The West Somerset Railway has always been a fav attraction of mine, despite not having been for a good few years it has plenty of memories of bygone days and it's really good excuse to make a trip up to Minehead and have a day on the beach.
So it's really great that now they've got a permanent connection to the main line at Taunton, even though they've not got their own platform there yet, a regular excursion venue is no surprise.
Later this month the West Somerset Steam Express will run another of their planned tours from London Paddington. Steam hauled by either Oliver Cromwell or Britannia and the tour departs London just after 8am and will arrive on the WSR metals some five hours later at Bishops Lydeard, a change of loco's there and then onwards to Minehead.
Outward Times including additional pick ups at Slough, Reading and Newbury;
London Paddington [08:06]
Slough [08:38]
Reading [09:16]
Newbury [10:06]
Bishops Lydeard [13:20]
Minehead [14:40]
After the final pick up at Newbury the tour continues westwards, travelling beside the scenic Kennet & Avon Canal, and climbing steadily to Savernake Summit. Passing through the Vale of Pewsey, view one of the famous Wiltshire White Horses as we approach Westbury, and continue through undulating agricultural countryside to Taunton where the tour leaves the railway network through Norton Fitzwarren and links up with the WSR.
On arrival at Bishops Lydeard the locomotive will be replaced by another one from the WSR for the journey up to Minehead. Similar on the run back later where the original steam loco will have been turned ready for the return run back to London.
I would have hoped for a bit longer at Minehead to have a good day there, but as the journey is about 6 hours each way there's not a lot of room for manoeuvre.
Return times
Minehead [17:15]
Bishops Lydeard [18:35]
Newbury [21:39]
Reading [22:10]
Slough [22:36]
London Paddington [23:21]
Getting back into town at this hour doesn't allow a lot of room for delays for those that need to make an onward journey home, if only the underground ran 24hrs at the weekends that would help ... but that's a bit of a sore point for some this week.
