NEARLY 5,000 passengers were carried across four days of a steam extravaganza on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) for the first bank holiday weekend of 2026.

It was the most ambitious steam gala event to be held on the WSR for several years.

The efforts of the organisers and those of the staff and volunteers who worked over the four days from Friday through to Monday were rewarded with an excellent total of 4,700 passengers.

Adding to which were the visitors who simply attended to see the trains pass by and spend some time at the 10 WSR stations.

The railway believes in total far more than 5,000 people made their way to the line over the weekend, many travelling from other parts of Britain for the spectacular and bringing benefits to the wider West Somerset economy.

The main attraction for many was the A4 Pacific ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ in its blue livery and heading a rake of carmine and cream painted carriages.

‘Sir Nigel’ presented a visible evocation of the early years of British Railways and those carriages quickly filled when the train drew into the station platforms.

The WSR was delighted to announce that the historic locomotive will be back for a further visit between July 3 and 5.

Lovers of the original Great Western Railway were treated to a variety of Swindon-designed locomotives, including ‘2884’ class 2-8-0 number 3850, once resident on the WSR, returning from the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway, and joined by a trio of ‘Manor’ class 4-6-0s, 7802, 7812, and 7828.

The 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ was working its first trains after a period of maintenance.

‘Mogul’ 9351 was also at work.

On the evening of May 2, the three ‘Manors’ triple-headed a train, recreating a past event when 7802, 7812, and 7828 combined.

The visit of British Railways 4MT tank engine 80078 came at the end of the week when its classmate 80064 was moved to Cranmore for an overhaul which its owner, the West Somerset Railway Association, plans to be completed in 2028.

Industrial steam has become part of West Somerset steam galas and Bagnall 0-6-0ST ‘Victor’ made its last appearance before returning to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

Its visit for the West Somerset’s golden jubilee weekend and the gala stirred memories for older volunteers who knew it in regular WSR service between 1976 and 1988.

It was joined by a late addition to the line-up, the Hunslet saddle tank ‘Newstead’, recently restored to working life after many years in a shed at a convent when it was assumed to have been scrapped.

Both worked local trains and services over the whole of the line while Hudswell Clarke 1857 and Boots Number 1 offered an opportunity to see a fireless locomotive on the move.

The weather was variable but not as poor as forecast, and the stations welcomed plenty of visitors, as did the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group, whose Williton depot was open for an advance taste of the WSR’s diesel gala from June 4 to 7.