Description
“Bongo Goes West” – West Somerset Railway
Friday 26th April 2019
British Railways Apple Green B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 “Mayflower” with red/cream passenger train.
I have been offered the opportunity to run a charter on the West Somerset Railway with visiting B1 No. 61306 “Mayflower” with the lines set of 1950’s red/cream coaches. This will be an authentic match for the loco in this livery. We will use the line between Bishops Lydeard and Williton so that we have enough time to do plenty of photography and less time travelling between locations. I plan to have the loco facing south in the morning and north in the afternoon. We will go to Norton Fitzwarren at lunchtime to turn etc.
It is planned to start from Bishops Lydeard at 08.00hrs. There is plenty of parking available at the station. We will have exclusive use of the line between BL and Williton throughout the day with the charter finishing around 6.00pm because there are no public services that day.
Cost for the day is £79.00 per head with 35 places being available. This is an unusual charter opportunity which has arisen due to the loco being stabled for a few days at the WSR in between mainline tours. I am grateful to my colleagues at the WSR and to the loco owner, David Buck, for enabling this charter to take place.
Image shows sister BR Black B1 No. 61264 on the KWVR.
