The West Somerset Railway
The Atlantic Coast Express Gala: March 2014
BR (WR) 41xx Large Prairie 2-6-2T 4160
ABOVE: BR (WR) 41xx Large Prairie 2-6-2T 4160 leaves Doniford Beach Halt and passes Liddimore working the 0845 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 29th March 2014.
Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153252.
Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153252.
ABOVE: Reminding us of what holiday trains to Minehead looked like in the 1950s, BR (WR) 41xx 2-6-2T Large Prairie 4160 coasts past Bicknoller working the 1545 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead on 30th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153611.
GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322
ABOVE: GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322 recreates a Taunton - Barnstaple Junction working from the 1950s as she approaches Roebuck Gate level crossing working the 1145 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 28th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153043.
ABOVE: Recalling memories of the Taunton to Barnstaple Junction line and in a perfect recreation of the Western Region in the 1950s, GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322 leaves Crowcombe working the 0950 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 30th March 2014. Copyright: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153542.
ABOVE: Recalling memories of the Taunton to Barnstaple Junction line, GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322 leaves Crowcombe working the 0950 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 30th March 2014. Copyright: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153545.
ABOVE: Evoking memories of Ilfracombe shed at night in the 1950s, GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322 rests at Minehead shed on 29th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153445.
BR (WR) 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7828 Odney Manor
ABOVE: In a wonderful scene that reminds us of steam's Indian Summer of the mid 1950s, BR (WR) 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7828 Odney Manor passes Castle Hill working the 1645 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 30th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION.
Ref: DSC153620.
Ref: DSC153620.
ABOVE: Glistening against the setting sun, BR (WR) 78xx 'Manor' 4-6-0 7828 Odney Manor passes Castle Hill working the 1645 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 30th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153628.
SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806
ABOVE: SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 leaves Bishops Lydeard at Watersmeet working the 0950 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead on 30th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153506.
ABOVE: SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 leaves Bishops Lydeard at Watersmeet working the 0950 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead on 30th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153517.
ABOVE: Having climbed from Williton, SR Maunsell Class 'U' 2-6-0 31806 crosses Liddimore Bridge working the 0830 Williton yard - Minehead ballast working on 29th March 2014.
Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153240.
Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153240.
ABOVE: In an image that could easily have been taken on the North Cornwall line to Wadebridge and Padstow, SR Maunsell Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 climbs away from Williton and crosses Liddimore Bridge working the 0830 Williton yard - Minehead ballast on 29th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153245.
ABOVE: With Dunster in the distance, and in an image that echoes the North Cornwall line, visiting SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 enters Blue Anchor working the 1645 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 29th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153347.
ABOVE: SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 leaves Doniford Beach Halt and crosses Liddimore Bridge working the 0945 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 29th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153269.
ABOVE: SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 climbs at Bicknoller Bridge working the 1445 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 30th March 2014. Copyright: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153606.
ABOVE: SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 pauses at Williton working the 1740 Bishops Lydeard - Williton ballast on 28th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153149.
ABOVE: SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 pauses at Williton working the 1740 Bishops Lydeard - Williton ballast on 28th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153130.
ABOVE: Recreations don't get more perfect than this! In an image that could easily have been taken on the Ilfracombe line, complete with Class 42 'Warship' D832 Onslaught just visible in the yard, SR Class 'U' 2-6-0 Mogul 31806 stands at Williton having arrived with the 1740 ballast from Bishops Lydeard on 28th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153174.
34007 Wadebridge
ABOVE: SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge approaches Roebuck Gate level crossing working the 1155 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard 'Atlantic Coast Express' on 30th March 2014. COPYRIGHT: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153563.
ABOVE: SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge at Nornvis Bridge working the 1350 Norton Fitzwarren - Minehead on 30th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION Ref: DSC153578.
ABOVE: Climbing out of Williton, SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge crosses Liddimore Bridge as she approaches Doniford Beach Halt working the 0900 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead on 29th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153264.
ABOVE: Echoing memories of the North Cornwall line, SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge climbs Kentsford bank at Bye Farm working the 1350 Norton Fitzwarren - Minehead 'Atlantic Coast Express' on 29th March 2014. Copyright: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153306.
ABOVE: Memories of the Southern in North Devon are rekindled as SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge stands beside visiting GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322 on 29th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153471.
ABOVE: Resting at Minehead shed, memories of the Southern in North Devon are rekindled as SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge stands beside visiting GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322 on 29th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153488.
ABOVE: Recalling memories of Barnstaple Junction shed, SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge stands at Minehead shed during a Don Bishop organised night shoot. 29th March 2014. Copyright: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153496.
ABOVE: Recalling memories of Barnstaple Junction or Ilfracombe sheds, SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge stands at Minehead shed during a Don Bishop organised night shoot. 29th March 2014. Copyright: Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153501.
SDJR 7F 2-8-0 No. 88 (53808)
ABOVE: In an unusual pairing, Somerset & Dorset 7F 2-8-0 No. 88 pilots GWR 53xx 2-6-0 Mogul 5322 at Nornvis Bridge working the 1303 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead on 30th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153571.
ABOVE: Somerset & Dorset 7F 2-8-0 No. 88 passes Roebuck Gate level crossing working the 1045 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 30th March 2014. Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC153549.
The 'Big Four' Gala: March 2009
ABOVE: In a classic 'Somerset & Dorset' style image, Ex works SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 Pacific 34046 Braunton pilots sister 'West Country' 34028 Braunton at Leigh Loop working the 1605 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard on 22nd March 2009.
Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC38861.
Copyright Steve Andrews / CLASSIC TRACTION. Ref: DSC38861.