GWSR General Discussion and Operations

That's nice..... <BJ>

 

I would guess that maybe it is seen as a park and ride from Cheltenham race course as broadway is not good for parking

 

I was joking! My parents used to live in Broadway! Or are you being ironic?

 

Wear and tear on 7 coaches when only 4-5 were needed.
I was on a 7 coach train and there were 20 people on it.......and I did 2 trips.
There was also another set running that wasnt well loaded either.

 

Yeah right.....I am advocating that passengers should be packed in like sardines!
I want to see the railway busy and not running round with 3/4 empty trains

 

You obviously went on a day when it wasnt busy- I'm pretty damn sure that the SVR, WSR and others dont fill their coaches every day of service. Some days they need the 7 coaches- like last Saturday, i was onboard and one would struggle to find a compartment/ table. Moreover, galas are usually full so whats the point in taking coaches off.

 

On the length of trains and removing coaches say.

09:30 needs 5 coaches
10:30 needs 7 coaches
11:30 needs 6 coaches
12:30 needs 3 coaches
13:30 needs 2 coaches
14:30 needs 3 coaches
15:30 needs 5 coaches
16:30 needs 7 coaches
17:30 needs 7 coaches

Would you spend all day adding, and then taking off and then adding again coaches onto/off the train throughout the day. Then some of the trains need the coaches one way only, ie the first returns workings could be nearly empty, and the opposite to this later in the day.

 

Both the SVR & WSR do vary train lengths to roughly match seasonal demand with usually at least 6 coaches but frequently 7 or 8 or more peak season. This does allow use of slightly smaller motive power off peak.

Those calling for daily - even hourly - adjustment of train lengths on std gauge corridor sets clearly have no direct experience of coupling/uncoupling such vehicles.

 

The peaks are not all summer the easter and may school holidays as well. This could mean changing sets around for only a very few trips for saving a 100 or so miles of wear. Also loosing time for volunteers who could of been doing other works carrying out repairs.

 

At the beginning of the season the GWSR has the race trains. so it makes sense to marshal the sets up in the closed period. During the rest of the year, excluding Galas, 7 coach sets are used which is an increase in recent years from 6. With frequent coach parties (often mid week) 7 coach sets are needed.

Stephen

 

While words of advice and caution on the logistics of operating a railway should always be welcomed for discussion, we should take caution not go to far, to a point it just sounds like someone's dismissing the railway's worth, and boasting how great and superior their own railway (i.e. in recent comments Bluebell and the SVR). I'm sure it's not most people's intention, but at times it can mistook as sounding like that.

 

Certainly since it's somewhat unfair to make comparisons between some railways. The GWSR for instance is comparibly young to other lines such as the Bluebell, SVR and WSR, who've had a long time to develop themselves and their popularity. The GWSR is certainly getting their though, and all signs show it going from strength to strength as time goes by. How far they can develop and expand themselves compared to other established lines is up for debate, but we can never know for certainty until it happens.

Plus let's not forget the GWSR still has a lot to offer to all concerned. Great maintained stations, gorgeous scenery, lovely envious collection of locomotives, and potential for greater development in the future on many fronts.

This is a heritage railway to be taken seriously.

 

I think the GWSR has done now a lot of thinks well planning its motive power for the long term Diesels that steam heat for out of summer operation. Hopefully completed the restoration of the home fleet in time for the extension with the 4F still to come.

 

You're in luck, just checked the roster and 7820's pencilled in for the weekend. Looks like there will be good numbers attending. Just been told that Radio Gloucester will be attending on the Saturday on the hunt for younger members...

PS I knew I vaguely recognised your name Andrew, I'll hopefully see your layout at Cheltenham in April, it's only a 10 minute walk for me!

 

Completely agree . I thought it was turning into a game of my railways bigger then yours

 

I may well be wrong but the rumored hotbed of free love on top of Fish Hill is not the Tower but allegedly the car park on the other side of the main road up the hill. Thankfully Broadway has much better reasons for visiting than that though!

 

I could see the GWR being on the day trip coach tour from London to the Cotswolds. Perhaps a trip on the train combined with a look around Broadway and a visit to Sudley Castle. Especially given the number of TV shows that focus on Tudor history and the Philippa Gregory novels.

 

First day of the recruitment weekend went very well from what I saw, signed a good number up for C+W and other departments looked busy too. Didn't get my five minutes of fame on the radio in the end, was too young and Dad wasn't around to give permission. Those who were did a good job of promoting the railway from what I've heard though.

 

Thank you for your effort today sorry you did not make the radio. We have had a great response today and now looking forward to see what more we can achieve tomorrow .