Crowcombe Somerset - West Somerset Railway's (WSR) Spring Steam Gala got underway this weekend with vintage guest trains coming in to run passengers along the famous heritage line.
 
This year is the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway with eight guest steam engines which used to run on the railway hired-in especially for the event.
 
A small industrial tank engine gave shunting demonstrations at the Washford Museum of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust whilst another worked shuttle trains in and out of Minehead station hauling a railway carriage built for the Somerset and Dorset at Highbridge in 1890 and which was carrying its first passengers since 1930 following a long restoration.
 
WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare said, "We have not yet received all the figures for Sunday's trading but Saturday was a comfortably busy day. A huge amount of work has gone into planning and promoting this special event and it is good to see that being rewarded. The Gala resumes on Thursday 10th and continues to 13 Mar 2016."
 
This Saturday the author of a new book brought out to coincide with the commemorations will be available to sign books.
 
Steph Gillet, author of "The Somerset and Dorset Railway Through Time", will be at Washford Museum shop.
 
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