West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Nothing quite like a set of nice sturdy wooden gates

 

Can't you get traditionally looking wooden crossing gates, that are power operated ?

 

Amazingly, Brighton & Hove seems to have got off comparatively lightly this time. Possibly one upside of being a city with no small experience of draughty conditions. Still no visibility as far out as the Rampion Array.

My thoughts are with all owners of wood burning stoves, eyeing up fallen trees and wondering if they know anyone with a chain saw.

 

IIRC there were at least a few examples of so-called 'boom' gates, which in effect were a normal sort of wooden gates but with a powered 'road wheel' at the far end which basically 'drove' the gate from one position to the other. But I think the gates themselves were more light-weight than traditional ones and I'm not sure that any examples remain in use now in the UK. Of course, you would also have to motorise the locking arrangements to keep the gates bolted in position across the road.

 

I don't know what it's like on the Bristol Channel Coast but here in Taunton it's been as rough since lunchtime as it was on Friday, and a lot wetter. We don't look likely to get much respite for another 24 hours.

Huge thanks and respect are due to everyone out there who is working to try to clear debris and restore services.

 

Perhaps if the fallen timber could be used to heat workshops etc. and thus reduce the electricity bill it could count as a windfall donation to the appeal?

 

There's been no respite overnight and there's still a few hours to go. The webcam suggests one Seaward Way barrier is down and another is bent. Again thanks to all trying to get things fixed inc the WSR P.Way workers who may have more fallen trees and branches to deal with.

 

At Crowcombe Heathfield, the smaller logs from the fallen tree will be used for heating the waiting room and signal box. I don't know what will happen to the larger pieces of timber, but in the past when there has been a good collection of lineside timber from clearances, it has been picked up by the 'tidy train' and sold to local log merchants.

 

There's a team on orangecoats around the barriers at present. I assume they are examining the damage with a view to making repairs.

 

Always looking for work for my trusty Husqvana

 

Looks like the weight issue has been sorted then.
West Somerset's fortunes are thankfully turning round!

Just if anyone is interested in "The Platform" magazine, the planning team have stated that they will be considering the hire of two visiting locomotives for the Minehead opening celebrations.

 

Great to see 9466 join the home fleet.

Wonder if they plan on steaming all 5 on the two days RTC visit in the summer, 3 due out on service trains.

 

I thought 9466 was a RED route loco?

 

Apparently OK - quote from press release -
"
The important analysis of whether 9466 was inside the weight capabilities of the line and its bridges was undertaken by Bob Meanley, WSR Director of Mechanical Engineering, and Paul Dawkins, the board advisor for infrastructure.

A key factor was the force of 'hammer blow' delivered by the driving wheels, and they agreed that taking all aspects into account, including the top operating speed of 25mph, the pannier tank was safe to run."

 

I think the two visitors are for the May steam gala rather than April's Minehead's reopening celebrations. With 5 home locos, two guests, 7 locos is about minimum needed for a WSR gala, be interesting to see if D7018 makes an appearance, did enjoy seeing that out at the ASG.

 

Contract? Contract? Who cares about contractual commitments??? (answers on a postcard, please)