West Somerset Railway General Discussion

In my copy of Red for Danger the plate is at page 100 but I can find no mention in the text.

 

I think you will find in the 'Signalman's Errors'.

nick

 

The official enquiry into this accident is at http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_Hull1905.pdf.

 

I think this report is for an earlier accident. The one depicted in the picture was in 1927, not 1905.

 

Sorry all -copied and pasted wrong one-correct one is http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_Hull1927.pdf

 

Streaming camera now working may stutter as new memory yet to arrive

Rodders

 

Congratulations to the people responsible for all of the streaming web cams and for getting them back on line during the Gala.
Those of us lucky to live near the wizzer may not realise how valued they are to the more remote viewers. The viewing statistics are quite staggering.

 

good-oh Rodders, really missed it.

Dennis.

 

Well done and thanks.

 

One of the West Somerset Railways great mysteries has raised its head again. Thus, on the off chance that someone reading this has a vital clue it is perhaps airing it again.

The mystery concerns the identities of the two NPCCS bodies which have resided for many years in the depot yard at Minehead. One is of LMSR origins and remains, its identity being known http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=683 whilst the other was of SR origins and was scrapped(?) earlier this year, its identity has never been established http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=4766

The mystery is what exactly is the identity of the SR body, when did the bodies arrive and from where?

Although the SR body has been quoted as coming from Plymouth Millbay I do not believe this to be correct. It has probably been confused with the LNER CCT now reduced to a flat wagon used by the locomotive department http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=4765 that's body I understood was used for fire wood after literally being 'puled off' by the FLOCKTON FLYER. A picture of this event is reputed to have appeared in an early Journal.

The LMSR body appears to have come from the Berry scrapyard in Leicester in the late 1980s and it is presumed the SR body was probably sourced from the same place at the same time. Apparently, when they arrived the numbers were visible but were soon painted over. No details of these have ever appeared in the WSR stock books. As they have strong connections with Dinmore Manor it is probable they were initially acquired by them on behalf of the railway or subsequently passing to the railway.

Can anyone seeing this help at all with this mystery?

 

An interesting news item re the WSR

http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co....ss_will_be_a_cut_above_after_competition_win/

 

Snipped from Steve Edge's wonderful website:
"Great teamwork on the West Somerset Railway during the evening of 8 October 2015. A charter train was organised by the WSR Plc with guard and signalmen, using the Quantock Belle coaches and catering provided by WSR Association, with help from the WSR Plc's catering team, and the locomotive and crew provided by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group. All working together for the benefit of the West Somerset Railway and guests. A great time was had by all!"
Now that is what we want to see. WELL DONE ALL.

 

The accompanying picture says it all. Involved departments worked closely together at quite short notice to fulfil this charter booking. Evidence of the excellent 'can do' working relationship between WSRA management and WSR plc commercial department.

 

Reference The CCT chassis (Peter Hall 8/10). In the very early days (about winter 1975-6) a group of volunteers went to Gunnislake to pick up a CCT which was located on a isolated piece of track opposite the station buildings. After much 'fun and games' including getting the low loader stuck on a ungated level crossing we got home at 2am. The body of that vehicle was removed 'the easy way', the chassis was then used by the PW dept. In 1977 the wheel sets were borrowed to move the signal box from Dunster. I'm not sure where the chassis now.















urp

 

A question for the signallers...

On the WSRA site > QB information. There is a Colin Harris photo of the QB heading toward the camera with the Second Man (?) holding the token ready for exchange... (spot the vanishing signalman? sorry, couldn't resist)

No, no more silly, this is a genuine question. The QB is currently occupying the road that the track nearest the camera merges with. Why then are the catch points on the track nearest the camera set for the main and not for the catch? I would have thought anything signalled on the line where the QB is would have required the catch points set to protect the road?

Or am I being just an old duffer ???

Alan

 

You would be right had the catch points not been taken out of use some years ago and are clipped and padlocked out of use.

Robin
(the invisible signal man)

 

Ah! That would explain it then. Thanks.

 

After waiting almost the whole season somebody finally captured me in a picture at work on the footplate. It's on Steve Edge's site. No I'm not saying which one you'll have to guess!!!

 

Hanging out of the cab of 4160 holding the token for the MD signalman?