THE termination of West Somerset Railway trains from Bishops Lydeard at Dunster, with a connecting vintage bus service to Minehead, is set to continue for the rest of this season. This means the required ‘shunt-andrelease’ manoeuvre at Dunster is now routine (RM August p80).
On July 24, WSR plc’s Class 03 No. D2133 pulled the train towards Minehead, past the train engine, WSR 2-6-0 No. 9351, waiting at the end of Dunster West siding. The ‘Mogul’ had brought the 14.45 from Bishops Lydeard forward following its stop at Dunster station, coming to a halt alongside the west siding. It detached from the train and ran forward into the siding. The 0-6-0DM, waiting in the other end of the siding, then ran on to the main line, reversing back on to the stock, which it pulled forward towards Minehead, past the waiting steam loco. The 2-6-0 reversed back on to the running line before pulling forward to couple up to the other end of the coaches. It then headed back to the station for the waiting passengers.