29 Dec 2011 - went to West Somerset. Uneventful journey up on the 06.18 Sprinter from Truro which connected into an HST arriving at Taunton a minute early, and back on Cross Country Voyager which left Taunton about 5 mins late (due away at 18.17) but made up time and was also a minute early into Truro. The WSR Winter Steam Festival was good with a free coach from station forecourt at Taunton. Newly restored 7820 named 'Norton Manor' on 10.05 ex BL, and newly restored 6960 Raveningham Hall in action on 10.05 BL to MD, with 3850, 88 and 9351 also in use. Generous use was being made of the turntable, and trains were very well used as far as I could see - it wasn't that easy to find a spare seat.
30 Dec 2011 - Bodmin and Wenford Steam Up was very good. Beattie well tank 30587 working on brake van trips, which had no surcharge, but required obtaining a boarding pass before joining. These trips worked over the whole line. Sadly ex St Blazey 'local' 2-8-0T 4247 had to stand down and was replaced by Prairie 5552.
1 Jan 2012 - visit to South Devon Railway. The now unique Collett 0-6-0 no.3205 was at work (as had also been noted the previous day when we drove by), and the trains seemed well patronised.
30 Dec 2011 - Bodmin and Wenford Steam Up was very good. Beattie well tank 30587 working on brake van trips, which had no surcharge, but required obtaining a boarding pass before joining. These trips worked over the whole line. Sadly ex St Blazey 'local' 2-8-0T 4247 had to stand down and was replaced by Prairie 5552.
1 Jan 2012 - visit to South Devon Railway. The now unique Collett 0-6-0 no.3205 was at work (as had also been noted the previous day when we drove by), and the trains seemed well patronised.