Camp Coaches at Blue Anchor

Yesterday I was very much on the 'looking forward to Summer' mode. Perhaps its the gloomy weather at the moment. Those who know me will know that I am a real enthusiast for the heritage and history of the West Somerset Railway. I first volunteered in 1983 when I qualified as a signalman at Blue Anchor. Those were much different days then, the railway has progressed beyond all recognition through the hard work and dedication of those who support it. So here is another picture that wraps all of that up together.

It is summer, we are at Blue Anchor and it is sometime in the late 1950s or early 60s. So all my themes wrapped up together. Blue Anchor had a single camp coach in 1952, two from 1957 and a third one from 1962 when the goods siding was extended to accommodate the extra vehicle. When I first started volunteering, I used to occasionally stay overnight in the coaches that are there now - it never seems quite as idyllic as it looks in this photograph! At least one of the vehicles is now being restored so that soon again you can camp at Blue Anchor.

Shopping in Morrisons

Shopping can be boring.....Morrisons in Minehead is well stocked and the staff are very friendly and helpful, but you cannot get away from the fact that grocery shopping is boring. For various reasons that I won't tire you with, I am often in this store despite living in Taunton.  Although you don't see it on the way in because they are behind your head, on the way out - that time when you need the greatest positive lift, if you look up you will see two large images related to the railway.

This one is a copy of a picture in the General Manager's collection and shows Minehead station in the early 1920s. The mix of rolling stock and the general air of the station are very atmospheric.

This second image is on the right as you leave the store. It is a poster from the 1950s showing the beach at Minehead on a sunny day - exactly the opposite weather that I experienced when I emerged from the shop earlier this week! At least for a moment I thought that one day the weather might improve!