THOUSANDS of steam train enthusiasts have begun flocking to the area for the bank holiday weekend’s spring gala on the West Somerset Railway (WSR).

The festival of steam runs from Friday to Monday (May 3 to 6) with eight locomotives operating on the WSR’s 22-mile track between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard.

A number of visiting locomotives will join the WSR’s own fleet for a busy timetable on each of the four days with a variety of trains in operation, including local passenger, parcels, demonstration goods, and non-stop express journeys.

Visitors this year will also be able to travel along the rarely-opened section of line between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren, where the turning triangle will be in use.

The turntable at Minehead Station will also be operating as the WSR ensures as many trains as possible will be facing smokebox first.

A number of heritage displays, model railways, and museums will also be open along the WSR track, Britain’s longest heritage line.

The final visiting locomotive for the gala, Hunslet 0-6-0ST no.1873 ‘Jessie’, arrived in Minehead this week from her home at Blaenavon Heritage Railway, courtesy of owner Mike Pearce, making a first-time visit.

First to be confirmed this year was London and North Western Railway ‘Coal Tank’ no.1054 making a maiden visit and its furthest-ever journey into the Westcountry.

Built in 1888, she is the last of 300 of her class and has travelled travel from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society.

Another guest is LNER B1 4-6-0 no.61306 ‘Mayflower’, courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd and Locomotive 61306 Ltd, also appearing for the first time and the first B1 on the West Somerset track since 2002.

GWR 66XX 0-6-2 tank no.6695 is making a return visit thanks to 6695 Locomotive Ltd and the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, its first appearance away from home since returning to traffic in September 2022.

GWR Modified Hall, No.6990 ‘Witherslack Hall’ is taking part courtesy of the Great Central Railway and the David Clarke Railway Trust, making her third visit, the others being in 1998 and 2018.