Archive for Freesteam For collectors and enthusiasts of all steam engines
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MTA
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An Apple in Cider Country - Part OneWell, an apple green liveried loco anyway.
Oh yes, I'm going on a railtour tomorrow behind 'Tornado' 
We are getting on at Reading, where we are hauled by an EWS 67 (nout wrong with that!) to Minehead. After two hours in Minehead, we are hauled back behind 'Tornado'.
We aren't due home tomorrow until near enough half past 11, so pictures will be on Friday all being well!
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Spokesmann
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Sounds good, love the WSR, plenty of trackside interest, Minehaed is usually well stocked with interesting stuff in the sidings, take some pics of the new turntable....
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Spokesmann
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Sounds good, love the WSR, plenty of trackside interest, Minehaed is usually well stocked with interesting stuff in the sidings, take some pics of the new turntable....
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silverfoxsteam
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Enjoy!
Look forward to the photographic account on your return.
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newts
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Enjoy Si, fantastic scenery from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.
Plenty of pics please
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Mamod Collector
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Have a good one Simon
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MTA
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We got back home at 10 minutes past Midnight last night, but it was worth it!
I'm going to college now, so there'll be a full blow by blow report and more pics in due course. Here's a teaser shot in the interim:
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MTA
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Just an update, gents.
I've started writing a report, or rather an account, of the day and thanks to my wordy nature it has already stretched to two pages of A4 and that is just describing the journey from home to Bishop's Lydeard!
Hopefully, something will be on these boards by Sunday afternoon.
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Spokesmann
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Look forward to that Si.
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MTA
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An Apple in Cider Country - Part OneAn Apple in Cider Country
The day began at 0800 hours with a blue sky, clouds and a slight breeze to begin the proceedings. Perfect weather for a day out to the seaside resort of Minehead, once a major holiday destination for weekend getaways from the Capital.
A drive through leafy Surrey from the homestead to Shalford (parking prices are ridiculous mid week at Guildford Central) was thoroughly enjoyed, upon meeting the tail end of the Guildford Grid Lock at this time of the morning. We pulled into a little car park at Shalford, and we were able to pay the low low price of nothing for its convenience. The short walk to the station was over shadowed by an all pervading smell of diesel thanks to, in no small way, a very small refuelling depot located in Shalford station yard.
The 0931 First Great Western service, formed of a two car Class 166 turbostar, from Shalford to Reading switched from the up to the down lines and we duly boarded. Stops were made at Guildford, Ash, North Camp, Blackwater and Wokingham before arriving at Reading at 1017.
During the wait for our train, it suddenly dawned on me that there were a fair few floral displays moving around in front of me. If you haven’t taken the hint, it was Ladies Day at Royal Ascot that day. Top hats, dinner suits, outrageously outlandish hats and dresses were in abundance here with people hoping for an all important win.
My attention to this veritable feast for the eyes was diverted as that odour of diesel returned as HST’s pulled in and out, 166’s milled about on stopping trains and the odd Cross Country Voyager entered the fold. The first thing that struck me was how quiet HST’s are now, since FGW have fitted them with brand new MTU units the emissions and sound emitted have been considerably reduced. How I long for that distinctive sound of a Paxman Valenta roaring away on a semi-fast from Paddington to the popular destinations in the West Country of Paignton, Plymouth and Penzance.
Then, in the distance, there was a glimmer of something not painted in purple but shining brightly and hauling some antiquated (well, compared to the usual service trains witnessed at Reading) rolling stock and making little noise. A gleaming DB Schenker (formerly English, Welsh & Scottish Railway) class 67 diesel electric pulled in, in the Royal train livery of Royal claret. Jaw lifted back up into position, a quick embarkation was required as there was no time to waste! We were in the coach directly behind the 67 and these 125mph machines certainly don’t hang about, even with a twelve coach train on the back.
We left Reading dead on time at 1036, and 17.1 miles down the line at Newbury we were still dead on the money. A further 13.3 miles further at Bedwyn and we were three minutes ahead of schedule, only to be signal checked at Heywood Road Junction where we lost those three minutes and one extra on top. However, this paled into insignificance as we rocketed to our last pick up point at Castle Cary, where we were also to lose some passengers to a transfer coach to go to Wells. We arrived here at 1147, seven minutes ahead of schedule! We waited for ten minutes, before leaving for Taunton and the junction for the West Somerset Railway at Norton Fitzwarren. This is where the time we had gained started to slip…
At Cogload Junction, we had lost the seven minutes gained and we were now running on time. However by the time we reached Taunton, 4.5 miles from Cogload Junction, we had become early again by four minutes arriving in Taunton at 1219. We crossed all three lines onto WSR metals, and thus ensued time losses.
We passed through the building site which is Norton Fitzwarren two minutes late, with the new platform largely in place and one half of the turning triangle completed.
We pulled into Bishops Lydeard where we were met by the sight of a Class 47 waiting at the station throat. This was to be our pilot, as the crew of the class 67 were not familiar with the route of the WSR. We were allowed to disembark briefly, before leaving one minute early.
The pace was gentle, the ride comfortable and the scenery unrivalled. Buzzards and red kites were witnessed in full flight, along with rolling hills and narrow country lanes which rarely see a vehicle.
During a protracted stop at Crowcombe Heathfield, waiting for the line ahead to clear, the peace and tranquillity was to be only disturbed by the sound of bells ringing out from the signal box as codes were flitting back and forth. The peace was to be obliterated minutes later by the roar of the class 47 as we got up to speed once we were given the road.
We passed through the remote halt of Stogumber, before arriving at Williton one minute late where we passed GWR 41XX 2-6-0T No. 4160 on a service train. Alongside us was BR No. 6024 King ‘King Edward 1’, obviously mid way through receiving attention as the outer wrapper for the steam chests to the outer cylinders had been removed and the valve extension spindles on the two inside cylinders had bin liners wrapped around them (!) Departure came eight minutes later than planned, as we had caught up with the preceding train.
On the journey to the penultimate drop off point I spotted the bungalow we had rented at Blue Anchor many, many years ago and spent an entire week travelling on the WSR when a FGW HST was being trialled on the line in what was called their ‘fag packet’ livery of green, gold and white.
Dunster was reached at 1405, five minutes late and anyone who elected to take the twenty minute walk into the village alighted.
Minehead, our final destination, was reached at 1415. The weather became overcast, but the rain held off.
Needless to say, being at what was formerly a major seaside holiday hotspot, we felt compelled to find a chippy and indulge in that good old English favourite of cod and chips.
Then, we caught our first glimpse of the apple green machine...
Part two to come...
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Spokesmann
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Great stuff, plenty to see at the WSR. Great to see 6024!
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newts
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Very good summary, looking forward to part 2
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Mamod Collector
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Excelent read Simon
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silverfoxsteam
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Thanks Si - looking forward to part 2.
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John Chapman
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Sounds like a good day out Simon.
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