A rare sight at the WSR vintage rally was‘Teddy Bear’No. D9526 heading a pair of brake vans, GWR‘Toad’No. 68765 and BR LMS-type 20T No. 732525. This was along the short section of the old Barnstaple branch. One of 41 round trips, passengers boarded in the middle of this line at the littleused David Holmes Halt, going out and back in either direction.
PETER NICHOLSON
THE West Somerset Railway’s annual Steam &Vintage Rally, held on August 5-6 in the area at Norton Fitzwarren triangle, included many items of railway interest.
This year, all trains serving the fair were diesel-hauled with 17 free shuttles running the three miles from Bishops Lydeard station to Norton Fitzwarren platform by the rally site.With the usual Class 115 DMU unavailable, a four-coach train was top-and-tailed by Class 09 D4107 (09019) and Class 33 ‘Crompton’No. D6575 (33057). Sister loco No. D6566 (33048) was on the Bishops Lydeard to Minehead trains with bothType 3s seen alongside each other on several occasions.
A particular attraction was Diesel & Electric Preservation Group’s Class 14 No. D9526 giving brake van rides along one side of the triangle, which has been laid on a mile-long section of trackbed of the formerTaunton to Barnstaple branch. It had been hoped one of the two Class 35‘Hymeks’was going to be positioned nearby, but this was unable to appear. Several items of restored rolling stock were displayed at Norton Fitzwarren platform, including 10T GWR‘Starfish’ballast wagon No. 80669, which delivered coal for the traction engines.