West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Hello,
'Dogfish' is a BR name not GWR.


http://gwr813.org/gwrdiagrams.htm


Nick

 

Indeed well done robin despite her personal issues with another body, she shows though her actions that she has the railway at heart, i judge people on their actions, not on what others may say just out of interest, has the WSRA purchased any rolling stock for the railway over the last 5 years? if so what? i suspect i know what the answer will be be.

 

Yes well done on purchasing this and its loan. However I am not really clear that this has to do with the WSRA?

 

Immediately I can think of Hawksworth Inspection Saloon W80976W, Mk1 BSK 35408 and Mk1 FO 3131 all purchased by the WSRA in the last 5 years, the first 2 in regular use, the last waiting restoration at Williton.

 

The point is that some persons with in the WSRA have attempted to blacken robins name, she could have not been blamed for walking away, but instead she has of of her own pocket gone and found lamp post stanchions, and now a brake van for the railway, as i said, i judge people by their actions,

 

thank you ian,, are these vehicles availible to the railway, for general use? or just to used for the quantock belle ? for instance how often is the Hawksworth saloon attached to a service rake?

 

35408 is only used on the QB as it is the generator van. The Saloon is occasionally attached to a service rake - it will be used thus this coming Saturday 26th on the 1435 BL - MD and 1625 return for a private party, although any use of this vehicle and the QB has to be by hire from the WSRA, so I suppose, strictly speaking, WSR PLC cannot just use the vehicles when they want without reference to the WSRA first.

 

Indeed, although the van appears to be loaned to the WSR and not the WSRA so not sure of relevance to relationship to the issues with WSRA? - equally I suspect many members who both support the WSRA and the Reform Group would be delighted to have the disposable income available to buy artifacts and donate them and would do so (I am not even a member and I would be over the moon to be able to buy Thornbury Castle and loan it to the WSR), you almost seems to be trying to suggest that one becomes a 'better' or more loyal member if one has the money to do so.

Anyway as Ian has provided evidence to the contrary perhaps this non-issue should be put to bed, either way following the movement of the original posts this is once again not the place to discuss and thus to avoid the moderators further ball ache perhaps we should refrain from discussing.

 

Now this posting is in the appropriate thread, folks might like to see the full press release:

"The West Somerset Railway is pleased to announce that a new “Toad” has come to stay on the Railway. No, not an endangered amphibian but a rare Great Western Railway goods train brake van. All goods vehicle types were given telegraphic code names, and brake vans were called ‘toads’. Other names for vehicles included ‘bloaters’, ‘crocodiles’ and ‘dogfish’!

"Toad brake van number 114 751 has had a long life. It was built in 1934 and ended its main line railway service at Leyton in East London. It was then bought privately and has spent the last 20 years in rural Herefordshire. West Somerset Railway volunteer Robin White has now bought the brake van and it arrived on the Railway on Monday 21 September. Robin and the Railway would be interested to hear of its working life between 1934 and the 1990’s if it appears in anyone’s photographs – it always carried the same number.

"West Somerset Railway Chief Mechanical Engineer Andrew Foster said “We are pleased to welcome Toad 114 751 to the WSR family. It is in excellent condition, having been well looked after by its previous owner. After some minor work it will take up duties in our demonstration goods train used for Gala events and driver experience courses. We are grateful to Robin White for acquiring this very useful vehicle and placing it on long term loan to the Railway.”

"Robin White, a leading London employment and discrimination barrister, but also a volunteer of the Railway for over 30 years, who is often seen working signal boxes on the line said “I was pleased to bring the Toad’ to the Railway. There was some danger of it being painted pink, having beds installed and converted into holiday accommodation. It is much better that, for the foreseeable future it will continue to do what it was designed for. It is in very good hands with the WSR plc.”

"Would you like to be a guard on the WSR and using Toad 114 751? The WSR is holding a recruiting day for volunteer Guards and Signalmen (and women) at Bishops Lydeard station on Sunday 15 November, starting at 10am. If you are interested contact Pete Vile (guards) on peter.vile@wsrail.net or Chris Pratt (signalmen) on chris.pratt@wsrail.net for more details.. Or just simply turn up on the day – although it would be helpful to let us know you plan to attend so that we have some idea of the number to expect. The SatNav code for Bishops Lydeard Station is TA4 3BX and ample parking will be available. "

(sorry I didn't have room for all that on wsr.org.uk news page!)

Steve

 

At first sight, very little however Robin has been criticised by them for not supporting the Railway. The comments were much along the lines of "what have the Romans ever done for us ?" Well, apart from the frequent volunteering, helping at the steam Gala, buying station furniture, free legal advice, drafting key documents, sign writing, delivering change and now a Toad........ nothing ! There's also another little project that is being devised in the background.

The van will be painted in more authentic GWR grey over the winter and will be available for the usual weddings, christenings, bar mitzvahs etc.

 

The Toad is a most worthwhile addition to the WSR features.

 

that is what i was getting at, where as items purchased by the WSRA, on the face of it are to benefit the WSRA first, before being of any benefit to the Railway.

 

Ah hence the paragraph long character reference in the official press release.

 

It would be very unusual not to include a line or two about the person making a loan/donation, unless of course they had requested anonymity.


Keith

 

Whilst I agree the pale grey is not authentic, it is attractive, distinctive & from the photo, in good shape. Why not just wait for a paint job to become due & do it then?
A photo of it outside "Robin's Nest" would be a nice touch!

 

The van is very much under the care of the WSR plc, and I will be discussing any changes with Andy Forster in the next couple of weeks, and I have been known to wield my lettering brush around the Railway on occasion....

It is likely that early livery changes will leave it in BR(W) light grey but change the markings which associate it with Herefordshire to bring it 'home' to Taunton or close by.

I would be pleased to have suggestions / be sent photos as to what that should be.

In the slightly longer term, my preference is for the van to adopt an 'ex-works' 1934 look, which, of course, means dark grey etc.

Thank you for your kind comments. The Press Release is from John Simms at Minehead and is aimed at the press beyond the Railway press. These things are always a bit embarrassing. At least I will now have a use for the unused (and still in their brown paper) tail and side lamps I rescued from a store room about to be demolished at Ashford 30 years ago.

Robin

 

Did it come from Rowden Mill?

 

Yes

Robin

 

Well done Robin. I think I caught a glimpse of it in the loco compound at BL today. I assume that was where it was unloaded. I had a brilliant day out on the WSR today. Good to see the new 66 West Somerset Railway doing the DMU diagram.