Nostalgic return to West Somerset for famous Beatles train

THE West Somerset Railway’s ‘mixed traffic weekend’ took place from Friday, June 15, to Sunday, June 17, taking the heritage back to the 1960s when diesel locomotives were replacing steam engines on British Railways.
Both steam and diesel engines featured at the head of trains during the event.
It was during the 1960s that what was then the Minehead branch of British Rail saw some of the most hectic scenes in its history as, in 1964, the Beatles first feature film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, was partially filmed on the line.
The locomotive which headed the filming train is still in existence and made a return to the West Somerset line for a headlining appearance during the mixed traffic event.
It is a Class ‘Hymek’ diesel and is one of four survivors of the 101 which were built in Manchester by Beyer Peacock between 1961 and 1963 for use on the Western Region of British Rail.
The sequence in the film in which the ‘Fab Four’ can be seen running alongside the train was filmed at Crowcombe Heathfield Station, as was one of Ringo Starr riding a bicycle along the platform.
Pictures of the scenes along the railway during the making of what was described as the ‘Citizen Kane of jukebox movies’ are featured in the book ‘Ticket To Minehead’, by Richard Derry and Alan and Christine Hammond, and published by Millstream Books which is on sale at WSR book shops.
WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said: “Given that the last Hymeks came out of service in the early 1970s when the thought of preserving diesel locomotives was a novel one, it is one of those quirks of railway history that D7076 has survived while 97 of the class have long since gone for scrap.
“It is normally based on the East Lancashire Railway, at Bury, but its return to the West Somerset brings back a part of the history of the branch line.”

• Our photograph shows the Beatles train D7076 back on the West Somerset Railway during the mixed traffic weekend. Photo submitted.

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.