West Somerset Railway, based in Minehead, has announced the dates of its steam and diesel galas next year.

The Spring Steam Spectacular will, as it did this year, take place over the May Day bank holiday long weekend, running from Friday 3 until Monday 6 May. This year’s event included a visit from West Country Pacific No. 34027 ‘Taw Valley’.

The Summer Diesel Festival will take place from Thursday 6 until Saturday 8 June – as this year, the second weekend in June. This year’s festival starred sixty-two-year-old Deltic locomotive No 55009.

The Railway will release further details of the events later this year.

West Somerset Railway runs heritage steam and diesel trains on a 22.75-mile line owned by Somerset County Council, making it the longest heritage railway in England.

Its stations are Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe Heathfield, Stogumber, Williton, Doniford Halt, Watchet, Washford, Blue Anchor, Dunster abd Minehead.