts, together with a range of other hot and cold snacks will be served - will run on the following trains over the weekend:-
| FRIDAY |
10.40am ex-Bishops Lydeard 1.25pm ex-Minehead 2.55pm ex-Bishops Lydeard 4.45pm ex-Minehead |
| SATURDAY |
10.10am ex-Bishops Lydeard 12.13pm ex-Minehead 2.30pm ex-Bishops Lydeard 4.10pm ex-Minehead |
| SUNDAY |
10.10am ex-Bishops Lydeard 12.13pm ex-Minehead 1.50pm ex-Bishops Lydeard 4.55pm ex-Minehead |
SHED VISITS: The sheds at both MINEHEAD and WILLITON will be open during the Gala - a unique opportunity, as access is normally very restricted to the public on safety grounds.
MINEHEAD sheds will be open between 10am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday only [admission charge of £1 per person]. Come and see engines ‘resting’ on shed in between their duties, and visit the workshop and view work on several engines that will be seen in action on the WSR in the future - including Somerset & Dorset 7F 2-8-0 No 53808, GWR 2-8-0 No 3850 and GWR No 5193, which is being rebuilt as a 2-6-0 tender engine.
At WILLITON you will have the chance to see the engineering base of the WSRA - where Bulleid ‘Pacific’ No 34046 Braunton is being restored - and the workshops of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group will also be open, with many heritage diesel locomotives on display. The chance to view at first hand the painstaking restoration of a unique GWR sleeping car, built in 1897, should also not be missed! The sheds and yard area will be open on all three days, 10am to 5pm.
WASHFORD: Come and see the current state of play with the restoration of GWR ‘4575’ Class 2-6-2T No 5542, together with the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust’s site and museum, which will be open throughout the Gala.
GAUGE MUSEUM: Whilst at Bishops Lydeard, come and see the many exhibits and displays of railway interest - including many new ones - inside the refurbished Gauge Museum on Platform 1 at Bishops Lydeard. Engine No 4561 will be on display, and there will be lots to see and do to maintain your interest while you wait for your train! Artist Eric Bottomley will be exhibiting many of his excellent paintings during the Gala.
FILM SHOW: Windjammer Films will be presenting a 2-hour show of some of the old ‘classic’ British Transport Films - Saturday 23 March, 7.15pm for 7.30pm, The Egremont Hotel, Williton. Admission only £2 per person. ALL WELCOME.
PARTNERS’ PACKAGE: Special attractions...bring your partner so you can BOTH enjoy the weekend! Please e-mail us for details.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
MAIN LINE CHARTER: GWR ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No 5051 Earl Bathurst will head the "Exmoor Belle" charter throughout from London Paddington to Minehead on the Saturday of the Gala (and will then remain based on the WSR until early May). A great day out to the WSR Gala, with haulage by FIVE different steam engines! For details of this charter click here.
On all three days, there is a frequent First Southern National bus service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard Station [Service 28A, Friday & Saturday; Service 928, Sunday] with extra services over the Gala weekend. WSR tickets are NOT valid on these services, except return tickets to Taunton issued by Booking Offices at Minehead, Dunster, Blue Anchor, Watchet and Williton. Full timetable details available direct from First Southern National - 01823 272033.
There will also be a frequent service of VINTAGE BUSES running at 20 & 50 minutes past the hour from Taunton Castleway and 25 & 55 minutes past from Station Road, Taunton direct to Bishops Lydeard Station on all three days. The first departure will be at 8.50am.
A special souvenir programme - which will include a full working timetable and the engine roster for all three days - will be available in advance (from 10 days before the event) from Minehead Station, and from stations over the weekend itself, priced £2.50.
You can book Rover Tickets at a discount in advance in the following ways:-
Updated: 15 February 2002