West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The current plans are 6960 starting on the 1015 MD, 53809 and 44422 on the 1025 and 1105 BL respectively. But, of course, things may change by then if locos become unavailable.

You can always check here http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/r-roster.cgi

 

Roster for Mon. 30th May thanks to Steve at wsr.org. <BJ>

GWR 4-6-0 no 6960 Raveningham Hall. Diagram starts at Minehead

LMS 0-6-0 no 44422. Starts at Bishops Lydeard - diagram 2

SDJR 2-8-0 no 53809. Starts at Bishops Lydeard - diagram 1

Edit: Sorry Ian. I didn't see your reply. <BJ>

 

Thanks, I assume diagram 2 is the 1105 and 1525??

 

Yes, it is.

 

WW2 munition on line at Watchet. Services suspended pending arrival of bomb disposal. 1025 service EX BL being towed back to Williton.

 

Just checking - "on" line implies that it's newly arrived there. I assume we're actually talking about under/beside line?

 

Thanks, Peter.

Official statement just received from Minehead: "For safety reasons, trains have been suspended on the West Somerset Railway for the rest of today. We apologise for any inconvenience. We are working hard to get travelling passengers back to their start station. More information will be released as soon as possible."

Steve

 

Never assume anything! We have been told that the munition was disturbed by rabbits and rolled down the bank onto the line.

 

Ok, that's a new one! Here's hoping that it can be dealt with safely and without damage to people or property.

 

My local contact tells me that there was an AA battery there during WW2. I would like to say it was a pleasure to see the efficient way in which the crew handled the situation. Passengers were offered free tea, coffee or water and a full refund on ticket price or use of the ticket on another day. D6575 disconnected and Odney Manor running round. Passengers for Minehead who wanted to are being taken from WT by bus. Arrived back at BL at about 1415 have run through Stogumber non stop at full speed and then slowing for the token exchange at Crowcombe Heathfield. An interesting day out!

 

Coverage in local paper.

http://m.somersetcountygazette.co.u...Railway_suspend_service_for__safety_reasons_/

 

Not as accurate as the man on the spot!

 

Vaguely relevant!

As a young child, my grand-father often took me to Watchet for the day. We usually had lunch sitting in the 'machine-gun emplacement' on the cliff behind what is now the marina. The harbour was busy in those days, especially when ships were unloading coal or esparto grass for the paper mill.
We'd sometimes see small planes out over the channel, towing a drogue on a long piece of string - target practice - & we'd see the puffs of smoke around the drogue.. The AA guns were somewhere on the Doniford side of town, presumably on the cliff tops. The string never seemed long enough to me.
The mg emplacement is slowly sliding down the cliff, I don't think it's accessible now. I understand there is/was a second concrete bunker a few yards away, perhaps an ammo store.
Happy days!
I hope the rabbits are OK.

 

Local rabbits are very tasty indeed!

Robin

 

ITV Coverage.

http://www.itv.com/news/west/story/2016-05-18/suspected-wwii-bomb-halts-west-somerset-railway/

 

Better coverage from BBC including picture of device.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-36322169

 

WANTED: Six plus one giant bunnies, for burrowing in an embankment near Watchet after a raid on a local fancy dress shop.

 

Eeeee Lad. Fire up the Bunvac 6000!
Wheres Wallace and Gromit when you need them?

 

I am pleased to see on Steve Edge's site that normal service will be resumed tomorrow. I shall try and do what I set out to do today. Fingers crossed!