West Somerset Explorer

Bridgnorth SVR to Minehead WSR. Steam Bridgnorth to Bishops Lydyard, WSR motive power to Minehead.
On return steam to Bristol then diesel back to SVR.

ECS moves on RTT but not the main train.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50620/2014/05/23/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50616/2014/05/25/advanced

There is also a light engine SVR to Bristol

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50619/2014/05/24/advanced

This might be Tangmere and POB returm

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50621/2014/05/24/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50617/2014/05/25/advanced

 

Is this the first time a tour has run from the SVR to the WSR ?

 

I have not been with SVR long enough to be definative.Many many years ago SVR ran its own tours so could posibly have done so. What I can say is that this is the first to WSR using the fully passenger rated conectioin between SVR and NR

 

Provisional times are on UKsteam.info
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t14/t0524c.htm

 

From memory and it is a very distant memory. A tour was run with a HST from Bridgnorth to Taunton. I am open to correction though.

 

I'm a bit bemused about what seems to be some complicated shunting at Kidderminster.

UKsteam t0524c seems to say that the train runs into Kidderminster SVR, then the diesel pulls it back out, then it runs into Kidderminster NR. Any idea why it needs to go into both stations?

Those times also make it look as if the diesel pulls the train directly from Kidderminster SVR to NR; but it must reverse in the yard, at least the steam loco must run round to the south end of the train, and then either it must propel the train into Kidderminster NR or the diesel must also run round to pull the train into Kidderminster NR.

Or am I confusing myself again?

 

All a bit confusing isn't it. One thing for sure is that Tangmere will be tender first out of Bridgnorth.

 

Not really just turn Tangmere on the turntable she's got to come off the train anyway.

Cheers Dave

 

From draft information I have, usual caveats, the train does not enter the SVR station. On the approach to Kiderminster the single line splits into main and loop. Tangmere will have hauled the train from Bridgnorth tender first and will stop at the gantry controling the station throat. Tangmere will detach and take water. If there are 2 47s the Bridgnooth end one will come off, If only 1 it willl have to run round. The 47 on the KD end will draw the train into the exchange line. Tangmere will reatach to the BH end of train ready to be hauled into NR station by the 47. The formation is then right way round for Worcester

 

I don't yet have any operational details for the SVR and WSR parts of this initinerary But as ThreelinkDave explains, the train does not go into the SVR station at Kidderminster, but Tangmere moves to the rear using the loop adjacent to the carriage shed. I don't know the correct description of this location !

David

 

Let's hope that the weather is as kind for this trip as it has been for the last few days. <BJ>

 

The train is diesel hauled (top and tail) back from Bristol on return, so both diesels have to get to Bristol. One goes on the back of the train from Kidderminster to Bristol after moving the train across the SVR-NR boundary, and the other goes light engine from Kidderminster to Bristol. Well that half the answer !

 

You beat me to it David. I realised why the diesel will be attached to Bristol and altered my message accordingly, albeit a smidgen too late.
Thanks for the speedy reply. <BJ>

 

Thanks for the various bits of explanation. All now makes sense.

 

Number 14 motor points is where the single line splits. Between 14 points and the inner home gantry the line closest to NR boundary is the Main. The other line, closest to shed is the Loop. Everyone expects something more complicated. Aproaching KD the exchange line P1 and 1EL can be accessed from the Main.. From the Loop you can gat to 2EL, P2, P1 AND 1EL. The Engine Lines are the run round loops.

 

To pick up a few coments from another tours post.

The train does not go into a black hole when it arives at KD. There are loco swaps to make and it will need to draw forward into the exchange line to clear the track circuit for 14 points (see above)

The tour start time is now 0700, a bit earlier than the original advert.

Times still not on RTT yet but ths special does feature on WTT.

The run time to Bristol on the return may not be so slow. Time is allowed for 34067 and POB to detach and diesel to come on. Dont forget the guard has to drop the buckeye

 

I have updated the Times at www.uksteam.info/tours/t14/t0524c.htm to include the WSR detail, but I have not received any information about the SVR. The Train wil run behind 34067 to Bishops Lydeard p2 (arr 13:08) where S&D no 88 will be attached in place of 34067. It will then dep 13:25 to Minehead stopping briefly at Williton (down home) at 13:57 for operational reasons, and arriving at Minehead at 14:37 The return leaves Minehead at 17:10 again behind 53808, stopping outside Blue Anchor and then non-stop to Bishops Lydeard p2 arr 18:24 where 34067 will replace 53808. Departure is 18:40.

The WSR service timetable has been amended as follows:
In the down direction
12:35 BL-MD 13:55 behind 6960
13:25 BL-MD 14:37 charter behind 53808
14:27 WN-MD 15:11 dmu
14:25 BL-MD 15:57 behind 7828
16:15 BL-MD 17:47 behind 6960
19:15 BL-MD 20:45 QB diner behind 7828+53808
In the up direction:
14:40 MD-BL 15:50 behind 6960
15:25 MD-BL 16:45 behind 4160
16:20 MD-BL 17:36 behind 7828
17:10 MD-BL 18:24 charter behind 53808
17:50 MD-BL 19:00 dmu
22:15 MD-BL 23:15 QB diner behind 53808

 

This tour is now showing on RTT

1z34
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50622/2014/05/24/advanced

1z36
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50623/2014/05/24/advanced

 

As mention on the SVRA forum, the SVR legs of the tour are now by a separate train (I gather 34053 BH-KR in the morning and D1062 KR-BH in the evening on the LMS set). Shame it isn't a through train any more, I haven't heard the reason yet for the change of plan.