West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Or is it , dour ?

 

No that is usually attributed to those North of the border.

 

Thats correct, booked for the class 47.
Robin F.

 

Thanks

Just a question of being in the right place at the right time with my trusty I-phone...

Robin

 

The timetable on our website is the public timetable. Given the line speed limit for all trains on the WSR is the same (25 mph), it shouldn't be too difficult to work out the approximate intermediate times.

Frank

 

Wotcha mean? ....... Croydon?

 

Wot , them in norf zumerset ?

 

That's OK Jeff, my comment was a little tongue-in-cheek! I accept '95 isn't yet part of the operational fleet but is, nevertheless, in the long term plan and so home fleet from now, and then the ensuing quarter century from entry into traffic.

The need for further funding to enable boiler work to be completed is where we come into the discussion on insufficient hire fees; in our case unfortunately previous income did not provide the required amount. There are various other factors here too, including the low-loader incident, which meant that we didn't complete the tendering process for the overhaul with other contractors. The decision on preferred repairers was not entirely ours and involved other parties though Williton was an immediate choice we did make for somewhere readily accessible to lift & inspect. In the final event you have to balance costs (including such things as transport and crane hire) along with workshop capacity of contractors and anticipated timescales; often they don't match up! So you have to make the best decision you can and stick with it. Additionally some avenues of promised/anticipated funding can 'dry-up' and someone who has intimated they will cover a shortfall may not be in a position to do so when you need it. This problem is increasing in the current financial climate.

 

@FrankC is, of course, correct, but perhaps @DragonHandler has spotted a gap in our offering.

As I understand it, part of out 'sell' is for folks to come to the Railway to spectate FS. That might equally apply to those who have paid to ride - we would want them to stay, buy a cream tea at Stogumber, etc etc.

It is easy fircwe Railway folk to work out intermediate times, and many of us will see the working Timetable with the WSR operating notice, but might it not help the public to have something they can consult to know that, for example, FS will pass Stogumber (or wherever) at W, V, X, and Y times?

Robin

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #37

Minehead loco shed 1958 and 2017

The shed as viewed from Minehead platform, as related to the Taunton end of the canopy, the equivalent shot today and an extra shot to show the whole 'loco'.

Minehead loco struck me as very 'twee'. Put another way - ideal for a model Railway. The shed closed and was soon cleared in the early 60's but the loading bank to the right of the shed survived into preservation and was the site of the WSR Chairman's portacabin for a while. Now the site of the Turntable and cafe, the features here have changed entirely. The roof line of the Railway-built cottages beyond can be made out.

It would enhance the heritage offering of the WSR (and a number of other heritage lines) if we could, over time, wean outselves off portacabins and redundant sea containers for our loco facilities and invest in facilities that look to such photos for their design references.

Robin

1958


2017


More MD loco 1958

 

Interesting how the 2017 view of the turntable area looks more like the 1958 view than a similar shot taken in the 1990s would do with the then straight bay platform and sidings and car park behind.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

 

wsr org roster showing class 52.

is it because of lack of steam locos available?

 

well said

 

Yorkshiremen are Scotsmen with the generosity removed

I actually enjoy witty jokes about the Scots. For example, the reason why the new pound coins have edges is that they can be extracted from a sporran using a spanner.

 

Robin,

For the record did you know that the concrete steps shown in your 3rd photo were made at GWR's Taunton concrete works?

When the old Minehead loco shed site was dug up for the installation of the turntable the steps were recovered and reused as part of the new works, they form the access from the cafe seating area to the track level by the turntable. 2 other sets of the same steps exist at Minehead, one at the end of Platform 1 and the other to the wooden office of the present loco shed.

The blue bull nose edging blocks around the turntable came from the lower part of the coaling stage access ramp at Taunton loco shed.

The water tank came from an industrial site at Newport Monmouthshire, it had been moved there after the end of steam, its original GWR location is unknown unfortunately.

The turntable and fittings came from Pwllheli of course.

Andy.

 

And the original turntable edging blocks from Pwllheli are sat on a wagon at Dunster .

 

Actually we are just more careful with our momey than many others. Perhaps we should draw a line under this and concentrate on WSR issues.

 

I see a new sign in traditional GWR / BR(W) style has appeared by the signalman's walkway at Minehead....

Strangely, we only use this when going out to collect or deliver a token, so we have a fair reminder that there is a train about

Robin

 

Afternoon all

As FS is intended to be Non-stop for some of the journeys the Standard time table timings will include station stops so to avoid the public arriving after FS has passed no doubt the WSR FS web site will reveal all nearer the time.

Jeff Price ( Not a guard)

 

If I were to pop in BL station 2moro, is it possible to buy a day rover for normal service during Flying Scotsman visit, with local residents discount card for September 9th? thanks