West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Can this checked curve be mechanically tamped with the kit available?

 

In the past

In the past I may have been accused of that dreadful disease ' big chufferitus ' . I have no interest seeing a mainline express meandering along at 25 mph ( unless it was built in Swindon ) . I do get quite excited by 9351 , a loco ideally suited to the WSR , in fact tailor made . To hear it working hard along with all the other Prairies does get my juices going . So with the Mogul looking more like a loco , I'll raise my glass to a quick return . Does anyone know if there will be access to MPD durring the WSF ?

Paul . K.

 

I've "driven" 9351 down the platform and back.... Driver for a fiver (tenner in my case!), and the chuff chuff noise is really good to hear! My problem was that I drove on the right, and the station platform was on the left! Pulled up a bit short!
Robin L.

 

Pulling up short is a good problem to have. A platform overshoot at Minehead could have, er, "interesting" consequences!

 

Abandoned in a "Bedroom in Minehead"

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #139

Minehead 1921 / 2017

Views of the Station forecourt from one of the the Beach Hotel’s first floor bedrooms. Lots to appreciate in the ‘Then’ shot which shows the Station building in its original form before extension. The best point of reference is the entrance porch.

Thanks to the Beach Hotel for allowing me access.

1921


2017

 

You lucky man , I had a footplate trip on 6960 MD to BL a few years , loved every minute of it . Tried for the WSF , it appears they've stopped doing it now , the only way to get on the footplate is through an Engineman Course . Shame .

 

Cracking Robin. I do like historical photos with real people going about daily life. Most railway photographs from back in the day with people in them seem to show men posing with impressive facial hair!

Can you put some red and white stripes on the MG so we can play Where's Wally?

 

Could you explain that, please?

Robin

 

Holy facepalm - where have you been the last thirty years Robin!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where's_Wally?

Tom

 

Regarding the check rail. I was wondering if this incident had a bearing,

https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/locomotive-derailment-at-ordsall-lane-junction-salford

Perhaps there have been instructions from on high

Dave

 

Where's Wally?
Clue :- Wally's distinctive bobble hat, and glasses make it slightly easier!

 

Sorry, proud owners of the present day vehicles but those shown in the 1921 shot are far more interesting to me. Can't make out who the makers were of the even then elderly landaulet on the left. Most of the charabancs are on Leyland chassis.

PH

 

I refer the honourable gentleman to the picture I posted some moments ago...

No one could accuse me of not being (a) Wally in that hat...

Robin

 

And off to the far right a horse and landau wait patiently.

So much fascinating detail in the photo.

Given the clothing it seems not to be the height of summer. Easter Holiday, perhaps?

Robin

 

I do wonder what the three lads are up to??? (front leftish)

I have a hunch they are wise to the photographer!

 

The line up of charabancs begs the question will the 0935 from BL connect with the Lynmouth bus?

 

Just look at the bars across the radiators on the "charas". These were so you could hold on whilst jumping on the starting handle for the early morning cold start with Churchward period lubricating oil like tar. Heavy vehicles in the era were not exactly "fun"!

PH

 

One of them seems to be labelled "Porlock Weir and Minehead" which I suspect would be a fair old experience in one of those vehicles given the length of time it would have taken. As for going on to Lynmouth via Porlock Hill - would they even make it up there?

 

Making it back down might have been equally interesting!

Tom