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West Somerset Railway 'Autumn Steam Gala' - 30/09/11 - Part 2

691 views · Published 3 October 2011 · 16:30 · Indexed 20 October 2026

Channel: Speed To The West · 2011 · Autos & Vehicles

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A visit to the West Somerset Railway for their annual Autumn Steam Gala on Friday 30th September. Ten locomotives were due to be operating throughout the gala, six from the home fleet and four visiting locomotives. The weather was glorious with full sun throughout the whole day, as well as being baking hot!

Locos operational throughout the gala were:

From the home fleet:

 - S&DJR Class 7F 2-8-0 no.88
 - WSR 'Mogul' 2-6-0 no.9351
 - BR(W) 5101 Class 'Large Prairie' 2-6-2T no.4160 (Standby loco on Friday. Doesn't feature in any video.)
 - GWR 4575 Class 'Small Prairie' 2-6-2T no.5553 (Standby loco on Friday)
 - GWR 2884 Class 2-8-0 no.3850
 - BR(W) 7800 Class 4-6-0 no.7828 'Norton Manor' (aka 'Odney Manor')

Visiting locos:

 - GNR N2 Class 0-6-2T no.1744 (Doesn't feature in any video)
 - SR 'Battle Of Britain' Class 4-6-2 no.34070 'Manston'
 - GWR 4575 Class 'Small Prairie' 2-6-2T no.5542 (Worked an hourly Minehead - Dunster auto shuttle service on Friday)
 - GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 no.5029 'Nunney Castle' (Doesn't feature in any video. Failed on the Friday with a fractured lubrication pipe, it has also been found that there was a failure of an axlebox oil filter spout. As such she was withdraw from the gala completely)

SR 'West Country' Class 4-6-2 no.34046 'Braunton' could also be seen in light steam at Washford Station.

Shots included in this video are:

 - 5542 arriving at and departing Dunster on the auto shuttle.
 - 34046 in light steam at Washford Station, gleaming in the sun shine.
 - Replacing 5029, 9351 storms up the steep gradient of Washford Bank which can be as steep as 1:65, 9351 can be heard exchanging whistles with 34046.
 - 34070 exchanging whistles with 34046 as she rolls into Washford Station.
 - 34070 departs Washford.
 - 5553 charging up Washford Bank on what was supposed to be 9351's train.
 - 5553 seen at Leigh Bridge. We originally went there to see 7828 so I had set up on the other side of the bridge then we heard something coming which happened to be 5553 coming from the other side, running very late. We then went to Leigh Woods crossing to see 7828 instead, after a long wait and nothing happening we were told by a passer by that 5553 was stuck on the bottom of the bank coming up to Crowcombe Heathfield Station. We then heard rail detonators in the distance which meant a loco was coming down to help her. After a rush we got to Crowcombe Heathfield to find 9351 hauling 5553 and her train up the bank so was pretty much a jump out of the car and press record job. 5553's tanks would then be replenished with water by the local fire brigade. And breathe...
 - After all the calamities 7828 is seen departing Crowcombe Heathfield, now running very late indeed.
 - 88 is seen climbing up past Leigh Bridge. Due to having to shoo of some pheasants on the narrow road to the bridge we got there a bit late so 88 was already in view when we got there so had to hastily set up and record. We had planned to see 5542 there on the Auto train, the last train of the day but after an hour of waiting nothing had turned up and the light had all gone so we gave up and headed off home.

Filmed on a Panasonic HDC-HS60 HD Camcorder

Enjoy

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