West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Will the WSR management allow that to happen? The allocated loco is an LMS Jubilee. <BJ>

 

I think the point being made is the WSRly able to take such a large loco i.e. is the track up to it now? Has RTC asked them?

 

The Jubilee only goes as far as Bishops Lydeard. Onward journey to Minehead and back to Bishops Lydeard will be handled by WSR locomotive(s) as usual.

 

Yes but will the WSR have anything suitable available?

 

Wasn't that question addressed earlier:

and

Speaking personally, I tend to think that four locos for a railway the size of the WSR is cutting things pretty fine. But ostensibly, there are locos available - it just feels a bit to me that the plan is reliant on continuing good availability - though that really applies to the whole season, not just one incoming charter on one day.

Tom

 

My gut feeling is the same, though hopefully for the WSR, we are being too cautious.

 

We are missing some Locomotives here albeit not steam, 2X class 33's and 2X Hymeks.

 

The DEPG are expecting to have D7018, the 2 class 33s and D9526 available for this year.

https://depg.org/

 

will the route beyond Watchet be open, for the charter? I thought services were only operating between BL, & Watchet with the rest of the route still not able to be used , or will special dispensation / arrangements have be made just for this one trip ?

 

The line is scheduled to reopen fully on July 1st.

 

The Two class 33 are used for everything is there a reason for this Even when other locos are all fit for service there the loco of choice I understand the D7017 is out of action This year . D1010 is undergoing an assessment before a return to service and probably won’t be available this year, D7018 and D9526 should be available this year although the two class 33 we do the bulk of the work this year when the blue time table comes in to affect And Class 47 North Star Which should be back soon I take it although there was talk of a loan to Nymr .

 

The hydralics need a warming through period before they can be used, where as the 33'S are start up and go, once you have air pressure to blow the brakes off, thats why the 33 tends to see the highest use.

 

I see well thanks for clearing that up ,

 

As the 33s are 'instant start' the company employees tend to be trained on these, whereas it's the DEPG drivers who are normally only available at the weekends who drive the hydraulics.

 

The first GWS volunteers at Didcot have told me that when they shared the depot with BR sleep was very difficult as BR kept the Hymeks stabled there on tick over all night. This to keep the engines warm and avoid the preheat start up procedure.

 

Also to avoid them possibly not starting due to flat batteries.

 

The WSR have never had spare locos sitting around, much unlike the similar length and peak diagrams SVR & NYMR.

For a long time, about 2006-2012, they had a stable of 5 locos - 4160, 5553, 9351, 3850, 88. This was with three steam locomotives doing two round trips per day Sunday-Friday in the peak summer, and driver experiences on a Saturday and a Sunday QB diagram occasionally, which required four steamers.

Guess what? They managed.

It looks like they have 2 steam out this summer doing less mileage than a usual diagram. I would imagine they will do just fine.

As far as I know the GWSR have 'only' 4270, 7820, 7903 & 35006 available? Nobody points the finger at them.

The Dartmouth line got away with 3 loco in peak for a long time too, as they did last summer, this withstanding problems with 5239 throughout. They only have 4 available this summer too in 5526, 5239, 75014 and 2253. Where were the calls for them to get 44871 in?

 

The past proves you are being way too cautious. See my post above.

 

my cat has never died before either

Colin