Kilmersdon In Steam for West Somerset Spring Steam Gala

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust’s Peckett 0-4-0 saddle tank Kilmersdon will once again be putting on displays of shunting at Washford station yard during the West Somerset Railway’s Spring Gala on the 25th to 28th March 2010.

Kilmersdon is based at the Trust’s headquarters at Washford station on the West Somerset Railway where the museum and shop are open regularly to visitors during the Railway’s operating season.

Kilmersdon is a regular feature on Gala days and is popular with visitors. Built as an industrial locomotive by the Bristol locomotive builders Peckett it worked all its life at Kilmersdon Colliery on the North Somerset Coalfield. The locomotive was rescued and restored by the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust.

The 2010 Spring Gala is part of the GWR 175 celebrations and recalls the latter days of Western Region steam and British Rail’s continuation of great Western practice with Standard designs.

Highlights of the Gala include BR Standard class locomotives of various types  with the star visitor being the return to the WSR of 71000 Duke of Gloucester which last visited the WSR in 1994.An interesting and varied timetable awaits visitors to the line with many other attractions on display.  

Photographs (c) SDRT