The Three Sided Polygon: Cotswold & Exmoor Explorer
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We are very pleased to offer you this extra special add-on to the Cotswold and Exmoor Explorer which is taking the Hastings DEMU from Hastings to Minehead. For those of you who are interested in track coverage and/or haulage by heritage DMU, we hope you will join us for this mini trip to cover the much sought after "West Somerset Railway triangle", otherwise known as the Norton Triangle located at Norton Fitzwarren, just outside Taunton.
After leaving our Thumper at Bishops Lydeard, we will board the West Somerset Railways Class 115 DMU for a run back towards Taunton but turning off before the mainline connection to cover the Turning Triangle in its entirety. Developed by the West Somerset Railway Association, this dedicated railway junction allows heritage steam engines and rolling stock to turn around without needing to travel all the way to Minehead. The triangle has also served a double-duty as a ballast recycling depot in partnership with Network Rail. Although the West Somerset Railway regularly uses the triangle to turn locomotives during major events or for charter movements, it is now very rare for a Class 1 passenger train to use it, so enjoy getting those highlighters out for this very rare move.
We will return to Bishops Lydeard to allow you time to join one of the normal WSR heritage trains back towards Minehead (at your own additional cost), where you can meet the Thumper back to Bishops Lydeard and onwards to Hastings. Alternatively enjoy a longer break at Bishops Lydeard and await your return train home.
Please note this fixture is ONLY available as an off train option for those booked on The Cotswold and Exmoor Explorer, however places remain available - please see the separate fixture to book on this. This fixture is also open to BLS non-members. Please also be aware, the Class 115 DMU is only 3 cars so has limited capacity.
We will confirm timings and plan for the day when we issue tickets, approximately five days before travel.r' Add-on - Saturday 18th July 2026
After leaving our Thumper at Bishops Lydeard, we will board the West Somerset Railways Class 115 DMU for a run back towards Taunton but turning off before the mainline connection to cover the Turning Triangle in its entirety. Developed by the West Somerset Railway Association, this dedicated railway junction allows heritage steam engines and rolling stock to turn around without needing to travel all the way to Minehead. The triangle has also served a double-duty as a ballast recycling depot in partnership with Network Rail. Although the West Somerset Railway regularly uses the triangle to turn locomotives during major events or for charter movements, it is now very rare for a Class 1 passenger train to use it, so enjoy getting those highlighters out for this very rare move.
We will return to Bishops Lydeard to allow you time to join one of the normal WSR heritage trains back towards Minehead (at your own additional cost), where you can meet the Thumper back to Bishops Lydeard and onwards to Hastings. Alternatively enjoy a longer break at Bishops Lydeard and await your return train home.
Please note this fixture is ONLY available as an off train option for those booked on The Cotswold and Exmoor Explorer, however places remain available - please see the separate fixture to book on this. This fixture is also open to BLS non-members. Please also be aware, the Class 115 DMU is only 3 cars so has limited capacity.
We will confirm timings and plan for the day when we issue tickets, approximately five days before travel.r' Add-on - Saturday 18th July 2026
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Where is it happening?
6th Floor, Derwent House, 150 Arundel Gate, S1 2FN Sheffield, United Kingdom, 150 Arundel Gate, Sheffield, S1 2, United Kingdom
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