Skip to content

West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust WSRHT

The West Somerset Railway Association and West Somerset Steam Railway Trust’s ‘Rail Renewal’ appeal is now over the £75,000 mark and so 30% of the hoped-for total of £250,000 by 31 December for the next round of infrastructure works, so it could easily achieve a figure close to that target with gift aid by then, but the WSR Plc will be meeting any difference having signed off the £250K spend needed for rails, sleepers and track fittings, plus remedial repairs to bridges, monitoring embankments, formation repairs, drainage and some fencing. The WSR ‘family’ is actively looking to continue the fund raising, but the Plc has committed monies too, so any greater amounts raised means doing more than the minimum for compliance and so go above and beyond that. WSR Plc Chairman Jon Jones-Pratt is determined that the WSR is in control of ensuring that it does what’s needed to operate in the correct manner for 2020.

Jonathan’s plan is to make sure the WSR gets back to the higher 20 ton ‘Red’ axle weight as soon as possible, and the recent independent infrastructure review has been positive in this regard in the sense that it means the WSR is getting very well qualified on the subject and also gaining better understanding and knowledge of the line’s infrastructure and needs. The independent infrastructure review was designed to be a ‘traffic light system’ to highlight high, medium term and longer term priorities for works and has shown that the planned programme is achievable. An estimated figure of £400K is likely to be an annual investment requirement into the infrastructure that will be needed going forward for some time to come however.

Jonathan says “We have had good, independent infrastructure reviews, so I hope to be able to agree fairly soon that we will be back to ‘Red’ route activity for 2020, along with having all of our temporary speed restrictions’s removed. There is a lot of work taking place in the background and the positive news is that we have a signed off works plan in readiness for November 2019. All of this effort will pay off in dividends as the WSR embraces its journey of recovery and striving for excellence.”

He adds “I was also very proud to be asked to attend a future joint seminar with the Office for Road and Rail (ORR) at which I will have a 30 minute spot at the next Heritage Railway Association meeting, detailing the working relationship between the two of us and how a professional approach was delivered through all our challenges – 12 months on, we now have a very different Railway!”

Share the Post:

Recent News Posts

2025 Learning and Education Offer

WSRHT Learning and Education Offer

The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to publish its Learning and Education Offer. 

WSRHT Learning & Education Offer

WSRHT Board Meeting March 2025 Minutes Published

March 2025
Board Meeting Minutes Published

The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to publish the minutes of its May Board Meeting on Thursday, 27th March 2025.

Please click the Board Meeting link to access the document as a pop-up tab. Alternatively, to view all Trust Board Meetings since 2016 – view the collection

Board Meeting 27th March 2025

Rail200: All Aboard for Young Engineers Day with Seth

Rail200 Celebrations: Meet Seth - who is going to the Young Engineers Day

© WSRHT 2025

My name is Seth, I am 7 years old and am very excited about the “Young Engineers Day” on the West Somerset Railway. I am glad my Mummy and Daddy reserved a space early for me because both days are now sold out and I love trains. 

I have two favourite locomotives on the WSR, they are 9351 the Mogul and 7822, Foxcote Manor, and I would like to be a train driver one day.

I am also looking forward to meeting Mr. Chris Vine as I have some of the Peters Railways books, I bought one from the WSRHT and I had 3 for Christmas from Grandma. My favourite story is “The Surprise Goods”.

I couldn’t choose which thing I was looking forward to most of all, the signal box visit, the train ride to Minehead, visiting the Engine Shed or watching and learning about the Turntable? So, I ask my Mummy and she said “put all of them”!

I will tell you all about the day when I get back, but I am really looking forward to it.

Seth, aged-seven.

Parental permission was saught to publish this photo for use online via this website and on our Facebook page. For more information please email info@wsrht.co.uk.

© Railway200
© Railway200