‘4F’ PAIRING FOR WEST SOMERSET SPRING GALA
The ‘Midland’ takeover of the West Somerset Railway will be underlined in april - as the GWR branch becomes the first in preservation to offer the typical combination of double-headed ‘4Fs’. The WSR has secured Midland-built No. 43924 from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for its Spring Gala, only the 0-6-0’s second visit to another preserved line. Former Somerset & Dorset example No. 44422 is already a working Minehead resident. Although three of the four surviving ‘4Fs’ have steamed in preservation (No. 44123 remains under long-term restoration at the Avon Valley Railway) their paths have never crossed. However, double-heading of Nos. 43924 and 44422 will re-create what was once an everyday sight under the Midland and LMS ‘small engine’ policy. Derby-built No. 43924 is known to have visited Bridgwater - just across the Quantock Hills from the WSR - in BR days, when its final home shed of Bristol Barrow Road took over freight workings following the closure to steam of St Philip’s Marsh in 1964. Minehead will be the closest No. 43924 has been to Barry since it became the first locomotive rescued from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard in 1968. A second Derby design pairing will be provided by both surviving SDJR ‘7F’ 2-8-0s, resident No. 53808 and on-loan No. 53809 meaning LMS locomotives currently outnumber GWR machines on the gala roster by two to one. Swindon representatives are ‘Large Prairie’ No. 5199, making a return visit from the Llangollen Railway, and resident ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6960 Raveningham Hall. Two more guest locomotives, one of which is understood to be of GWR origin, remain to be confirmed. The gala is on April 27-30, having been moved from its traditional March dates due to the re-laying of Minehead station throat and Seaward Way level crossing during the early part of the year.