The west somerset railway is britains longest standard gauge heritage railway, running for twenty miles between bishops lydeard, which is four miles from taunton, and minehead. The west somerset railway offers special events, dining trains and family events throughout the year. Modelling the uks longest preserved railway has been both challenging and a great deal of fun. Looking towards norton fitzwarren bishops lydeard crowcombe heathfield williton looking north blue anchor seaward way crossing minehead station. The west somerset steam railway trust is concerned with the historical aspects. The railway station bishops lydeard, taunton, somerset ta4 3bx.
I boarded the train at bishops lydeard station for the long trip to minehead. More for west somerset railway public limited company 01010188 registered office address the railway station, minehead, somerset, ta24 5bg. With the aid of funding from stogumber station, the west somerset railway has announced the purchase of a strip of historic woodland flanking the rear of the tea garden at stogumber station. West somerset railway the longest heritage railway in. The station opened on 31 march 1862 when the west somerset railway wsr opened from norton junction later norton fitzwarren, serving as the wsrs original line terminus. The steam trust west somerset steam railway trust wssrt. Joseph broom 2016 website design by anglebury press ltd our searchable database is meant as a helpful guide only. Please confirm all details of the experiences offered with the railway, footplate experience cannot be held responsible for any errors in the search results. Crowcombe, west somerset railway near stogumber station. The west somerset steam railway trust ltd is a charitable company established in 1972 and is one of the charities supporting the west somerset railway. Williton station has its own carpark and is about a mile from the village centre. The origins of what is now one of the favourite preserved railways for enthusiasts began back in the mid1800s, when a number of proposals were submitted for railway schemes in west somerset.
This is a heritage railway extending from minehead to bishops lydeard. With a full list of events for the year, there is so much to do, including classic car run, deisel gaa, mixted traction weekend, peter rabbit meet and greet, dunster by candlelight, dunster castle express, fish and chip special, murder mystery. Aug 28, 2017 a ride on the west somerset railway from bishops lydeard to blue anchor behind 7812 erlestoke manor duration. Dec 18, 2019 west someset railway plc have made this announcement. Minehead railway station is situated in minehead in somerset, england. It reopened in 1976 and is now the terminus and headquarters of the west somerset railway, a. West somerset railway public limited company overview free. Save money by buying tickets, products, bundles, membership plans for west somerset railway online. The west somerset railway wsr is a heritage railway. The swindon shed was originally situated on the site of the swindon railway works before it was moved to williton in 1991.
Jul, 2005 minehead station is the headquarters of the west somerset railway wsr and is the largest station on the branch line, which takes steam trains inland to bishops lydeard near taunton. Digitickets is the official online seller for west somerset railway tickets and we can save you both time and money when buying in advance online. In may, a new west somerset railway company was formed to acquire the line and operate a yearround. The west somerset railway association provides an army of volunteers who carry out a wide range of tasks to support the railway, from booking clerks to gardeners to engine drivers. It runs along the edge of the quantock hills in somerset, england, between bishops lydeard and watchet. West somerset railway winter steam festival saturday 28th.
For my final outing of the year, i made the trip down to the west somerset railways winter steam festival. It reopened in 1976 and is now the terminus and headquarters of the west somerset railway, a heritage railway. The west somerset railway is a heritage railway route that leads from minehead to bishops lydeard in somerset england prepare. The route of flying scotsman through somerset has been changed, a railway operator has confirmed. The station is typical of brunels design with booking office, waiting rooms, ladies and gents all maintained in their original victorian glory. Their opening trains in the 1970s were operated by two class 103 sets which formed the beginning of a varied fleet which was acquired to provide cheap and reliable traction. There are ten stations along the route, serving a variety of destinations. Our railway, a true country branch line of the old great western railway is full of fascination whether you are looking for a nostalgic ride back in time through lovely countryside or to study the railway and industrial heritage which our line preserves. The west somerset railway is a heritage railway route that leads from minehead to bishops lydeard in somerset england. This was surprising, because usually, the opposite seems to happen. Become a volunteer volunteering your time to help the railway.
It then returns to the coast for the run to minehead. West somerset railway simple english wikipedia, the free. Wsr gauge museum model railway, bishops lydeard, united kingdom. Dec 28, 20 for my final outing of the year, i made the trip down to the west somerset railway s winter steam festival. Click the station symbol on the map to load the station page. The gauge museum model railway, is an 00 gauge model railway based within the wssrt operated gauge museum on platform 1 at. From the description it sounds like the scenery and signalling is very much updated in. Ive yet to get the new jt route but will as soon as pennies allow. The west somerset is one of the oldest established railways for dmu operation. The iconic locomotive is scheduled to travel through the. It is the principal intermediate train crossing place on the west somerset railway. Local iron ore, timber and paper products were exported.
View standard travel day rover for west somerset railway online. T oday, the day after the august bank holiday, the weather had turned cloudier. In summertime, the peak time, the fares are higher and will cost more depending on the price of coal or diesel. Digitickets is the official online seller for west somerset railway tickets and we can save you both time and money when buying in. Minehead station is the headquarters of the west somerset railway wsr and is the largest station on the branch line, which takes steam trains inland to bishops lydeard near taunton. Trusted windows pc download west somerset railway members edition 2. West somerset railway winter steam festival saturday. West somerset restoration west somerset railway association. West somerset railway the railway station minehead somerset ta24 5bg 01643704996. Buy standard travel day rover online west somerset railway. Anyway, it was an ideal time to revisit the west somerset railway and try to fill in the gaps which had eluded me in 2009. West somerset railway minehead 2020 all you need to. Download free west somerset railway members edition 2. On 5 february 1971, a minehead railway preservation society organised a meeting in taunton and a working party headed by douglas fear, a local business man, was tasked with investigating how the line could be reopened as a privately owned railway.
May 22, 2017 the route of flying scotsman through somerset has been changed, a railway operator has confirmed. A ride on the west somerset railway from bishops lydeard to blue anchor behind 7812 erlestoke manor duration. The west somerset railway, the epitome of a preserved country branch line railway harking back to bygone days, is the longest heritage line in england, with trains running 20 miles between bishops lydeard station four miles from taunton and minehead. The west somerset railway runs through trains and more information can be found on the special events pages. The freehold of the line and stations is owned by somerset county council. There are 10 stations along the line, 3 museums and 1 restored turntable. Most of the trains which take the loop line in order to serve frome station are on the bristol to weymouth route, and most trains on the reading to taunton line bypass the station on the main line. Mar 06, 2020 visited the west somerset railway during their autumn steam gala so lots of additional visiting locomotives to be admired in addition to their own.
West somerset railway tickets, products, bundles, membership. West somerset railway the longest heritage railway in england. The west somerset railway is a steam railway running 20 miles through glorious somerset coast and countryside between bishops lydeard near taunton and minehead. Just trains has recently released a new version of route west somerset railway. The longest heritage railway in the uk comes to life in the beautiful west somerset railway route addon for train simulator, available now. From 1st january 2020, west somerset restoration is managed by west somerset railway plc, and continues to be based in the swindon shed, a grade ii listed building at williton station on the west somerset railway wsr. Minehead todays passenger arriving at minehead has a choice of directions and destinations to follow from the station entrance. First opened in 1874 as the terminus and headquarters of the minehead railway, it was closed by british rail early in 1971. Company status active company type public limited company incorporated on 5 may 1971. The iconic locomotive is scheduled to travel through the county on tuesday and friday may 23 and 26. The railway is the longest standard gauge steam line in the uk and boasts eleven stations.
The west somerset railway, the railway station, minehead, somerset, ta24 5bg. The gauge museum model railway, is an 00 gauge model railway based within the. Earlier this year i had the chance to travel on the west somerset steam railway. It would appear to offer the benefits of a modernised route, but basically covering the same old route as the original rsc version, with the addition of a single extra siding and an extra station passing loop. Get west somerset railway members edition alternative downloads. Most of the trains which take the loop line in order to serve frome station are on the bristol to weymouth route, and most trains on the reading to. Watchet was chosen as the wsr lines terminus, as it had been since the middle ages an important regional port on the bristol channel. In the course of the project we walked more than 23 miles along the tracks, in all weathers and at all times of year, in an effort to truly capture the spirit of the wsr. Wsr gauge museum model railway museum bishops lydeard. West somerset railway minehead 2020 all you need to know. The west somerset railway, the epitome of a preserved country branch line railway harking back to bygone days, is the longest heritage line in england, with trains running 20 miles between bishops lydeard station four miles from taunton and minehead, via the quantock hills and along the bristol channel coast.
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