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13th march 2013(only) West Somerset-Railway Steam Gala.
A Spring event to show off several new locomotives running there at this time.
7 Images
What a superb Tank! Beauty and the Beast.The strictly utilitarian lines of S160-6046 from the USA compared with the Victorian elegence of 6960 at Minehead Station. The American 2-8-0 was a design for use in Europe during and after WW2 (Many worked in the UK prior to export to the Continent).This Baldwin built example (Works No 72080) went to France in 1945 then later on to Hungary.Eventually it found its way to the UK and it was restored at the Churnet Valley-Railway.It first steamed in the UK in 2012. Many survive all over the world with 25 still existing in preservation out of a total of 2120 built!
..23 march 2013..
2-6-2T 4160 powers past Woolston going to Bishops-Lydeard from Minehead. Another clear cutting just like in the 'good old days!'
..23 march 2013..
This member of the National Collection was having a few trips today on the West Somerset Railway.Here the superbly turned out Southern-Icon 777 'Sir Lamiel' is easing past Roebuck Gate going to Minehead.This area has benefited from a serious amount of lineside clearance making life a lot easier for photography.Mind you we found many area's that have been cleaned out since last year on this line.Congratulations to the PW-department for running a railway how it used to be done!
..23 march 2013..
GWR 4-6-0 7828 now named 'Norton Manor' passes Roebuck Gate Lane Level-Crossing heading towards Bishops Lydeard.The BR styled 'Manor' drawing a nice set of Choc-n-Cream carriages.
..23 march 2013..
2-8-0 S160 Yank-Tank 6046 powers past Roebuck Gate Xing going to Minehead from Bishops-Lydeard.A superb recently completed restoration of an American austerity type designed for european use after WW2.This particular example came from Hungary several years ago.It now looks better than new! Click HERE to see another S160 -USAC, this time preserved at Camlik in Turkey
..23 march 2013..
After a brief stop at the new platform adjacent to the triangle at Norton-Fitzwarren Railmotor-93 gets away going back to Bishops-Lydeard.The loco in the background is another famous rebuild,this time from 2-6-2 tank loco 5193 into Mogul 2-6-0 9351.It has just used the triangle for turning as the WSRly now has a policy to run smokebox first as much as possible.There is of coarse a turntable now at Minehead as well! For more information about this Railmoter click HERE
..23 march 2013..
The famously reconstructed Railmoter number 93 of the old GWR was today in operation between Bishops Lydeard and the newly constructed platform at Norton-Fitzwarren Triangle. Here it is arriving at that site about to pass under the B3227 road bridge there.I know stock shortages occur on any railway but this particular unit never had nor never will operate the service shown on the headboard!