West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Partly you are remembering wrong for, there are no signs about gate closure at all, The crossing is always staffed. Removable signs giving easy to read departure times in S.R.green are displayed,

PH

 

Thanks for this. The red is just overwhelming and 'orrible. If it was desired to keep the gates themselves in red, things would be dramatically improved by painting the hinge posts in black to match the railings Better still if the gates were the same colour as the woodwork on the buildings

Regards,

Paul H

 

Posts 7620 and 7622 seems to be an appropriate conclusion,

PH

 

What would the GWR have have done?

 

Manned/Lockable White Picket Gates? As used at Grosmont on the NYMR.

 

Who was the Safety Audit Director?

 

Ken Davidge AKA Faol on here.

 

Thanks

 

but some said "ok, I am trespassing, so what"

So, what did you do about them ??

 

Not much you can do, really, on your own. At past galas, when there were several of us, trespassers were more compliant, though not always.

At the FS event there was a security team (called Malcolm) at the end of the phone and that was very effective.

What do you suggest? Returning to an earlier members post, how enforceable is the "do not trespass, penalty £1000"?

 

"What do you suggest? Returning to an earlier members post, how enforceable is the "do not trespass, penalty £1000"?

The answer is that, subject to signs with the statutory wording and in the statutory format being placed at the required locations any railway undertaking has the statutory right to prosecute trespassers. Although my knowledge is now a bit rusty, I am aware of at least one heritage railways where a successful prosecution was brought, but it hinged on the presence of the correct signage. It is also a reality that heritage signage is seen as being 'heritage' and therefore completely irrelevant even when staring people in the face - again some time ago, but I frequently had to draw people's attention to a really rather obvious sign saying that 'passengers must not pass this point' to have them say that 'they just thought it was part of the atmosphere'. The fact that they were then standing in an area where they were virtually un-seeable by a train crew but two paces from being run over did not cross their minds.

Sad though it is (and not having seen the signs at WSR), I can see that, in today's situation, having a certain amount of signage in the statutory format may not only be advisable, but indeed necessary if there are to be any teeth behind the enforcement of a railway undertaking's duties to protect the public from itself...

 

One of the new signs has appeared by the bridge at Nethercott. I mentioned in an earlier post that I thought the appearance of the figure of £1000 was possibly acting as a deterrent. While briefly at Nethercott hut I saw at least 2 people approach the "gate", look at the sign, and turn away.
The deterrent part of the sign seems to work on most reasonable people. We are told during PTS training to make a reasonable attempt to persuade lineside trespassers to leave but to avoid confrontation. So what should I do with the hard core trespasser who has ignored the sign?

 

Tell them politely in no uncertain terms to Foxtrot Oscar, or the Old Bill/BTP will be called & trains stopped until they do so!

 

By the time the Bill arrive, not only has he done a runner, but he also has his precious "shot". They also show up at the last moment so there would be little time to stop trains/muster the constabulary. I am also not sure there is mobile coverage at all points along the line.
How about photographing them and threatening to send it to the railway/police?

 

Unfortunatly by taking their photographs the trespassers might consider this an affront to ' human rights ' and consider throwing a punch . Having never been a linesider I don't understand the etiquette of being one . I would like to think the ones who have the official passes would all try to help each other to get the perfect shot .
Paul . K

 

If you think the safety of the person or the train is liable to be compromised I think one should call the nearest signal box or station to get the train stopped & the Police called.
Or just call 999 as one would if it were a Network Rail line.

If the phone number on the Trespassers Will Be.... sign is PADD 1234 it probably won't work.

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now#96

Bishops Lydeard 1978 / 2017

This view is of the rear of the signal
Box. In 1978 it was from the coal yard and in 2017 it is known as the lower car park.

The flowers are lovely but the box that is the Guards signing on point behind the signal box does nothing to enhance the scene. Some feel that the present company is rather too addicted to portacabins.

1978


2017

 

Dealing with trespassers.

Until the present company got its knickers in a twist about lineside photographers I used to take a stroll along the Railway at Galas in the other part of the day from my box shift, checking lineside passes.

Legitimate photographers liked it, because it showed their wisdom in paying their money and coming on the course. Taking a photo of the offender was often enough to persuade them to move on.

If not, remembering that I would be wearing a HV coat, one could be very 'orange' in their shot of the train they were waiting for until they left....

Robin

 

I suspect I'm not the only one who prefers the "before" shot. Gilding the lily?

 

For my part I can accept the necessary changes to make BL fit for purpose as a terminus.

What I find difficult to accept is the lack of vision that leaves us with the guard's box pictured, portacabins in BL loco, a brand new portacabin encampment by BL plastic palace, portacabins at Williton, portacabins in MD loco, the Ops Department and accounts in portacabins at MD.....

I appreciate that Rome wasn't built in a day, but hard to see how we are making progress on the 'built' environment.

Robin