53808 running on the West Somerset Railway (farewell to a workhorse)

With the sudden announcement that S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 No 53808 is to leave the West Somerset Railway after a recent wrangling with the WSR board and the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust. I decided to pitch together a video featuring my past shots of the locomotive running on the railway from a few steam galas in 2016 and 2018, including double heading with other guest locomotives. The locomotive is due to move to the Mid Hants Railway for the remainder of it's boiler ticket, which the running on the line will fund for its upcoming overhaul. Its a real big shame it has come to this, the 7F had been one of the finest performing and vital workhorses for the WSR. And its also a real shame that I didn't really film the locomotive enough during steam galas or on a regular basis as she is a well liked powerful 2-8-0 that really well suited working on the line.
As I tend to avoid anything political, I will say this that I really do hope the West Somerset Railway board really seriously sort themselves out. As the last two years the railway has really been going downhill with one setback after another. Let us hope nothing more worse will push the unique scenic to the ground.

[@camsutherland6633]

They had some brilliant locos, 88 was my favourite. Such a shame so many have gone.

[@OZnationalist]

Great video and channel!

[@SecondValveSteam]

Lovely video. It’s a shame the 7F has had to leave the WSR for such hostile reasons, but let’s hope both parties can come to terms again one day. Regards. Cameron

[@barleyvalengaugemodelrailw3694]

Sad to see it go and bad for the railway with not many engines and now the third on gone in just 1.5 years. But hopefully they will be back good and strong!

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Very sad to hear Ryan

[@robmasterman]

Sad news Ryan, and good to see your tribute to her.

[@michaelhampton9493]

What exactly is happening at the W.S.R.?

[@GreatWestern175]

ever more digging it's own grave. Urgent track renewals replacing the 100+ years of sleepers/rails, recover from the COVID 19 crisis which has hit the railway very hard. It will probably not reopen until March 2021