West Somerset Railway General Discussion

That also gives you a starting point for a discussion about where is a proper dividing line between the commercial operator and the charitable support. For example, had the line continued purely in the commercial sphere, almost certainly bullhead rail would have been replaced by CWR. Therefore, if bullhead is preferred on heritage grounds but is more expensive, it seems entirely justified for the charity to provide a grant in order to fund the difference in cost between the two, without any question of being seen to subsidise a company. The same argument that would allow it to fund repairs to operationally necessary heritage buildings that, in a purely commercial sense, might otherwise be replaced by cheaper modern structures - or indeed, to subsidise the use of heritage rolling stock and signalling which would likewise have been gone long ago had the line continued purely as a commercial part of the big railway.

Tom

 

What does "PGN" mean on the buffers of ravingham hall please

 

Ah Paddington that's making sense now. Thanks.

 

Why does 60103 only go to blue anchor on the evening services. Does it run around there. Just wondering why it does go to minehead? Timing?

 

Typo corrections - Raveningham Hall - PDN

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now

Dunster Sea Lane Crossing looking towards Blue Anchor in 1958 /2017.

The pint of reference is the fence to the right, constructed of concrete posts and steel tubes which still protects the path from the eastern end of Dunster platform down to Sea Lane and so the beach -an extra reason for taking a train to Dunster if the medieval village and castle do not attract.

Robin White

1958


2017

 

The NRM allow FS only to be used for a limited amount of time each day. That limit does not permit the evening dining trains to reach Minehead.

Yes, FS will run round its train at Blue Anchor.

Robin

 

These before and after WSR pictures are excellent pictures but they really make you realize just how much of the real heritage infrastructure has been lost. Many of the modern pictures just look like a modern railway with modern barriers and all the steam age stuff removed, little different really from how a network rail line looks.

I know there was stuff demolished in BR days but were all the wooden gates etc removed after it became a heritage line ?

That is why I like the Mid Norfolk Railway, all the traditional wooden crossing gates etc are still there and in use. Only on two busy main roads is there a modern crossing and I believe they were put in by BR.

 

Cider on the brain....

 

Could any line, even a Heritage line, actually run a decent regular service if it had to rely on the amount of crossing keepers that once were employed on the line?
That is one of the reasons for the Automation of the crossings.

 

I think the Mid Norfolk has plans to modernise some of its crossings though.

 

Any news or rumours on which other "named engine" will be working the opposite leg of the Flying Scotsman trains?

 

You are, but you can be forgiven, because the 'main' Lane from Crowcombe Station to Stogumber runs past the gate to the left, and this is a side lane that, effectively, only serves the farm and associated farm cottages to the right.

I suspect, therefore, that the farmer ‍ was using the gate to the left as an 'unofficial' gate to the farm at this time.

(Photo of Roebuck Crossing repeated below for clarity.)

Robin White

 

A former resident of WSR currently carrying fake numbers and nameplate.

 

Ah! I thought it might be something else, ah well.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Bagnall 2994 Vulcan?

 

Still unconfirmed.
A press release will no doubt confirm at some point.

Ben

 

The WSR 4F had a bit of a wobble today but is now back in traffic. The altered stock working as a result brought the WSR DMU back into traffic a day early on the 1720 from Minehead which departed bang on time.

Seen here waiting to shunt into the platform after the departure of the 1630 from Minehead.

Robin