West Somerset Railway General Discussion

So that's where my old mattress went...

I suppose you'll be growing some 'rocket' next year. Would that be classed as a new build?

Don't forget the rhubarb for @Yorkshireman 's colour comparison tests

 

The Quantock Belle is to be formed in set ‘D’. Full English Breakfast will therefore be available aboard the following trains, served until 15.00 hrs each day:

Saturday 7th October

09.00 BL to MD

10.30 MD to BL

12.39 BL to MD

14.10 MD to BL

Sunday 8th October

09.40 BL to NF

10.15 NF to MD

12.20 MD to BL

14.10 BL to MD

FO 3108 Meteor will offer non-dining First Class accommodation throughout the event, for a small supplement fare (formed in set ‘D’).

Here’s the menu card content. It’s identical to 2017 Spring Steam Gala breakfast menu:

The ‘QB’ Quality Breakfast £8.00 per person:

Orange or Grapefruit Juice

Fried Egg, Lean Back Bacon, Pork Sausage, Hash Browns, Baked Beans, Tomato

Toast and Marmalade

Tea or Coffee with complimentary refill

Bury Black Pudding (optional extra): £1

 

Bloody Vikings .

 

If only the Peel to Ramsey line were still open then we may have been able to make out engine exhaust as the trains pass in the distance .

 

Having sampled this at the SSG, I can guarantee you this is a very luxurious start to the day. It's quite a bargain too.

Somebody needs to write a 'Gourmet's Guide to the WSR'.

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #75

Williton 1961 / 2017

The water tank top has changed from that in the 1934 shot and the long loop is now shown.

1961


2017

 

Yum yum!

 

Rhubarb definitely on the list for the fruit and veg area.

Robin

 

We have reached £825 by this morning. With gift aid, that is £1,056 of the required £1,400, leaving a gap of £344 or only £267 of gift aided donations. If you can help close that gap, do message me.

Robin

 

To reply to my own post - said Annual Report has landed and it reports that the TR reclaimed £56k Gift Aid in 2016 (£57k in 2015).

 

That firemans going for it up to Crocombe! Maybe he had a bad trip the day before!

 

Popping up to the WSR tomorrow as (and hopefully this is still the plan) the Cl.33 is covering the DMU turn. Haven't had Foxcote Manor on its latest visit yet and also short on 4F mileage, so I generally like the look of tomorrow's roster.

I noticed on the very handy wsr.org.uk site that 6960 is on driver experience duties as well. Would anyone be able to say where that fits into the timetable? I'd ideally like to get some pictures of the Hall in action alongside travelling behind the Crompton/Manor/4F. Thanks in advance.

 

It's a 'taster' course which means it will be running with just a brake van in the Norton section. It usually departs BL around 0930, returns to BL around 1300 for lunch and a change of participants, then goes back into the section until about 1700ish. It doesn't go north of BL.

 

If I made that much spare steam and black smoke in the station today I would be getting disapproving looks from the Driver and if it was a Traction Inspector driving he would be deducting points

 

The fireman is probably using up all that remaining Flying Scotsman coal following the visit in 1948.

Interesting to see that despite all the armchair experts who spout dubious stats, it was felt necessary to provide water columns at Williton for the professional crews. Maybe one day for we happy amateurs, eh ?

 

I am sitting in an armchair at the moment, but there are a number of differences between then and Now (a phrase to contour with) that changes the game.

1. The higher line speeds require, by simple physics, the use of more power output, and so more water. Given that energy varies as the second power of speed, 40mph involves 2.5 as much power as 25mph and so a lot more water.

2. In the down direction, the train was last watered at Taunton, not Bishops Lydeard...

Just saying.

Robin

 

I am in danger of getting confused (which happens a lot). Was the loop initially short, then lengthened, then shortened, and recently lengthened again?

 

Yes.

When Railway opened in 1862 only single line and present down platform provided. (Never seen a photo of station in that form.)

Loop installed 1874. Extended 1937. Shortened 1968 (to avoid replacing second track over stream.) Re-lengthened winter of 2015/16.

Robin

 

Driver could use as much steam as he needed/wanted on starting even with the long loop. Note the 40 MPH restriction sign for the points.

 

Not quite velocity squared: Kinetic energy (a measure of stored energy) = half the mass x velocity squared which equals mgh where m=mass, g = gravitational constant and h = height.

Actually

Leaving Williton power will be work done against gravity (WDAG) plus work done overcoming resistance (WDAR)

At 25mph: WDAG = weight of loco plus train in pounds x speed in ft/sec divided by gradient x 550 = horsepower.

Increase in WDAG is a linear function

WDAR: R (resistance in lbs/ton x v (velocity in ft sec) divided by 550 = horsepower

For Mark 1 stock R = 4.6 lbs/ton at 25mph, at 40mph = 6.5lbs/ton. (The increase in resistance vs velocity can be written as a series of quadratic equations. The data quoted is from BR tests conducted on MK1 stock in the early 60s)

How does this work out in practice: suppose large Prairie (70tons) and 6 coach train (220 tons Gross.)

Example
At 25mph WDAG for loco plus coaches on 1/92 gradient up to Crowcombe = 487
WDAR for coaches = 66
WDAG plus WDAR = EDHP (Equivalent drawbar horsepower) = 553.

At 40mph WDAG = 779, WDAR = 114. EDHP = 903

Michael Rowe