West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Thanks Gary. So's I don't further test the patience of our friends interested in the WSR, I'll save any other questions for the IWSR threads ..... honest!

 

You take nice loco pics for someone who's not much of one for taking them.

 

Anthony , I do know of at least 1 9F made in Swindon , a very famous one , the last steam engine to be made , Evening Star , there were others .

 

Thanks to Wikipedia I now know what a Mansell wheel is .

 

Thank you, kind sir!

There are, of course, many different 'West Somerset Railways'. For some, it is all about the locomotives. I am a dyed in the wool operator, so the traffic arrangements, signalling and the like call to me particularly, but also it's about the heritage, and, of course, the people, which is why you will find that my WSR shots take that slant.

Robin

This has been my favourite shot this year:

 

Is that one of those artificial carnations that squirt water, as beloved of the Drones Club? Looks as if he is taking aim.

PH

 

Footplatemen wearing gloves. What is the world coming to?

 

That was the day Antiques Roadshow was filmed at Minehead. There was no need for additional water that day....

Robin

 

Which is why I posted that shot, you can't see the end of the train so quite easy to imagine it is 12 or 13 coaches! I do agree re pacifics with 6 coach trains on single track. One advantage of being a Sothern man is that Light Pacifics often worked short rains on secondary lines. Re the West Somerset, Prairies and the Mogul conversion are fine by me

 

Game Show 'Odd one out'

Spot the item that doesn't belong to win the star prize - a box of dandelion seeds for your lawn.

 

That's a difficult one... I'll have to phone a friend.

 

Er... Is it the short Fire Bucket?

 

I've always taken a great interest in matters S&D and regret never travelling over any part of it, AFAIK. Bournemouth is my home town and I do remember watching trains at Bournemouth West just before that station closed (I was 7 at the time). I suppose we are very fortunate that the line is so well documented.

The first time I saw 53808 was at Bristol Bath Road open day on 17th October 1970. The engine was on route from Barry to Radstock at the time. It's subsequent relocation to Minehead was the right decision, as the WSR is surely the very best possible habitat for this magnificent engine. Long may it remain with us. It'd be nice to see it running with SR engines more often though. Here's to the 2026 Spring Steam Gala!

 

No hazard notice on the white plastic garden furniture?

 

You've got to remember Steve , we are only southern softies , only pits we had were in North Somerset . Lol

 

I must admit Robin I used to see in my youth a Stop , Look , Listen sign at the end of Goviers Lane , Watchet . I'm sure it was made out of cast iron though .

 

I also very much regret not travelling on the S & D . I lived at the other end from Barry , a bus ride to Bath . I found Bath Green Park Station purely by chance . I had be ' spotting ' on the mainline , Paddington to Temple Meads at Corsham with the odd trip into Bristol on Saturdays catching the Souther Region visiting steamer into Temple Meads , must have been 1963/4 . One day I was walking at BGP end of Bath and I heard a steam whistle . I was only 9 or 10 and totaly unaware of the S & D so when I walked into the station I was very excited . I made many visits but never a journey on the train , my pocket money didn't stretch to bus fare into Bath and a train ticket to goodness knows where . Of course I didn't know of Carpe Diem . If my spelling is wrong I'm sure the Latin scholars will soon put me right .
Paul. K

 

I have an inkling of what it just might be, but count me out unfortunately - dandelion seeds won't clear customs...

 

Following the classic recipe for the perfect English lawn ("Seed and roll for four hundred years"), no doubt?

Noel