WSR Mixed Traction Weekend 5-7 June 2015

The Special Events Planning Team on the West Somerset Railway has been turning its thoughts to this year's principal diesel traction event, the Mixed Tracton Weekend 5-7 June 2015. Guest locomotives are still to be sourced but the Williton based Diesel and Electric Preservation Group are planning to field six heritage diesels from their fleet so once again there will be some 'Maybach Music' to be enjoyed in the Quantock Hills and along the Bristol Channel coast from some of the diesel hydraulics in the line-up over the three days. The DEPG will also have the doors open at their Depot and Heritage Centre and will be hosting a dealer in second hand model railway equipment also. The train services will include a semi-fast diesel hauled service between Norton Fitzwarren and Minehead on 6 and 7 June as part of a busy timetable. There will be diesel hauled heritage freight workings on Friday and Saturday. A DMU will work between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren on the Friday and will shuttle between Minehead and Dunster, between other train workings, on the Saturday and Sunday. Friday will be an all-diesel day but on Saturday and Sunday there will be one steam engine in action working two round trips to cater for the holiday trade. Plans are being made for an eleven coach train from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and return on the evening of Friday 5 June with the (pre-ordered) option of fish and chips on the return journey from Minehead. For those looking for some time off the trains the Taunton Model Railway Group's room at Bishops Lydeard will be open on all three days as will the Museums at Bishops Lydeard, Washford and Blue Anchor. Discounted 1, 2, and 3 Day Rover Tickets will be on sale in advance from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or 01643 704996.

Steve

 

Classes 37, 45 and 56 to guest at the West Somerset Railway's Mixed Traction Weekend. The guest locos for the Mixed Traction Weekend are newly restored Class 37 no 37057, making only its second appearance on a heritage line in preservation, and Class 45 Peak no 45060 Sherwood Forester, both from the collection normally kept at Barrow Hill Engine Shed near Chesterfield, and Class 56 no 56006 which normally resides at Leicester. All three locos will be moved from Barrow Hill to the Swanage Railway for their diesel gala event in May and then onwards to Didcot to appear there for a weekend and then onwards again to Bishops Lydeard for the event on the Minehead Branch. The trio will return north immediately after the event. The moves are being carried out with great help from GB Railfreight with GBRF Class 59 no 59003 hauling the three heritage locos to Bishops Lydeard. GBRF are bringing the Class 59 to the event for a private function on the Friday and it will be on display at the WSR during the Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the guests, home based Diesel & Electric Preservation Group locos Hymek no D7017, Warship no D832 Onslaught, Class 33 no D6575 and Class 47 no D1661 North Star making an impressive line up of seven heritage diesel locos for the weekend. A 'mega train' will also run with fish & chips available, as per the 2014 event, on the Friday evening but it not yet known which loco(s) will work this train. The three day Mixed Traction Weekend takes place on 5 to 7 June 2015.

Steve
(on behalf of Special Events Planning Team)

 

The good news is the corrugated iron box isn't doing any trains. The people on WNXX are furious! Ha ha ha!

 

How come D9526 won't be running? Shame I can't make this event would have loved to have gone behind a 56.

 

Would be nice on a freight Minehead - Dunster and back, with a little of the usual shunting.

 

I think the plans for D9526 are for it to top'n'tail with the 09 on the Norton shuttles Saturday and Sunday.

 

To help folks travelling by main line train to connect with the early and late Minehead Branch trains on the Saturday of the Mixed Traction Weekend the Railway will be operating a bus shuttle service between Taunton Railway Station and Bishops Lydeard Station on Saturday 6 June 2015. The bus, from the Crosville fleet, will pick up from Taunton Railway Station downside at 8.30am, 9.30am and 10.30am. In the evening, the bus will leave Bishops Lydeard Station at 5.25pm, 6.15pm and 7.04pm running direct to Taunton Railway Station.

Steve

 

Enthusiasts eager for the locomotive allocation details for the forthcoming Mixed Traction Weekend on 5, 6, 7 June 2015 will be pleased to note the details are now available on either the official WSR website or under the 'Train times and loco allocations' heading on the wsr.org.uk special event page or as PDF files here for 5 June 6 June and 7 June.

 

Of the locos running at the Mixed Traction Weekend on 5-7 June 2015, the home fleet of Class 14 no D9526, Hymek no D7017 and Warship no D832 are of course classic WR hydraulics, whilst the home-based Brush Type 4 (Class 47) no D1661 is a former WR machine and the Class 33 no D6575 would have been seen regularly at locations where the Southern Region met the WR such as Exeter St Davids. Of the event guests,Peak no 45060 Sherwood Forester was a regular visitor to the West Country on inter-regional services between the late 60s and 1980s, Class 56 no 56006 represents the first type 5s to operate on the WR, starting in the 1980s when 56s appeared working Mendip stone trains in the Westbury area, and Class 59 no 59003 is one of the original class members that were imported by Foster Yeoman Ltd to work their stone trains from their Mendip quarry at Merehead. No 59003 has been working in Germany for a number of years and has only recently been repatriated to the UK by owners GBRF who are currently finishing off work on the loco at Eastleigh before bringing it to the WSR for its formal re-dedication at Minehead on the Friday of the Mixed Traction Weekend event. It will work down to Minehead, paired with the 56, on the 11.55am from Bishop Lydeard and will then be displayed on the turntable at Minehead for the remainder of the day.

Steve

 

You haven't mentioned the various steam locos that are appearing Steve. I thought it was a Mixed Traction Weekend. <BJ>

 

With the national rail strike still due to go ahead on Thursday and Friday, arrangements have been made to bring the visiting locomotives to the Wesr Somerset Railway on Wednesday 3 June so to ensure they appear at the 'Diesels at Home in the West' event - the three day Mixed Traction Weekend - between 5 June and 7 June 2015. Telephone bookings for discounted Rover Tickets can still be made by telephone 01643 704996 until 1pm on 4 June. Tickets will be sent to booking offices for collection so please state where you intend to start your day at the time of ordering.

 

Loco rostered is 6960 'Raveningham Hall'.

Also from the Staff Briefing Notes this morning:


It is anticipated that the Quantock Belle will be offering a full meal service on Sunday 7th on the 1315BL-NF, 1345NF-MD and
the 1547MD-BL. This is anticipated as a walk on service bookings not required.

This will be attached at BL to the set forming the 1157 from MD (limited stop). I don't know if it will be the full 4 coaches, or just generator van and kitchen car/dining seats only. I also don't know how much it will cost.

Ian M.

 

Thanks for filling in the "steam" gap, Ian. I was advised by SEPT to check with WSRA before promoting the QB Sunday service. No reply yet. But time is short, eh!

Steve

 

OK, got the details now! Just added this to www.wsr.org.uk

"The Quantock Belle will be offering a luncheon service on Sunday 7 June 2015 during the Mixed Traction Weekend. This will be a 'walk-on' service (although it will be possible to pre-book if preferred, see below). The Quantock Belle be added at Bishops Lydeard to the 11.57am limited stop service from Minehead to Norton Fitzwarren, then with the 1.45pm Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead, and leaving Minehead at 3.47pm back to Bishops Lydeard. BR Warship Class 42 no D832 Onslaught is the rostered locomotive for these trains. The luncheon menu is Watercress Soup for starter, with a main course of Roast Chicken, Roast Potatoes, Vegetables, following by Ginger Treacle Tart or Ice Cream Sundae. The cost is £41.60 or just £20.00 for those with a *Gala Ticket [*we assume this means a valid Rover Ticket]. The QB team are planning for 50 covers for 'walk-in' customers although seats can be booked in advance by ringing 01823 433856."

Steve

 

Possibly too late for the above arrangements but good news regarding the national rail dispute. <BJ>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32956876?post_id=964554666930470_964554670263803#_=_

 

Regarding the timetable for Sunday the 1055 ex BL arrives at CH 1108 and is booked to cross 56006. But this is shown as arriving CH 1057 and departing 1103. Is this just a mistake or are they going to cross outside the station?

 

I don't have my copy of the working timetable with me at work but that will be a mistake, they can only cross at the Station!
Robin F.

 

WSR Ops have provided an update on the movements to/from the Minehead Branch on 3 June.

"The locomotive to collect the “Thumper” unit 1138 is due to leave Fairwater Yard in Taunton at 12.30, Bishops Lydeard at 13.15, Crowcombe Heathfield at 13.35 and to arrive at Williton at 13.52. If the train is ready to move by 14.25 it will leave Williton then, Crowcombe Heathfield 14.52 and arrive at Bishops Lydeard at 15.04 before leaving for Norton Fitzwarren. If a later path is required it will be Williton depart 15.35, CH 15.53, BL 16.03 and Norton Fitzwarren at 16.15

The 04.45 loco movement from Didcot is due to arrive at Bishops Lydeard at 16.37. On arrival at Bishops Lydeard 59003, 450650 and 56006 are due to be stabled in Up siding 2 and if the train has been hauled by a separate loco this is to stable in the visitor shed siding.

On Thursday 4th D1661 is due to leave Bishops Lydeard at 15.15 with 56006 and to run to Minehead, leaving CH at 15.35, WN at 16.10 and Blue Anchor at 16.42, arriving at Minehead at 16.55. "

 

#WSRMTW @WSomRailway Mixed Traction Weekend And the sun is shining! See webcams at http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cams.htm

 

Pic by Martin Southwood taken on 3 June 2015 at Bishops Lydeard.
http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2015/06/027

Steve