West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The 14 is restricted to 4 coaches. It could haul more but would not maintain line speed on the gradients.

 

There you go then - problem solved! The diesel people would flock to Somerset to be hauled by that and underline it in their books.

 

The 'bums on empty seats' count will be partially solved by the most welcome reintroduction of travel concessions for WSRA members. The Association lost many members (And therefore supporters) when this concession was withdrawn, probably more losses than the 'troubles' caused. I would urge WSRA to contact all lapsed members, going back about five years, to inform them of this development. Such action might well reverse the trend of declining membership numbers.

 

9351 Blog updated.

https://www.wsra.org.uk/category/9351-blog/

Robin

 

A lot of debate about suitable locomotives and passengers here, but having read the Railway Magazine article, which was quite lengthy and forthcoming, I guess WSR supporters should be happy that they still have a line to operate. Had the whistle not been blown, it appears the line could have shut and been up for sale.

 

That seems reasonable, but ― with GDPR, can they legally have kept ex-members' names and contact info?

 

Most certainly agree Greenway. As Robin Moira White has hinted at in her replies things could have been far worse. What's more if the WSR had "gone to the wall", they'd have like as not taken quite a number of other business' with them too. Business' like cafes, hotels/B&B's petrol stations and other shops. Speaking as a member of the NYMR, they bring into the Whitby/Scarborough area about £30,000,000 yes £30 million a year. How they worked out that figure I'm not sure off hand. That figure was brought up, when North Yorkshire County Council gave £300,000 a number of years ago towards the bridge 30 replacement fund.

 

I first travelled the WSR when it was only open to Williton and then year or so later to Stogumber ( I was looking to buy a house for sale underneath the line at Stogumber) Overriding memories are
It took as long to get to Minehead from Taunton as it did from the A33 to Taunton and I was shattered just driving to Minehead
The Park Royal gave an excellent experience and view of the Countryside better than any MK1 can or does
I was the only passenger from Williton to Stogumber and I could not see where the WSR thought its passengers were coming from if relying on Minehead and the train staff confirmed the push back to BL was to tap into passengers using the M5

These are still valid today, except the WSR sold off its rural cross country DMUs and replaced them with Suburban units
(The old house I subsequently looked at by Car at Stogumber looked over the buzzing leaking insulator Electricity pylon line in that valley so I did not proceed)

So can't see the WSR could retrench successfully to Williton from Minehead if anybody is thinking of that and cost cutting of the current operation has to be looked at hard and no prize cows left untouched.
Is it cheaper to run fewer but longer trains?
Is it possible to run shorter trains without overcrowding and affecting customer experience? Buckeyes couplers mean adding or taking off coaches during the day to match loadings is not that difficult.
Cut the number of trains run and so locos, carriages, crew and maintenance needed?
Use smaller Steam locos with diesel inside.
Convert shoulder and off peak trains to diesel
I think I read somewhere the DMU is being expected to run thousands of miles per annum as its economic. Is this practical for a unit that has been by the WSRs own admission somewhat neglected?
At the risk of peeps choking on their cornflakes second generation DMUs are shortly to be available. What would a PACER be like at 25MPH as a customer experience? The ones on the Weardale line were actual quite good I thought. The Far North Line in Scotland was saved from closure when Sprinterised from class 26s and 37s with MK1 coaches as the savings in track maintenance, wear and thus eventual renewal costs were massive let alone the reduced stock maintenance and fuel running costs.

Brian

 

These days one quarter of the passengers originate at Minehead and three-quarters at Bishops Lydeard.

Robin

 

There's a difference between keeping and using.

On the one hand the WSRA will have to keep donors' details for some years for tax and accounting reasons.

However, using the information for other reasons - particularly marketing, which includes "Why don't you rejoin" - is forbidden unless explicitly permitted by the people concerned.

 

Thanks for your thoughts - and memories.

I'm 100% confident the powers-that-be will have considered all these things, not just this year but every year (I can remember going through similar ideas in the early 1980s at a time of similar concerns about the health of the line) but it is always good to know other folks have similar questions and ideas.

We may not agree but do keep putting these ideas forward.

Steve

 

Regards the Butlins thing, we have sold tickets to Butlins patrons for a return ride to Watchet on Wednesdays and Sundays, out on the 1015 MD and return any train, at a discounted rate. They are available in Butlins only. Loadings vary, but can be anything up to 100 passengers.

 

Happily most people who use the train to Minehead have already done their homework about the beach and know all about it - some might have looked at the WSR's own website or the Visit Somerset website or even simply looked at a map.

WSR website:
"Passengers looking for the beach have simply to cross the road, and there it is. " (on the Minehead Station webpage)
"...and Minehead's seaside charm are all waiting to be discovered." (on The Railway webpage)
"...from the [Minehead] station entrance....a right turn takes you along the seafront" (from the What to See and Do webpage)
"Passengers looking for the beach have simply to cross the road, and there it is." (once again, this time on the What to See and Do webpage)

Visit Somerset, Minehead page:
"Perfect for a family seaside holiday, Minehead offers a long flat sandy beach...across from the promenade...is the West Somerset Railway"

WSR 2019 Leaflet:
"Nearby...sandy beach" (Section on the Stations)
"Steam trains to the seaside" (front cover)

And of course, anyone looking at the Minehead Station page on my little effort will see a map showing the station and, just across the road, the beach.

Hope that helps...

Of course, folks on this forum might have some other ideas for consideration. Thanks.

Steve

 

Unless the line is fully CWR then I would not consider a PACER they wreck jointed track.

 

I had a Fooplate trip a few years ago , MH to BL , I thoughly enjoyed it . I think it cost somewhere near £300 , complete value IMHO , just a shame it was only a one way trip , climbing from BL to CH would have been awesome as it was WT to CH . Bring it on WSR I'm sure I would go for another trip , I bet there are plenty of others who'd take the opportunity .

 

Disappointing news about no 50 or 47 at gala.

But omg finally get a Rat on the WSR. Class 25 has made up for it.

 

Steve my friend, may I look at this from another angle

"Happily most people who use the train to Minehead have already done their homework" – What's that? You've got a trading advantage to sell but you rely on people having done their homework?
"Passengers looking for the beach have simply to cross the road, and there it is. " What marketing genius came up with that one? - The beach, there it is. - Really makes you want to visit it.
"...and Minehead's seaside charm are all waiting to be discovered." That's in a list of other attractions, there are just the THREE WORDS specifically about Minehead.

"a right turn takes you along the seafront" Don't get over-excited about it!

"Visit Somerset" is not a WSR website.

On the WSR website Minehead page the second item after the beach across the road is The Hub, a children's indoor soft play centre a mile away, that's 20 minutes walk going away from the town centre up side streets. The Hub is followed by an advert for a clothing shop at the far end of town. Then follows two long descriptions of the railway's own Buffer Stop Shop and Turntable Café.

After saying that the South-West Coast Path takes you to Poole Harbour it then says "The road eventually reaches the harbour"! That's the harbour which is just two platform lengths from the station and half the distance of The Hub.

"The left turn out of the Station takes you past the former Beach Hotel" When did it stop being a hotel? https://www.thebeachhotel.org/

"Blenheim garden popular with coach companies as a base for touring the area" It's a pleasure park not a coach park!

"North Hill is recommended, but, be aware that there is some hard hill climbing involved" A negative connotation - How about this instead just off the top of my head - " For those who fancy a rewarding climb there are breathtaking views to be enjoyed from the upper slopes of North Hill overlooking the town with its sweeping bay. On a clear day the Welsh coast, Flat Holm and Steep Holm islands and passing ships in the Bristol Channel can be seen as well as the Somerset coast as far as Weston-Super-Mare".

Apart from the 360degree view which shows a small part of the town behind closed iron railings (and incidentally 4110 and 44422) I have yet to find a photo of Minehead on the website.

In my view WSR doesn't sell the town as a worthy destination to fully complement a great ride on its trains.

 

Not sure that you'd get too many customers for £300! At the Watercress Line you can get a round-trip on the footplate for £100. The mileage is the same (20 miles assuming the whole line is in use - I know it isn't at the moment) and you get to experience the line from both directions.