UNUSUAL TRAINS ON THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY INCLUDING THE BLUE PULLMAN 2 JULY 2024

A film company has taken over a half of the railway so normal services are very restricted, running today only from Bishops Lydeard to Watchet. Here are some scenes at Williton and Doniford. As it is no longer possible to run round a train at Watchet, a steam loco is provided at each end of the train. The Blue Pullman is just here to take part in the film.

[kellyashfordtrains]

Nice to see Mr. HST at the end. You got to see two steamies, what more could you have asked for? My 42nd birthday is only a few days away. It falls on Sat. 6th July, and I'm celebrating it on the Cambrian Heritage Railway in Oswestry.

[davedear]

That HST looks fantastic in Blue and White. So clean as well ..thanks Admiral and Val.

[terrywatson]

Good to see the blue Pullman but as always steam is better, thanks Mike.

[dianarolph]

Well done for capturing the Blue Pullman! I’ve seen it on other videos! It seems to run down to the West Country quite a lot.
Williton looked so beautiful with all the flowers there! Thanks Admirals!

[paulfrancis]

I forgot to mention that it will be at Williton on July 8th as I said it should be on Webcam if you want to watch.

[grahamperkins]

Very interesting video Mike. The Blue Pullman looked amazing

[johncamp]

As my ancestors are from Somerset, I felt obliged to subscribe. Thank you! (Virginia)

[steverylatt]

Great Video Mike you are so lucky living in such a lovely part of Somerset. I have now arrived home missing my time there already.

[martinbradshaw]

I do enjoy your videos Mike and also the simple commentary. I live equidistant from SVR and GWSR. I am lucky but would love to visit WSR soon

[Fred-Wilbury]

Nice one Mike I think there is a HST up here on the watercress line 12th July 😊

[joannejohnson]

Hello Mike lovely video with the double header with the locomotives going backwards , that was great that you were able to film the blue pullman.😊

[nickbannister]

Doniford Halt, I remember walking along that platform when it was in Montecute Station a few years after the Yeovil to Taunton line was closed. Good to see it recycled.

[TriflingCircle]

In mid 1960s I needed to travel from Paddington to Bath early evening or late afternoon. There was no need, I thought, to book and found it was this Pullman train. At each train doorway a steward checked tickets and had to refuse me boarding. Fortunately, a lady behind had spare ticket so I travelled. I gave her the money which was something like 25/-. (£1.25).
It was just an extra cost and did not reserve a particular seat.

PS Now Googled. It was the Blue Pullman I travelled on. A memory revived.

[mikepowell]

Loved the video mike kind regards as usual to you both❤

[robertstorey]

But its not really a Blue Pullman at all is it, its an HST125.

[chairmakerPete]

Watching on webcam from work today, I couldn't understand the train formation or timetable. Two locos, reversing at Watchet?! Why not have one loco and run round at Williton if it's a short line running day?

Guess the BP may be part of the reason why.

Lovely video - thank you. Great to see Williton from the platform level for a change.

[paulfrancis]

I have found out today that the Engine lift on the 1010 Weston courier will take place on Monday the. July 8th, However for those of us hoping catch on The Williton web cam. This maybe switched off during the lift , Its just a case of having look on the cam on the morning.

[paulfrancis]

Nice catch that one mike is a real shame the original pullman power cars were scrapped would have been a great sight to on mainline or heritage lines ,
Just a Heads up this is happening on Monday the 8th of July , If you or anybody else is interested You can of course catch it on the rail cams .Class 52 D1010 ‘WESTERN CAMPAIGNER’ – the date of Monday 8th July has been set for the body of this loco to be lifted from her bogies and slewed over to the adjacent track, where the ex-BR Swindon stands will be (by then) positioned and levelled, ready to carry the 50-tonne load. The lift will be performed by two 120-tonne road cranes that will be supplied by BALDWINS CRANE HIRE working in tandem. The lifting will start by removing the two Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD-655 engines, each of which weighs close to 6 tonnes each, to reduce the weight of the loco body and minimise the stresses on the 62-year-old loco body structure. The transmissions and cooler groups were removed for overhaul last year, so the interior of the loco will be easy to access and will be ready for a thorough clean-up and re-paint once the body is safely lowered onto the stands.

[exmoorbaydrones]

Hi Mike & Val. I was out and about at Dunster yesterday, and a Train fronted by Earlstoke Manor and a Diesel at the other end were going backwards and forwards between Blue Anchor and Dunster for Hours! I managed to get some Video concentrating on the Carriages and what was going on inside, but didn't really see much apart from Picnic Baskets on the Tables and some very bored looking people looking out of the Windows! You could see Camera equipment at various points, but really nothing so interesting as to warrant a Youtube Video!, so I think I'll wait until the Agatha Christie production comes out on Netflix!... Still plenty of action going on here at Minehead by the Sound of it, (Tuesday 2nd July) I can hear Steam Whistles every now and again sat in my Garden in Old Alcombe.

[janinapalmer]

That was interesting... it was good 👍 thanks Mike .. how that footpath to Doniford halt has overgrown 🥹 My favourite stations are Minehead Blue Anchor Stogumber and BL ...
What was that long blue Pullman train doing there ..? And why so many carriages ? They all have so many carriages and I don't know why ... because there couldn't be that many passengers at any one time surely . If you look at any branch lines still running you'll only see just two carriages ...
Have you got rid of that little silver convertible that Val has ? Is the Picanto an all wheel drive ..? It looks nice 😊