West Somerset Railway | 'Spring Steam Spectacular' starring 61306 & 6990! - Sat-Mon 4th-6th May 2024

#steam #WitherslackHall #Mayflower
The long Bank Holiday weekend of Friday 3rd May to Monday 6th May would see the West Somerset Railway hold its annual 'Spring Steam Spectacular' Gala. For us we had not visited the West Somerset Railway since 2011, and is has long been on the list for us to return. The Bank Holiday weekend meant our son had three days off school of course, which gave us an opportunity to drive down on the Saturday and stay two nights, in Minehead Premier Inn (which wasn't even built last time we went!), giving us one full day at the event.
The Gala would be the biggest event the West Somerset Railway has put on since the Covid-19 pandemic, with 5 visiting engines joining 3 home fleet locos for 8 all together. Visiting this year was B1 no.61306 'Mayflower' from Locomotive Services in Crewe, a loco which would will now be based at Bishops Lydeard for the Summer to haul various railtours in the South West in 2024. She was joined by Coal Tank no.1054 from Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, 66xx no.6695 from Swindon and Cricklade Railway, Hall no.6990 'Witherslack Hall' from the Great Central Railway and Hunslet no.1873 'Jessie' from Blaenavon Railway. They joined home fleet Manor no.7828 'Odney Manor', WSR Mogul no.9351 and Pannier Tank no.9466.
The timetable over the four days would see a mix of full line, local services, semi fast express trains and demonstration goods trains with some trains double headed. On the Friday, Saturday and Monday 'Jessie' would be giving shunting demonstrations at Washford. One big advantage the West Somerset Railway has from a photographers point of view is the ability to turn locos at both ends, with a turntable at Minehead and a triangle at Norton Fitzwarren, and across the four days most services ran smokebox first and Minehead turntable providing an extra attraction watching locos being turned. Williton Diesel Depot was open to look round, and various diesels and newly arrived Std 4 no.80064 were available for cab visits. Also Taunton Model Railway Club's layout was available to view at Bishops Lydeard.
So to the weekend and over the course of the three days we managed to visit every station except Dunster and Norton Fitzwarren! We spent Saturday at Watchet, Washford and then Blue Anchor, watching trains from a variety of locations in some glorious spring weather. The couple of hours we spent in the afternoon at Blue Anchor, sat up on the picnic benches above the platform, were particually lovely. Sunday we had travel tickets, starting at Minehead and taking a trip to Bishops Lydeard and return, spending some time at Williton and Bishops Lydeard before doing some more filming at Minehead in the evening. On Monday I filmed the Coal Tank on the first train of the day as she past our hotel, before heading for Stogumber and then Crowcombe Heathfield before heading for home at 2pm.
We had a brilliant long weekend, huge thanks to everyone involved! The railway was very welcoming and all the stations were beautifully presented. Hopefully it won't be 13 years before we can return!
Photos...
www.flickr.com...
Locations and Locos...
1054 at Marsh Common, Minehead 06/05/24.
1873 & 61306 at Minehead 05/05/24.
9351 at Minehead 05/05/24.
61306 at Minehead 05/05/24.
7828 at Watchet 04/05/24.
6990 at Splash Point, Watchet 04/05/24.
61306 at Splash Point, Watchet 04/05/24.
9466 at Mineral Lane Bridge, Watchet 04/05/24.
7828 & 6990 at Williton 05/05/24.
61306 at Williton 05/05/24.
1873 at Williton 05/05/24.
7828 & 6990 at Williton 05/05/24.
9466 & 6695 at Woolston 06/05/24 x2.
9351 at Stogumber 06/05/24.
6990 at Stogumber 06/05/24.
1054 at Stogumber 06/05/24.
61306 at Crowcombe Heathfield 06/05/24.
1054 at Crowcombe Heathfield 06/05/24.
9466 & 6990 at Crowcombe Heathfield 06/05/24.
9466 at Bishops Lydeard 05/05/24.
9466 at Bishops Lydeard 05/05/24.
6990 at Bishops Lydeard 05/05/24.
7828 at Washford 04/05/24.
1873 at Washford 04/05/24.
9351 & 6990 at Washford 04/05/24.
1873 at Blue Anchor 04/05/24.
7828 at Blue Anchor 04/05/24.
61306 at Blue Anchor 04/05/24.
9351 at Blue Anchor 04/05/24.
6995 at Blue Anchor 04/05/24.
7828 at Minehead 05/05/24.
6990 at Minehead 05/05/24.
6990 at Marsh Common, Minehead 05/05/24.

[@JBTEvans]

This has to be my favourite video of the gala! You captured all the unusual angles so well, the business of Watchet platform with the headboard was great art, and you captured the atmosphere of Crowcombe, Stogumber ,Washford and Blue Anchor stations particularly well. The double shot of 6695+9466 was something a bit different! I also loved the sequence of 7828 leaving Minehead with the carriages crossing over from the bay to main and then the crossing going up with the people then crossing... very impressive video... well done!

[@alts1985]

Very kind thank you very much! I do like to try and include the human element alongside the trains, generally speaking I don't pan or zoom the camera much as I am taking stills as well so I try and include as many different scenes as possible. It is such a lovely line and we had a great three days, will hopefully be back next Spring! Thanks again for the kind comment Ashley