News Archive for December 2012

Published on 30th December 2012

The West Somerset Railway held it's annual 'Winter Steam Festival' on the weekend of the 29th and 30th December 2012.

The event used most of the home fleet steam locomotives currently on the line. Many visitors ventured out to enjoy the sights and sounds of steam operating through the Somerset countryside in the blustery (and somewhat damp) conditions, which was a great way to get outside after the Christmas break. GWR Hall No. 6960 'Raveningham Hall' arrives into Blue Anchor with the 11:35 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard and Manor No. 7828 'Odney Manor' is captured on the turntable at Minehead being turned in preparation for it's next service train to Bishops Lydeard. The impressive line up of people around the turntable shows just how many enthusiasts and families attended the event.

Published on 10th December 2012

As we enter the final month of the 2012, it would appear that another popular freight flow could be about to cease operating.

It's thought that this Tuesday (11th December) will be the last Moorswater Cement from Earls Sidings/ Westbury operated by Freightliner Heavy Haul for Lafarge. Lafarge were supplying concrete to the Cornish outpost, but a joint venture between Tarmac & Lafarge is now seeing the redistribution of resources/ operations throughout the UK. It appears that Tarmac will now supply concrete from their Plymouth depot. The Moorswater cement has been operating by rail with Freightliner Heavy Haul since 2002, and although the flow has stopped previously for short periods it's been a great method of keeping lorry's off the UK road network. The switch to supplying Moorswater by road in 2013, will put over 1000 lorry's onto the A38 between Plymouth and Moorswater.