STEAM RAILTOURS RETURN - WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS SATURDAY 25th JULY

With various easing of lock down measures now coming into effect we hope to see the return to some of the heritage railways, and rail-tours too. This is one I would have really wanted to get on board with as it would take us up to the West Somerset Railway, and a return trip to Minehead where I've not been for well over 30 years now. Last time here was a family holiday with my late father, and although I don't remember much of the railway, the smell of steam action never leaves you and from the recent pictures it appears they have really improved things here. A permanent connection to the mainline at Taunton surely cannot be that far away, they do have an improved connection here though and regular excursions and visiting locomotives have been a feature in Somerset for some years now. 

The West Somerset Steam Express
Saturday 25th July 2020
This series of trains from London Paddington to Minehead features haulage by two steam locomotives in one day. An express steam locomotive will haul our train from London Paddington to the West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard. The Heritage Railway will then provide a steam locomotive to haul our train to Minehead and back. This provides a truly fascinating day out travelling through beautiful scenery to the Bristol Channel coast.
We leave London Paddington at around 08:05, steam hauled by Princess Coronation class steam locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland and stop at Slough and Reading to pick up more passengers. At Reading we join the Berks and Hants line which runs through picturesque rural countryside. We pass the celebrated Newbury Racecourse before making our final stop for passengers at Newbury station. We continue westwards, travelling beside the tranquil Kennet & Avon Canal, and climbing steadily to Savernake Summit. We pass through the Vale of Pewsey, with views of one of the famous 'Wiltshire White Horses' as we approach Westbury and continue through undulating agricultural countryside to Taunton.

Soon after leaving Taunton, we arrive at Norton Fitzwarren, where we transfer to the West Somerset Railway (WSR), the longest Heritage Railway in the country. We continue to Bishops Lydeard, where a WSR steam locomotive will take over our train for the remainder of the journey to Minehead. The WSR runs along the edge of the Quantock Hills between Bishops Lydeard and Watchet where it meets the coast. The line then turns inland to Washford and returns to the coast at Blue Anchor, passing near to Dunster with its magnificent castle, and terminating at Minehead.
On arrival at Minehead, there will be more than two hours to explore this delightful Bristol Channel seaside resort, where the railway station is close to the beach. A WSR steam locomotive will haul our train from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, where our main line steam locomotive will take over for the return journey to London Paddington. The train will stop at Newbury, Reading and Slough to set down passengers on the return journey.

Approximate timings shown

Station	Outward	Return
London Paddington	08:05	23:20
Slough	08:40	22:35
Reading	09:15	22:10
Newbury	10:05	21:40
Bishops Lydeard	13:00	19:05
Minehead	14:40	17:15