West Somerset Railway General Discussion

After the 03 removed 2 coaches at 1025, the 1010 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard departed behind a resurrected 44422 at 1047, 37 late.

 

Brake vans a pest species? I suppose that explains their eradication from the mainline.

 

44422 1430 Minehead arrived Bishops Lydeard 56 late.
7820 1430 Bishops Lydeard arrived Minehead 49 late.
As usual 1330 Minehead-Doniford/ 1420 Doniford-Minehead caped.

Not been a good week.

 

I was told at BL that the delays were due to a possession overrun. This in connection with gauging issues to do with the Flying Scotsman visit. No doubt others will be along who can confirm or otherwise..

 

Ulgham , Northumberland, is pronounced'Uffam'. Good job the 'g' is not a 'p'.

 

Problems with the points exiting the loco area at Minehead this morning. As the Minehead turn was load 8 yesterday with 53808 they had to detach 2 coaches with the 03 at 1025 as 44422 although a class 4 is not in the best of health. The 1010 then departed 37 late. Lateness accumulated from there.
Latest: 6960 1530 MD-BL departed Crowcombe 43 late. 44422 1630 BL-MD departed Crowcombe 45 late and 7820 1630 MD-BL is running in the times of the 1720 MD-BL.

 

Thanks for that. I shall not embarass the staff member who gave me duff information by naming them!

 

Loco roster showing D6575 out 2moro but all service show timetabled as steam. Anyone know if the crompton is okay?

 

It looks as though the diesel loco turn on Saturday has been cancelled, now all steam.
But one of my colleagues checked out D6575 today and it was "no fault found".
Going to consider the way forward tomorrow.

Ian R.

 

Saturday has always been a Green timetable with no Diesel turn as far as published timetables etc.

Robin F.

 

I can't imagine 6960 Raveningham Hall being called a Ratbag , easy to pronounce yes but I had the pleasure of a footplate trip from MD to BL a few years ago during a late Winter Gala , I was like a dog with two tails . She was handled beautifully by the crew and the run from WN to CH was truly thrilling . The driver did say that there had been a recent overhaul and nothing had been missed . What I'm trying to say is you'll never hear me use the R&T word .

 

There were historical reasons behind the "ratbag hall" nickname for 6960 during its time on the SVR.

When it first arrived from Carnforth (where it was put back in service from Barry condition) it had quite a number of non authentic bits fitted some of which such as the combine harvester seats were just a real nuisance. Gradually the rogue bits came off in favour of the proper ones - but the nickname stuck.

Of course the name ratbag hall was less difficult to say than the proper name & with 4930 also being in service at that time "ratbag" of "hagley" were easy tags to avoid confusion.

 

An excellent idea. Although, sooner or later I suspect there will be some degree of fallout to contend with in the form of enthusiasts complaining about seeing FS pushing a brake van around everywhere she goes.....I can almost hear the " ban the van" placards being made as I speak!

 

West Somerset Railway -Then and Now

Dunster Sea Lane Crossing 1961 /2017 Looking East towards Blue Anchor.

I have put up this pair of shots mostly to show the last survivor of the crossing equipment -the steel closure post (and the attached fenceing) in the north east corner of the crossing.

BTW Dinmore Manor looks superb, totally at home on the Railway and has quietly been getting on with her job during the recent round of steam and diesel failures. 'Beauty is fitness expressed' they say. Roll on Ditcheat Manor being restored. Much more use than a prairie.

Robin

1961


2017


Post

 

Is loco 1219 use on Sunday brake van rides it's first public passenger use on the wsr

 

Question on the 1961 crossing gates. My understanding is/was that a crossing gate would have a red disc on it only if it acted as a home signal and showed red when closed to railway traffic. Here we have in shot a home signal so there should be no need for a disc. Moreover the disc faces road traffic not rail. On the other hand the disc does face road traffic, does it control the road traffic not the rail?

 

are you allowed to use a day rover ticket on the last dmu back to minehead today if you haven't booked. And what time is last train back to minehead please

 

Yes, and the timetable is on the WSR website.

 

Your understanding is partly incorrect. The Ministry Requirements (1950 edition), available at http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=4808 , say (page 20):

So red targets (not necessarily discs, some railways used diamonds or squares) facing the road are a requirement (note this only applies to public roads, not private crossings), but if there is a stop signal, the targets do not need to face the railway. They don't exactly control road traffic, but they do warn vehicle drivers that the gates are closed. They were not required before the motor age.