West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Around 1900, I believe.

Robin

 

I agree with the forum comment, but my occasional e-mails to the Plc have been responded to quickly & efficiently.

By the way, a web search for "Flying Scotsman trespass" might provide some idea of what the Plc feel they might be facing re lineside passes.

 

Matthew 7:7

I have just asked this question of Ken Davidge, WSR Safety Audit Director.

He asks me to say that a query about the insurance status of lineside pass-holders has been referred to the Railway's insurers, and an answer to that question is hoped for in about two weeks. The Railway's position on lineside passes should then be made clear shortly thereafter.

The Railway is grateful for folks' patience while this is sorted out.

kind regards

Robin

 

Thats quite late for what was introduced in the early 1840s I belive. But the WSR was not a main line & those signals would have been adequate for the traffic of the time.

Or were they still running on the outside bobby system before signalling was concentrated in boxes as we know them today? Surely not as late as 1900?

 

Perhaps I should have said that the last disc-and-crossbars in regular service disappeared about 1900. Semaphores had been around for a long while before that.

Of course, odd relics remained here and there around the system, and some were used to give 'stop by request' or 'stop shunting in the yard' signals at quiet locations for much longer.

Robin

 

There are no further discounts with the £35/7 day ticket - If there are any special events during the 7 days it is NOT valid - but still excellent value even if only used for 2 full days

 

All very well posting that, trying to defend people, But instead of doing things on the sly, This should have been posted on the Railways website when they knew this was happening,
I'm sure everyone would understand if this came from the top instead of it starting out as a rumor,

 

Now that's the problem with social media. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I don't (and haven't) defend the fact that this would have been better communicated earlier and differently. But I made the effort to speak to the appropriate person and got you an answer. I may be many things, but no-one who knows me would accuse me of being 'sly'.

Next time you have a question.....

Robin

 

If the decision is pending discussions with the insurers then what do people expect the WSR to say ? "It may change or then again, it may not" is of limited use. You can't really expect to be informed about every discussion or incomplete review.

Brian

Member of the Safety Audit team.

 

That's not the point, no one expects that,

The point is, instead of it leaking through a rumor , something should have been posted , To keep people informed instead of in the dark.

Not asking too much is it ?

 

5199 arrived at BL early this morning and has been unloaded. Could well be traction for the QB on Sunday.

 

Alternatively, perhaps it might be better to ask how it was that the rumours started, and why the railway are in the unfair position of having to deal with rumours while they work through an issue in a responsible way

Written by someone with no association with the WSR and who has never held a lineside pass with any railway.

 

Deleting my original message on grounds of it being embarassingly idiotic

 

If I read it correctly:

On excursion 1, FS departs BL at 10:00 and arrives Minehead at 11:07

It then departs Minehead at 12:18 on Excursion 2 and arrives at BL at 13:25

It then departs BL at 14:13 on Excursion 3 and arrives Minehead 15:20

It then departs Minehead at 17:00 on Excursion 4, arrives BL at 18:07.

So four excursions, with FS working one-way on each of them, with roughly an hour, give or take, for loco servicing etc. at each end.

Tom

 

Flying Scotsman hauls the train one way, and the Named Visiting Locomotive the other - hence the starting times from BL of 10:00 and 10:41 for the round trips.
Personally, I suspect that there will be much lower demand for seats on those trains that FS will be working tender first - perhaps a lower cost for these trains would be a good idea?

 

Why? The 'music' being made by the loco doesn't vary much depending on which way the loco is facing and you don't get the greatest of views even out of the windows if you are on the train.

People will probably prefer to take pictures of the loco working chimney first, but might that not mean that they are more likely to travel when it is tender first so as to maximise photographic opportunities on other trains they are not on?

I am interested that the West Somerset is following the Severn Valley in hiring another loco and it hauling half of each trip. I don't think this can increase the number of trains 60103 hauls at least in part, so is it to limit mileage for 60103 while maximising total departures?

Steven

 

Sorry, clearly should have read it three times! Brain not having a good day. Original deleted.

 

Where it started is neither here nor there, its out there now, Better to question how this has been IMHO , Badly handled.
I mean I'm happy to enjoy the line traveling up and down, others will photograph and others will be happy to pay the railway to photograph, its the latter that lose out,

 

Going to pass on this, would have thought for £35 you would have return trip being Scotsman.

 

Yes YABU. The WSR is faced, as are Network Rail with an almost unprecedented potential level of trespass, along with the attendent safety risks, when Flying Scotsman visits. As a respnsible organisation they are, of course, consulting their insurers. Would you really expect them to do otherwise? They will doubtless release the information when they have some facts.