FRIENDS of Minehead Station’s (FOMS) ‘Reader’s Halt’ second-hand bookstall will be open on Saturday and Sunday (November 29 and 30) as part of the station’s popular Christmas market.

The friends have had another successful fund-raising year during 2025 and are paying for new lighting ahead of the festive season.

The main source of FOMS income is the ‘Reader’s Halt’ stall, which was able to finance the refurbishment of the station’s roof during the 2024-25 winter season and replenish the bank balance for future work on the station.

Along with an array of stalls selling locally produced crafts at the Christmas market, steam locomotive garden planters made by volunteers from scrap pieces of wood will be on sale. They have proved best sellers as presents for gardeners.

There will be a special train running to take passengers to the market on both days.

It will leave Bishops Lydeard at 10.30 am and will make two stops along its journey, calling at Williton at 11.03 am and Watchet at 11.13 am.

Tickets for the train are available on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) website or by calling 01643 704996 Monday to Friday.

Also on Sunday, the first ‘Fish and Chipmas’ and festive period ‘Quantock Belle’ dining trains - with three-course Christmas meals on the latter - will run from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.

Details of these and pre-booking arrangements can be seen on the WSR website.

Looking ahead to 2026, FOMS will be marking its 30th anniversary.

This will be part of a ‘double landmark’ for the station - on March 28, 1976, the first train of the newly-established West Somerset Railway line left for a round trip to Blue Anchor.

The WSR is planning a commemorative weekend on March 28 and 29 to mark the 50th anniversary with details to be announced later.