West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I understand that 4110 will arrive on the Railway this week some time. Will try and get some photos to upload when she arrives. What another grand project for the WSR but where is the restoration to take place with 3 locos under restoration atm 88, 6024 and 9351.

 

I understand it will be at Minehead after 88 and 9351 are finished.

 

From the pictures I've seen, I hope they get the other half, it looks a bit bare.

DJB.

 

This working is listed in the 2015 QB leaflet as a regular Sunday lunch service but at a slightly reduced price because of diesel haulage. For some reason the WSRA website QB page ignored this working. In WSRA website parlance this was a QB non event.

There's a lot to explain to the review team about our beloved Quantock Belle.

Barrie

 

Back in the day our QB Diesel Gala breakfast and brunch services did rather well. Several customers regularly had a pint or two with their brekkie as well. Takings were always higher on steam galas but we put that down to steam being better supported in terms of visitor numbers. Diesel sorts generally didn't linger at the tables once they had finished their meal, so we could lay up and serve others on the same journey.

Perhaps if the membership elects trustees with business experience at AGM, then a more proactive attitude will develop with regard to the Association's commercial activities. Just a thought.

 

I think you have subconsciously identified that there are 2 separate markets to be catered for.

There is the higher end dining market looking for a sit-down well presented meal travelling through pleasant countryside that creates an ambience for which a premium price can be charged (note 35028 with its regular Surrey Diners) whilst the enthusiasts are looking for a quick filling meal such as bacon rolls, sandwiches and a hot drink - in effect cheap but cheerful. I'm sure that the ability / willingness to cater for these 2 markets should be part of the marketing but am I right to think that the current operation has all its eggs in the one basket by concentrating on the premium dining experience ?

 

That's all that is left I think Dennis except pony trucks and rods probably. All to fabricated in Somerset. Ken

 

Thanks for the info Ken, I would have hoped for a wagon load of bits & pieces.

DJB.

 

I've only just found this thread! Perhaps I'm not the only one.

Well, today, the WSR is running its Green timetable (as amended) with two steam locos in action and the Hymek out on passenger service too. The Crompton no D6575 is also out on the line with the goods on a Diesel Experience special. With an added bonus today of a through train from Nottingham to Minehead and back.

There's also the Plc AGM today.

Otherwise, stuff just goes on as usual as can be seen with the up to date pics on www.wsr.org.uk ;-)

Steve

 

Having just got home from the railway I am pleased to report that despite a very busy day which included a lot of shunting at Minehead, all went to plan with trains running pretty much to time. Kinlet Hall took 10 coaches back to Bishops Lydeard on the 1625 from Minehead. I was Conductor Guard on the excursion from Nottingham, and we brought 12 coaches into Minehead with very few spare seats, another 400+ people to boost the town's income, and we delivered the train back to Network Rail at Norton Fitzwarren about 10 minutes early!

 

With reference to the QB on 7th June various comments may have been overlooked as a result of the thread split.

Ian Monkton said: ↑
I think it was quite a late decision to run it as an attachment to a service train. It was not in the list of dates on the WSRA website, and was advertised only a week or so beforehand as a 'walk-on' service. I don't know whether it was run by the WSRA or whether the SEPT hired it for the day. Diesel enthusiasts are not known for their use of dining trains, however I expect there were a few more than usual in the 'normal' coaches enjoying the Warship on load 9. If it had been run as a beer train, it would probably have been filled!

Ex QB Steward said:
Back in the day our QB Diesel Gala breakfast and brunch services did rather well. Several customers regularly had a pint or two with their brekkie as well. Takings were always higher on steam galas but we put that down to steam being better supported in terms of visitor numbers. Diesel sorts generally didn't linger at the tables once they had finished their meal, so we could lay up and serve others on the same journey.

Robin White said: ↑
I was signalman at Crowcombe yesterday (7th). The train was diesel hauled and appeared to be very lightly loaded indeed. Only one dining coach was in use, with most tables unoccupied from what I could see.
I asked the 'diesel fraternity' who were, mostly, our trade for the day, what they thought about lunch on the train. Fairly universally they were not interested, as they were there to see, ride behind and photograph the diesels, and were more likely to be off for 'a curry and a pint or two' in the evening after the train service.
I would be interested to see accurate usage figures.

I said:
Being a member of the visiting diesel fraternity I would say the result of Robin's straw pole is about correct. However, other railways have tried similar on Sundays and had full loads. I would suggest the main reason for its failure was the apparently unsolvable problem, more pronounced this year, of poor advanced information for this event. It appears the decision to add the QB was taken a few days in advance when it should have been taken months in advance. Had it been included in the promotional leaflet with provisional locomotive allocation I suspect quite a few advance bookings would have come in and any spare seats would have had a chance of sale on the day. A few of the curry and pint guys might have been tempted but I suspect those whose other half need persuading of the merits of a Sunday on the trains might have agreed if they were being bought lunch on the QB. The 'Warship' I would suggest was the right carrot but it was doomed due to lack of promotion.

Many diesel fans, myself included, wish to 'maximise the mileage' on a visit to the railway. Thus the importance of knowing the timetable in advance, especially as to which trains are diesel, steam or DMU as well as a provisional locomotive allocation. The confusion created by the various different versions of the timetable circulating this year, particularly regarding early and late trains on Saturday, lead to a lot of confusion. Things were not helped by staff and volunteers being similarly confused. It does appear that many heritage railways fail to understand that many diesel fans decision to attend is based on knowing the detail. If they don't know what is rostered for what they might not bother, so why not make the information available as soon as possible on the main website rather than through various back doors.

Other than these niggles it has to be said the railway put on an excellent show.

Rumours suggest next years event will be just as good. However, before then we have the 'Late Summer Weekend' promoted as "A celebration of Steam & Diesel Locomotives'. Hardly if you are diesel fan after mileage. A few years ago this event was heading in the right direction with alternate trains steam and diesel with diesel arrivals at each end being followed by diesel departures. Now just two round trips possible on Saturday, slightly less on Sunday if you start at Bishops Lydeard.

 

Today was a good day for action on the line; even though my main objective was to attend the plc AGM, I enjoyed the Hymek going up in the morning and a good run back behind Kinlet Hall, plus seeing Raveningham Hall, the class 33 coming into Minehead on the driving experience freight, the little 03 on station pilot duty at MD, plus a 47 and a 57 on the excursion from Nottingham. It all shows what a great line the WSR is.

John

 

Does anybody know what has happened with 6695 yet, as there was talk of a shunt of stock on the siding behind this engine yesterday evening.

 

Re the recently purchased large prairie no 4110, it was mentioned at yesterday's AGM that this engine is fairly complete, and there are a large number of parts due to be moved from Tyseley to Minehead in due course. Restoration work will start when the overhauls of 88 and 9351 are finished.

David

 

For the benefit of a numpty such as myself, what will be the likely costs involved in the return to service of large prairie no 4110. How long is this likely to take and will a special appeal be needed to raise the funds?

 

I have obtained copies of the Plc meeting notes and accounts following the AGM at the weekend.

 

Many thanks Snifter - very interesting reading for me in my "armchair"!

Steven

 

Yes, thanks Snifter. The Review of Business is commendably candid for pointing out that profit is struck after donations. The annual report from another railway rather tries to ignore this and trumpets the biggest profit for 20 years, despite the profit being only one third of the donations i.e. it would have been pretty ugly without. The WSR does need to sort out its share offering though, to make it EIS compliant.

 

I think you will finds that the WSR share offering is EIS complaint - It certainly was when I last purchased shares.