The commemoration took the form of a special First Great Western Diesel Multiple Unit train which left Taunton at 10.40 in the morning and was due to arrive at Minehead at 12.15, returning from Minehead at 15.00 and due into Taunton at 16.37.
Although closed by British Rail in 1971 the Minehead line began to re-open in 1976 and is today the West Somerset Railway, one of the most successful “heritage” railway lines in the country and carrying over 200,000 passengers per annum. WSR trains normally operate from or terminate at Bishops Lydeard, which is four miles from Taunton but it has remained connected to the main line and sees both excursion passenger trains and mainline freight from the national network on an occasional basis. The special train will be both a commemoration of the 40 years since the closure and also the first act in a year of events to mark the 35 years that have passed since the West Somerset Railway story began. The Railway’s annual Spring Steam Gala at the end of March will be built around telling some of the story of the WSR.
While we were waiting for the 'Special' to arrive, a Buzzard perched on the fence, then swooped down on something tiny on the track-side ballast and flew off under the road bridge. It returned a little later and sat on one of the rails under the bridge. Yesterday, I had a fly-by male Peregrine. These now bring my local total to 50 'ticks'. Hopefully this will now grow rapidly since the moving in process is practically finished and I can devote more time to birding and, very soon, ringing again.
A few days earlier, I treated the family, 4 adults 2 grandchildren and 2 dogs to a round trip to Minehead. A couple of record shots to prove it. And a big hole in the wallet!
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