West Somerset Railway Association


News from the Association July to December 2007...


News is presented in reverse order Past news index



16 Dec		The West Somerset Railway is looking to employ a full time manager, based at their offices at Brunel House, Bishops Lydeard. This is a new full time salaried post created to undertake the day to day management of the West Somerset Railway Association. The successful candidate must be a strong team leader with proven managerial ability and be able to demonstrate good interpersonal skills and foster good working relations with all members of the Railway organisation, both retained and volunteer. The Association Manager will report to the board of directors of the WSRA and will manage the day to day business of the WSRA, which is the charitable support body of the WSR, and will be responsible for co-ordination of such activities as volunteer recruitment and fund raising as well as being the first point of contact along with the WSRA administrator who will work under the direction of the new manager. Details are available from: WSRA Secretary, Registered Office, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton TA4 3BX The closing date for applications is 31st January 2008
16 Dec		The WSRA's works at Williton are a hive of activity at present with three locos - 6695, 6412 and 34046 on the West Road being worked on. The East Road contains the tender frames and tank for 34046, auto coach 178 and one of the WSSRT's Toplight carriages. All this activity means that WS Restoration would like to take the opportunity to invite anyone with clerical skills, who is computer literate and interested in volunteering to come and spend some time with us at Williton. We are interested in anyone that would like to help with the processing of the clerical support work now crucial to the smooth running of the Workshop. The quality and complexity of the engineering works now being undertaken by the West Somerset Restoration team requires a proportional level of clerical effort to help record and verify the quality of materials used, the processes undertaken and the standards being followed. If you are interested please contact Gareth Winter or Geoff Evens or if you would like more information please look at our website : www.wsrestoration.co.uk Tel: 01984 633547 E-mail: admin@wsrestoration.co.uk
16 Dec		After many years service, Norman Hawkes has relinquished his appointment as Curator of the Gauge Museum. We would like to thank him for all he has done and wish him well in the future. Ian Coleby (Archivist of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust) will now take on the task of cataloguing the exhibits in the Museum and any offers of assistance will no doubt be welcome, these should be channelled through the Administrator Keith Sandford on 01823 433856 wsra@btconnect.com
28 Nov		The Taunton Group of the WSRA has published details of its programme of meetings for 2008. As ever it is varied with much to suit all tastes and interests.
28 Nov		The results of the WSRA's 2007 raffle have recently been announced. This raised over Ł28,000 towards the Norton Fitzwarren project, a very welcome contribution towards this major development. The first prize of Ł1,000 went to a gentleman from Cannington, Somerset; the second prize of Ł500 to a lady from Ballymena, Northern Ireland; the third prize of Ł200 to a lady from Eastbourne, East Sussex; the fourth prize of Ł100 to a gentleman from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset; there were 20 fifth prizes of Ł50 which were won by people from many parts of the country.
28 Nov		No 35011 is to come to West Somerset for a very brief spell in Williton Works. Unrestored Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 no 35011 General Steam Navigation is expected at Williton to have contract work carried out on it. After completion of the work, GSM will move to another location, which as of yet has to be agreed.
18 Oct		Chris Austin, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway and Humphrey Davies, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Association would like to invite all volunteers, members and employees of the WSR and WSRA to the WSR/WSRA Liaison Meeting on Sunday 25 November in Bishops Lydeard Village Hall starting at 1400. If you do have any questions that may require a little research or you have a question to ask but are unable to attend please send them in to the WSR Office at Minehead or the WSRA Office at Bishops Lydeard a few days before the meeting is due to start. The meeting will be an open forum and we hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend.
23 Sep		The latest issue of the West Somerset Railway Journal (No 119 - Summer 2007) has now been published and is full of news and views of recent events on the line together with several features and articles. It runs to 96 pages with plenty of photographs, many in colour - why not guarantee your copy each quarter by becoming a member of the WSRA?
5 Sep		A couple of dates for new and prospective volunteers. The WSR Association is holding two sessions aimed at prospective volunteers. The first is a "Workshop" on Sunday 9 September when new volunteers are invited to meet up at the Gauge Museum, Bishops Lydeard Station, at 10.45am, with a brief introduction about the role of the WSR volunteer, followed by an induction course. Information about the various sections and departments will be available before the session closes at 1.00pm. The second is a longer, all day affair, on Sunday 14 October. The day starts at 9.30am, and the agenda includes an introduction to the role of volunteers on the Railway; how the Railway is organised; a tour of Bishops Lydeard Station; a round trip to Minehead by steam train, during the journey, working members of the Railway will introduce themselves and tell you about the different tasks and work that are available, including training arrangements; at Minehead there will be opportunity for a brief look at the workshops and station areas; alternatively, visitors interested in working on the diesel fleet, or working on carriage and locomotive restoration may leave the train at Williton to see the workshops there; on return to Bishops Lydeard there will be an Induction Course; the day will end at about 5pm. Please telephone Bishops Lydeard Station 01823 433856 to let us know which event you wish to attend - you will be very welcome to either or both...
5 Sep		No 34046 steams through the West Country again. During the evening of Sunday 19 August, Southern Railway West Country class 4-6-2 no 34046 Braunton made its first run in steam since October 1965 when it ran from Williton to Crowcombe Heathfield and back. Although the Up run was uneventful, unfortunately two hot boxes developed during the return and are having to be dealt with in Williton Works. Braunton has been restored from scrapyard condition for its owner by the West Somerset Railway Association at the Swindon Shed, Williton, and the locomotive will star at the forthcoming Autumn Steam Gala 4-7 October 2007.
5 Sep		At Williton, on the evening of 6 August, the West Somerset Railway Association's ex-GWR 2-6-2T no 4561 was winched onto a road low loader before heading off next day to Swindon. 4561 will be appearing at the STEAM Museum based in the former Great Western Railway locomotive works where the "Small Prairie" was built in 1924. In line with WSRA loco policy, priority is given to completion of Braunton and its tender, and the 10 year overhaul of GWR 0-6-0PT no 6412. A year long stay at STEAM will provide an ideal undercover showcase, whilst waiting its own turn for overhaul...
23 July		The West Somerset Railway Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally has succumbed to the exceptional wet weather. Due to take place in a few weeks time on 4 and 5 August, the Rally - held on fields adjacent to Bishops Lydeard Station - is one of the most popular events of its kind in the South West. But the recent heavy rain has rendered the fields too waterlogged to sustain the heavy usage over the Rally weekend. Thus with great disappointment, the Board of the West Somerset Railway Association have decided to cancel the event. Don Bishop, WSRA Press Officer comments "This is due to the long periods of seemingly incessant rain making the site very wet and boggy and the obvious difficulties this would bring with getting vehicles on/off the site. The land owner was understandably not willing to allow the event to go ahead on his land and cause serious damage.".