WSR Spring Steam Gala, Thu 26-Sun 29 March 2015

My video and a few photos from yesterday at the gala. The wind once again made filming very difficult at times, but I made the most of it. I can only echo sentiments about the Ivatt being used only on the Dunster shunt for Saturday, it is a shame especially if the loco is limited to 5 coaches and there was a 5 coach set running up and down during the day (which surprised me somewhat for a Saturday!). Maybe it gives people incentive to get off at Dunster to see a guest loco, even if it is only pottering up and down the yard.

I agree here mostly, although I would say on No.2, yes I think that should be locos smokebox first but wherever possible, I know in some cases locos will have to be run bunker/tender first because of set/loco limitations, the Ivatt on Sunday is one example here. And on No.3, I personally like the runs to intermediate stations and return, it gives the gala it a little more variety, something different to the straight runs from BL to Minehead and vice versa.

Anyway, my handy work from yesterday!




5643 coasts into Watchet with a train for Minehead.


4270 stands at Minehead waiting for the right away.


5542 with an Auto service from Dunster.


70021 'Morning Star' on the approach to Dunster.


46521 prepares for its run back to Minehead after a day of shunting at Dunster.


We turned into twitchers when a Mallard (maybe not the one we would've liked!) and his wife turned up at Dunster! As to be expected, lots of puns were thrown around.

 

Weather warnings from the met office. <BJ>

1. ''Strong winds will affect many southern areas on Sunday. In particular, severe gales are likely through the Bristol Channel during the morning, with gusts of 60 to 65 mph affecting some coastal areas of South Wales and south west England. The strongest winds will ease again by mid-afternoon.''

2. ''Gale force westerly winds will funnel into the Bristol Channel from early on Sunday morning, reaching severe gale force in some coastal areas. Driving conditions may be difficult at times along some exposed routes, especially for caravans and other high-sided vehicles''.

 

My video from Thursday and Friday…….

 

My video of the Gala yesterday

 

Here are some of my photos from yesterday:

 

Great collection, you should be well proud of those,

 

Thanks very much, mostly luck I suspect, just took lots and picked out the good'uns! All taken with just a good point and shoot camera.

 

A great couple of days ! Tricky on, Saturday. Trains ran to time on both days. Enjoy

 

One of the joys of digital photography I guess. Amazing when compared with the constraints of using film, : )

 

Indeed, I remember visiting the NRM and being chuffed that I was given a special 36 pic film!

 

I'm happy to collate feedback and forward to the Special Events team. If you'd like to express a view about the good or bad of the Gala, please email me at steve@wsr.org.uk and I'll forward the message.

Steve

 

I like the double-headed halls.

 

Thanks, I was rather pleased to get the only double headed train of the day. It looked great going round the curve at wherever it was, I was in the back coach, but spent so long admiring it I forgot to take a picture!

 

Ha, that brings back memories, as well as the expectation of getting your film developed, and the excitement when collecting the prints,

 

To me it seems odd that people are complaining the tank engines were working bunker first one way all the time as this was normal and as it was a South Wales based theme all the tank engines should have faced the same way as it seemed to be normal to have the smoke box facing up the valleys.

 

Seems like the WSR can't please everyone. When the basic hourly timetable was introduced a few years ago there were lots of complaints that it was boring. Now they are trying to do a few things differently and people complain that it's confusing. They can't win really!

No complaints from me, apart from the lack of programmes (which was particularly annoying as I had bought one in advance but it never turned up).

Only thing I'm not sure about is the idea of running a train through from Norton Fitzwarren that non-stops BL. That creates a gap in the timetable of nearly two hours and seeing as the train crawled through BL at about 5 mph I can't see the point. If you're going to non-stop a station at least do it at a reasonable speed!

 

I had a chat with the 6695 group on sat and they say the front buffer heads are bent and the running boards looked to be a bit twisted. Also the brake rigging was bent when the engine moved and broke the chains, also the boiler will have to be lifted to make sure there is no damage done to this. They were non committal over any spring damage even though it had been lifted up on the jacks.

Also don't listen to the rummer that was been shouted out by one person going up and down the trains saying the frames were bent so the engine is only fit for scrap.

A member of another engine group in the Swindon Shed said it was lucky the chains were put around the brake rigging, against through the spokes as in this case most likely the spokes would have broken and then new wheels would have been needed. also it will be a good idea to have the engine fully stripped down to find any problems now for insurance purposes. Insurance was another reason the engine was taken to Williton as there would have to be the minimum amount of distance the engine was moved out of the way once unloaded.

 

My video last Friday. Features 8 of the 10 locomotives in action including 46521 on passenger, 3850 on goods and the 12 coach special with both 4936 & 6960 at the helm.

Was an enjoyable event yet again, the 12 coach special was great to go on, however load 2 would have been enough for passenger numbers. I don't think the railway need to do these longer trains really, some people would just like them to run a bit later in the day. Saturday seems like a better day to me to do it, however I understand it's not feasible as it would involve one train not running before it due to stock limitations or it would need to be auto, but then of course the auto needs to be on Norton shuttles rather than Dunster. It's a shame that only one train ran to NF Fri/Sat/Sun but about 5 on Thursday. Hopefully that changes.

Can I also say, whlist I know 46521 was limited to 5 coaches, set C did a round trip from MD without the loco before she came back on using 4270 & 4160, engines that could deal with 8 coaches easily. The train was very busy from BL and there was no room to sit down, people were even sharing to maximum capacity. At Minehead there was a BCK, TSO & SK all sitting there doing nothing. It's not right. I'm not saying all these coaches should have been added but the TSO should have for sure.

 

As far as I am aware, the spare coaches at Minehead were out of traffic for repairs.

 

The BCK belongs to the Association, I suspect there is no agreement in place for its use at the moment. The TSO and SK at Minehead are both stopped for repairs at present.