West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Wasn't there an a;ppeal for "water water everywhere" in the bad days of the WSRA set up by the short lived Friends of the WSR (is that the right title?)
Rob

 

A quick look on ebay reveals new water tanks with 5,000 litre capacity (5 cubic metres or approx 1,100 gallons) starting around £400. One of them could be stationed at Williton, with a suitable high capacity pump (200 gallons per minute) and a hose, to enable tank locos or others to have a drink in an emergency. No need for expensive water cranes....just an electrical outlet to operate the pump, and a hosepipe to fill the thing up again.
Just thinking!
Robin L.

 

The system you describe as in fact already in place at the north end of the Swindon shed.

 

According to Locomotives of the GWR, the water capacity of the sub-4575 45xx locos is 1000 gallons. Capacity of a 57xx is 1,200 gallons, and one of these has been working recently on the line, both that and 9466 being unsuperheated (I think), so presumably more thirsty than a 45xx. (the max axle load is 19t 5cwt on the 94xx, 16t 15cwt on a 57xx, and 14t 10cwt on the 45xx). However, I would hesitate to jump to the conclusion based on information on this thread that there is an intention to use the 94xx on the line.

 

[QUOTE="AnthonyTrains2017, post: 2490259, member: 25629"

Anyone tell me please if the Manor class used to go on the Taunton to Barnstaple line[/QUOTE]

Although Manor class locomotives were authorised on the Minehead branch (blue route) they were not authorised from Norton Fitzwarren to Barnstaple Junction, so the answer is "no" - or at least not legally, and I have never seen a photograph of one. I used to travel up and down the line from the mid-fifties onwards, and certainly never saw one in the flesh, as it were. Has anyone else?

The longer answer is as follows. Manor class locomotives were categorised as "blue", and the Barnstaple Branch was "yellow". So the engines allowed on the Barnstaple Branch were all uncoloured and yellow types, plus the following blue types: 2-6-0: 53XX, 63XX, 73XX. 2-6-2T: 51XX, 61XX, the latter only east of Dulverton. SR classes M7, N and T9 were also permitted throughout.

Still, never say never, and there were various examples, talked about by railwaymen of the day, where non-permitted locos found their way by mistake onto lines where they should not have been. The trick then was to get them back onto permitted routes without too many senior people (particularly of the Civil Engineering Department) finding out. But I think a Manor on the Barnstaple Branch would have been a bit noticeable, especially if it had fallen through one of the high but relatively lightly engineered viaducts...

Frank

 

Although Manor class locomotives were authorised on the Minehead branch (blue route) they were not authorised from Norton Fitzwarren to Barnstaple Junction, so the answer is "no" - or at least not legally, and I have never seen a photograph of one. I used to travel up and down the line from the mid-fifties onwards, and certainly never saw one in the flesh, as it were. Has anyone else?

The longer answer is as follows. Manor class locomotives were categorised as "blue", and the Barnstaple Branch was "yellow". So the engines allowed on the Barnstaple Branch were all uncoloured and yellow types, plus the following blue types: 2-6-0: 53XX, 63XX, 73XX. 2-6-2T: 51XX, 61XX, the latter only east of Dulverton. SR classes M7, N and T9 were also permitted throughout.

Still, never say never, and there were various examples, talked about by railwaymen of the day, where non-permitted locos found their way by mistake onto lines where they should not have been. The trick then was to get them back onto permitted routes without too many senior people (particularly of the Civil Engineering Department) finding out. But I think a Manor on the Barnstaple Branch would have been a bit noticeable, especially if it had fallen through one of the high but relatively lightly engineered viaducts...

Frank[/QUOTE]
Although theoretically authorised, I don't believe a Manor ever worked to Minehead in GWR/BR days,probably because they couldn't have turned it on the rather small turntable then available.
Unless of course someone knows differently!

Ian R.

 

There were instructions about how to get a 'Lord Nelson' to Portishead but I am 100% sure it was never done & they never went near Bristol

 

By sea?

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that, but its reassuring that it exists! I assumed from remarks made earlier that crews were concerned when delays caused tanks to be very low on arrival at MH. A quick drink at Williton for tank engines would seem to be advisable, whether needed at the time or not.
Robin L.

 

Does the WSR use treated water? I know on the Mid Hants locos are almost 100% topped up at Ropley where there is a reverse osmosis plant. If tanks at Alresford or Alton are used, which both fill direct from the mains supply, a boiler washout soon follows! We also use fill the two tank wagons with treated water for top ups during galas. Of course we only have n approx 20 mile round trip (normally) so half the length of the WSR journey.

 

Does the 2MT do the entire round trip on one filling?

 

The water in Minehead is fairly soft, coming from Exmoor. I don't no what treatment is now given to it by Wessex Water, but its much less "peaty" than it was in my youth. When visiting my Aunt in Minehead, I found the water virtually undrinkable
Rob

 

Depends on the load, but it can do, though personally I would take water at Alton usually just to top up the tanks in case of a problem later.

 

There has only ever been one! It is similar to the 4300s (of which only two now survive) but has a slightly smaller boiler.

 

Yes there was, it managed the cover for one of the parachute topped tanks at MD. It planned water at WN and a water crane on each end of P2 at BL. Sadly I was no longer the chair, ill health, and then the next chair wound it up and handed the monies to the WSRA I believe, Lot of members of FoWSR were upset.

 

Why drink the water when there is all that cider down there.

 

Pleasing to see you still able to contribute here, Faol.

 

I so hope that this is now firmly in the 'History' category. The WSR (all of it) so needs to be looking forward, not backward.

Noel

 

Although theoretically authorised, I don't believe a Manor ever worked to Minehead in GWR/BR days,probably because they couldn't have turned it on the rather small turntable then available.
Unless of course someone knows differently!

Ian R.[/QUOTE]

As ever the Manors are an enigma. We have discussed previously on this site comparative power
outputs for them vs the 53xx 63xx & 73xx 2-6-0s. They were supposedly designed for use over
the Cambrian section where the 2-6-0s were too heavy. In practice eventually (1943 from
memory) both Classes were permitted.

Post 1948 there was only ever one Manor allocated to Taunton, No.7809 from July 1954 until
October 1954. Intriguingly (or at least to me ) No.7814 was allocated to Yatton for a few
months early in 1948 (transferred from Bristol Bath Road and then subsequently back again)

As a general note the Class were moved about a lot except where they had specific duties e.g.
7825 and 7826 were at Carmarthen from February 1953 for eight and ten years,a record
single allocation for any member of the Class. (To work to and from Aberystwyth,
referred to by Railwaymen I am led to believe as the Burmah Road). Similarly
in the early fifties some found some permanence at Cheltenham working over the M&SWJct
to Andover. Before the WW2 one of the earliest Manor rosters was from Cheltenham to
Banbury the erstwhile "Ports to Ports".

At various times. Manors were allocated to Bristol St Philips Marsh and Bath Road, Newton Abbott,
Plymouth, Truro ( some fairly long stays here) and Penzance. Any of these locos could have appeared
at Taunton. At the end of BR (W) steam those that were not on the Cambrian section found their way
to Tyseley, Gloucester and Reading.

So yes there were Manors visiting Taunton MPD I suspect.

However the 1955 WTT states that they were only permitted to work to Bishops Lydeard on the
Minehead branch and limited to 25mph.

Wrt the Barnstaple branch the "engines restricted" section of the WTT lists "engine to work over"
All uncoloured and yellow types:
Blue types :
2-6-0 43xx, 53xx, 63xx, 73xx,
2-6-2T. ( Not beyond Wiveliscombe)
S. RegionRegion M7 ( speed restricted to 25 mph. Not to be assisted by any other engine.)
S. Region West Country (In emergency may work between Morebath Jct. and
Barnstaple Jct. Speed 20mph. .....not to be coupled to any other engine )"

There is a note :
"During emergency working over this Branch, see notice N0.464"

I imagine No.464 refers to workings if the Barnstaple S.Region route to Crediton is closed.
Does anybody know ?

As ever with the Manors I am confused . If they were originally designed to go where
the 43xx could not how come the 43xx were allowed to both Barnstaple and Minehead
whereas the Manors were not ?

Michael Rowe

 

Thanks Greenway, good of you to say. Sadly I have multiple cancer and, as yet, the only treatment is palliative (trying to delay the inevitable). I am on a course of chemotherapy which has very nasty side effects so some days it is all I can do to manage to get out of bed but I do sometimes try and read Nat Pres. Ken