IT has been full steam ahead on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) as the season comes toward its end, with a packed programme of special events, including a fleeting visit from the Flying Scotsman, which brought railway buffs to the line in their thousands over the past three weekends.

Following the ending of the school summer holiday period and the ‘Diesels at 65’ event, the popular autumn steam weekend once again proved a major draw with 10 iconic steam locomotives in action, attracting both enthusiasts and the public in general.

They included three ‘event-only guests’, the Ivatt 2MT 41313, Great Western ‘Large Prairie’ 4110, and London and North Western Railway ‘Coal Tank’ 1054.

It was also the last weekend of operation for GWR 7802 ‘Bradley Manor’ before its return to the Severn Valley railway.

Apart from some showers on Sunday, the weather was good and the trains were well filled.

Passengers and visitors could be found in the busy museums at Bishops Lydeard and Blue Anchor, visiting the Taunton model railway group in Bishops Lydeard, and looking around the cabs of diesel locomotives at the Williton home of the diesel and electric group.

On September 19, for the second time this year, the WSR welcomed no fewer than three special trains from the mainline network.

The first, was a return visit by the ‘Belmond Britannic Explorer’, a luxury train which left London Victoria on Friday afternoon and made its way to the WSR where it stabled overnight before continuing to Penzance on Saturday.

The second, was a Railway Touring Company excursion from Paddington.

A WSR spokesperson said: “This was planned to be steam worked as far as Bishops Lydeard but was top and tailed by two Class 47 diesels, 47237 and 47828 operated by West Coast Railways.

“The final special train to make its way to the seaside came from Bristol.

“This was quickly sold out, due in no small part to it being headed by the Flying Scotsman.

“This world-famous Gresley A3 Pacific proved its appeal yet again by not merely bringing its full train into Minehead but also attracting many people to the station and lineside to see it pass by.

The spokesperson said: “The engine and its tender were too large to turn on the Minehead turntable so the train departed with Scotsman travelling tender-first at the rear and headed by Class 37 diesel 37240 as far as the turning triangle at Norton Fitzwarren, when steam was able to take the lead back to Bristol Temple Meads.

“Alongside these trains, the WSR operated its own services, with the day as a whole bringing welcome business to the railway and the communities along its route.”

The railway will be operating trains on selected weekday and weekend dates until November 1.

Its programme of festive season special trains will begin with services for the Minehead Station Christmas market on November 28 and 29, and includes dining trains, carol trains, fish and chip outings, and the popular Santa Expresses.