West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Can I please ask WSRA reform supporters to respect Nat Pres' decision to use this thread NOT to discuss WSRA matters.

Options for resuming the 'WSRA' thread are, I know, being considered and will not be assisted by departing from the site owner and Moderators' wishes.

My e-mail address is easily available, or I can be contacted via the WSRA action website, or the WSR internal unofficial Forum, as can other Reform Group members.

Kind regards

Robin White

 

"Departing from the site owner'wishes and those of the moderators" .

Translation: Opinion and speculation are controlled and censored if they fail to fit in with the regime's own desires and intentions. I experienced something similar when I worked on a rail project in China that was badly planned and constructed.

Clearly Chairman Mao's Little Red Book has been revised and still holds sway in the world of heritage railway.

 

It should be unnecessary to point out, in connection with all discussions that take place on this forum, that there have been a number of very damaging and expensive libel cases in the heritage railway sector in recent years. Moreover, whatever one thinks of the current state of UK libel law, as far as I can see those offended had very good reasons to go to law.

I suggest therefore that while one may not like the decisions that have to be made on this site the consequences of not effectively moderating discussion may be disastrous.

Might I also suggest that were we all to write to our MP's about UK Libel Legislation it might make discussion much freer

 

Not the point really is it? This thread was created so that those who do not wish to participate in the disputatious (?) other thread can read messages without all that guff. So why spread the arguments onto this thread? That surely is the point.

 

Visiting the WSR and witnessing the DMU in operation brought back memories to me of a holiday where we travelled by train probably for the last time pre-car ownership. I would guess it was 1965 or so and the token exchange procedure fascinated me from my seat behind the driver. Probably the first stirrings of rail enthusiasm in me. We had a new diesel leaving Reading which pleased me...except it failed and was replaced by a dirty old steamer....my only recollection of steam on BR proper!

I think the WSR dmu must be the oddest I ever saw.....two DMBS and a buffet. Enjoyed seeing and hearing it though

 

Not sure if this meets your criteria but my house (built in 1981) stands on the site of the Goods Yard of Hesketh Park station (on the Southport - Preston line which closed in the 1960s); the best I can offer is a photograph showing an LMS 8F 2-8-0 standing on the spot where the living room fire-place is now located.

 

Nice clear photo.

Have you thought of submitting it to www.wsr.org.uk ?

That is where most of us keep on events on the line.

Robin

 

I attended the CAMRA beer festival yesterday at Minehead station. It continues today. There were about 120 different beers on offer including a particular brew "Coleby's Courage", just ask for a pint of number 99. You will not be disappointed.

 

Please feel free to use it if you wish, there's a selection of others here

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/corktina/library/West Somerset 2015

 

Nope

Hardly an original Railway House.

Through the generosity of Network Rail I now have copies of the (delightful) original drawings (Paddington 1907) for building Station House at Stogumber.

The GWR had bought a thatched , cob-walled cottage for the Station Master in the 1880's and after a 20-year correspondence, about what a flea and rat infested hole it was , finally relented in 1907 and agreed to build something better. Hence a three bedroom (now two bedroom and bathroom) brick house to a standard GWR design.

Anyone who implies that it is just as flea and rat-infested these days stands no chance of a cup of tea when they visit...

During my time as an active Bluebell volunteer I will allow that I always fancied the cottages at Horsted Keynes....

Robin

 

Well done Reading General, I have a model (O gauge) of the S&D Road Van but was not sure of the exact colour or the numbering. Now I don't need to go to Washford thanks to your great, sharp photo of the wagon in question. Faol

 

this one?

 

Line up for this years October gala is less than exciting, considering the theme of this years event.

 

The very one, thousand thank yous

 

3850 departed the WSR as planned yesterday the 15th September. I'll miss the old girl for sure. Here's hoping the heavy overhaul goes well. Also a big than you to Dinmore Manor Locomotive Group for letting us have the engine on the line in Somerset.

 

An update from the two webcam managers on the poorly webcams. At Bishops Lydeard, the replacement part for the PC has been sourced and awaits the visit of the volunteer Bishops Lydeard webcam manager. At Minehead, the PC here has suffered a major failure and the volunteer Minehead webcam manager says the webcam will be offline for a few weeks. We hope everyone will be patient whilst our volunteer webcam managers work their magic.

Steve

 

For those missing these webcams, the webcam at Crowcombe Heathfield is running - although the speed of the internet connection available there makes it very slow and jerky. The URL is http://80.229.45.225:8080

 

WSR confirms that 60163 'Tornado' WILL be attending the Autumn Steam Gala between Thursday 1st October and Sunday 4th October.

 

I would suggest the problem is not the internet connection but setting the default resolution to a completely unrealistic 1280*1024. A setting of 320*240 was what was initially specified but someone decided they wanted a bigger picture than all the other WSR webcams.