AT LAST – CAMELOT VISITS WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY
BR Standard ‘5MT’ No. 73082 Camelot finally made its debut on the West Somerset Railway September 27-30 – a year after the Riddles 4-6-0 was originally meant to visit.
Just across the county border from the L&B’s gala the same weekend, the ‘Standard Five’ made its first visit away from its Bluebell Railway base in preservation for the WSR’s ‘cross-country’-themed event. It was scheduled to attend the railway’s autumn gala last year, but had to withdraw because the 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society was “not able to complete the arrangements in good time prior to the departure of the locomotive”.
The event had a distinct Somerset & Dorset theme, with Camelot – which traversed the Bath-Bournemouth route in steam days – double-heading with resident ‘7F’ No. 53808, recreating classic S&D scenes as the locomotives climbed Washford bank.
Llangollen Railway-based BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80072 was the gala’s second visiting Standard. It was a last-minute stand-in for Swanage Railway-based classmate No. 80104, which was needed to cover the ‘Purbeck Line’s’ services after the failure of ‘T9’ No. 30120 (see separate story).
The Standards were joined by visiting ‘Manors’ Nos. 7820 Dinmore Manor and 7822 Foxcote Manor, rebuilt ‘West Country No. 34046 Braunton (running as ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34052 Lord Dowding) and Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-2T No. 41312, but ‘S160’ No. 6046 failed and did not take part. In action from the home fleet was ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6960 Raveningham Hall.