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West Somerset Railway 2010

Spring Gala 21st & 25th March 2010

Sunday 21st March. Oops - forgot the camera, so no photos. Sorry.
As in previous visits, recordings were centred around Crowcombe Heathfield station, but with a foray to the north west along to Stogumber

The first recording was of the 0900 departure from Bishops Lydeard. This had Standard 2-10-0 9F No 92212 at the head, with Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No 80104 attached at the rear. Recorded on the approach to Nornvis Bridge from Nethercott, the 9F was doing all the work, as you would expect. 1:58, 2.3MB

The first train of the day from Minehead had Standard Class 8P No 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" in charge, a favourite loco. From a recording location near Roebuck Gate Crossing, the train is heard in the far distance on the 1 in 100 gradient, whistling for Leigh Wood crossing. Local guns are busy in the woods. As loco approaches the crossing, the warning bells starts. The whistle sounds on the approach and then again after the pass. 2:59, 3.4MB

The 10am train from Minehead was worked by Bulleid re-built Light Pacific No 34046 "Braunton". This time the recording position is north of Roebuck Gate crossing. Braunton sounds completely unchallenged by the gradient. 1:30, 1.7MB.

Now a walk to Stogumber for change of scene. At this point I attracted a personal spotter aircraft which flew overhead in low altitude circles for the next 90 minutes or so. I've done what I can to edit this out, but this shortens the next couple of tracks.

9F 92212 approaching Leigh Wood crossing from Stogumber with the 11am service from Minehead. 1:42, 2.0MB

The noon service from Minehead was behind the second 9F 92203 "Black Prince", recorded on the on-stop run through Stogumber station. 0:52, 1.0MB

A dash away from Stogumber to escape the circling aircraft got me back to a spot across the valley from Roebuck Farm in time to hear GWR King Class 4-6-0 6024 "King Edward I" as it worked south with the 13:00 from Minehead. A Range Rover with a noisy exhaust joins in as the recording begins. The whistle sounds as Leigh Cottage crossing is passed. The sound builds as the train moves to the centre of the soundstage, but then becomes muffled for a moment as the train passes through the short cutting just north west of the farm. Dead leaves on nearby branches rustle in the breeze. As the sound recedes, the whistle sounds once more for Roebuck Gate crossing. 2:37, 3.0MB

Back to Nornvis Bridge for an afternoon session at a recording position on the east of the line.
92203 with the 15:00 from Bishops Lydeard, approaching in the from Nethercott and disappearing into the deep cutting which leads to Crowcombe Heathfield station. 2:25, 2.6MB
An hour later, 6024 passes with the 16:00 service. 1:44, 2.0MB
The last recording at this spot is of the 17:00 from Bishops Lydeard with the Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78019 in charge. The light aircraft is back. 1:47, 2.1MB

The last track from the day is a shortened sequence of arrival and departure at Crowcombe Heathfield.
92212 runs into the station with the 17:00 from Minehead. 71000 glides into the down platform with the 18:00 from Bishops Lydeard; its airbrake pump in operation. After 92212 departs, 71000 whistles and re-starts towards Minehead. 3:57, 4.5MB.

Thursday 25th March. Remembered the camera, but the weather.....
The aim was to capture the 08:20 goods from Minehead, behind 78019. Unfortunately the loco failed so the working was cancelled. So off to Stogumber to make some recordings. Fewer aircraft this time, but heavy rain came into play instead.

80104 arrives at Stogumber with the 09:00 from Minehead, then departs towards Bishops Lydeard. 3:16, 3.8MB

The 10:00 service from Minehead was non-stop through Stogumber. This was recorded from the far end of the cutting south of the station, on the footpath. 71000 dashes past. 1:11, 1.4MB

There was an extra working from Bishops Lydeard in mid-morning to compensate for the earlier failure of the freight working. GWR 4500 Class 2-6-2T 5553 was in charge, heard departing from Stogumber towards Minehead. 0:42, 0.8MB.

Next through Stogumber was the 11:00 from Minehead, stopping this time. GWR Class 5101 2-6-2T 4160 departs from Stogumber towards Bishops Lydeard. The sound echoes around the hills amid the calls of birds and poultry. 3:39, 4.2MB

After a morning dodging showers it now started to rain with a vengeance. Despite, or perhaps because of, hiding in woodland the microphones were getting a good watering as 92203 departed from Stogumber to Bishops Lydeard with the 13:00 from Minehead. Rain falling on nearby leaves sounds like bacon frying, interspersed with the occasional loud 'plop' as a water droplet makes a direct hit on the mics. 2:11, 2.5MB

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Friday 11th June. Mixed Traction Weekend



Recordings on the day included runs from Bishops Lydeard behind Hymek D7017, Western Campaigner D1010, and the "Teddybear" pair D9520+D9526. A run behind D832 was captured, but the double heading with GWR 2-8-0 "kettle" No 3850 rather took the edge off the recording which isn't included because of this.
Each recording has three parts;
- the start from Bishops Lydeard
- part of the climb up the gradient to Crowcombe Heathfield
- entry into Crowcombe Heathfield station

So, compare and contrast:

Beyer Peacock Class 35 'Hymek' B-B D7017 on the 09:00 departure from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. The Class 14 pairing was passed on the entry to Crowcombe Heathfield station. 6:05, 7.0MB.

Western Class 52 C-C D1010 "Western Campaigner" with the 11:00 departure. 5:07, 5.9MB

Class 14 0-6-0s D9520(leading)+ D9526(inside) with the 12:00 departure. 5:26, 6.2MB



Other recordings were made on the lineside.

D1062 "Western Courier" passes Roebuck Gate crossing with the 12:00 from Minehead. 1:29, 1.7MB.

D1010 "Western Campaigner" arrives at Stogumber station with the 13:00 from Minehead, then departs towards Bishops Lydeard. 2:24, 2.7MB.



D9526(leading)+ D9520(inside) run non-stop through Stogumber with the 14:00 from Minehead. (Some distortion of the peak levels on this recording...oops).1:08, 1.3MB.

D821 "Greyhound" departs from Stogumber station with the 15:00 from Minehead. D821 was carrying the nameplate "Chris Broadhurst". Low frequency 'beats' caused by slight differnces in the speed between the two engines are clearly heard, 1:04, 1.2MB.



D821 "Greyhound" takes the 18:00 departure from Minehead up the gradient from Roebuck Farm towards Roebuck Gate crossing. 1:41, 1.9MB.


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