"Welcome ye friends of progress!"   The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust History • Education • Preservation   The Trust • The Sleeping Car • Heritage Carriages Project • The Museum • Publications • More... Latest News Monday 22 May 2009 The Heritage Carriages Project moving forward The Heritage Carriages Project is firmly moving forward. We have accepted the initial quote of Colin Worrall at Crewe to begin work on 6705. This first phase will consist of erecting a weatherproof structure around the coach and beginning to remove exterior panels to see how much work will be required. We are very pleased that Walt Denning has agreed to act as the Trust’s project manager at Crewe. We now have four coaches stood in the yard at Williton and one in the Swindon shed. A further vehicle stands at Williton and two more in Minehead yard. We have offers of further coaches, but storage space is short and we may need to rationalise the vehicles we have. This will be determined by the coach catalogue and survey mentioned below. The search has now started to fill other project roles: fundraiser to help us with the lottery bid and to help us apply for other grants and corporate sponsorship to help the project progress. general project manager to scope and prepare project plans, costs and schedules to support the bids for funding work coordinator and caretaker for the five coaches at Williton. Help required: In order to speed the work at Crewe, we are looking for a small team of volunteers who will be able to undertake unskilled or semi-skilled work on 6705 under the supervision of Walt and Colin. If you are able to get to Crewe regularly and would like to help, please email us on info@wssrt.co.uk in the first instance. It is now important that we raise the profile of the project to build maximum support. One important event is the WSRA Transport Rally held at Norton Fitzwarren on 1 and 2 August 2009. We have been offered a small publicity stand at the rally. The Trust now needs to borrow some display boards, have them erected on the site and then further help to man the stand during the two days of the show. We can supply graphics and if you can help, please email us on info@wssrt.co.uk Once work has started on 6705, the next biggest job will be to catalogue and survey the coaches we have in order to see which ones we take forward next. This project is key for the West Somerset Railway and we have the full support of the company and the Association with which we are working very closely. The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust Team Latest News Saturday 30 May 2009 News about the Project The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust is pleased to announce that the first phase of its flagship Heritage Carriages Project is complete. The Trust has now acquired sufficient ex-GWR coaches to enable restoration to begin. The first phase of the project was master-minded by Robin White and the Trust directors are very grateful for Robin’s enthusiastic help in achieving this task. The second phase of the project will see The Trust, in cooperation with the West Somerset Railway PLC and the West Somerset Railway Association begin restoration of the coaches. The heritage coaches project will be managed by a tri-partite committee with two representatives each from the Trust, WSRA and the WSR PLC. The committee members are: Ian Coleby (WSSRT Director) Chairman of the committee Chris Dowrick (Chairman of WSSRT) Mark Smith (chairman of WSR PLC) Roger Lizars (WSR PLC) David Holmes (Chairman of WSRA) Don Bishop (WSRA) The Committee is now urgently searching for volunteers to fill the following crucial roles: Project Manager Fund Raiser Project Manager – Crewe Project Manager – Williton It is anticipated that the people in these roles will join the project committee as well as representatives from the volunteers involved in restoration. The Coaches The project has a number of coaches either already in Trust ownership or which have been offered to us. These include a number of ex-GWR toplight and Collet coaches. The main aim of the project is to restore a set of 7 coaches (plus a brake vehicle). Inevitably, this rake of coaches will be a mix of both toplights and Collets. Over time, it may be possible to expand the number of coaches, though this is dependent on the fund raising that must take place. The flagship coach of the project is Collet 6705 that was repatriated from the US last year and is now standing at Crewe. This coach is almost complete, even still including the original framed pictures in the compartments. The project is now intent on restoring this coach to traffic as soon as possible, and initial investigations indicate that the work could be completed in a year. Next Steps The first task of the committee is to appoint the volunteers needed to take the work forward. Secondly, it is important to complete a survey of all the coaches in the project to determine the best restoration route for each one. Thirdly, we want to begin the work on 6705 as quickly as possible. Finally, we must begin to raise the considerable sums needed to return the coaches to traffic. This is a very important project for the railway. For more than 30 years the railway has carried train loads of visitors over the picturesque Quantock hills and alongside the beautiful West Somerset coast line on its workhorse fleet of British Rail Mk 1 coaches. During that time, a fleet of steam locomotives has been restored to working order and the time is now right to create the fleet of ex-GWR coaches to run behind them. Latest News Tuesday 19 May 2009 News about the Project The WSSRT AGM was held last Sunday in the Gauge Museum at Bishop's Lydeard. There was a record turn-out of members at the meeting, which reflects the current interest in the Trust's high-profile Heritage Carriages Project. Chairman of the Trust, Chris Dowrick, outlined where the project had now reached. Chris explained that the resignation of Robin White earlier in the year as project manager had left the Trust with a big hole to fill. Robin has energetically pursued the project, he had tirelessley travelled the country viewing and acquiring coaches and achieved the repatriation of 6705 from USA. This first phase of the project is now over and the second phase, the actual restoration, could begin. In order to manage this, the Trust has formed a sub-committee which has representatives from the WSR PLC, WSRA as well as the WSSRT. The committee met for the first time on Friday and is now actively seeking other members. Chris was pleased to announce at the AGM that Ian Coleby had been appointed chairman of the sub committee. The first priority of the project is to return 6705 to traffic and steps will be taken as quickly as possible to start this work with the hope that 6705 could be back running as early as next year. The sub-committee is now working on a full press release which should be issued in the near future. Following a presentation to the WSSRT AGM to mark the launch of the next phase of the Heritage Carriage Project, harnessing the combined resources of the WSSRT, the WSR Plc and the WSRA, several trust members adjourned to Williton to view the carriages assembled there and the start of work already made to toplight 3639. Picture by Mike Dunse. Latest News Tuesday 7 April 2009 The Sponsored Railway Walk The Ten Mile Walk along the West Somerset Railway which took place in November was proved a fine fundraiser. The Walk, in aid of the "Heritage Carriages Project" and the "St Margarets Hospice, Somerset", raised a total of £5,500. After looking at each sponsor form and the wishes of those sponsoring the walkers, a total of £1,700 was raised for the St. Margarets Hospice, and £3,800 for the Heritage Carriages Project. Organiser Mike Webber and Ian Coleby from the West Somerset Steam Trust, organised a small gathering in which the 1st prize of the Hornby locomotive, was given to the person who raised the most sponsorship money, with the runners up receiving some bottles of wine at Bishops Lydeard Station on Saturday 21 March. A cheque was presented to Diana Davies, Fundraising Manager from the St Margarets Hospice. Once again, organiser Mike Webber wishes to thank all those who sponsored a walker or who took part in the event, for making it such a runaway success. Latest News Friday 6 March 2009 An Update from Claire Sheppy There will only be one working party date on 3639, for the Heritage carriages project in April, which will be on April 25th from 10-30 am to 4-30 pm at Williton. Many thanks to those who made contact concerning a drawing board, this has all been brought to a very satisfactory conclusion now, including having a really good drawing board to be able to use at Williton for anyone who needs to use it. Thanks are especially due to the people who arranged to have this transported from Hursley to Williton. Work on 3639 continues steadily, there are now two doors which have been completely refurbished (there are 16 in total), also Dick Whittington, who spends quite a lot of his time working on the new Bulleid tender, has removed the buffers from the underframe at the Bishop's Lydeard end of the coach, as one of the steps towards preparing the underframe for further treatment Latest News Friday 6 March 2009 Drawing Board Claire Sheppy writes "We have been offered a professional drawing board and stand which in conjunction with Gareth Winter of the West Somerset Restoration team I have arranaged to be able to have for both the WSSRT team members and members of the West Somerset Restoration Team to be able to use in the Office in the former concrete works site at Williton. It is currently at Hursley (five miles south west of Winchester) but is too big to be brought to Williton by car. Is there anyone with a lorry or van (or motor caravan) who is planning on coming down to the WSR in the fairly near future who would be prepared to call to collect it and then bring it to Williton please? If so could you please reply with contact info to the WSSRT email address at info@wssrt.co.uk " Film Night Due to circumstances beyond the control of the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust the film show that was to be held at Crowcombe on 28 March has been cancelled. Refunds will be made as soon as possible to ticket holders. The Steam Trust apologise for the cancellation and hope to be able to arrange film events in the future. The film night was to be held on the second Saturday of the Spring Steam Gala. Latest News Monday 23 February 2009 Claire Sheppy writes... Heritage Carriages Project March working parties on Toplight coach 3639 at Williton will be on the following dates: March 7th 10:30am until 4:30pm 21st March 10:30am until 4:30pm Many thanks to those of you who contacted me via the W S S R T concerning a drawing board, I had several offers, and have contacted each of you individually. As a result we now have a suitable drawing board for me to use at home, and also one which will end up being available to use at Williton, both by the West Somerset Restoration team and myself as necessary. We now just await delivery, but these boards are fairly big and not that easy to transport, so we understand that people will need to bring them as and when they can. During the Spring Steam Gala, the Swindon shed at Williton will be open on both Saturdays, 21st and 28th March, and Sundays 22nd and 29th March. Because Saturday the 21st is a Scheduled working party, visitors will be able to visit 3639 to see the progress there and ask questions, but also on Saturday the 28th of March, David Stockwell will be on hand to show people the work carried out to date, and on Sunday 29th March I will be on hand, however if anyone would like to volunteer to steward on Sunday 22nd March, (which incidentally happens to be Mothering Sunday), I will be pleased to hear from you. Latest News Friday 13 February 2009 The West Somerset Railway Walk which took place last November has raised over £5000 in sponsor money, collected by the Walkers that took part. From receiving all the Sponsor forms, those that were giving money and sponsoring a walker had the choice of giving all their money donated to the Heritage Carriages Project,or divided equally between the project and the St Margarets Hospice Trust. From looking at the wishes of each sponsor the money raised for the Heritage Carriages Project on the 30th January was slightly over £3,300, and for the St Margarets Hospice, just over £1,700. There has been a number of cheques received since that time and this will be added to the totals. The three prize winners for raising the most sponsorship money have been identified and will be contacted shortly with a presentation to follow. Organiser Mike Webber wants to thank again all those Walkers who took part and collected the money but also the Sponsors who contributed generously to two worthy causes. Latest News Tuesday 27 January 2009 Ian Coleby advises that the meeting at Ruishton Inn on 31 January has been postponed. Watch this space for a new date... Latest News Saturday 24 January 2009 Claire Sheppy writes "Heritage Carriage No 3639 working parties for February are scheduled for Saturday February 14th from 10:30am until 4:30pm at Williton and Saturday February 21st from 10:30am until 4:30pm at Williton." "Also, here is another reminder that there will be a presentation by Robin White assisted by other members of the team, on 31st January, details of which can be found elsewhere on this website." "This is an opportunity for anyone who has any thoughts or suggestions to make them. This project as a whole is as ambitious as many that the West Somerset Railway has tackled, I myself think back to 1976 when the West Somerset Railway first started running services on the Minehead branch, and remembering people saying that to re-open the whole of a 20 mile long branch line was as good as impossible. Fortunately they were not right. I also understand that some people have voiced their thoughts that this project was likely to divert funds from other, in their opinion, more worthwhile projects. I also know that there are people who can see just how worthwhile a project this particular one actually is, and who are prepared to contribute to the Heritage coaches project, whereas they would not be prepared to contribute to other projects on the railway." "I would therefore urge anyone with any thoughts and suggestions to come to this particular meeting, or failing that to put any thoughts in writing to Robin White and the team via the W S S R T website, prior to the meeting so that they may be raised at it." "I am also searching for a larger drawing board than the A3 one that I have at present. Ideally I need an A0 size drawing board preferably complete with stand. If anyone has one of these which they would be prepared to either donate or to sell to me at a reasonable cost, or knows someone who might have one, could you please get in touch with me via the WSSRT e-mail address info@wssrt.co.uk" "We already have an A0 plan chest available at Williton, which I shall be repairing and reassembling over the next month or so. I hope to be able to give an update on the drawing situation for the coaches at the meeting on 31st January." And Ian Coleby adds: "Can I also remind you of the Trusts Film evening. On Saturday 28 March 2009 (the second Saturday of the Spring Gala) the West Somerset Steam Trust will be holding a film night at Crowcombe village hall in aid of the Heritage Carriages Project. The Bar will be open from 6.30 and at 7.30 we will be showing the classic film: 'The Train' with Burt Lancaster. Made in 1964 with full co-operation of French Railways, the film shows the theft of France's art treasures being foiled by French Railwaymen, led by Burt Lancaster. It includes unforgettable sequences including a train being driven through an air raid and a real train crash including several SNCF locomotives. It does also include Burt Lancaster, Jeanne Moreau, Paul Scofield and Wolfgang Preiss Tickets will be available from Blue Anchor Station House, Blue Anchor, Somerset TA24 6LB from 1st January 2009 at £7.50 for adults and £5 for children (aged 14 and under). Cheques payable to 'WSSRT'. Please include an SAE for return of your tickets. Please note, there are ONLY 120 tickets available, so book early to avoid disappointment. It should be a great evening. Remember, all proceeds will go to the Heritage Carriages Project!" Heritage Carriages Project News Monday 5 January 2009 Download the poster as a PDF file Heritage Carriages Project News Monday 5 January 2009 Download the poster as a PDF file Heritage Carriages Project News Monday 8 December 2008 Claire Sheppy writes... Sponsored Walk First of all, a reminder that if you walked on the sponsored walk on November 16th, and you have not already done so, you need to send your sponsorship money to either Mike Wheeler or John Pearce by the 30th of January 2009. Williton Work Parties December 20th at Williton from 10:30am till 4:30pm. January 17th at Williton from 10:30am until 4:30pm. January 31st at Williton from 10:30am until 4:30pm. I would also like to thank several of you who travel some considerable distance to attend work parties. Currently we have people travelling in from the Salisbury area and also from the Okehampton area from time to time as and when they are able to make it. We do appreciate that this makes a round trip of 150 miles or more for you, and it is with this in mind that we have targeted the work parties for the dates that we have chosen, in order to tie in with the two events mentioned above. With regard to the work party on December 20th, although both David Stockwell and I intend to be there that day, if you have to choose between coming on December 20th and one of the January ones, can I please suggest that you opt for one of the January dates for two reasons, (1) the fact that it is only five days before Christmas Day and (2) that December 20th is only one day off the shortest day of the year, and even by January 17th we shall see a significantly longer amount of daylight. Trip to Swindon & Cricklade Subject to the agreement of The Toplight Group team we hope to make a visit to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway on Sunday January 18th, 2009, in order to have a look at the work that they have carried out on their Toplight carriage, which Carriage is very similar to the Toplight coach No. 3639 that we are currently working on in Williton works. Reminder about the Update Meeting... I will also take this opportunity to remind you about the Heritage carriages project update meeting to be held om the 31st January at the Ruishton Inn at 6:30pm. You can find further information about this important meeting elsewhere on this website and also on the WSR org website. This is an opportunity for people to voice any thoughts that anyone may have as to the way the work is to be progressed from here. And thanks to the Dowricks... Finally, Many thanks to the Dowrick family for once more organising the WSSRT Heritage Carriages Group Christmas dinner, held on 7th December 2008. This was once again a very pleasant occasion, emphasising that there is a social side to the Heritage Carriages project, and that it is not all just work. This just leaves me to wish everyone who has supported the Heritage coaches project, both in the past and currently in any way, a very happy Christmas, and that we look forward to seeing some of you at least on and around the railway during the Winter Steam Festival to be held on 28th and 29th December. Please note however that Williton Works will NOT be open to visitors on either of these two days, so 3639 will not be available to be seen by visitors during them." Heritage Carriages Project News Monday 24 November 2008 Heritage Carriages Project Update Meeting The Heritage Carriages Project is making great progress, and all interested folks are cordially invited to an Update meeting at the Ruishton Inn, Ruishton near Taunton on Saturday 31 January 2009, starting at 6.30pm. There will be a presentation by Project Leader Robin White and other members of the team, followed by a discussion of the next steps. A cold buffet will be available, price £5, for those who would like to eat as well as listen. If you require food, please e-mail the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust at mailto:info@wssrt.co.uk or write to the Trust at Williton Station by a week before. A Date for your Diary On Saturday 28 March 2009 (the second Saturday of the Spring Gala) the West Somerset Steam Trust will be holding a film night at Crowcombe village hall in aid of the Heritage Carriages Project. The Bar will be open from 6.30 and at 7.30 we will be showing the classic film "The Train" with Burt Lancaster. Made in 1964 with full co-operation of French Railways, the film shows the theft of France’s art treasures being foiled by French Railwaymen, led by Burt Lancaster. It includes unforgettable sequences including a train being driven through an air raid and a real train crash including several SNCF locomotives. It does also include Burt Lancaster, Jeanne Moreau, Paul Scofield and Wolfgang Preiss Tickets will be available from Blue Anchor Station House, Blue Anchor, Somerset TA24 6LB from 1st January 2009 at £7.50 for adults and £5 for children (aged 14 and under). Cheques payable to "WSSRT". Please include an SAE for return of your tickets. Please note, there are ONLY 120 tickets available, so book early to avoid disappointment. It should be a great evening. Remember, all proceeds will go to the Heritage Carriages Project! Heritage Carriages Project News Tuesday 18 November 2008 Claire Sheppy writes... News on Nos 3631, 3639 and 5929 Working party dates scheduled for December will be: 6th December from 10.30am to 4.30pm, and 20th December from 10.30am until 4.30pm. Also as a reminder, there will also be a working party on November 29th.(All at Williton) We can ALWAYS make use of volunteer assistance. The project is starting to get really interesting now. Many of the coaches for the two sets are now somewhere or other along the line of the West Somerset Railway. But, other than to try to protect the other coaches from deteriorating any further than they have so far, we intend to concentrate our energies on 3639 for the time being. If you would like to get involved but have to travel any distance, please get in touch with me via the WSSRT email address info@wssrt.co.uk because I might be able to put you in contact with someone with whom you could share transport. News on the coaches at Williton is as follows... Toplight coach No 3631 Currently sitting in the former concrete works at Williton, where it remains in a very wet condition. It still contains quite a large amount of cutlery and crockery, much of it not matching anything else within the coach, (that is they are mostly oddments); if anyone could make use of these to provide even a small source of income for the W S S R T, I would like to hear from you. Otherwise it will just have to be thrown out. Toplight coach No 3639 The shaped timber for both of the corner posts, (which I am reliably informed the Great Western Railway called corner pillars) and the first pair of door posts, plus two long lengths of timber for the new sole plates have now arrived on site, and are currently sitting on one of the work benches in the Swindon shed awaiting preparation of the joints. Additionally, Andy Forster in his role as CME of the West Somerset Railway plc has now examined the underframe of 3639, and has made a number of recommendations. Collett coach No 5929 Currently sitting in the former concrete works at Williton: Whilst he was visiting Williton, I took the opportunity of asking Andy Forster to have a look at the underframe of 5929 as well. Those of you who follow the news on the websites will be aware that the coach has been cut in half at some stage, and that has included cutting the underframe in two. It has consequently had to be rejoined, and Andy Forster has advised me that a more permanent repair of the underframe should not pose too great a problem. I have also started to take measurements of this coach in order to prepare some working drawings to assist with its restoration, and will start drawing up the survey shortly. Heritage Carriages Project News Tuesday 28 October 2008 Claire Sheppy writes... Toplight no 3639 Dates for the next three Toplight 3639 working parties are as follows: Saturday 1st November 10:30am until 4:30pm Saturday 15th November, 10:30am until 4:30pm Saturday 29th November 10:30am until 4:30pm On Saturday 15th November we hope to have Andrew Forster of the West Somerset Railway plc come to visit us, to give us some advice on what is required next to be done with regard to the underframe. Toplight no 3631 Now currently standing in the former concrete works adjacent to the Swindon (Tarmac) shed at Williton, it has seen its first work party, held on Saturday 25th October. The work, which was carried out by Mike and Jennie Dunse, Simon Tandy and myself, and assisted for a short while by Robin White, fresh from his Watchet station presentations, consisted entirely of stripping out all of the interior fittings that had been installed either as part of its life as a camping coach, or of its life as volunteer accommodation whilst at the South Devon Railway. In fact the coach had become seriously wet, especially on the floor areas, and the most important work carried out has been the removal of all of the carpeting from within the coach. [pictures] However to get at this it was first necessary to remove a fair amount of furniture, with much good burnable wood being placed on the woodpile, to be used no doubt for lighting up locomotives. This leaves the coach with a much better chance of drying out considerably before it is tarpaulined over, however there is just one more job that needs to be carried out before this happens, which is to board up the two windows which are currently without glass in them. In the meantime I hope to be able to open the coach up for a few hours on the Saturdays when the weather is dry and when I am at Williton on a 3639 working party, in order to let some air circulate through the coach to aid the drying process. This work is fairly urgent as the coach is going to be tarpaulined over, which once done, will assist the coach to dry out more completely. Heritage Carriages Project News Monday 20 October 2008 Help needed to clear out Toplight no 3631 Claire Sheppy writes... As you may be aware, Toplight No 3631 has now arrived at Williton and is currently sitting in the former concrete works area. At present it is filled with a certain amount of furniture and carpeting, all of which in due course needs to be removed. The most urgent items are the items which are causing damage as a result of being wet themselves, such as the carpet. As a result I am asking for some volunteers to give an hour or so of your time on the Saturday of the Somerset in Autumn weekend, (this coming Saturday 25th October) in order for us to empty the coach of these items before they cause any further damage to the woodwork of the coach. The plan is to remove and dispose of some of these items. Please contact me via the WSSRT email address (info @wssrt.co.uk) if you can give an hour of your time during your visit Somerset in Autumn. (or are prepared to come especially to do this.) Ideally I would like us to start this at about 11 am. This work is fairly urgent as the coach is going to be tarpaulined over, which once done, will assist the coach to dry out more completely. Heritage Carriages Project News Saturday 18 October 2008 A long day at Williton working on No 3639. Claire Sheppy writes... Toplight no 3631 has arrived at Williton from the South Devon Railway - [Picture]. Known to some as Florence, and others as 9880, she is a former Camping coach and is very similar to Toplight no 3639. No 3631 is currently parked in the former concrete works yard. Meantime on Toplight no 3639 work continues on removal of floor and windows on the first quarter of the coach, tidying and sorting materials for the project, and rubbing down and cleaning of reuseable timber sections. The next working parties are Saturday 25th October, and Saturday 1st November, both from 10.30am to 4.30pm.  © West Somerset Steam Railway Trust  • No 6705  • Previous News    From 2008    From 2006 and 2007  • Pictures    Proposed Museum/Carriage Shed    Artists impression of the future...    No 6705 moves from USA to UK...    GWR Toplight CK No 7740...  • The Project Team Ian Coleby Chairman and Project Leader Chris Dowrick Trust rep David Holmes WSRA rep Don Bishop WSRA rep Mark Smith WSR Plc rep Roger Lizars WSR Plc rep