Sincere thanks for all the kind messages. It is much appreciated. I will overcome and be back.
Sincere thanks for all the kind messages. It is much appreciated. I will overcome and be back.
Member since:11.06.2004
Reviews:265
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Bright was the day and high our hearts when I set off on my voyage of discovery. Well O.K. it was dull and damp but the spirit was there. I was going off to play on the West Somerset Railway.
This is another preserved railway that runs from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead through some very nice country. It is some 19 3/4 miles in length passing through the Quantock hills and then along the coast to Minehead. This was another route engineered by Mr I K Brunel. It was originally in broad gauge. Some parts of the line were single with passing places and some double tracked. This line was closed during the Beaching reorganisation and many a local thought it should not have been.
When taken over for preservation it was made into single track for its whole length with passing places at some stations. Now due to increased volumes of traffic I understand that there are some plans it reinstate some of the double track.
There is a main line link to Taunton at Norton Fitzwarren. Again I understand that the company may run trains to there. It is not likely that trains will be run along the main line mainly due to the rather large costs involved. £6000 per engine and carriage for a 6 mth period I understand. So a 12 carriage train would cost £78,000 and as the company can run up to eight trains a day in peak season that would be £624,000. So it is likely that main line trains may run to Bishops Lydeard and passengers would transfer there.
The line climbs quite steeply from Bishops Lydeard to Crocombe and then falls to the coast at Watchet. Climbs again out of Watchet and
is completely straight from before Dunster to Minehead a distance I think of some 2 miles.
There are ten stations along this line, Starting at Bishops Lydeard you come to Crowcome Heathfield, Stogumber, Williton, Doniford Halt, (a request stop), Watchet, Washford, Blue Anchor, Dunster and Minehead. Journey time is 1hr 15 mins. Fares will reflect where you are actually going to. For an adult a return will cost £12.40 for total journey. They do have fares from any station to any other. More that I want to list. For senior citizens the fare is £11.20. however a day rover ticket for us oldies cost £10.60 Adult £12.40 and child £6.20. There may be seasonal changes so check it out on the company website for train times and fares.
I think it reasonable to mention that the company runs a no smoking policy on all trains, so all cigarette addicts will have to get one in first as they won't be able to smoke for the next hour.
Getting there. Minehead station is on sea front. Look for the brown signs. They are the standard type and will direct you to a station.
Bishops Lydiard is some 5 miles from Taunton. If travelling on M5, take junction 25 and look for the A358 and the brown signs. From the south take junction 26.
If going by rail then get to Taunton. Leave station and cross main road called Station Road with road under bridge. Look for bus stop 28a. You can get tickets for the train on this bus which is operated by First group. It is a small local bus that serves small villages. The bus runs about every hour and takes about 20 mins. It stops just opposite Bishops Lydeard station and you would use the same stop used when going back to Taunton. You do come on station unexpectedly so be ready to get out. You can ask the driver to remind you but they may forget. Free car parking at Bishops Lydeard, Dunster and Williton. Pay and Display at Minehead and Wartchet.
It has taken me a long time but I have realised what it was I liked about the older style of corridor carriage. Your compartment was separated from the rest of the carriage by a wooden wall. Yes there were 8 seats to a compartment and I seem to remember that people were better behaved in my youth. They probably weren't but that is how I remember it. There was also a window that you could open rather than the modern small things and air conditioning that doesn't always work.
In the modern open plan carriage there is nothing between you and the screaming kids or the shouting mobile phone user who is either trying to arrange a business meeting or discussing last night's performance. I sometimes wish to hold up the numbers that they have at the Olympics, 6.5 for performance, 10.00 for annoyance! And don't even think of asking them to be a little quieter. You will only get rudeness if you do not get assaulted.
On one journey, a small child had discovered the joys of speech. All he/she would say was "bug-ger" to anything and nothing. The doting parents did bothering so for many miles we were "Buggered"
Even with the older open plan carriage you had a very comfortable seat and sometimes a table. There was not always the room for a long legged person and in today's carriage there is never enough room for long legs. So it can be a pleasure to travel on the older preserved steam railways. The staffs always take a great deal of trouble and make sure that the carriage is clean! They are older and do take quite some maintenance. The seats can be very comfortable when well maintained and the springs have been kept in good condition. These branch lines do not have thousands to spend on the track so they will try and get it right first time. This can make for a smooth ride. You will get the 'click- click' as you go over rail junctions. But this is again a part of the nostalgia of the old railway.
Travelling on The West Somerset railway I noted again that there were several coaches of the older persons on day trips. They would board at one station and be collected at the other end some time later and then off to the next destination. There always seem to be more women than men on these trips.
Another traveller is the trip for the physically or mentally disadvantaged. I have noted that these always seem to be enjoyed by the participants though they can be hard work for the carers. Trips are usually arranged before so that the railway can make arrangements for wheelchair passengers. Generally they will have some form of ramp available to accommodate a wheelchair and also some carriage with a wider door also. I have found staff to be very helpful on these occasions.
Another frequent traveller is the enthusiast. Either what I would call a general enthusiast or a special enthusiast. The special knows about the line and the type of loco's that were used, the history and sometimes will travel miles to see a special engine.The general enthusiast is just pleased to be on a steam railway and will happily remember times past and other places.
My attention was drawn to the fact that the platform at Minehead is so long. I believe it is over 1/4 mile long, enough to have their own races on.
The Minehead station is only yards from the sea front, so a stroll across the road and you can look at the water or sand. Butlins is further down the road and there appears to be transport to and from. The seafront does not appear to have many attractions of the amusement arcade and chip shop variety. I did not travel into the town but contented myself with a meal and some looking and talking to staff about the railway and future plans.
The engine that took the train I was on was a preserved Somerset and Dorset 2-8-0 heavy goods loco. This has gone through a full restoration and is repainted in the Prussian Blue livery. Very smart. This class of loco were for the heavy goods trains over the Mendip hills to Bath. But they do make a very efficient passenger loco. There are several G W R locos and Diesel loco's in use and in storage.
Everything from the stations to the trains are clean and well cared for. This can be a very enjoyable day out.
One final but important point. If you are going, choose a fine day. There are some spectacular views to be had. The day I went was misty and rather damp so I missed a lot, so I will have to go again won't I.
Full details of train times, fares and directions are shown on the web site at..http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/ another good site is..http://www.wsr.org.uk/quick.htm
Again some of the vriteria do not appear to apply to a railway
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I too miss the corridor trains...they were still being used on the cross country route when I came to East Anglia. Lx
RICHADA 10.08.2006 11:36
A steaming good review there - with a longer line, rather more to remark on than the South Devon Railway. This one is news to me so was of considerable interest. Richard.
COOOEEE 08.08.2006 20:57
Woo woo. I have now booked my ticket for Friday from from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. I hope to take some pictures on the day so may write m own review on it one day. How will I cope without a cigarette for a whole hour Lol. I understand disabled passengers only pay half price. Fionaxx
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