Diesel and steam mix bringing back memories for Father's Day

MEMORIES should come flooding back in West Somerset this year for fathers and grandfathers who took an interest in the railways of the Westcountry during the 1960s.
For the West Somerset Railway is turning back the clock on its 20-mile line to 1965 for Father’s Day, June 17.
The heritage railway is holding a ‘Mixed Traffic Weekend’ from Friday, June 15, to Sunday, June 17, and will be reliving the period when British Railways was converting from steam to diesel power.
With this in mind, the majority of the trains will be hauled by vintage diesel locomotives, although there will also be two steam engines in action.
The diesel locomotives in service will be drawn from those in the collection of the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group, at Williton, and some guests hired in from other lines.
The ‘guests’ will include a ‘Warship’ Class D832 ‘Onslaught’, ‘Hymek’ D7076, and a Class 14 locomotive number D9520.
In addition, on the Saturday only, ‘Western’ Class D1015 ‘Western Champion’ will work an excursion train from Paddington on a tour by Past-time Rail and, before it returns home, will run a WSR service train between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard.
The home fleet will include ‘Western’ D1010 ‘Western Campaigner’, Class 14 D9526, Class 25 D7523, and the Class 47 locomotive D1661 ‘North Star’.
Shunting locomotives will also operate some shuttle services.
Among the museums which will be open along the line, the Diesel Heritage Centre, in Williton, will give an insight into the history of the development of diesel locomotives.
WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said: “We will have seven diesel hauled trains and four headed steam locomotives travelling over the line on Father’s Day and there is plenty of opportunity to alight at one of our stations and take in a walk and a lunch in a pub or restaurant along the way as well as riding the trains.
“And, for anybody who really remembers the 60s, there is the chance to alight at Crowcombe Heathfield for the site where Ringo rode the bicycle along the station platform in the Film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’.”
Full details of the Mixed Traffic Weekend can be obtained by telephoning 01643 704996 or visiting www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/mixedtraffic.html.

• Our photos show (top) a diesel engine and (below) a steam train which will be working on Father's Day. Photos submitted.