West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The main difference is that 4160 has a late BR improved boiler with 2 row superheat (12 elements) whereas all the other surviving 51xx class have a single row of 6. That does give 4160 a significant edge when its working hard.
Any other differences are details which changed slightly with locos built in different lots.

 

Mr 1472 beat me to it.

From what little I know, it's closer to 4110. The cleaning gang / loco preparation team will get their paws on it tomorrow in readiness for Sunday's QB.

 

I am hoping to visit the WSR for the SSG and, yes, I would like to renew my LSP before this. If I can't, I may not come.
As far as the visit of FS is concerned, there was an announcement from the WSR that special registration for LSP holders would be needed for the event. Unfortunately there have been no announcements since. The WSR is getting a bit too secretive. For the last ASG, there was no mention of non turning locos for some of the gala and it took a bit of prodding for info. to finally be released.
When we did our first PTS, we were told to act as a sort of lineside patrol and shoo trespassers away. Surely a well trained group of LSP holding photographers will be beneficial to help combat lineside trespass which I expect to rocket while FS is running. This is also true for galas.

 

This subject was given a rigorous outing on this site last November. Ref 2344 onwards.

Michael Rowe.

 

I can only speak as a volunteer who sits on the side-lines of the FS visit so please don’t take anything I say here as official it’s just an opinion based on what I know. Whilst I understand some of your frustrations could I please ask for a bit of patience give a little bit of time as we still have 6 months to go before the visit. I don’t feel the WSR can currently do things any quicker.

If you want to come to the SSG but need to get your LSP updated first as it will lapse before I would suggest ringing Minehead and explaining, hopefully they can help. Secondly LSP’s for the FS visit will as has been said be announced later. As you will understand I expect many parties have to ‘sign off’ on this most of all the Insurance company, I would think they would need a long time to think the risks through and give an answer as clearly this is not an everyday insurance requirement.

This no-doubt means that the WSR will have to give loads on justifications and proposals as to how we would work it, as you say trespass has been a major issue for FS elsewhere so asking an insurance company to cover people getting very close to FS whilst it’s on the move given what happened on the ECML will send shivers down their spines until they understand the level at which PTS/LPS holders operate.

In addition to this I expect the police, local land owners, local council and indeed the custodians of FS will all have a view on how safe the people and engine will be, a full safety case will need to be written as well. I know very many conversations are taking place regarding the operation of the whole event so whilst recognising that this issue is important to you it’s one of hundred things that need agreement and I know many people a lot of whom are volunteers are working hard behind the scene to accommodate this visit and for it to be safe and enjoyable for all.

Regarding the WSR being secretive, I’m sorry but I think you are wrong, LSP holders are important to us as you take the time, money and trouble to support us whilst enjoying your hobby which is a win-win for us all so you are valued, however they just can’t give you the answers you want at this moment in time.

Regarding your comments as another set of eyes regarding trespass and helping to keep it safe, I totally agree and indeed trespass is something we need to watch out for during this visit so in my view LSP holders are a positive and we will no-doubt need other PTS holders at points along the line in any case and I for one will be volunteering for that.

So please the people at the WSR know the issues, they are working hard to sort it out, give them some space.

 

I am not that concerned about the FS visit. It is the SSG that is only one month away.

I don't see what is holding up lsp's for the SSG. If the WSR are worried about the FS visit, just email LSP holders (the WSR have our emails) and tell us that LSP's are invalid for the period of FS's visit. Or, as earlier announced, register us for the FS visit.

Maybe secretive is too strong though there have been admissions to me that info. could have been more forthcoming.

It is the SSG that people are concentrating at the moment. I have contacted Minehead but was told (3 weeks ago) that lsp's are on hold. So, therefore, are people's plans.

 

I have a degree of sympathy with the WSR management in trying to make sure that the event is both a success and happens in a safe way. 20 miles of line is a long distance to try to ensure is kept free from risk, particularly given a number of access points (footpaths, road crossings etc.) where people can readily gain access to the lineside, authorised or not. There is also an extra strain at very busy times on loco crews, both to keep a look out for people lineside and also - maybe less well appreciated - the degree of concern you inevitably have when running in to a very crowded platform.

What is also hopefully clear is that FS has thus far visited three heritage lines (ELR, NYMR, SVR) and, within the next few weeks, will have visited two more (KWVR, Bluebell). So by the end of April, there should be a considerable body of experience available to draw on about how to make the event a success and to control the risks, still leaving the best part of five months to finesse plans. I know that knowledge has been freely shared with the Bluebell in planning for Flying Scotsman, and I am sure that knowledge is available to the WSR as well.

Tom

 

As someone on the outside of the WSR family but with a bit of knowledge, I suspect that a majority of WSR management time is being expended on the FS visit. knowing what was involved on te NYMR and having seen a presentation by Nick Ralls on what the SVR did/had to do for FS, I can assure you that time is not on the WSR's side if they are to manage it successfully.. There is an awful lot to pull together. Emergency services, emergency planning, traffic management, car parking, security, landowners and a host of other subjects have all to be sorted and agreed. Nick Ralls answered the question 'Would you do it again?' with an emphatic 'No.'

 

Sorry my misunderstanding I thought your concerns were more about the FS visit, as you say the SSG is not long away now, could I suggest contacting the General Manager if you are getting no joy.

 

Thanks. I have contacted the GM; awaiting a reply.

 

The WSR website show's that 5199 will be double heading with 6960 tomorrow Saturday 25th.http://www.west-somerset-railway.co...saturday-5199-to-work-double-headed-with-6960

 

Will pop out and see that. Thanks for info

 

Change of plan for the afternoon, she won't be going back up to BL until 16.30. A few niggles that need to be fixed apparently, so first down and last up will be double-headed (from Dave Horton on facebook)

 

For those who like to see WSR trains in unusual places, please note that starting this Sunday , 26 March, the Sunday lunch QB will be going empty to NFW departing BL at about 11:30, so that it can run round there and be platformed in BL platform 1 about 1215, rather than being rushed into platform 2 at 1245 or so for the 13:00 departure.

This should provide a much better starting experience for the QB passengers.

So the QB will use the BL to NFW section both ways, and thus should be the regular practice in future.

Robin

 

5199 is most similar to 9351. But with tanks and a bunker instead of the tender
My first ever trip behind 9351 was double headed with 5199, ASG 2004 from memory.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

 

http://cgibin.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=asg2004/sat/9351_1_mp

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

 

So the walkies talkies wont be needed for the first order of the trip as last year, so will be a good thing that the diners will be able to take their seats in plenty of time before the QB leaves and order their first drink while sat in their seats which to me they will expect. Another improvement for the running of the QB.

 

That is the plan. The train should be available for boarding from at least 12:30 and likely 12:15.

A considerable improvement on last year.

Robin

 

Erm, excuse me, but where's this common sense suddenly come from?..........

As in, you mean tell us that it never happened before?...... & you wondered why the QB had problems in the past!

 

Planning for this season's QB services follows a complete review of every aspect of the dining train operation. We are indebted to several WSR departments for agreeing to facilitate various improvements and this is just one of them.