Excursions make a day to remember in heritage railway's history

ANOTHER ‘day to remember’ in the history of the West Somerset Railway occurred on Saturday, March 31, when for the first time the heritage line welcomed two mainline excursions to the branch line on the same day.
Kingfisher Railtours was the first to arrive with an excursion train from Eastleigh which arrived behind diesel locomotive 67020 and departed behind the 1926 built Southern Railway express locomotive number 850, ‘Lord Nelson’.
Departing in the early afternoon, the train passed at Blue Anchor a Nenta Tours special from Norwich, which was worked to and from Minehead by a Class 47 diesel locomotive.
Between them, the two excursions brought 526 passengers to Minehead, where they were able to enjoy time in and around the town on a sunny day.
WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said: “The two specials rounded off a hugely successful month for us which has also seen two other main line charters on and off the branch on March 10 and 24 and our most successful spring steam gala to date.
“Over the six days of the gala we carried over 10,000 passengers, and Saturday, March 24, was the busiest single day in our history with over 3,000 travelling.
“Nor should it be overlooked that many of the visitors to the galas stay in the area and that both gala visitors and excursionists visit local shops, pubs, and cafes and bring early season revenue into the area along the route of the West Somerset.
“We next welcome an excursion from Preston on April 14, while on April 28 another special train will leave Minehead for an excursion to York.
“Meanwhile we continue to operate our own services between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead and our evening programme of catering specials starts with a cancer charity fund-raising fish and chip special on May 5.”

• Our photograph (top) is by Alan Meade, showing steam locomotive 850 ‘Lord Nelson’ entering Bishops Lydeard Station on a Kingfisher Railtours journey to Eastleigh from Minehead.
• Our photograph (bottom) is by Brian Garrett and shows the Class 47 diesel locomotive at the junction at Norton Fitzwarren on a Nenta Train Tours trip from North Walsingham.