West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I think 122 wins.

 

Will braunton haul the quantock belle anyt8me?

 

It's all right, I have since realised that you have your own narrow definitions that most of the other commenters don't appear to share, so, given that, we can all be right at the same time, discussion closed.

 

Does she have a name?

 

No QB workings on the latest spreadsheet but there's time yet.

Steve

 

Certainly I try to keep romanticism in check.

PH

 

Exmoor ie the engine carried the name of the hills which go around the top of North Hill Minehead.

 

Interestingly Dartmoor and Exmoor are used but Bodmin is used as the town name (I presume) and not its associated moor.

 

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Is there a thread for the steam and vintage rally, or is conversation permitted within this thread.

 

Like Arnold Schoenberg did?

 

Go ahead Anthony. The thread needs a boost at the moment. <BJ>

 

Here's the timings for Braunton's much anticipated return to the Wizzer on Wednesday:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55316/2018/08/15/advanced

And here's the accompanying diesel returning to Barton Hill:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55330/2018/08/15/advanced

Save me a place on Norton Fitzwarren footbridge on Wednesday.

 

Having not seen an S160 before last week, I was surprised to see exactly how stubby it is. It's certainly different to the majority of locos on the WSR, it has the sort of ugliness that makes the Q1 such an interesting looking class.
Oddly though, in photos taken from the 3/4, it doesn't look quite so short

S160 - 6046 by Tim White, on Flickr
There wasn't the room to get a full side on shot as I was using a 35mm prime :/

The new timetable certainly seemed to allow late running to catch up a bit (there was late running each day I was on the line, by lunchtime!)
It was a shame that the only Diesel out was the Crompton. Nothing against Cromptons, but it would have been nice to have seen something BR(W) running. The Teddy Bear, Hymek and Western did look good at Williton though

I think this image epitomises the WSR though. Raveningham Hall departing Doniford Bay set amongst the rural surroundings of fallow and cultivated fields.

GWR Hall - 6960 - Raveningham Hall by Tim White, on Flickr

 

A4 No.9 has two forthcoming visits to WSR in the diary:

On Saturday 18th August:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55279/2018/08/18/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55280/2018/08/18/advanced

And Tuesday 21st August:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55290/2018/08/21/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55291/2018/08/21/advanced

The timings on 21st between BL-MD and MD-BL are clearly inaccurate.

 

It is often interesting to compare steam loco operation on our 'Heritage' Railways with that of the same locos pre 1968.
Although I did travel behind Manor 4-6-0s in the 1950s this was always with light trains. I was however fortunate to be
able to record Manor performance fairly extensively twixt Redhill and Reading in 1963 and over the Cambrian section
in 1965.

Last week we had No.7822 with seven coaches ex MD at 10.15 but returned from Bishops Lydeard with two QB coaches
added. This gave 9/310/345 tons gross (400 pax). We kept time on the Down runs but 'on train' duties limited attention
to a cursory nature. On the return we maintained a rock steady 25mph on the two miles at 1/92 before Stogumber. The restart was difficult and speed hovered between 22.5 and 23 mph mph on the rest of the climb. (we took 9 minutes 6 secs from SR to Crowcombe, for many years the traditional schedule has been a demanding 8 minutes.)

To achieve this level of performance 7822 was driven on RFO and 40% cut off. The fireman ( one of our most
experienced and best) said "I could not have made any more steam" After the 5.9 miles of climbing the fire
had large lumps of clinker and was effectively remade after Crowcombe.

The best performance (power wise) I recorded in BR days was with No.7805 ( a Tyseley engine at the time)
on the Margate-Wolverhampton service in 1963. We had 10/334/360tons. We attained 24mph on the 1/100
leaving Redhill and later, after a pws before Dorking, attained and held 26.5 mph on the long 1/96 up to
Mile Post32.5. Number 7822 was developing an Equivalent Drawbar Horsepower in the range 820-860,
number 7805 an EDHP of 860 - 890. Number 7805 was fifteen minutes after the Redhill stop, 7822 starting
from Williton and SR, ( It is easy to forget that short start to stop trains with heavy trains does not make for
easy fire management)

At Bishops Lydeard the two QB coaches were removed and the Hawksworth saloon added (it was
required at Minehead the following day for a charter ). This led to a late departure and the uncertainties
this presents on the footplate. Due to the uncertain delays svo before departure. The crew reported a more
difficult climb from BL to CH than previously to CH from the opposite direction. The load was 8/277/280 tons
(pax was only 48, the last Down train is always lightly loaded) and we kept to schedule.

I think this shows Class (BR designation) 4 or 5 locos is not "Chufferitis". I also think to achieve such
performances day in day out indicates the quality of emginemanship that can be found on Heritage
Railways.

Michael Rowe

 

Given that a Jubilee, a Class 6 loco was intended to produce 1200hp under 'normal' conditions, even that would be working close to its designed load on the working described

 

What you describe is a big part of the attraction of the WSR and the reason why some of us prefer to come some distance to work on the line, passing lesser alternatives on the way.

 

West Somerset Railway - You would have to be barking not to visit.

I’m not that much into steam locos but Driver Henderson was really working Foxcote Manor yesterday afternoon - Sunday 12 August 2018.

Turn your sound up to full volume and come and spend just 70 seconds with me in the front coach leaving Williton in the up direction to see why you really should visit the WSR in August or September.

On a return from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead you get around a full hour of up-grade action!

 

And if, like me, you visit next Tuesday, as well as all the regular wonderful stuff
you'll get to see 34046 and 60009 on West Somerset metals.

Stef.