West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Yes Steve. It begars belief but if I had a fiver for each time SKP has had to set back I would not need to spend on beer. This has been discussed by train crew and have come to the conclusion that there is something wrong with the valve setting. The most common place to set back are Arley ,down loop, and Bridgnorth up trains from P1. It was at the latter we lost the 4 minutes

 

It occasionally happens with TV (not one instance on Saturday) but it's no where near as many as SKP.

 

We've discussed this before. A three cylinder loco can end up with only one cylinder open to steam and another open to lead steam before reaching the end of its stroke so is effectively opposing movement. Because it has three cylinders, the diameter is smaller than an equivalent two cylinder loco so that one cylinder has less torque. Difficult to start but once moving, three cylinders are better.

 

Wait till you have to cold start a marine triple expansion engine - with an over centre reverser....................

And you are manoeuvring through a bridge............

Trying to remember what you saw the Chief do on the Bristol Queen twenty years before - when you were three and a bit

 

Would a TAC plunger be a good idea there?

 

Yes, we have, but it's still frustrating when your brain is telling you, "There are three of you bu88ers, and one of you has to be getting steam." On a BB, or WC, with full boiler pressure, that one piston has over 23 tons pressure on it. Mind you, I did a similar calculation for a Peckett 0-4-0, that one of our longest - serving members used to own, and, with a 160psi boiler, it was putting 29 tons on each of its pistons, to turn much smaller wheels.

Needless to say, when you opened the regulator, whatever it was coupled to, moved.

As threelinkdave mentioned upthread, 2857 goes like a rocket from a stand, with acceleration like an EMU, if you have a dry rail and know what you are doing. My memory tells me the WSR has, or had a 28, or 38XX, so you would know.

 

It might but simply moving the phone to where the brake usually stops would be just as effective. In both cases the phone is at the rear of the train 4 coach lengths away

 

Does the SVR allow blood sports while waiting for trains to cross?

Robin

 

Only to get rid of the undesirables in Kidderminster

 

I is a engyneer. .You dont expect me to spell as well

 

RAOTHFLOL. At last some humour.

 

Are platform tickets available for the thomas event? Not sure we have enough time for full line travel but nephew wants to see thomas.

 

Details here.

http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.php/37/day-out-with-thomas

 

Certain trains pass at Blue Anchor and Wiliton , if you don't have enough time for the full trip have a look at the time table to find which one suits , have a word with the guard and you might be able to change trains .

 

Return tickets from Minehead to intermediate stations should still be available. You don't need the Guard's permission to change trains!

 

When I travelled on Wednesday last, the signalman at Crowcombe was wearing a Hi-Viz jacket each time the train passed - even when he did not have to leave the platform. Is this standard practice there?

 

No

High Vis is discouraged when in public areas.

Robin

 

You dont need the guards permission to change trains but train staff can facilitate making the connection.Timetables for crossing trains at any railway do not necessarily allow changing trains

 

However, at the WSR, due to the signalmen having to take a little time to deal with tokens, it's almost impossible not to make connections off crossing trains. On-train and platform staff usually ensure that all transferring passengers are catered for.

 

On the NYMR at crossing places the guard of the first arrival always goes to the opposite platform to establish whether there are any passengers for his train and waits for them to cross to the other platform. It rarely adds to the overall time.