West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala 2016 - Remembering the S&D

The 6th March 1966 marked the day the famous Somerset & Dorset Railway running over the Mendips from Bath Green Park to Templecombe and onwards to Bournemouth West was closed by British Rail. 50 Years later the West Somerset Railway commemorated the anniversary of the Somerset & Dorsets Closure during their 6 day Spring Steam Gala.
Like their previous 30th & 40th Anniversary galas, the West Somerset Railway brought in a whole range of classic locomotives that would have been seen working over the S&D right up till its closure in 1966.

Full loco line up was –
|SDJR 7F No 53808
|SDJR 7F No 53809
|LMS 4F No 44422
|LMS 8F No 48624
|SR ‘Battle of Britian’ No 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ (Ran as 34098 ‘Templecombe’ for the 2nd weekend)
|SR ‘Battle of Britian’ No 34070 ‘Manston’
|BR 9F No 92214
|BR 4MT No 80072 (Running as 80043)
|Peckett No 1788 ‘Kilmersdon’*

* - Does not feature

The many highlights of the event included the classic combinations that would have been seen over the S&D such as 7F’s piloting expresses over the steep gradients, goods trains, multiple double headers such as double 7Fs and double bullieds and of course the pride of the line, the Pines Express. The gala also saw the return of both 7F’s and 4F 44422 from their overhauls. The weather over the event was a mixture of grey sky's to wall to wall sunshine, a vast improvement on the weather at last years Spring Gala! The video features footage from all 6 days of the gala.

The shots featured in the video are -
34053 & 44422: Trebles Holford
92214: Stogumber, Leigh Woods, Roebuck & Crowcombe Heathfield
53808 & 34070: Nornvis Bridge
53808: Splash Point, Roebuck, Churchlands & Leigh Woods
53809 & 53808: Nornvis Bridge & Mineral Line
53809: Washford Bank & Watersmeet
53809 & 34070: Kentsford
44422 & 53809: Nornvis Bridge
44422: Bye Farm, Leigh Bridge & Watersmeet
44422 & 34070: Splash Point
34070: Trebles Holford, Nornvis Bridge & Stones Wood
48624 & 34070: Trebles Holford
48624: Bishops Lydeard, Churchlands, Bye Farm, Bicknoller & Leigh Woods
34053: Nethercott, Nornvis Bridge & Washford
34053 & 34070: Williton & Nornvis Bridge
80072: Watersmeet, Trebles Holford, Crowcombe Heathfield & Mineral Line
D7017: Teddy Bear Crossing


An absolutely fantastic gala put on by the West Somerset Railway, a huge well done to all the volunteers and workers that kept the trains running over the 6 days. Ivo Peters would be proud!