EVEN a Met Office extreme weather warning could not stop train enthusiasts pouring into West Somerset over the weekend.

People travelled from all over the country to experience the West Somerset Railway’s (WSR) four-day summer diesel festival, which was part of this year’s national Railway 200 celebrations of the birth of the modern railway.

Others who could not make the journey watched events happen via railway webcams and YouTube videos.

The festival, which ended on Sunday (June 8) with a mixed traction day, overcame the usual glitches which affect events, including the failure on Saturday of the Class 35 ‘Hymek’ No D7018 locomotive, which had only recently returned to service.

The WSR’s other Hymek D7017 was unable to be involved at all due to repairs taking longer than expected.

A Class 33 ‘Crompton’ engine took D7018’s place instead on the Sunday, with the faulty Hymek repaired by members of the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG), in Williton, by mid-afternoon on Sunday.

The WSR ran an intensive timetable for the festival, with some trains starting as early as 7.50 am and finishing at 9.40 pm.

All 23 miles of the heritage line was used at times, as some services ran over the rarely used track between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fotzwarren.

Brake van rides were on offer behind the engines as goods trains ran on each of the four days for the first time, and pre-booked ‘kids for a quid’ tickets proved a popular offer.

The DEPG opened its Williton depot for festival visitors with admission by donation to support its maintenance and restoration work.

The WSR’s attention has now turned to the imminent arrival of the iconic Flying Scotsman steam locomotive, which will be hauling services on the line for a fortnight from the end of June to mid-July.