Daily Archives: Thursday, August 1, 2024

  • STEAM RALLY – but it’s not just steam …

    Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 will be providing the power for the BRAKE VAN RIDES along the truncated remains of the former Barnstaple branch, as last year. Pictured on Sunday 6th August 2023 by Terry Deacon © CC BY-NC 3.0

     

    On Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August, D9526 will be in use at the STEAM RALLY, providing brake vans rides along the remains of the Barnstaple branch line. Visitors to the STEAM RALLY will find the platform at the south edge of the site, signposted HOLMES HALT, between the Archery area and the Camping area, as shown on the map below, just beyond the CARS, BIKES, TRUCKS, BUSES and various other non-steam displays:

    Above: The WSRA’s 2024 STEAM RALLY site plan        Facebook: steamrallywsra

     

    ALSO IN ACTION THIS COMING WEEKEND are Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) on the 10:00 departure from Minehead and the associated 80-mile diagram both days, and the WSR’s Class 115 DIESEL MULTIPLE UNIT (DMU) which will be operating a shuttle service between BL and NF for the benefit of showgoers.

    The booked timings for the Class 33 workings under the BLUE timetable are:

         1000 depart Minehead (MD) arriving Bishops Lydeard (BL) at 1125
         1230 depart BL arriving MD at 1350
         1430 depart MD arriving BL at 1550
         1635 depart BL arriving MD at 1800

     

    One of our Class 33s will cover the weekend workings on 10th/11th and 17th/18th August, then Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 is booked to haul the weekend diesel service on 24th and 25th August and again on 21st and 22nd September.

     

    Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page is regularly updated and carries the list of diesel-hauled public services for 2024. This page is used in conjunction with DIESELGEN to provide a complete picture of diesel locomotive activities on the WSR:

    The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Click this link: http://www.wsr.org.uk/cams.htm or click on the image below to go to the webcams via wsr.org.uk:

    Webcams are available at Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe Heathfield, Williton, Watchet (x2), Blue Anchor, Minehead Seaward Way and Minehead Station. Select the appropriate webcam by clicking on the blue button on the webcam page. Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.

     

    Have you considered joining the WEEKLY ROUNDUP e-newsletter list? Click here for details.

    VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES: We are looking for additional engineering help to maintain our fleet of elderly locomotives, so if you have such skills and would like to join the DEPG and come along to Williton for a ‘taster day’, then please use our CONTACT FORM so that we can get in touch with you.

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