Our website includes a dedicated page that provides information on planned diesel running days. This page is under the DIESELGEN menu heading and shortcuts are also included on many of the most popular pages. Click on the icon for details: 
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was pictured on 8th August 2022 while preparing to shunt delinquent sister loco D6566 (33 048) to the DEPG yard at Williton for attention to an oil leak that she had developed in her Serck system (radiator fan drive). Photo by Geoff Miles © CC BY-NC 3.0
Following the temporary suspension of steam haulage from 08th August due to the prolonged dry weather, the WSR turned to our two ‘Cromptons’ to handle the running under the BLUE timetable, only for D6566 to fail on the first morning of the new arrangement with an oil leak from the Serck tank (the hydraulic system that powers the radiator fan). The DMU stepped in valiantly to keep services running on the Monday afternoon through to Wednesday, and D6566 returned to service on the morning of Thursday 11th August and is now fully operational. Apologies to all for the inconvenience caused to those affected by this technical issue.
All public services on Saturday through Monday 13-15 August will be hauled by the two ‘Cromptons’ although a steam special will run with the Quantock Belle Dining Train on Sunday 14th.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR SATURDAY 13th AUGUST 2022: (TIMINGS UPDATED 12AUG22 at 11:40)
The WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS railtour from Paddington being operated by the Railway Touring Company is due to arrive on the WSR on Saturday. This special was to be steam hauled but is now going to be hauled by WEST COAST RAILWAYS Class 33s 33025 and 33029 throughout from Paddington to Minehead and back.
The planned arrival times are as follows (approx):
1Z50 : Depart BL 11:05 arrive MD 12:15 (these are updated timings)
1Z51 : Depart MD 15:45 arrive BL 17:00
West Coast Railways 33025 was pictured at Bristol Temple Meads on 28th July 2019 by Geoff Sheppard © CC BY-SA 4.0
A decision regarding a possible resumption of steam services from Tuesday 16th August onwards will be taken after a review of the situation nearer the date. The WSR timetable page and WSR news pages are being updated accordingly.
Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page carries the latest information on diesel-hauled public services:
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, 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.
Many thanks to Railcam UK and the WSR for providing these webcam services.
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AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT affecting services on the WSR for Monday 8th through Thursday 11th August 2022:
Due to the increased risk of lineside fires arising from the prolonged dry weather, the planned steam-hauled services running under the blue and yellow timetables will be will be replaced with diesel-hauled services running under the BLUE timetable for the dates defined above.
A decision regarding services from Saturday 13th August onwards will be taken after a review of the situation nearer the date. The WSR timetable page has been updated accordingly.
Our DIESEL RUNNING DATES page carries the latest information on diesel-hauled public services:
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, 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.
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.
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BRCW Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) was pictured during the Williton station stop while tagging along at the rear of a steam-hauled service to Dunster during the Mixed Traffic weekend on 18th September 2021 while Beyer Peacock Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 waited alongside with a service to Norton Fitzwarren. Photo by Brenden Hill © CC BY-NC 3.0
The 10:00 MD diagram (two MD-BL-MD trips totalling 80 miles) will be hauled by Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 on Sat/Sun 23rd/24th July.
The Sunday morning services (10:00 MD and 12:30 BL) offer a volunteering presentation where prospective volunteers can meet and talk with representatives of the DEPG alongside the WSR, WSRA and WSRHT. There is no need to purchase a ticket on these services. Return travel is free of charge in return for providing your contact details and engaging in discussion about how you could help and what is involved in joining up. Click here for more information.
If you are interested in offering your time, regardless of background or skillset, we will have tasks to suit everyone, so COME ALONG AND JOIN THIS ‘HYMEK’ HAULED SERVICE on Sunday !
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUCEMENT FOR THE YELLOW TIMETABLE that starts next week, the 11:00 BL-MD and the 15:25 MD-BL will now be hauled by Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 (33 057) on all YELLOW TIMETABLE days throughout July and August.
The basics of the timetabled workings are as follows:
Depart BL 1100 arrive MD 1215
Depart MD 1525 arrive BL 1705 (total 40 miles)
Other public services are also scheduled – see the WSR timetable page for details.
See our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for the latest information on public services:
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, 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.
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.
Social media channels:
BRCW Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was pictured during the Williton station stop while working the afternoon leg of the 80-mile Minehead diagram on Sunday 10th July 2022. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) will be handing over to sister D6575 (33 057) upon arrival at Bishops Lydeard (BL) from Minehead (MD) on Saturday 16th July 2022. The loco will remain attached to the Taunton end of the train upon arrival at BL and will ‘hitch a ride’ back to Williton on the back of the 1230 BL-MD service and will be uncoupled at Williton.
This will allow D6566 (33 048) to enter the South Yard at Williton so that an ‘A’ exam can be performed (required after every 50 hours of operation).
The basics of the timetabled workings are as follows:
Depart MD 1000 arrive BL 1130
Depart BL 1230 arrive MD 1350
Depart MD 1430 arrive BL 1555
Depart BL 1635 arrive MD 1800
Other public services are also scheduled – see the WSR timetable page for details.
ADVANCE INFORMATION – the 1000 MD diagram (two MD-BL-MD trips totalling 80 miles) will be hauled by Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 on Sat/Sun 23rd/24th July. See our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for the latest information on public services.
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, 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.
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.
Social media channels:
A new page has been set up on our website to provide information on planned diesel running days. This new page is under the DIESELGEN menu heading and shortcuts will be placed on the most popular pages ASAP. Click on the icon for details:
BRCW Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) was pictured while running around its train at Minehead on the Saturday of the Diesel Gala, 11th June 2022. Also in the picture is Barclay 0-4-0DH 579 (ROF 2) on the far left and the tender of BR(W) 4-6-0 7822 ‘FOXCOTE MANOR’ on the right. Photo by Andy Royal © CC BY-NC 3.0
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) will be hauling freight wagons on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 5/6/7th July in connection with driver training courses being run by WSR Diesel Traction Inspector John Leach. The three drivers involved are currently steam loco drivers and they are adding the Class 33 diesel to their ‘tickets’.
These special workings start at Minehead and run to Norton Fitzwarren and back in the morning, then run to Bishops Lydeard and back in the afternoon. The timings below are approximate and may be varied on the day to suit operating conditions:
Depart MD 0915 arrive NF 1056
Depart NF 1130 arrive MD 1253
Depart MD 1317 arrive BL 1510
Depart BL 1526 arrive MD 1703
Public services are also scheduled – see the WSR timetable page for details.
ADVANCE INFORMATION – the 1000 MD diagram (two MD-BL-MD trips totalling 80 miles) will be hauled by Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) on Sat/Sun 9/10th July and by one of our two ‘Cromptons’ on Sat/Sun 16/17th July. See our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page for the latest information on public services.
We have just introduced a new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and we will be maintaining this in parallel to DIESELGEN bulletins. This new page is a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to PUBLIC SERVICE diesel running on the WSR.
The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:
Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm
Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm
Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm
Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm
Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm
Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm
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.
Social media channels:
Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 stands at Williton Station on Friday 10th June 2022 alongside sister D7017 who is now on the wrong side of the fence, having failed with a leaking Number 1 cylinder head joint when working the last service of the previous day. Photo by Josh Brinsford © CC BY-NC 3.0
The second day of the gala went well with all services operating, albeit with different traction on the diagrams that were affected by the failure of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 on the previous day.
The 87-litre V16 engine in the errant ‘Hymek’ was test run by Maybach specialist Bob Clegg on Friday 10th June and Bob’s verdict was that the number 1 cylinder had developed a cylinder head joint ring leak that had compromised an adjacent transition rubber that carried the oil supply to the cylinder head. This explains both the abnormal noise and the oil that was seen to be leaking from around the cylinder head area.
Although this is not a major failure, the engine needs a partial strip down to access the cylinder head and this will take several weeks, so the loco is going to be out of action for a while until the work is completed.
To ensure the integrity of the timetable for Saturday 11th June, BR(W) 4-6-0 steam locomotive 7828 ‘ODNEY MANOR’ will take over the morning services that would have been worked by D7017. This move allows all services to run as scheduled (NOTE – the 1815 BL-MD and 2200 MD-BL services were removed from the timetable earlier in the week. The 1710 BL departure will run through to MD).
The revised running for SATURDAY 11th June 2022 is covered in the table below:
| Loco Type | Loco No. | First service | No. of return trips | Mileage |
| Class 25 ‘Rat’ | D7612 | 08:00 BL-MD | 2 + 1 x NF* | 86 miles |
| Class 33 ‘Crompton’ | D6575 | 08:45 BL-MD | 2 + 1 x NF* | 86 miles |
| Class 33 ‘Crompton’ | D6566 | 09:00 BL-MD | 2 + 1 x NF* | 86 miles |
| Class 17 ‘Clayton’ | D8568 | 09:35 MD-BL | 2 + 2 x NF* | 92 miles |
| BR(W) 4-6-0 ‘Manor’ | 7828 | 09:42 BL-MD | 1 | 40 miles |
| Class 35 ‘Hymek’ | D7018 | 12:45 BL-MD | 2 | 80 miles |
*NF = Norton Fitwarren extension (BL-NF-BL)
Basically, the morning turns (09:42 BL-MD and 12:05 MD-BL) that were rostered for D7017 will now be hauled by BR(W) 4-6-0 Steam Locomotive 7828 ‘ODNEY MANOR’. The afternoon double-headed turns will be operated by a single locomotive.
We apologise to all for the unexpected loss of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 and we hope that the revised arrangements work out well and provide another decent diesel gala day.
For the planned timetables for each of the gala days, see below or visit our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page by clicking this link but please make the adjustments outlined previously.
| Date | Timetable | Locos rostered |
| Thursday 9th June | TT for 09JUN22 | D6575, D7017, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Friday 10th June | TT for 10JUN22 | D6566, D6575, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Saturday 11th June | TT for 11JUN22 | D6566, D6575, D7018, D7612, D8568, 7828 (steam) |
| Sunday 12th June | BLUE timetable | D8568 |
NOTE – although Sunday is not a Diesel Gala day, the 1000 MD diagram in the BLUE timetable on Sunday 12th June is rostered for the visiting Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568.
We have just introduced a new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and we will be maintaining this in parallel to DIESELGEN bulletins. This new page is a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to diesel running on the WSR.
The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:
Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm
Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm
Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm
Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm
Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm
Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm
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.
Social media channels:
The DTG’s Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568 heads a pre-gala lineup comprising Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048) and Class 25 D7612 and Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7018 alongside sister D7017 at Westridge, Bishops Lydeard in the evening of Wednesday 8th June 2022. Photo by Tom Courtney © CC BY-NC 3.0
Towards the end of the first highly enjoyable day of diesel running, Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 developed an oil leak that indicated a possible cylinder head joint failure on one cylinder of her Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD870 engine and was shut down at the platform at Blue Anchor while working the last ‘up’ service of the day, from Minehead in the direction of Bishops Lydeard.
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6575 was dispatched from Minehead to assist and hauled the train to Williton where the errant ‘Hymek’ was detached, the train continuing to Bishops Lydeard behind the ‘Crompton’.
The precise details of the failure are not yet known, but it will not be possible to return the loco to service during the remaining gala days so the timetable has been altered to take account of one loco being unavailable and one loco being wrongly positioned.
The revised running for FRIDAY 10th June 2022 is covered in the table below:
| Loco Type | Loco No. | First service | No. of return trips | Mileage |
| Class 33 ‘Crompton’ | D6575 | 09:00 BL-MD | 2 + 1 x NF* | 86 miles |
| Class 17 ‘Clayton’ | D8568 | 09:42 MD-BL | 2 + 1 x NF* | 86 miles |
| Class 25 ‘Rat’ | D7612 | 09:45 BL-MD | 2 | 80 miles |
| Class 33 ‘Crompton’ | D6566 | 10:38 MD-BL | 2 | 80 miles |
| Class 35 ‘Hymek’ | D7018 | 10:25 BL-MD | 2 | 80 miles |
*NF = Norton Fitwarren extension (BL-NF-BL)
Class 33 D6566 (33 048) will move to MD on the tail end of the 0900 BL service.
Basically, the turns that were rostered for D7017 will now be hauled by Class 33 D6575 (33 057).
The turns that were rostered for D6575 will be covered by Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568 and:
The turns that were rostered for D8568 will be covered by Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 (33 048).
We apologise to all for the unexpected loss of Class 35 ‘Hymek’ D7017 and we hope that the revised arrangements work out well and provide a very decent diesel gala day.
Some services on Saturday morning 11th June will also be affected but the detail of the changes has not yet been worked out. We will send out another DIESELGEN bulletin as soon as possible.
For the planned timetables for each of the gala days, see below or visit our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page by clicking this link but please make the adjustments outlined previously.
For timetables for each of the gala days, see below or visit our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page by clicking this link.
| Date | Timetable | Locos rostered |
| Thursday 9th June | TT for 09JUN22 | D6575, D7017, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Friday 10th June | TT for 10JUN22 | D6566, D6575, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Saturday 11th June | TT for 11JUN22 | D6566, D6575, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Sunday 12th June | BLUE timetable | D8568 |
NOTE – although Sunday is not a Diesel Gala day, the 1000 MD diagram in the BLUE timetable on Sunday 12th June is rostered for the visiting Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568.
We have just introduced a new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and we will be maintaining this in parallel to DIESELGEN bulletins. This new page is a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to diesel running on the WSR.
The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:
Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm
Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm
Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm
Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm
Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm
Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm
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.
Social media channels:
The DTG’s Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568 arrived at Bishops Lydeard on Wednesday 8th June 2022 and is expected to enter service on the 10:38 service from Minehead on Thursday 9th June 2022 as planned. Photo by Martin Howard © CC BY-NC 3.0
South Devon Diesel Traction’s Class 25 D7612 (25 262, 25 901) arrived at Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday 7th June 2022 and is expected to enter service on the 09:45 service from Bishops Lydeard on Thursday 9th June 2022 as planned. Photo by Ian Camp © CC BY-NC 3.0
The two visiting locos have arrived at Bishops Lydeard and are being prepared so that they will be ready to enter service tomorrow as planned. The owning groups will be working into the evening with DEPG and WSR staff to get the locos unloaded, inspected and fuelled prior to them being accepted as ready to enter service on the WSR.
As the Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8658 starts its diagram from the Minehead (MD) end, it will reposition tomorrow morning, either as a ‘light engine’ move or attached to the first service out of Bishops Lydeard (BL).
For the first day of the WSR’s SIXTIES DIESEL GALA, Thursday 9th June 2022, the following locos will be in action:
| Loco Type | Loco No. | First service | No. of return trips | Mileage |
| Class 35 ‘Hymek’ | D7018 | 09:00 BL-MD | 2 | 80 miles |
| Class 33 ‘Crompton’ | D6575 | 09:42 MD-BL | 2 + 1 x NF* | 86 miles |
| Class 25 ‘Rat’ | D7612 | 09:45 BL-MD | 2 | 80 miles |
| Class 17 ‘Clayton’ | D8568 | 10:38 MD-BL | 2 + 1 x NF* | 86 miles |
| Class 35 ‘Hymek’ | D7017 | 10:25 BL-MD | 2 | 80 miles |
| Class 33 ‘Crompton’ | D6566 | Standby Loco | – | – |
*NF = Norton Fitwarren extension (BL-NF-BL)
Class 33 ‘Crompton’ D6566 will join in with the running on Friday and Saturday.
For timetables for each of the gala days, see below or visit our new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page by clicking this link.
| Date | Timetable | Locos rostered |
| Thursday 9th June | TT for 09JUN22 | D6575, D7017, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Friday 10th June | TT for 10JUN22 | D6566, D6575, D7017, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Saturday 11th June | TT for 11JUN22 | D6566, D6575, D7017, D7018, D7612, D8568 |
| Sunday 12th June | BLUE timetable | D8568 |
NOTE – although Sunday is not a Diesel Gala day, the 1000 MD diagram in the BLUE timetable on Sunday 12th June is rostered for the visiting Class 17 ‘Clayton’ D8568.
We have just introduced a new DIESEL RUNNING DATES page and we will be maintaining this in parallel to DIESELGEN bulletins. This new page is a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to diesel running on the WSR.
The webcams provide a very good way of watching the action from afar. Here are the links:
Bishops Lydeard : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm
Crowcombe Heathfield : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ch1.htm
Williton : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm
Blue Anchor : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-ba1.htm
Seaward Way : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md2.htm
Minehead : http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-md1.htm
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.
Social media channels: