West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Red sandstone. Very hard, good quality building stone. Look at pics of the WSR stations anywhere but Watchet.

 

Digressing, but if you want an example of railway microhistory, this volume is well worth a read for an account of a doomed enterprise - https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31636538894

 

A highly recommended volume, but hardly a "microhistory". Mike researched this along with Robin Sellick over many years. The original publication was two extensive volumes and this "condensed" (still more than 400 pages) single volume was later produced. It's full of Mike's original drawings and is probably one of the best railway histories around.

 

Our definitions vary, but our views align - it is a superb work of historical craft. I used the term because it is so detailed a volume on such a short, and short lived, line.

 

Indeed, very well worth a read - but you need a few days to spare! I still take my copy with me whenever I'm in the area, just in case the urge takes me to go off and explore a bit more

 

The red rock / soil is the legacy of the Jurassic desert sands that were in abundance when the UK was close to the equator.

The Somerset desert reinstatement project is progressing at Washford, unfortunately.

 

It would appear that The Heritage Trust will be using the site at Washford. https://www.wsrht.co.uk/board-meetings/ 27 july.

 

So they plan to ask for a 10 year lease, but haven't agreed any rent figures yet.... lets hope their lease will be more water tight than the S&D's was (including rent setting and review dates) although that might not worry some people.

 

The previous minutes (for May) also mention the forthcoming lease of Sherring’s Yard (Williton); ongoing discussions with the S&D Trust; and the alternative option of a shed & restoration workshop at Sherrings “if the Washford Yard assets could not be secured”.

 

Was there not an urgent operational use case for Washford ?

 

So it was claimed, its very telling that the PLC's pet poodle is the one to benefit from the S&DJRT 's demise, lets hope they acquire nothing more than a site stripped bare of everything, So where does the WSR, intend for the 7f 53808 to go if it still is their intention that the engine return to the WSR for overhaul?

 

I presume they are hoping that that issue will go away if they ignore it.

 

So as someone who supports the railway in the widest sense, why on earth would you want that?
Ian

 

karma, fair play, Ian, you as chairman gave the S&DJRT a 50 year lease, did you not, and then sat back as they were treated in what most people called a shabbily way, by your successor as chairman,

 

The S&D would have followed their lease agreement to the letter, so no money would be wasted on legal fees.

 

Of course there was, it's just taken a bit of time for someone to think what it was.

 

It would most likely be overhauled at Minehead, possibly Williton. Even when the S&DJRT were at Washford, they did not have the facilities for a full 10 year overhaul.

 

Good news 80064 comes to the WSRA - West Somerset Railway Association

 

But it's not built in Swindon......

Presumably this will be quicker and cheaper to overhaul about 7821 which will remain stuffed and mounted?