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GWSR General Discussion and Operations

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by michaelh, Aug 25, 2013.

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  1. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Yes we've had a few inches in Cheltenham, railway's closed today. Don't know what took the camera out but last time it snowed it pulled down a few tree branches with the weight, so could be that.

    Hopefully we'll be open tomorrow, I'm on duty and I've been looking forward to getting back on the trains!
     
    flying scotsman123, Dec 27, 2017
    #181
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  2. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Hopefully not too much flooding to come then as not much snow when I was in Tewkesbury earlier (and none at all where I live 10 miles from that) but plenty of water about.
     
    Pete Thornhill, Dec 27, 2017
    #182
  3. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    Broadway Yeti visiting.
     
    Kinghambranch, Dec 27, 2017
    #183
  4. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Well, people were sounding optimistic this morning, but we're closed again tomorrow after all, not good for our coffers.
     
    flying scotsman123, Dec 27, 2017
    #184
  5. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    ''We are very sorry to announce that there will be no train services on Thursday 28th December. This is because our car parks are still covered in snow and ice, and there's more poor weather on the way''.
     
    free2grice, Dec 27, 2017
    #185
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  6. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    Is it really that bad - 20 miles north here its just wet
     
    michaelh, Dec 27, 2017
    #186
  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Honestly it is. This batch of snow seems very patchy and random as to where it fell. We had 3 inches or so in Cheltenham which normally misses out completely, and I've been told at least 2 inches at Toddington. The fact that this snow is very wet also doesn't help, as it'll be refreezing overnight making it even more nasty. No one really wants to make this decision, indeed things were looking hopeful this morning for tomorrow, so it's clearly bad enough to warrant closure, sadly. :(
     
    flying scotsman123, Dec 27, 2017
    #187
  8. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    I bet it isn't just wet there tonight! Skating anyone?!
     
    Kinghambranch, Dec 27, 2017
    #188
  9. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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    What do they do in Austria when 3 ins of snow fall? Do they cancel trains because there is snow in the car park?
    Does the power fail for 12 hours like it did in Gloucestershire yesterday, because of 'snow' (dixit Western Power)

    We just had a GWSR circular to say that our santa clear up is cancelled because of the 'atrocious weather'. Well out here 5 miles away the sun is shining and my grandchildren are playing in the garden, in 3 ins of snow.

    We are a nation of wimps.
     
    Breva, Dec 28, 2017
    #189
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  10. baldbof

    baldbof Well-Known Member Friend

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    Just wait until a snowflake lands in Central London - BBC go into overdrive with 24 hour continuous news coverage of the event including reporters standing on the roof of Broadcasting House wearing the finest clothing as befits any Arctic/Antarctic explorers, Parliament re-called, HM Forces (or what's left of them) placed on alert, hospitals calling in all staff, underground and bus services grind to a halt, 20 gazillion tons of rock salt spread on the city's roads, mobile networks collapse under the load of people sending 'OMG a snowflake!' messages, mass hysteria as trendy people can't get to their favourite coffee/wine bar.

    Yup!! 'Wimps' sums it up quite nicely.
     
    baldbof, Dec 28, 2017
    #190
  11. 2995valliant

    2995valliant New Member

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    Sadly, I suspect it is all about the perceived risk of someone slipping over and putting in a claim.
     
    2995valliant, Dec 28, 2017
    #191
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  12. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    For the millionth time, please don't exaggerate!
     
    Kinghambranch, Dec 28, 2017
    #192
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  13. baldbof

    baldbof Well-Known Member Friend

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    OK. May be I got a bit carried away with the "Parliament re-called" bit.
     
    baldbof, Dec 28, 2017
    #193
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  14. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Would it be too obvious to say we're not as well prepared as Austria, quite reasonable given the different frequency of snow on the two countries?...

    There were about a dozen volunteers at Winchcombe today pottering about, but few would have been prepared to turn up at the times required to start running trains, and all went home earlier than normal.

    As for car parks, I saw two cars get stuck in Winchcombe passenger car park today needing a shove to get going again. Virtually no one even risked going further into the yard car park. With the partially melted refrozen snow it was literally like driving over rubble.

    One other point; our volunteers come from far and wide. The Toddington signalman may live in Wales for instance, and this time of year particularly finding relief is difficult.

    All that said, it was a shame there were no trains today, it was a beautiful day and would've led to some stunning photography. Hopefully some can still be had tomorrow as trains are definitely running again (and hopefully Sunday for what's ended up being my only TTI turn this Christmas).
     
    flying scotsman123, Dec 28, 2017
    #194
  15. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    I am contemplating visiting on Sunday - which train are you TTI'ing on?
     
    michaelh, Dec 28, 2017
    #195
  16. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    The steam train, should be the manor up front last I heard, usually has a nice bark on a winter's day, even on our relatively non-existent gradients...
     
    flying scotsman123, Dec 28, 2017
    #196
  17. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    Is there only one steam train?
     
    michaelh, Dec 28, 2017
    #197
  18. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

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    mattspencer, Dec 28, 2017
    #198
  19. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    michaelh, Dec 28, 2017
    #199
  20. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Fair criticism, I'm not sure why either tbh. We've got our mixed traction gala tomorrow and Saturday with 3 sets out, boxing day was red timetable (2 steam and DMU). The commercial department do look closely at passenger loadings, boxing day changed from blue to red a few years ago, so presumably this day doesn't warrant it.
     
    flying scotsman123, Dec 28, 2017
    #200
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