GWSR General Discussion and Operations

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!

 

Broadway Yeti visiting.

 

Well, people were sounding optimistic this morning, but we're closed again tomorrow after all, not good for our coffers.

 

''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''.

 

Is it really that bad - 20 miles north here its just wet

 

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.

 

I bet it isn't just wet there tonight! Skating anyone?!

 

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.

 

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.

 

Sadly, I suspect it is all about the perceived risk of someone slipping over and putting in a claim.

 

For the millionth time, please don't exaggerate!

 

OK. May be I got a bit carried away with the "Parliament re-called" bit.

 

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).

 

I am contemplating visiting on Sunday - which train are you TTI'ing on?

 

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...

 

Is there only one steam train?

 

Yes it is the blue timetable https://www.gwsr.com/planning_your_visit/visiting_gwsr/2017_calendar_and_timetables.html#SB

 

Not intending to be critical just slightly surprised. By contrast the SVR has 5 steam locos out (albeit one of them replacing the failed DMU)

Sunday December 31st - Amended Festive Season

FN1 - 7812

FS1 - 43106

FS2 - 1501

FS3 - 7714

FS4 - 34027

 

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.