Eight in steam at big Minehead May gala

UP to eight engines are set up run during the West Somerset Railway’s May 3-6 gala weekend.

Joining the previouslyannounced LNWR Webb coal tank No. 1054 and BR B1 No. 61306 Mayflower is GWR 2800 heavy freight 2-8-0 No. 2807, courtesy of Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Returned to service last September after a swift overhaul, it will be the 2-8-0’s first venture away from the Cotswolds under its new boiler ticket.

A second locomotive also making its first venture away from home since overhaul will be GWR 0-6-2T No. 6695, from the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. It arrived at the WSR on February 23 on an extended loan and will return home in June.

Furthermore, new-build GWR No. 6880 Betton Grange has also been provisionally booked (see story opposite).

The home fleet will be represented by WR 0-6-0PT No. 9466, WSR mogul No. 9351, and WR 4-6-0 No. 7828

Odney Manor. Goods trains, shunting demonstrations, local and express services, and double-heading are all billed to feature, with the triangle at Norton Fitzwarren and turntable at Minehead being used so as to have as many services as possible with locomotives running smokebox first.

Immediately afterwards, GWR enthusiasts will be further spoiled for choice, with Didcot Railway Centre’s 50th anniversary event and the Bluebell Railway’s branch line gala weekend both running on May 10-12. The Didcot event is set to see GWR 0-4-2T No. 1466 return to service following its overhaul at the WSR.

Meanwhile, at the Bluebell, Severn Valley-based 0-6-0PT No. 7714 will join fellow guests GWR pannier No. 1369, which is visiting from the South Devon Railway, and SVR shedmate No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor, which will then head to the WSR for the summer months on extended loan.