East Somerset Railway

59201 arriving at Cranmore for naming, first arrival from the network for 5 1/2 years!

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And the last train off the network , on 16/3/19, was also hauled by.......59201 (then seemingly in different ownership)
Peter

 

I'm resuscitating this old short thread to alert anyone who might be interested to tomorrow's UKRT trip to the East Somerset Railway. They have just announced additional seats.
https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-westbury-wizzo/

 

I was on this trip. I'd be grateful for an explanation of these signals,with the arms removed but the spectacle plates still in position.

 

"Our signalling installation has not yet been commissioned. It will be nice when it is finished. Thank you for your patience."

 

Thanks to moderators for merging the duplicate threads on East Somerset Railway.

 

46447 is entering its final month or so of traffic for anyone who wants to see it before it bows out!

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It seems remarkable that it is about to temporarily retire. It's hard to think of it as anything but one of the "hidden" Ivatts at Quainton.

 

Does 4110 return to Dartmouth next year or will that be the mainstay on ESR?


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4110 and 4555 will be at the ESR next year. 4247 will have its running in, then head off to Devon. 4110 is currently scheduled to return to Dartmouth for the 2026 season.

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News from the East Somerset Railway:

A very special evening event

''Ivatt 2MT #46447 will be bowing out for an overhaul at the end of October.
On Saturday 26th October we have a special evening for Ivatt enthusiasts, photographers and steam fans.
The evening starts at 17:30 and the Ivatt will make 2 evening runs over the full length of the line with extended photo stops.
After the passenger runs the Ivatt will shunt onto a freight train of milk tankers and a standard brake van.
The train will run through Cranmore station at dusk and following a run around will pause for an additional photo stop.
The locomotive will be in an unusual weathered appearance giving the opportunity for some nostalgic photography''.

Book now Steam Enthusiast Event (eastsomersetrailway.com)

 

4555 has now arrived back at Cranmore

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Latest news from the ESR c/o Facebook. <BJ>

''All Aboard! The East Somerset Railway is Open This Weekend!
Join us for a fantastic weekend of steam and sport! We’re thrilled to announce that locomotive 4555 will be running, offering a nostalgic journey through the beautiful Somerset countryside''.

 

I took a ride on the ESR on Sunday - a couple of photos attached. Good to see No 4555 in use. It was present at my first-ever visit to a preserved railway - Buckfastleigh in the early 1970s.

Another person was filming Sunday's event and has placed a video on You-Tube:

 

One of the SRPS mainline fleet looking resplendent this morning at Cranmore after a heavy bodywork overhaul at CTMS. I believe the bogies are to be changed up north.

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For anyone into old road coaches I see this years Royal Blue Run visits on Saturday June 21 between 12:05 and 13:45 according to their website
https://www.tvagwot.org.uk/royalblue-25-details

and full route on the link from
Provisional timings and route outline .

Could not find a mention on the railway's website however.

 

Additional visiting traction days announced as:

7754 - Sun 22 March

22 - Sat 21 March (Alongside resident Class 108)
- 3-6 April (Alongside steam)

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As I was passing by I took a break for lunch on Sunday and then a little video of the yard on the mobile.
East Somerset Railway Sunday 22nd March 2026

 

Forgot to post last week complimenting the railway on the Diesel Day featuring visiting GW Railcar 22 and resident 108 DMU and Sentinel on brakevan rides.

Sunny weather, friendly platform staff and crews, shed access and an awesome visitor in the form of 22 meant it was my favourite visit of the three times I have visited the ESR. Even the steam locos from the previous weekends gala were on display outside the loco shed, it's little enthusiast-friendly touches like this that really add value in my view, and offset the modest line length and single train working that perhaps limits the scale of what enthusiast styled events can be put on.

Three of us came all the way from Norfolk for the event and it was very busy (though not as rammed as the previous weekends steam event thankfully for us!) so I very much hope the railway saw financial success putting on the day. Those who arranged the extraction of 22 from Didcot, along with Didcot themselves for allowing the visit (having steadfastly refused several expressions to borrow it in the last 25+ years that I'm aware of), deserve a big handshake!

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Just visited the ESR today. What a lovely attitude, customer focused, friendly and helpful plus a nice steam ride. Seemed a good turn out for a normal running day but on second train staff soon made room on the dining coaches (which werent being used until the later cream teas) so they could accommodate everyone. Really enjoyed the visit as everyone else around seemed to be doing as well.

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