West Somerset Railway 'Spring Steam Spectacular' 2024. All footage filmed on Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th & Monday 6th May 2024, released on Monday 6th May 2024.

After having heard amazing praise from last year's rendition of the spring gala, I decided that 2024 was finally the year to experience the West Somerset Railway's 'Spring Steam Spectacular' for myself. The event is held annually over the early May Bank Holiday, which this year fell on 3rd - 6th May. With a variety of visiting locomotives and numerous other attractions it promised to be a fantastic event which did not disappoint!

A total of five guest engines were brought in for the event. Among them were No. 61306 "Mayflower" from LSL, No. 6990 "Witherslack Hall from the Great Central Railway and arguably the star of the show No. 1873 "Jessie" from the Pontypool & Blaenavon Heritage Railway among others. Unfortunately both 2800 No. 2807 & No. 6880 "Betton Grange" were unable to star at the gala but were quickly replaced by "Jessie" & "Witherslack Hall".

The action-packed weekend featured an intensive timetable with express/semi-fast services, double-headed trains, banked trains, goods trains, shunting demonstrations, local trains & parcels trains. In addition to these, the railway ran an evening photoshoot at Minehead on the Sunday featuring all of the tank engines running at the gala along with newly arrived 6400 No. 6435.

Editing this video proved a challenge as I was only able to film half days on Saturday & Monday as we had a long drive to & from the railway. Therefore, I have built the video around the timetable & allocations from Sunday with shots inserted where appropriate from Saturday & Monday. This does mean that there will be subtle differences between shots, such as the unpredictable weather.

Timestamps:
-00:00, 6990, Marsh Common
-02:10, 6990, Stogumber Station
-03:04, 9466, Norvis Bridge
-03:58, 61306, Norvis Bridge
-04:36, 9351 + 6990, Norvis Bridge
-05:31, 7828, Woolston Bridge
-06:21, 9466 + 6695, Castle Hill
-07:06, 6990, Woolston
-08:03, 1054, Woolston
-08:51, 9466 + 6990, Longlands Bridge
-10:07, 1054, Whiskey Trail Crossing
-10:50, 9466 + 6695, Leigh Loop
-11:38, 7828, Leigh Bridge
-12:27, 1054, Leigh Bridge
-13:54, 6990, Ker Moor
-15:43, 1054, Ker Moor
-17:43, 1873 + 61306, Kentsford Farm Crossing
-18:27, 9466, Kentsford Farm Crossing
-19:19, 9351, Washford Playing Fields
-19:53, 6695, Washford Playing Fields
-20:49, 61306, Halscombe Bridge
-21:41, 1873, Halscombe Bridge
-22:21, 7828 + 6990, Washford Playing Fields
-23:18, 9466, Halscombe Bridge
-24:00, 9351, Washford Station
-25:11, 6990, Govier's Crossing
-26:58, 61306, Mineral Line Bridge
-30:19, 9351 + 6695, Splash Point
-31:25, 1873, Splash Point
-32:20, 9466, Mineral Line Bridge
-33:48, 6990, Mineral Line Bridge
-35:12, 61306, Splash Point
-36:23, 7828, Minehead Station
-37:33, 6990, Marsh Common
-38:54, 6695, Marsh Common
-40:17, 1873 + 6695, Marsh Common
-41:22, 7828, Marsh Common
-42:38, 6695, Minehead Turntable
-48:35, 1054, 6695 & 9466, Minehead Station
-50:22, 1873 + 6695 + 1054, Minehead Station
-51:49, 1873, 6695 & 9466, Minehead Station

Locomotives:
-LNWR Class Coal Tank (2F) No. 1054
-Hunslet Engine Co. Class 0-6-0ST (Works No. 1873) "JESSIE"
-GWR Class 5600 No. 6695
-BR(W) Class 6959 'Modified Hall' No. 6990 "WITHERSLACK HALL"
-BR(W) Class 7800 'Manor' No. 7828 "ODNEY MANOR"
-WSR Class 4300 No. 9351
-BR(W) Class 9400 No. 9466
-BR(E) Class B1 No. 61306 "MAYFLOWER"

-GWR Class 4500 No. 4561 & BR Class 4MT No. 80064 were on display at Williton during the event
-Ex-GWR Class 6400 No. 6435 was also on display at Minehead during the event
-Ex-SR Class WC 'West Country' No. 34046 "BRAUNTON" was also on display at Bishops Lydeard on the Sunday of the event after having hauled 'The English Riviera Express' on the Saturday (Video here -    • No. 34046 "Braunton" speeds up Wellin...  )

Maximum Pressure Steam