Work continues apace on BCK 6705, with all of the compartments virtually completed now, (basically they just await carpeting), work recently has very much concentrated on the two toilets, the attached photograph shows the toilet at the third class end of the coach.
The second photograph shows one of the third class compartments with the first aid kit hung prominently so it can be found quickly if necessary. The coach itself will actually carry a first aid kit, but it will be carried with the guard, not in the compartment, it will comprise of a modern first aid kit but kept in a genuine Great Western Railway first aid kit box.
The aim is to have the coach completed by May 2019. Greg McNelly, together with his team, average 10 to 12 man days per week, but more volunteers are welcome, especially as work has now recommenced on TK 3639, after a pause of several years in order to turn our attentions to BCK 6705. Work parties are held on Wednesdays Thursdays and Fridays every week unless otherwise announced.
The Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway has been awarded Full Accreditation by the Arts Council. The Museum, which is run by the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust, holds a wide range of artefacts which display and tell the story of the history and heritage of the West Somerset Railway and the Great Western Railway.
Administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the UK Accreditation Partnership, Accreditation is the benchmark for well-run Museums and Galleries.
It means that the Gauge Museum is properly managed and governed to the nationally agreed industry standard and shows the museum takes proper care of its collections, sharing them with visitors and keeping them safe for future generations.
Accreditation opens up exciting funding opportunities, allows museums to host touring exhibitions and gives access to professional advice and support. It also gives confidence to donors and sponsors who may wish to support the museum in preserving heritage and inspiring future generations
Steve Williams, Trust Vice Chairman and Trust Accreditation Lead said: “This is a fantastic outcome for the Trust and marks the combination of three years of hard work by a small and dedicated team of volunteers many of whom now make up our Museum Management Team. This means that the Trust is recognised as working to a high standard of Museum and collections management and care. We now have to ensure that we deliver to those standards and continue to make the Gauge Museum as welcoming and as interesting an experience for visitors and volunteers alike”.
Ian Camp, Trustee and Museum Curator said: “This achievement represents a significant milestone for our museum. The progress we have made is the result of the unwavering dedication and hard work of our team over the past several years. Their commitment has been instrumental in reaching this important point in our journey.
We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Rachel Bellamy, our Museum Development Officer, whose support and guidance have been invaluable throughout this process. Her expertise has helped steer us in the right direction and ensured that we met the necessary standards for accreditation.
Securing this recognition marks another important step towards fulfilling our vision of being a professional museum, managed and operated by a group of passionate and committed volunteers.”
Helen Anson, Trustee and Museum Professional Adviser said: “This is a defining moment for the Heritage Trust. By gaining accreditation we have demonstrated our deep commitment to our museums service, setting high standards in organisational health, collections care and management and visitor experience. The contribution from the whole team has been outstanding and their passion for embedding excellence across the organisation will ensure that we continue to build on this success over the coming years.”
Having gained Accreditation for the Gauge Museum, the Trust will in 2026 be pursuing a similar outcome for its other site at Blue Anchor station on the WSR which is now opened to visitors again following an extensive programme of refurbishment and reinterpretation.
The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to publish the minutes of its August Board Meeting on Thursday, 7th August 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.
The Trust is pleased to announce that the Gauge Museum Blue Anchor has reopened in April. The website on the Gauge Museum Blue Anchor has new photos of the Museum’s interior and new panels showing lots of information.
Please do have a visit to the new webpage under Museums > Gauge Museum Blue Anchor drop down. Alternatively click here.
Thank you for spending your time visiting the Railway and the Heritage Trust.
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