THE WEST SOMERSET STEAM EXPRESS - SATURDAY 24th JULY 2021

The West Somerset Steam Express

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 two steam locomotives to haul our train to Watchet and back. This provides a truly fascinating day out travelling through beautiful scenery to the Bristol Channel coast.

Scheduled to leave London Paddington at around 08:05, steam hauled by Jubilee class steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas (pic right) 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, passing 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 shall 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 two WSR steam locomotive will take over our train for the remainder of the journey to Watchet. The WSR runs along the edge of the Quantock Hills between Bishops Lydeard and Watchet where it meets the coast. From here passengers will have the option of remaining in Watchet for the afternoon, or travelling to either Dunster or Minehead by coach.

On arrival at Minehead, there will be around two hours to explore this delightful Bristol Channel seaside resort, where the railway station is close to the beach. Passengers will then return by coach to Watchet from where two WSR steam locomotives will haul our train back to Bishops Lydeard, where our main line steam locomotive will take over for the return journey to London Paddington.

ROUTE + TIMETABLE (BELOW)
[45596 Bahamas] London Paddington (pu) - Slough (pu) - Reading (pu) - Newbury (pu) - Westbury - Taunton - Bishops Lydeard [WSR Steam TBA] Bishops Lydeard - Minehead
[WSR Steam TBA] Minehead - Bishops Lydeard  [45596 Bahamas] Bishops Lydeard - Taunton - Westbury - Newbury (sd) - Reading (sd) - Slough (sd) - London Paddington

About The West Somerset Railway

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/
The West Somerset Railway a true country branch line of the old Great Western Railway is full of fascination whether you are looking for a nostalgic ride back in time through lovely countryside or to study the railway and industrial heritage which our line preserves. The historic steam locomotives, coaches and wagons, and the buildings of our ten unique stations linked by a twenty mile scenic journey will repay hours of exploration. The surrounding countryside is as varied as it is beautiful.

The gently rolling Quantock hills and distant Exmoor, unspoilt villages and farms nestling in leafy lanes, the cliffs and coast of the Bristol Channel with views of distant South-Wales, confident Church Towers, Dunster's imposing castle and Minehead's seaside charm are all waiting to be discovered. Honestly you would want to spend a weekend here to enjoy it all. It's come a long way since I used to visit here with my late father in the 1980's, and even sees occasional services through from Taunton now that the line is connect to GWR main line once more. Though regular steam services are still from Bishops Lydeard station through 20 miles of scenery to Minehead.