CAMELOT AND BRAUNTON FOR WSR ‘CROSS COUNTRY’ GALA
BR ‘5MT’ 4-6-0 No. 73082 Camelot and SR ‘West Country’ No. 34046 Braunton are expected to attend the West Somerset Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala on September 27-30. Subject to signing of a final contract, the ‘Standard Five’ will be making its first visit away from its Bluebell Railway base, while the rebuilt Bulleid ‘Pacific’ (still running as No. 34052 Lord Dowding) is confirmed as a visitor from early August to the end of October, helping to alleviate the WSR’s locomotive shortage (see Roster). The duo will give a strong Somerset & Dorset flavour to the event, which aims to recreate cross-country workings of the steam era. Ironically, both were originally lined up for the WSR’s ‘Bath and Beyond’ event last October, but were unavailable. Camelot is currently undergoing repairs at Sheffield Park following an incident on April 17 at Kingscote, when its pistons and cylinder covers were cracked. It is also understood that its owning group wishes it to be moved to the WSR by rail rather than road, and this is being explored. Rescued from Barry in October 1979 and returned to steam in October 1995, Camelot has only ever run at the Bluebell Railway in preservation. Its most recent overhaul was completed in October 2015. Originally restored from Barry scrapyard condition at the WSR and now part of the Locomotive Services Ltd stable, ‘No. 34052’ will form the WSR’s contribution to this year’s RAF centenary celebrations. It will be rostered for the 11.15 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead and 3.15pm return trains on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout August, using the turntable during its layover at Minehead.