GOODS trains will for the first time run on all four days of this week’s summer diesel festival on the West Somerset Railway (WSR).

Enthusiasts will be able to ride in goods brake vans to be as close as they can to ‘the noise from the front’.

The WSR offers different trip options and locomotive haulage with visiting and home fleet engines throughout the festival, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, June 5 to 8.

Sunday will be a mixed traction day with steam and diesel locomotives hauling passenger trains.

Some trains this year will continue past Bishops Lydeard to the end of the WSR line in Norton Fitzwarren, a stretch of track only occasionally used for passengers.

The diesel gala is a major part of the WSR’s contribution to the national Railway 200 celebrations, marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.

A cider festival will also be held on Minehead Station on Friday and Saturday in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Locomotives confirmed for the festival are:

  • Class 03 No. D2133
  • Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ No. D9526
  • Class 25 No. 25185
  • Class 33 ‘Crompton’ Nos. D6566 & D6575
  • Class 35 ‘Hymek’ Nos. D7017 & D7018
  • Class 45 ‘Peak’ No. 45108
  • Class 50 ‘Hoover’ No. 50015 ‘Valiant’
  • Class 52 ‘Western’ No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’

The festival comes three weeks before the world’s most famous steam locomotive the Flying Scotsman arrives to haul WSR services between June 28 and July 12 with a number of static displays also available to visit.

Flying Scotsman fever has gripped train enthusiasts with many of its WSR journeys already sold out, including all of its scheduled evening fish and chip services.

Later this year, the WSR is also bringing back its autumn steam festival, which will run from Friday to Sunday, October 17 to 19.