The East Somerset Railway celebrated 150 years over the weekend of 21st/22nd June with the help of Aggregate Industries and Mendip Rail at Merehead quarry. To help get people to the event shuttle trains were organised to run from Westbury – Cranmore using EWS 66200 and Mendip Rail 59102 on the Sunday when I visited. Once at Cranmore a number of classic buses were on hand to ferry us down the quarry where the main exhibits were located.
Right inside the gates were a pair of kettles which were working a demonstraion freight hauling 1000 tonnes up the incline at regular intervals. I watched the first attempt of the day which was rather impressive as there was loads of wheelslip and steam everywhere got the load moving. Further down were a pair of slugs (901 & 906) which had arrived from the Severn Valley Railway being hauled down by 50049 which was also on site.
A couple of 59s (59004 & 59101) were nearby both parked on short demonstration set of wagons to show the type of work this class carries out on a daily basis. Moving around to the main shed where most of the exhibits were located with a number of 59s and a few celebrity liveried guests were stabled. 60040 was on hand still in ex works condition fresh from its naming the previous weekend at York NRM where it had been named ‘The Territorial Army Centenary’.
Nearby was another celebrity livery as Freightliner had sent 66623 ‘Bill Bolsover’ in Bardon Aggregates livery and GBRf had sent fresh off the boat 66731, the paintwork was still gleaming along with a rather unusual visitor to the branch, 73204 ‘Alison’. A couple of 59s were in the shed “pretending” to be repaired, 59005 was having a cylinder replaced while 59002 was next door with a bogie being dropped.
Before I left I took a trip on one of the coach tours of the quarry which is the largest in Europe and something I can quite easily believe as it is massive! Overall a great day out and excellent value for money as it included a return trip on the shuttle from Westbury, Classic bus to the quarry, Coach tour of the quarry, entry to the main event and a trip on the ESR all for £15 which I thought was excellent! 
