WSR Spring Steam Gala Fri 28th April to Mon 1st May

Do you have an idea of when that will be?

 

I'm waiting for that now too.
Plus if Lynch and his mob decided to take another week off.

 

Hopefully in a couple of weeks.

 

We are happy to announce our third visiting engine for the Spring Steam Spectacular: 4953 'Pitchford Hall'! Courtesy of the Epping Ongar Railway.

4953 joins already announced 2999 'Lady of Legend' & 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' along with our home fleet.

This sets up the biggest GWR event the WSR has fielded in many years!

Not only does this mean we will have 3 manors in traffic, but also the opportunity to see Pitchford compared to it's predecessor in the Saint.

Expect to see the pair double heading along with other locomotive pairings throughout the event.

More announcements are to come including the draft timetable on our website.

Tickets are available to pre-book at a discounted rate now at: www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/spring-steam-spectacular-2

Image - Bailey Maxwell

 

4953 is a wonderful addition!

 

Superb, really looking forward to this. Nice to have a GWR gala for a change. And Pitchford is in BR Black. Will look good with the carmine and cream set, Seb!

 

Wasn't 4953 offered for sale last year?

 

Yes, but I think it hasn’t sold so far.

 

Will 9466 be running at the gala? It doesnt seem to have run for some time now

 

We hope so yes, but not guaranteed at the moment. Some repair work is being undertaken on 9466 currently, hence why we have not announced. I'll ensure any more concrete updates are posted on here.

 

We are pleased to be able to confirm that the public timetable is now released on our website. It features a variety of workings including 'Locals', 'Expresses', runs to Norton Fitzwarren and plenty of Goods workings.

You'll now be able to plan your weekends around Brakevan Rides and Quantock Belle breakfast trips.

Loco allocations will be added at no extra charge closer to the event.

Hope it is to your liking!
https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/userfiles/userfiles/file/WSR_PTT_SSG_2023_no_locos.pdf

 

Hot on the heels of the release of the event timetable, we are also pleased to be able to announce that we will be running two photographic charter evenings in conjuction with Don Bishop of Steam Recreations.

The evening before the Gala, on Thursday 27th April, we will offer a Great Western in the thirties evening with no.2999 and no.5199 in a variety of poses.

On Sunday 30th April, right in the middle of the Gala we are offering an evening shoot with the three Manors with recreation of a double-headed Cambrian Coast Express and plenty of shed scenes.

These are priced at £30 per space and these are limited to 30 spaces each evening. Further information is available on the website and these will be available to book later today.

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/spring-steam-spectacular-2

Image by Alan Turner via wsr.org.uk. Taken from the last evening shoot involving Manors in Autumn 2013

 

Will not be there, but great value compared to other posed gala photographic events.

 

Thanks. We'd rather sell out every space at £30 than price ourselves out the market.

 

Question for Seb Walsh that I imagine a few other posters will have too - what's the rough estimate for when the loco roster will be out, and do we need to purchase the gala programme to get it?

I'm getting a 1 or 2 day rover for this gala but Friday to Monday that weekend is a jigsaw of complex work requirements, childcare, family, this gala, Pendennis at the Mid-Hants, Furness 20 at Didcot and seeing the 37 tour to Penzance, so picking which day/s to buy the WSR and MHR rovers for probably requires some studying of WSR and MHR rosters when both are out as the WSR timetable looks so varied each day!

Not fussed how late a roster comes out (or about needing to pay for it) as long as I've still got time to commit to advance purchase tickets afterwards. And very much looking forward to planning the weekend.

 

Hi, thanks for your question. We've thankfully managed to pick up a sponsor this year to cover the printing and design costs of the program. This has meant we are able to take a new approach (for us) with releasing loco allocations in advance for free on the website. I had hoped to have got these out by now, however with 7822 undergoing some firebox repairs currently we don't know if it will be ready in time to feature in the event. My cut off point will be a week before the event so allocations will be released on the WSR website then for no charge.

 

How much will the program be?

 

That's fantastic and really helpful, thank you.

 

Likely our usual £3. It will still include the timetable as usual.

 

On the Minehead webcam, the Foster Yeoman wagon has been shunted onto the siding by the signal box. I was just wondering if it was a runner and, if so, could it be used in the goods train?