The Bristol Railway Archive

The Provisional Loco Lineup for the Spring Diesel Gala (May 6th-8th) is now
available.
You are strongly advised to keep checking back for changes on this regularly
updated website.
Note: Further details than press release of 1/4/05.

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Gala Highlights:


-Class 03's to work together at Gala.
Minehead based D2119 and Williton based 03119 will 'top and tail' the
Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren 'Shunter Shuttle' on all three days.

-The event will see a return to traffic for D7017 and D9526 following repair
work.

-There will be a chance to ride behind newly repainted Class 25 D7523.

-Goods trains, including a yard shunt at Dunster.

From the Visiting locos:

-First visit of Class 73's to Minehead.

-HST action (subject to agreement) over Sat and Sun.

-The return of a Class 50 to the railway for the event.


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LOCOS:

Visiting Locomotives:

-Two GB Railfreight Class 73's. (First visit of the Class to Minehead)

-A Freightliner Class 47 or 57

-Class 50 50007 'Sir Edward Elgar'

-Class 45 45112 "Royal Army Ordnance Corps"

-Class 37 37190

-Class 31 31271 'Stratford 1840-2001'

-First Group (Virgin liveried) HST 5 car set (provisionally) Saturday and Sunday, 40 mile
diagram.
Formation TGS-TS-TRSB-TF-TF.

Home Fleet Locomotives:

-Hymek D7017

-Class 14 D9526 working the 'Heritage Freight Train' and the 'Dunster
Goods'.

-Class 33 D6566/33048

-Class 25 D7523/27173

-Class 03's 03119 and Minehead based D2133 will 'top & tail' the Bishops
Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren 'Shunter Shuttle' with three coaches. This is
due to operate on all three days.

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-Thursday 5th May should see Class 03 D2133 work to Williton from Minehead
before proceeding in tandem to Bishops Lydeard with 03119 providing a very
interesting sight!
Further details on this when known.

-The workshops/yards of the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group as well
as the Heritage Centre at Williton will be open to the public on all three
days.

-A souvenir booklet including loco diagrams will be available from WSR
stations during the event for ú2.50.

-Please visit the West Somerset Railways main website for information on
fares, further information on the event and for timetable details when they
are published:
http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk

also
http://www.wsr.org.uk

Diesel and Electric Preservation Group
http://www.geocities.com/wsrdepg

oooooooh! Sounds great

Will there be an all-line rover kind of ticket and any idea what kind of prices the tickets might be? Can't see anything on the website although I am well known for not being able to see what is right in front of me.

Hmm I can't remember how much the Day Rover was for the Steam Gala...ú17 ish maybe

I think it's brilliant that they're ("subject to confirmation") running the HST, especially as it's ex-Virgin Trains...I used to travel to Bristol on them until the crappy Voyagers came along.

I hope this will make the WSR consider getting their own set for the line

The HST will be brill! (fancy getting excited about travelling on a HST on a preserved line!)

I could imagine those Paxman engines being very expensive to maintain though (and I could imagine a few complaints coming in from the neighbours about the noise if anyone ever preserves a set)

From the WSR list:

"during the forthcoming WSR diesel gala, the 5+2 ex VXC HST
will work two diagrams on Saturday and Sunday.
09.15 depart Minehead.
13.05 depart Bishops Lydeard.
This will be the first time that an HST has been used on a heritage railway
during a diesel gala for service pax."

"Peak" 45112 "Royal Army Ordnance Corps" has been added to the lineup

Pete: I can't go to this anymore Could you please get some shots of the THREE 73's and the interior of the HST? Cheers!

I'm watching it on the wsr webcam...there's a 45 close-up right now

http://www.wsr.org.uk/webcam.shtml

James wrote:Pete: I can't go to this anymore Could you please get some shots of the THREE 73's and the interior of the HST? Cheers!

I won't be going either.

Had a stinking cold all week, and feel like doing not very much at all. Plus, I'm a bit skint.

When is payday anyway !

50007 failed at the Gala and messed up the last day!

From the WSR list: "contactor failed to close properly, arced, molten metal ran down the electrical cubicle, loads of smoke, total failure at Blue Anchor on its first train of the day"

Apart from that, everything seemed to go well...there were certainly a lot of people about when i checked the webcam!

Lots of photos at http://www.wsr.org.uk/sdg2005pix.htm