West Somerset Railway - Spring Steam Gala - Saturday 28th March 2015

The West Somerset Railway's Spring Steam Gala took on the theme of 'Steam in South Wales' for 2015, showcasing motive power that would've been seen at work in South Wales during steam days. The gala saw five guest locos running alongside the home fleet. No 70000 'Britannia' made a return visit to the line, but this time would take on the guise of long lost sister No 70021 'Morning Star'. Small Prairie No 5542 made it's annual visit for the gala. Heavy freight tank No 4270 completed its recent round of gala appearance with its first trip to Somerset. Another first time visitor was LMS 2MT No 46521, also being the first of its class to visit the line. Final guest, Taffy tank No 5643 (also a first time visitor), was a late replacement for fellow Taffy tank No 6695, which had suffered damage from an accident with the low loader it was being transferred to the railway on. Day 3 of the gala saw the usual hourly timetable implemented for the day, which was supplemented by the autotrain shuttle between Minehead and Dunster. The weather for the day improved during the day, with exception for the wind, which was in some cases worse than it was on Thursday, which once again made filming hard work at times! The full loco line up was:- | BR 7MT No 70021 'Morning Star' (70000 'Britannia') (courtesy of Jeremy Hosking) |LMS 2MT No 46521 (courtesy of Great Central Railway) |GWR 4200 Class No 4270 (courtesy of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway) |GWR 5600 Class No 5643 (courtesy of Furness Railway Trust) |GWR 4575 Class No 5542 (courtesy of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway) |GWR Hall Class No 4936 'Kinlet Hall' |GWR Modified Hall No 6960 'Raveningham Hall' |BR(W) Manor Class No 7828 'Odney Manor'* |BR(W) 5101 Class No 4160* |GWR 2884 Class No 3850* *Does not feature