WestSomersetRailway
by Hugh Williams · 13th September 2016
Ex-LMS 4F class 0-6-0 No. 44422 departs Dunster as it heads the 10.15 service from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard on 8th August 2016.
Ex-LMS 4F class 0-6-0 No. 44422 arrives at Blue Anchor as it heads the 10:15 service from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard on 10th August 2016.
With Conygar Tower, a folly built as a landmark for shipping in 1775 at Dunster dominating the background Ex-LMS 4F class 0-6-0 No. 44422 approaches Blue Anchor as it heads the 10.15 service from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard on 11th August 2016.
- Ex-LMS 4F class 0-6-0 No. 44422 approaches Blue Anchor as it heads the 10.15 service from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard on 11th August 2016.
Ex-LMS 4F class 0-6-0 No. 44422 heads the 10:15 service from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard past Castle Hill on the steep climb from Williton to Crowcombe Heathfield on 11th August 2016.
After going most mornings to photograph the first train of the day from Minehead, Friday dawned bright and sunny, the only morning of the week that was actually sunny that early. So, off out again in anticipation of a full sun shot of the now regular LMS 4F only to be confronted by a loco change and tender first running. Sod’s law, I suppose, as LMS 7F 2-8-0 No. 53808 departs Minehead as it heads the 10.15 service from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard on 12th August 2016.
Class 33 Crompton No.D6575 (33057)runs alongside the coastal path as it departs Watchet with the 13.20 from Minehead to Williton service on 7th August 2016.
Class 33 Crompton No.D6575 (33057) departs Watchet with the 13.20 from Minehead to Williton service on 7th August 2016.
Ex-LMS 4F class 0-6-0 No. 44422 departs Watchet as it heads the 14.25 service from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard on 7th August 2016.
Ex GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 No. 7828 Odney Manor runs tender first towards Dunster on 11th august 2016 with the 14.35 from Bishop Lydeard to Minehead. The photo was taken from the grounds of Dunster castle looking across the Bristol Channel with south wales just visible across the water.
Ex GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 No. 7828 Odney Manor waits for the semaphore signal on the gantry to clear at Minehead ready for it to work the 12.30 service to bishop Lydeard on 10th August 2016.
Ex GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 No. 7828 Odney Manor after arriving at Bishop Lydeard with the 12.30 service from Minehead on 10th August 2016.
S&DJR Fowler 2-8-0 Class 7F No. 53809 blasts up the last few yards of the 1in 129 climb to Washford station with the 15.25 from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard on 10th August 2016.
Williton diesel depot on 10th August 2016 had class 14 No.D9526, Class 47 No.D1661 (47840), Class 33 Nos. D6575 (33057) and D6566 (33048) and Class 52 Western No.D1010 present while the day's services were all in the capable hands of the line's steam locos.
- Ex LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 44422 takes a day of work and rests on Minehead shed at the West Somerset Railway after working two round trips each day of the week prior to this day on 12th August 2016.
Shed staff take a breather as GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 No. 4936 Kinlet Hall sits in the shed area at Minehead on 12th August 2016 and faces class mate No. 6960 Raveningham Hall which is seen tucked away in the shed.
Parked up at the buffer stops at the west end of Minehead station with a display banner appealing for donations is GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T Large Prairie No. 4110 as it awaits restoration at its new home on 6th August 2016.
Minus its engine and bonnet bodywork Class 04 shunter No. D2271 stands in a siding at Minehead station on 10th August 2016.
The West Somerset Railways class 115 DMU Nos. 51859, 59678 and 51880 leaves a smoke screen over Minehead as it departs with the last train of the day the 17.15 to Bishop Lydeard on 12th August 2016.
S&DJR Fowler 2-8-0 Class 7F No. 53808 rolls towards Minehead with the last westbound train of the day the 16.20 from Bishop Lydeard to Minehead on 12th August 2016.
A few miles further west along the coast we find the the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway. Opened on Easter Monday 1890 after a couple of years being built, it rises 500ft from the harbour town of Lynmouth up to Lynton. The railway runs by using water as the balancing weight in the cars. More information and technical details can be found on their website at http://www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk/ . Here one of the cars is seen arriving at the lower station of Lynmouth on the 8th August 2016.
A view taken from 2/3 up on the climb to Lynton looking out across the Devon coast line towards West Somerset. Notice where the track separates at the half way point where the two cars pass.

