MORE than 3,200 passengers travelled on the West Somerset Railway during the first weekend of the railway's spring steam gala.

General manager Paul Conibeare told the County Gazette: "We are pleased with the result.

"A two-weekend event is a first for us and we didn't know how well things would go, so the turnout was very pleasing, especially as the weather was less than inspiring on the Saturday and Sunday."

Celebrity' locos included "Black Prince" owned by international artist David Shepherd, and Battle of Britain class monster "Tangmere" which arrive at the head of a special train from London on Saturday.

The gala's second weekend runs from today (March 23) to Sunday.