Visiting English Electric Class 50 50015 (D415) ‘Valiant’ was a popular choice for haulage on Thursday 5th June 2025, the first day of the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL, and was pictured arriving at Williton Station while resident Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33057) waited with a goods train for Minehead (with passengers in the brake van). Photo by Natalie Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
An excellent start was made for the WSR’s SUMMER DIESEL FESTIVAL on Thursday 5th June 2025 with all of the rostered locomotives performing well and all services running on time. Everything went well except the weather, which delivered the occasional but brief shower and kept the skies dark. The outlook is better for tomorrow, so we look forward to some blue sky to brighten up the photos !
Tomorrow also sees the addition of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 on a 92-mile roster starting from Minehead at 0945 and the addition of Class 33 ‘Crompton D6566 (33048) working IN MULTIPLE (with a single crew) with sister loco D6575 (33057) on the 1045 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 1325 return service.
Here are some photos and videos to give a quick flavour of today’s proceedings, mostly taken from the DEPG Viewing Area at Williton:
With her fresh coat of paint gleaming, Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 put in some spirited performances on both goods and passenger services on Thursday 5th June 2025, including this ‘DMU Drag’, pictured departing Williton for Minehead with the WSR’s Class 115 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) in tow. Photo by Natalie Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Another very popular choice for traction was the Diesel Traction Group’s magnificent mainline-registered Class 52 D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’ also pictured departing Williton for Minehead on Thursday 5th June 2025. Photo by Natalie Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
After arriving at Bishops Lydeard from Minehead on Thursday 5th June 2025, South Devon Diesel Traction’s Class 25 ‘Derby Sulzer’ 25185 (D7535) will hand over to a larger ‘Derby Sulzer’ in the form of Class 45 ‘Peak’ 45108 (D120) for the return journey to Minehead. Photo by Lee Robbins © CC BY-NC 3.0
The following short video clips were all taken from the viewing area at Williton on Thursday 5th June 2025 by Natalie Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
| Link to video clip: Class 45 ‘Peak’ 45108 |  |
| Link to video clip: Class 50 50015 ‘Valiant’ |  |
| Link to video clip: Class 52 D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’ |  |
| Link to video clip: Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526 |  |
We look forward to seeing you at Williton tomorrow !
If you are unable to attend, 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 (there are now TWO cameras at 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.
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