West Somerset Railway June 4th-7th 2015
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D6575 Minehead station. 4th June 2015.
Heading up a " goods " train ready for the following morning.
7828 " Odney Manor " brings in a train from Bishops Lydeard, the coaches of which will form the next morning's 09.45 departure..
Minehead. 4th June 2015.
This loco was seen occasionally passing through my own home town of Ellesmere,Shropshire ,in the 1950's before that line was closed in the Beeching cuts of the 1960's.
Having waited in the adjacent platform , 56006 now backs down onto the newly arrived coaches in readiness for the next morning's 09.45 train on the 5th June ,the first official day of the 3 day WSR Diesel Gala.
Minehead. 4th June.2015.
Under the watchful eyes of railway staff and two 56 fans ,56006 gets coupled up.
Minehead 4th June 2015.
Brilliant morning. 5th June. 56006. Minehead Station.
I had to enlist the help of a member of the railway staff to take this picture for me. Many thanks.
Arrived safely at Bishops Lydeard after working the 09.45 from Minehead, 56006 waits to be released in order to run round its train for the journey back.
Friday 5th June.
I have good memories of these locos on the 6.10pm Paddington-Birkenhead in the 1960's.
D1661 waits at Minehead with the 19.10 hrs.train , the last train of the day , booked to arrive at BL 20.20hrs.
Just about fitting onto the extended turntable at Minehead 59003 goes on display.
Little did we realise she would be taking over the duties of 56006 from mid-day on the next day ,Saturday.
After riding out from Minehead on the first train behind Warship D832 and switching to 56006 at Williton for the ride back , I then had the honour of being invited to ride in the cab of 56006 on the 11.55 from Minehead-Norton Fitzwarren.
That at least was the plan ,until problems with the fuel supply meant ,despite the valiant efforts of the support crew seen here giving " just one more heave ",we had to call it a day ,and summon help in the shape of " Peaky Blinder " 45060 , much to the delight of its crew.
( They weren't quite so happy later in the day when it too failed ! ).
The Peak arrives , couples up , and sets off " at a steady 25mph " for Bishops Lydeard ,where the train terminated rather than going on to Norton Fitzwarren.
The other end. 45060 Bishops Lydeard. Saturday 6th June.
In the bay platform , the Convoy loco 66763 enjoys the sun until required again on Tuesday 9th.
On Sunday ,the final day,59003 continued filling in for 56006 which despite having had its fuel filter out and cleaned thoroughly the previous afternoon had not been given a chance to prove her fitness to run.
Bishops Lydeard 7th June 2015
56006 did come out to play , sort of ,but only to reverse back into the Bay platform where the punters could at least admire the fantastic finish following restoration at UKRL , Leicester.
56006. Side-lined.
Half of the pair of locos used for the BL-NF shuttle .D4107.
Not much ,but slightly more sun on this side.
So another couple of trips to Minehead and back with 59003 and by 15.50hrs the sun was round a bit more.
Last picture of 56006 at the WSR.
Cl 56 Group AGM on 4th July when hopefully we'll have the full results of the Autopsy.
Despite the trouble with 56006 I did enjoy the Gala. Thanks to all involved.
My last train of the Gala....the booked 15.55 Bishops Lydeard-Minehead.
7th June 2015.
Complaints , complaints. Nothing but complaints ! No Warship and no Hymek pictures.
So here's 3 for the price of 1 in the dull at Williton.,Picture taken from the cab of 56006 on its ill-fated journey.
Enjoy. It may not be staying on here too long.
Thursday evening 4936 "Kinlet Hall". Minehead. 4th June 2015.
4160 outside Minehead shed.
Minehead Station looking West. See the length of platforms that used to be filled in the old days with mega sized through trains from London and The Midlands.
More steam. This time a different " Hall " 6960. Saturday 6th June.
Watchet. Nicest station on the line.
More Watchet.
...and yet more Watchet ,with dock ,ship repair facility. and the sea beyond.
Brilliant location ,but sadly like most WSR positions ,sun wrong for all shots.
56006 cab view of the sea.
Enjoyed all the more looking back as the loco's problems became apparent soon after this was taken.