News Archive for March 2026

Published on 29th March 2026

Fifty years ago, following the 1971 closure of the Minehead branch, the quiet silence along the line was broken by a bold vision: to resurrect twenty-odd miles of West Country branch line between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead.

As the West Somerset Railway (WSR) celebrates its 50th Anniversary, we look back through the photographic lens and Taunton Trains archive to reveal the staggering transformation from a derelict closed railway into the UK’s longest standard-gauge heritage railway and major tourist attraction.

Early black and white images capture the dereliction and show the volunteers who returned the line to service. Small locomotives like the Bagnall 0-6-0ST ‘Victor’ and early diesel shunters moved the first passenger trains; these were the grassroots operations of the railway against a landscape of rotting sleepers and stations needing restoration. Today, those same platforms—from the seaside charm of Minehead to the rural bustle of Bishops Lydeard—have been restored to pristine condition by the hard work over the last 50 years.

However, the journey hasn’t been without its struggles. The modern WSR operates in a world vastly different from 1976. Navigating rigorous Office of Rail and Road (ORR) safety regulations requires a level of professional management that far exceeds the "hobbyist" roots of the seventies. Furthermore, the global shift away from fossil fuels has made sourcing high-quality steam coal both difficult and expensive, forcing the railway to innovate with alternative fuels and efficient firing techniques.

Despite the modern pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, the WSR remains a living museum. The sight of a GWR Manor class steam engine or a heritage "Hymek" diesel powering through the Quantock Hills is a testament to five decades of determination, proving that even a "closed" line can have an infinite future.

Don’t forget you can enjoy many more images from the West Somerset Railway in our galleries hosted on Taunton Trains. West Somerset Railway. Heritage Diesel and Visiting Diesel Gallery . WSR Archive, The Reg Jones Collection, and our 'Then and Now' Gallery also contains WSR comparision images.

Published on 28th March 2026

The West Somerset Railway (WSR) celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2026, marking a half-century since the legendary "reopening" in 1976.

This milestone was marked on the 28th/ 29th March 2026 with an Anniversary Weekend Gala and events. The milestone honours the vision of founding members and the dedicated volunteers of the West Somerset Railway Association, who refused to let the former GWR branch line fade into history after its 1971 closure.

What began as a short shuttle from Minehead to Blue Anchor has evolved into the longest heritage railway in England, stretching 20 miles to Bishops Lydeard. The early steam fleet consisted of 0-6-0T Bagnalls No.2886 'Victor'and No.2884 'Vuclan'. These Bagnall 0-6-0 saddle tanks were the workhorses of the reopening era. Saved from the Austin car plant at Longbridge, Victor famously hauled the very first test runs in December 1975 and the inaugural passenger train in March 1976, which was recreated by the West Somerset Railway for the 2026 celebrations. GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tank arrived in 1976 and became a household name as the star of the TV series ‘The Flokton Flyer’. It was the first "true" Great Western engine on the preserved line and remains a symbol of the WSR's early identity. Other locomotives also followed as they were restored/ saved and moved to the line. GWR 2-6-2 No.5572 A small prairie 2-6-2 tank engine was a quintessential branch line locomotive. It was uniquely fitted with auto-gear for push-and-pull working, making it a perfect fit for the WSR's early operations. No.53808 Representing the beloved Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, this heavy 2-8-0 freight locomotive arrived at Washford in 1976. After a lengthy restoration, it became one of the line's most iconic performers as the first big tender locomotive to operate over the steep gradients with the same power it once used on the "Main Line" to Bournemouth. GWR 0-6-0 No.3205 was the sole survivor of the "2251" Class 0-6-0s. 3205 brought a touch of mainline GWR history to the line. Its simple, robust design was exactly what the early volunteers needed for reliable passenger service. The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group ensured diesel hydraulic traction was represented from the start with No.D7017 and No.D7018 Class 35 Hymeks. D7017 was one of the first mainline diesels preserved in the UK, arriving in 1975. Together with its sister D7018, these "Maybach"-powered machines became synonymous with the Diesel Gala culture that still thrives on the line today.

The WSR’s achievements are immense: they have restored dozens of locomotives, preserved historic stations like Dunster and Crowcombe Heathfield, and become a vital engine for Somerset's tourism and economy.

From its humble beginnings as a grassroots rescue mission to its status as a premier heritage destination, the WSR remains a living testament to British engineering and the enduring power of community spirit. Here is to 50 years of steam through the Quantocks.

To view the gallery, please click here.

Published on 27th March 2026

Engineering trains returning from a week-long engineering blockade on the Barnstaple / Okehampton route operated through Taunton on the 27th March 2026, returning to Westbury.

The empty trains had delivered fresh ballast to the work site via Network Rail Autoballaster wagons. Heavy Haul Rail Class 66/5 No.66550 is pictured climbing Whiteball Bank running 240 minutes late. The loco was operating a rake of empty Network Rail Autoballasters having completed a ballast drop in Devon. The train operated as 6F04 07:00 Cowley Bridge Junction to Westbury.

With three locomotives captured on one train GBRf pairing formed of consecutively numbered No. 66717 'Good Old Boy ' and No. 66716 'Locomotive & Carriage Institution Centenary 1911-2011' climb Whiteball with Healy Haul Rail Class 66/9 No. 66957 'Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909-2009' on the rear. The locos were operating a combined train (with 6F02 having been cancelled) as 6F03 08:58 Cowley Bridge Junction to Westbury, running 280 minutes late on the 27th March 2026.