Firstly a very big thank you to everyone who attended the event which was a success. We will know before too long what the actual figures are for attendance and revenue.
Thanks to the owners of the visiting locomotives. Thanks to the Iron and Steel Group for bringing D9520 and Gordon for coming along with the loco.
Thanks to the East Lancs Diesel Group for bringing D832 and D7076, to the team Neil, Martin, Carl and others for coming down and driving the locos.
D1015 also attended at the head of a railtour on the Saturday from London Paddington courtesy of Past time rail and the DTG.
Victa Westlinks 47832 in its new colours was also present at Bishops Lydeard along with a class 31 in the old FM colours.
A massive thank you to the West Somerset Railway for agreeing to stage the event in particular Richard Jones for his hard work planning the event, Pat and Steve on the ground doing the shunting and organising at each end of the line and the staff in general.
The three visiting locos (9520, 832 and 7076) arrived on the Wednesday before the weekend. 9520 arrived about 08:30 with the East Lancs locos arriving in the mid afternoon.
On the Thursday the DMU diagram was worked 832 and 7076 to start with from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead where the warship was stabled before the Hymek worked the train back to Williton.
On arrival the Class 25 joined the fun and the pair hauled the 15:50 Williton-Minehead. The Class 25 worked the train back to Bishops Lydeard ready for start of service on Friday.
The Class 14 also worked through to Minehead to get in it position with sister loco D9526.
Friday morning dawned with the Class 14's, D1661, D832 and D7076 at Minehead, D1010 at Williton and D7523 at Bishops L. ready to start the service off.
The day went off very well with some good running from all the locos. D7076 was on the goods train in the morning.
Visitor numbers were quite high considering it was still a normal working day with many linesiders out taking photos as well.
The Saturday was very well attended with some real highlights such as the double headed Westerns (1010 and 1015) on the railtour from Minehead through to Lydeard where 1015 took the train through to the capital. Most of the trains were about 5 or 6 coaches long which is ideal for the length of most platforms on the railway. There was an 8 coach rake which was worked by different locos which really gave a good test up Washford and Crowcombe banks. Another highlight was the two class 14's running up and down to Blue Anchor and Dunster on shuttles top and tailed. The Class 03’s also worked this train to provide a bit of variety.
There were no major failures in traffic to report. On the Saturday a leaking pipe was found on the Warship so this loco was taken out of traffic for part of its diagram to allow a quick repair to be carried out by Martin, Martin, Pete and others. The 'thunderbird' D6566 Class 33 took over until the loco was ready to come back on the remainder of its diagram at Williton later in the day. You may have heard a strange noise coming from D1010 on a couple of the days, an exhaust valve has gone which will now be repaired.
Our diesel heritage shed was open throughout the weekend with plenty of visitors seeing some of the hard work that has gone into looking after the facilities and locos.
Saturday night saw an excellent barbeque organised by John Cronin, well attended, a great way to socialise with everyone after a few days hard work. Thanks John and others for doing the food & drink.
Sunday was another good day with two steam locos out and about as well as the Diesels due to fathers day.
The last trains were the Western and Warship from Bishops L through to Minehead. D1010 came off at Williton to go back on shed.
In the up direction D7523 worked the 18:30 Minehead through to Bishops L.
All in all a great weekend. It was planned that the locos would go back on Weds 20th.
Thanks to everyone for sending in your photos, keep them coming, they will be progressively uploaded as they arrive.
In the meantime we have the summer running to look forward to on the railway. Keep checking the website for details of additional diesel hauled trains.