The great and good of West Somerset gathered at Minehead Station recently to celebrate the WSR again being voted "Independent Railway of the Year" as it was back in 2005. It was "Heritage Railway of the Year" in 2005. Official and public recognition of what many of us have known for years - the WSR is doing a really good job. The appearance of the great and good also shows how valuable is the contribution made by the Railway to the local economy. Some might say such notables only turn up to get their picture in the papers. Maybe so, but the reason they turned up is because of the Railway and the people who run the Railway day in day out and all the volunteers and supporters who have worked tirelessly for years and years.

Watersmeet or Water Meets

The Ordnance Survey has it as "Water Meets" whereas the Great Western Railway named the nearby railway bridge "Watersmeet Bridge". I'd expect to find at least two notable watercourses at the location . Hmmm. Whilst the obvious feature, "Back Stream", is sizeable the other is little more than an insignificant drain coming down the short valley from Pixford. Anyway, I'm surprised the area isn't called "Waters Split". Before the railway was built, the leat for a mill at Bishops Lydeard cut off from Back Stream around this area. and wound along the western valley sides - the course can still be seen and culverts under the railway still exist. Later, a new leat was constructed downstream which still provides water for the present mill. The other "split" still in use, provides for the ornamental ponds at Watts House, whilst most water continues in a realigned watercourse along the roadside wall. Back to the name, the question is whether the bridge should be renamed "Water Meets Bridge".

Not the Station Gardens Week 2007

Is this event going to happen or not? After at least three years of lobbying for a low-key event I was delighted when the Railway agreed in mid 2006 to add a Station Gardens event to the 2007 calendar. I understand a full consultation with each station master was undertaken and a leaflet designed. The event was also to be added to the main timetable leaflet. So why the negative title to this posting? Well, for one thing, the event was not added to the timetable leaflet "due to lack of space" (not enough room for one line?); the event leaflet does not seem to have progressed beyond someone's hard disk; and persistent questioning of the department that "took over" the planning of the event has drawn either a "tomorrow" response or no response at all. This is all very very frustrating. I am convinced that a low-cost promotion, which encourages gardening enthusiasts to visit our already open stations with no other costs whatsoever, would bring a new set of visitors to our line and perhaps increase the passenger figures. It may also bring new blood to our volunteer force. Who knows? Meantime, nothing seems to be happening. The image above is something I knocked up last year. So do I go it alone? It is very very tempting.