West Somerset Railway

Having a Steam Gala in March can be a bit of a mixed blessing. The good point is that, after the Winter it's nice to get out and about again but the weather can be a bit of a problem. The Steam Gala in March 1999 was fortunate in being blessed with unseasonably fine weather so I was able to spend quite a bit of time sitting in the sun on top of my favourite bit of embankment at Nethercot between Bishops Lydeard and Crowcombe.
On Saturday 20th March 1999 the Mid-Hants Railway ran a steam hauled charter from Alton to Minehead. This had reached Bishops Lydeard behind 73096 with the 9 well filled coaches from the Mid-Hants 'Green set' running pretty well to time. Just as well it was - with the intensive service running that day it would have caused chaos had it been late. The Standard 5 didn't work beyond Bishops Lydeard as it had to go to Westbury for turning and servicing prior to working the charter back to Alton. The train was taken on to Minehead by 2-6-2T 41312 visiting from the Mid Hants piloted by the WSR's own 7820 'Dinmore Manor' heard in this recording on the passing Nethercot with this heavy train.

Despite being a long way from where I live the WSR has become a firm favourite of mine over thelast few years. If I could afford the house prices I'd move down there tomorrow! Also a favourite is the location. I've spent many happy hours sitting in the sun, and occassionally, the rain making lineside recordings at Nethercot so don't be suprised to find Nethercot and the WSR appearing again in these pages.
This track features 7828 'Odney Manor' with a freight train returning from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead passing Nethercot on the 1 in 81 gradient up to Crowcombe Heathfield during the Autumn Steam Gala in 2000. The Manor is making easy work of the climb with just half a dozen wagons and a brake van behind the tender.
Incidentally, 'Odney Manor' was the first ex-Great Western engine that I ever saw, that was in Shrewsbury in 1965 and many years later became one of the few steam locos that I've had a footplate ride on. Not on the WSR though - any offers?

The September 2000 Steam Gala featured no fewer than 3 large Prairie Tanks. Very fitting as these locos were the staple motive power on branch lines in the West Country. During the afternoon of Saturday 10th September 2000 2-6-2T 4144 pilots classmate 4160 away from Stogumber heading for Bishops Lydeard.

Unlike the following day, on Friday 19th March 1999 everything was not going to plan. Due to some confusion between staffs and tickets trains were running a little late. On just 4 coaches Pannier Tank 6412 is heard making up a little time heading up the bank from Bishops Lydeard towards Crowcombe at Nethercot.

As well as climbing from either direction to Crowcombe the railway has another summit at Washford. In this on-train recording 7828 'Odney Manor' is heard leaving Watchet where the climb to Washford begins initially at a gradient of 1 in 76.