West Somerset Railway General Discussion

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now

Minehead 1874 and 2017

This is the classic photo of Minehead station shortly after opening in 1874. The notched line of North Hill is clear and one feature we will see is a constant in shots of the station - the goods shed.

The 1874 shot is packed with fascinating detail.

1874


2017

 

Didn't we have that one before?

https://www.national-preservation.c...ilway-operations.508987/page-227#post-1791379

Incidentally, a couple of nice "then" photos of Watchet here: https://chasewaterstuff.wordpress.com/tag/taunton-to-minehead-railway/

Was the Minehead end of the line always sleepered track, or was it originally laid on baulk road?

Tom

 

Yet the service Southsea - Ryde was alive and kicking after many years use when seen last year. Surely the Channel Tunnel was the factor which took away the cross channel hovercrafts traffic and yes they were big expensive beasts.

 

Captain Jack Wide, last Master in the Merchant Navy to have got his certificate under sail also had a Hovercraft Licence in the 1960's when P&A Campbell - White Funnel Fleet tried operating hovercraft on the Bristol Channel in the 1960's

 

Back in the 70s a Hovercraft service between Southport and Blackpool was tried.
Lasted about 2 seasons before closing down.
They used the SRN6 craft which was a 14 seater.
However they were susceptible to being shut down by a change in the weather conditions and many a time passengers had to be bussed back to their start point.
Noise was also a problem.

 

Documentary on the dover hovercraft. Note statement re duty free at end

 

Indeed we have -but you can't have too much of a good thing! I am posting a pair on Facebook every day and it is simpler just to repost them than try to remember what we have had here and what not.

The shot is taken days or weeks after opening, so reflects the track as laid in 1874. The Minehead Railway (Watchet to Minehead) was, initially, very lightly laid by modern standards.....

Robin

 

I did the return trip from Dover to Calais, and my main memories are the very rough ride and the noise.

 

West Somerset Railway

For today and tomorrow the 11.05 out of Bishops Lydeard and 15.30 out of Minehead will be Diesel hauled. The service out of Minehead at 13.30 to Doniford returning from Doniford at 14.20 has unfortunately been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience.

More bad news for today and Tuesday.

 

There's an update on the company website stating that no trains are running today. The railway is having a disastrous summer this year.

 

That must mean that what I've seen on the webcams today is a repeat programme!

 

I cant see such a message. Todays trains shown as running

 

Cut and pasted from the company website homepage moments ago.

Train Departures Monday 7th August
No trains running today, click the button below to find the next date that trains are running

 

Also moments ago, I saw the details for an amended service today!

 

http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/

This is what I am getting. Trains appear to be running

 

Afternoon all... I'm visiting WSR tomorrow as the first stop on the official 'While my Wife is in America' Roadtrip (!) Was planning on starting at BL for the 10:20 (although it sounds like I may need to be flexible...) Just wondering if anybody could give any good advice on the most interesting places to break the journey, what there is to see etc? Mainly interested in bits on the railway to be honest. I've got the whole day so hoping to see as much of the line as possible! Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Try this website www.wsr.org.uk - plenty of info on the line.

 

Before anyone says it is not definitive it is fed direct from the WSR PLC site and therefore should be correct. Despite using two different browsers I can't find any mention on the WSR PLC site. I did not take 1472's comment as offensive in any way. Perhaps he forgot the smiley. Characterising the problems with recent loco failures as a disastrous season is unreasonable.

 

Strangely, I can't see any comment from 1472.