West Somerset Railway General Discussion

No GWR shuttles this time

 

Thanks. The last point is slightly gnomic, as the cash balance forecast could be anything, especially read in conjunction with the comment in the December WSRA board minutes commenting on the PLC finances (B139/19
"The Plc has not shared its thinking on the change in its financial position which has meant that its previous optimism about its cash flow through to April has apparently been adversely affected.")

 

Maybe WSR will run a free bus service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard as they have done previously at some events.

 

Do bare in mind that no TN shuttle has the benefits of more chimney first running as the BL - NF section is freed up. Something appreciated by most enthusiasts i'm sure.

 

Some fantastic progress being made along the railway in the Carriage repainting program.

W9278 was outshopped this morning after repaint just over two weeks after it went in. This involved a pair of chaps working until 9pm last night to get it varnished and finished ready to be shunted out in the morning.

Next coach to go in today was W4449 to be outshopped in Maroon. A team of 6 managed to get this vehicle rubbed down almost completely on one side, all window frames rubbed down and a few of these painted the first coat of Maroon.

Also the MD end of the coach has had a first gloss black coat - blame me if there are any runs!

Duncan and Simon are there 6 days a week, and all WSR volunteers are welcome, if it be for the whole day or a few hours.

 

Excellent stuff! What paint are you using our of interest?

 

Craftmaster

 

Any news on the new DMU power car

 

Maybe the bus frequency will increase for the summer? As the latest timetable came in end of October. Can't be that much demand over the winter.

As an aside, unless you have a bus pass, if you get a "Minehead (bus)" national rail return ticket it's cheaper/marginally more expensive than getting a TN-BL return ticket on top of your train ticket to Taunton, and gives you the option of getting on the bus at Minehead, Washford and Watchet should something happen on the railway preventing trains/you reaching BL in time for the last bus. It's definitely cheaper if you have a railcard.

 

Previously mentioned on here that 4876 is at WN/(will be going) for painting, is it going maroon too?

 

Yes W4876 is at Williton for repainting into Maroon, I think this is next on the list after the QB is complete. The hope is to have an 8 car maroon set including the QB for the Spring Gala, although that is not set in stone.

 

Well you are well on the way to it!

 

Buses of Somerset (BoS) are planning to introduce their Summer timetable week commencing 8th June, when the 28 service (Taunton-Minehead), is expected to revert to 30 minute frequency on Saturdays. Somerset CAMRA are working with BoS to have the service change brought forward to Saturday 6th June. This would benefit both diesel gala and beer festival attendees.

 

I have both railcard and bus pass and will probably get the 0608 ex Salisbury on the Saturday. The bus gets me to BL at about 0845. I hate the long drive down the 303. Getting back is not so easy due to connections. I have used the bus from Minehead and Watchet in the past

 

Very pleased to see the excellent job done to repaint W9278 with a fresh coat of chocolate and cream. According to Steve Edge's web site, several other coaches will follow. I had been getting concerned that the new WSR regime appeared to favour maroon.

One of the joys of the WSR in past years was its smart rakes of chocolate and cream carriages.

 

Sadly in ore recent years it was rather faded, and in some cases tatty, rakes of chocolate and cream coaches. Excellent news that this problem is now being addressed with considerable energy and commitment - if I was closer I'd love to lend a brush, nothing more satisfying than standing back at the end of the job and seeing the immense difference for relatively little hard work.

 

The volunteer accommodation at Minehead is better than most others so you could try it...………….

 

They have repainted a number of coaches over the last few years, such as a SK, a TSO and the ex-QB BCK into BR choco and cream. The BG was done last year too in c/c, plus the BSK and one buffet in maroon. I guess these things take time, the GWSR had carriages of a similar standard not that long ago.

 

With storm Ciara currently rattling the windows I can't help thinking about the cliffs near Doniford Halt. While passing the caravan park just past the bridge at the ASG I noticed the road to it was closed. I know the base of the cliff was rock armoured years ago but looking at a satellite image the track does seem very close to the cliff edge.
Does anyone know how much the cliff has eroded since the rock was tipped and should the WSR be worried?

 

To be fair any railway vehicle in constant use, especially one regularly worked by steam is likely to get 'weathered' pretty quickly. Say it in hushed tones but even the Severn Valley has some pretty tired looking coaches - at least from the outside.