West Somerset Railway General Discussion

All of the loco's are subject to late failure, just like they were when on the main line. DEPG will, at least, be in a position to substitute another diesel if one of the rostered loco's fails. How much more certain are you that this could not happen on any other heritage railway?

 

Surely the point is not that locos fail, but that railways that plan and announce their rosters well in advance are better placed to benefit from the fickleness of enthusiasts after specific traction. Repeated changes, especially close together, don't exactly inspire confidence either.

 

Fair point. I'll just get back on the shovel and leave the politics of rosters to others.

 

So will you like to take on this job then for the railway.

 

Apologies for any offence given, but my observation across a variety of fora is that there is a market for diesel enthusiasts out there for railways to benefit from, willing to spend significant sums. However, that market also wants certainty (insofar as any preservation organisation can provide it) about the traction that will be on offer, otherwise wallets will stay closed, or other railways will benefit.

Where - as I believe to be the case at the WSR - diesel rostering is actually about managing capacity, surely it makes sense to spend a little time to maximise the income from what is already a sunk cost. Especially when selfsame diesel is a turn off to the "ordinary" punter.

 

Surely the reality is that even in the best organised enterprises equipment does fail. Heritage railways are not using modern state of the art traction that is highly reliable so there is more risk that a particular engine will be unavailable. It is unrealistic to expect certainty that a particular loco will running however much effort the DEPG put in.

 

Absolutely, which is why lines that do have an online roster have the usual availability caveat. The GWSR roster is a good case in point. We often receive comments that it is very much appreciated, just look at the last post on the "GWSR today" thread. The other week 35006 was rostered. It managed one round trip before an injector failed taking it out of action for a few days. The next round trip 7903 was out on, still in steam from the day before, and by the morning of the next day, the online roster had been updated to reflect this.

No one's expecting an online roster to cast something in stone, but it is always much appreciated, and generally understood that it might not always be right on the day if things go wrong.

 

My point entirely.

 

Agreed



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fully agree with you there, im sure that we are all adults (well mostly) and do realise that everything in the world mechanical suffers from failures now and then, but to have a diagram so that you can plan what you want to do ,and more importantly at times avoid what you dont, in advance is important, i remember driving up from South Wales for the day to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey railway for the 20 i went there for (189) to fail as it was backing up to the stock i was happily sat on, i was disappointed yes but i accepted it for what it was, an old lady having a moment of crisis and i just carried on with the rest of the day

 

This just sent to people on the DEPG mailing list

There has been a loco allocation change due to traincrew reasons.
On Saturday 27th August, D7017 will now work the diesel diagram vice D6575.
We are pleased to report D7017 passed its UAT exam with flying colours so looks set to go off to the Mid Norfolk Diesel Gala. So the remaining Diesel running dates on the WSR for 2016 are as follows:-


August

Sat 20th August D9526 Yellow Timetable Diesel Diagram
Sun 21ST August D6575 Yellow Timetable Diesel Diagram
Sat 27th August D7017 Yellow Timetable Diesel Diagram
Sun 28TH August D1661 Yellow Timetable Diesel Diagram

September

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September is our late season mixed traffic event involving D1010 and D7017.
D7017 will be attending the Mid Norfolk gala over the weekend of the 9th/10th/11th September.

Sat 10th September D1661 Yellow Timetable Diesel Diagram
Sat 17th September D1010 Special timetable.
Sat 24th September D7017 Green Timetable Diesel Diagram

Diesel Driver experience course dates:-


17th September, 1st October, 22nd October.

Hope this helps. You don't have to be a DEPG member to be on the list.

 

What's happening on sept 17th for it to be special timetable?

Loving western being out as D1015 is going down mainline on Cornishman tour do get to see both same day

 

Ah visiting railtour

 

I don't know where this 'special timetable' idea is coming from. Although there is a visiting RTC steam tour and a Diesel Engineman's Course booked the same day, it should be a normal green timetable, unless the incoming tour has been retimed from the usual times on the mainline which is going to cause our timetable to be recast.

 

Excellent - so what's all the fuss about then?

 

I have no idea. It is easy to sign up for the newsletter and free of charge. Not exactly rocket science to keep yourself informed.

 

Let's hear it for the Teddy Bear this Saturday!

John

 

Also it looks like SET D is now staying at Load 4 as well, so a nice little workout for her again.
Robin F.

 

But how many changes to the diesel roster have been down to loco failure?
Somerset is a 600 mile round trip I come for specific locos ie 7017,7018,9526 ,1010.
33112 is out 60 miles from home,33116 a similar distance on Saturday, no interest in either.
47xxx I wouldn't get out of bed for if it was 6ft from my front door.
The 1010 mileage on offer over the September weekend will most likely result in me driving past 1062 running at SVR and more than the same distance again to BL. If on the day it fails I will move onto 7017,if it is unrostered accommodation will be cancelled.

Your comment is like 6024 or 60103 is rostered ,then on the day the driver decides to take 4561 or 4160-oh well atleast you've still got a steam engine...

 

Your point about advanced information about what is planned has already been more than adequately answered. Yorkshireman has demonstrated that you can sign up for the DEPG newsletter and Steve has published the planned roster on his web site.
Your supposition that the driver can take what he likes on the day is a little fanciful IMHO.
However your failure to accept the basic point that any loco can fail at short notice baffles me completely.
Honest question, do you volunteer anywhere in the heritage scene?
If so do the locos you work with have a 100% reliability record?