Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
The West Somerset Railway Spring gala would see an array of visiting steam locos for their annual steam gala. The star guest for this year would see the famous LNER A4 Class 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley heading over the former GWR Branchline. Another major highlight for the gala would see Great Western Manor class 7802 Bradley Manor head from the Severn Valley Railway on a seasonal visit which meant there would be three GWR Manor locomotives in steam. The other notable visitors were GWR 2884 Class 3850 which was making a welcome return to the WSR. B.R STD 4 Tank 80078 would also visit. Another star visitor would see Hunslet Works 1589 'Newstead' The loco is known for being the Lost engine. The homefleet was in attendance and they were WSR 9351 and 7812 Erlestoke Manor and 2996 Victor which has just returned to the WSR for its 50 year anniversary celebrations. Victor last run over the WSR four decades ago. The two other homefleet locos which were based at Minehead for the gala were Hudswell Clarke No 1857 & Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 No 1984 which was used for shunting duties. These two locos do not feature in the video due to their location and a late running timetable which affected our plan due to locomotives not being turned at Minehead or not being sent on the Norton Triangle.
In regards the event itself there was lots of great variety and good performances across the board. There was some memorable highlights across the weekend with 7828 stomping away from Williton with 7802 hitching a ride on the rear. This is featured in the opening scene. Another notable scene was 2996 Victor departing from Williton at Dusk with lots of smoke making for an atmospheric scene. The most interesting scene across the weekend was on Sunday, on our travel day and that was Hunslet Works 1589 Newstead piloting 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley into Crowcombe Heathfield. No doubt a preservation first !
The weather was a real mix bag with some really bad conditions on the Saturday afternoon and into the evening. As mentioned above timekeeping as usual went down the pan especially on the Friday due to the tender brake on 60007 staying on. Delays over our three days started off with a respectable 10-15 late which then ended up being 60+ minutes down by the end of play every day, not sure about Monday as we had left on that day. Late running is all part of the steam gala experience. Though the problem was locos would not get turned as this would save time. No problem for the paying passengers, though it did effect the plans of linesiders. Anyway enough whinging, regardless of timekeeping the gala was much improved and all round enjoyable especially compared to last years. We even enjoyed our ride on the trains on the Sunday with some solid performances.
I hope you enjoy the video !
#steamtrain
#trains
#britishrailways
#locomotive
#railways
#flyingscotsman
The West Somerset Railway Spring gala would see an array of visiting steam locos for their annual steam gala. The star guest for this year would see the famous LNER A4 Class 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley heading over the former GWR Branchline. Another major highlight for the gala would see Great Western Manor class 7802 Bradley Manor head from the Severn Valley Railway on a seasonal visit which meant there would be three GWR Manor locomotives in steam. The other notable visitors were GWR 2884 Class 3850 which was making a welcome return to the WSR. B.R STD 4 Tank 80078 would also visit. Another star visitor would see Hunslet Works 1589 'Newstead' The loco is known for being the Lost engine. The homefleet was in attendance and they were WSR 9351 and 7812 Erlestoke Manor and 2996 Victor which has just returned to the WSR for its 50 year anniversary celebrations. Victor last run over the WSR four decades ago. The two other homefleet locos which were based at Minehead for the gala were Hudswell Clarke No 1857 & Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 No 1984 which was used for shunting duties. These two locos do not feature in the video due to their location and a late running timetable which affected our plan due to locomotives not being turned at Minehead or not being sent on the Norton Triangle.
In regards the event itself there was lots of great variety and good performances across the board. There was some memorable highlights across the weekend with 7828 stomping away from Williton with 7802 hitching a ride on the rear. This is featured in the opening scene. Another notable scene was 2996 Victor departing from Williton at Dusk with lots of smoke making for an atmospheric scene. The most interesting scene across the weekend was on Sunday, on our travel day and that was Hunslet Works 1589 Newstead piloting 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley into Crowcombe Heathfield. No doubt a preservation first !
The weather was a real mix bag with some really bad conditions on the Saturday afternoon and into the evening. As mentioned above timekeeping as usual went down the pan especially on the Friday due to the tender brake on 60007 staying on. Delays over our three days started off with a respectable 10-15 late which then ended up being 60+ minutes down by the end of play every day, not sure about Monday as we had left on that day. Late running is all part of the steam gala experience. Though the problem was locos would not get turned as this would save time. No problem for the paying passengers, though it did effect the plans of linesiders. Anyway enough whinging, regardless of timekeeping the gala was much improved and all round enjoyable especially compared to last years. We even enjoyed our ride on the trains on the Sunday with some solid performances.
I hope you enjoy the video !
#steamtrain
#trains
#britishrailways
#locomotive
#railways
#flyingscotsman
