West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I have never understood why the WSR feels the need to abandon its own heritage in favour of pretending that it is the SDJR

 

Utter nonsense! It has not and does not. The help given by the SDJR volunteers is invaluable in maintaining Washford as is the loan of locomotives and stock. Both organisations benefit.

 

I don’t think the WSR is considering abandoning its GWR heritage so I’m not sure where you have got that from. We have 6960 & 7820 currently running with 5199 and many others on the line recently, 3850 & 4160 until recently both now gone for overhaul plus we have 6695, 4936, 9351, 7828, 4110, 4561 and 7821 all either owned by or with strong links to the WSR under repair or planned to be repaired in the next x number of years for use on the WSR and 6024 is in our workshops being rebuilt by the owning group.


Lets be honest there is room for different things, we run enough trains to have a variety and whilst I’m sure we will never ‘abandon’ the GWR just focusing on GWR would after a few years result in less people coming to see what they saw the last time. Remember if you want to recreate the line only as used we would have shorter trains and only small/large Praires with the odd Mogul or Pannier.


We should also remember that the WSR is and has been for a long time the new home of the S&D with our friends at Washford and being so close to the Mendips. The S&D Gala last year attracted more people than most other galas plus countless photographers and we sold around 10,000 Scotsman tickets in a few days. Yes we are a GWR branchline and that should be a core but we do so much more than that.

 

53808 & 53809 both spent their working lives in the counties of Somerset & Dorset. The WSR is a natural home for them

 

WSR Then and Now

Half a century on...

Minehead platform in 1968, with closure very close and yesterday. A few minor changes.....

Robin

1968


2017

 

The weeds on the platform have grown into flower beds!

 

And another from a slightly different angle taken in 1978...

 

It was the WSR's own livery at a time when the WSR ran DMUs as a local service. They were not called "heritage DMUs" at the time Fares for travel on WSR DMUs were cheaper than for travel by steam (or put it another way, back then, you paid a premium for steam haulage ). A nightmare for TTIs when passengers did a mix/match! During my time as WSR Publicity Manager I added the words "West Somerset Railway" to the DMU sides on the driver's sides. We really did give it a go - and some services really were packed - but without a service to Taunton it was never going to be a success. The experience gained from the attempt was invaluable and a real lesson for many.

Steve

 

Sorry to hear Chris Tuckers passing. I knew him since i joined the railway in 1989. One of the old school of preservationists, first generation if you like, & has been said a complete charachter! Also immensly knowledgeable about all aspects of railways , not just locos. RIP Chris.

 

WSR 'Then and Now'

Today's pair of photos are from 1978 and 2017 looking east from the end of Minehead platform.

The Railway has developed but so has the town!

Robin

1978


2017

 

I am intrigued by the half round cutout in the right hand coping stones, not least that the white edge follows the hole

 

That will upset the Ultras. Remove the flowerbeds and replant the weeds immediately.

 

It's not a cut-out, it's a break that hasn't been repaired. Given that the starters are now a way back along the platform, this part rarely has a train standing against it.

Robin

 

There is no "need" and there is no "pretending" other than the recent themed gala which as Andy says, put plenty of bums on seats and cash in the tills. The GWR and SDJR are both well represented as they are pertinent to the geography. That said, if for example, another turntable were to become available that was originally at Aberdeen Ferryhill, should we turn it down ? I would prefer it to be installed and used at BL rather than it go to another line.

I'm looking forward to the East Coast Mail Line week in September which promises to be our biggest ever event. Maybe we could rename the stations Waverley, Berwick, Newcastle, Durham, York, Doncaster, Grantham, Peterborough and Kings Cross. The sheds could be Haymarket and Finsbury Park.

 

So the running line used the up side to Dunster in 1978? Plus the point to the siding has been moved further toward the camera presumably when the Box was put in.

 

Charge Virgin fares and it will be the most profitable ever event.

 

The 11.05 from Minehead is leaving shortly...., a new twist on a military train !!!! It happens that I have one of these Armoured cars so it just needs some flanged wheels

 

OMG! This appears to be French.

 

Been there, done that. Leaving Minehead at about 06:40 today.....

Robin

 

You are nearly right, its Algeria during the war there for independence against the French, its an American M3 Scout Car used during WW2 and then given to many European countries including the french and used until the 1970's, they seem to have american uniforms as well. Unfortunately you need 2 of them back to back to go both ways !!!!