West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Well, if you wish to avoid digs, it is best to avoid handing out shovels. That comment, in a press release of all places, about cuckoos in nests, was completely crass. The merest hint of mea maxima culpa from those responsible would help but it will still take a lot of living down.

 

All very well put across & would have said the same things .......or more !!

 

It's a very nice museum, (I haven't been for a few years). It is a shame that Squamish is so out of the way, it is really the sort of place you stop off at if you are coming or going to Whistler.

I can claim to have had a cab ride in the Royal Hudson back when it was running between Vancouver and Squamish. (Only around North Van station though). It certainly stuck in the memory.

 

Update from WSR Plc:
https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/news/detail/official-statement-from-the-plc-board
also on news page of the unofficial WSR website.

Steve

 

I think that a similar situation will be in place on most of the other Heritage Railways around the country.
June - July before we can get back to it again, maybe.

 

Glad you like the Park , its not really out the way by Canadian standards , a 40 min drive from Vancouver on a decent highway , we volunteer and drive 1 hr 40 mins to get there . 2860 is still inside and the museum is being rearranged this year also , so hope to see you again when all this is over ....

 

Meanwhile they seem to have sacked their proof-reader and started rationing their apostrophes

On a serious note....on the assumption that there must be at least some volunteers who live fairly close to the line (other than Robin ), might it not be possible for them to make sure that their Boris-allowed 'daily exercise' involves a walk around their local station just to keep a watchful eye on everything ?

 

Certainly if exercising one of those dogs of which ne'er-do-wells need 'beware'.

 

Not unofficially. As I understand it, the railway is closed and out of bounds unless you are part of the official care and maintenance team. I guess you could view it from public property, but not within the railway boundary.
Ian Coleby

 

To clarify - I meant from public accesses such as roads, bridges, level-crossings, footpaths etc, even just neighbouring fields (with landowner's permission).

 

Yes, I will be watching over the Norton triangle areas soon, when I am able to.......as scrap man types are about we have heard !

 

Even for the typical 'scrappie', pinching a whole railway might prove a challenge!

 

Well, the people preserving the narrow gauge line in Sibiu came along one morning to find the scrapman cutting up their coaches, lifting rails and other things. In short, someone had claimed he owned the line and had sold it to the scrapman for cash. He did not, but it was too late to save a number of items and it took a while to sort out. So, I wouldn’t put it past anyone.

 

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/leamside-rail-lines-reopening-scuppered-4401135

 

I really wouldn't put it past some people, not so long ago we had someone try and steal the copper from the wires at Cambridge North before it opened when they got zapped their family made a big song and and dance about it until the question was asked about what was their son doing at that time of night and was he an approved contractor? Guess the rest.
I know it costs money but one of the best things you can do is run some sort of train every now and then along your line, I believe the gentlemen who thought they could shoot their 12 bores on the track at one place were most put out because 'they had permission the lines closed' couldn't quite believe the cheek of the driver who had to drive his train through their shoot. Idiots

 

I gather that pre reopening there was quite a bit stolen from The Portishead Branch

Again while the change in the law on Scrap Metal was an improvement it didnt go far enough

 

There are security arrangements in place, relying on those of us who live close by the line. You would not expect details to be posted publicly.

Robin

 

That is reassuring. The WSR has more than enough problems without vandalism or theft.

 

Does that include the S&DJR Trust keeping an eye on Washford ?

 

You should know better than to write provocative things like that.