West Somerset Railway General Discussion

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #42

Minehead platform 1967 / 2017

So here we go with a series of photo pairs looking at the eastern vista of Minehead platform.

The 'then' shot probably shows the branch at its lowest ebb. All signalling removed, operated as two independent lines from Dunster, waiting for closure.

By contrast the 2017 shot is packed with new features. From left to right we have the carriage shed, blocks of flats. sidings, Seaward Way level crossing, signalling, operating signal box, new supermarket and more sidings.

About the only point of reference between the two photos is that platform itself. Oh, and milepost 187-3 on the left!

Robin

1967


2017

 

But what would having Tornado (or whatever) as the other named loco cost?

 

I sometimes wonder if the biggest threat to the WSR is rising sea levels, in particular between Blue Anchor & Minehead

 

I see a morrisons and the Golden Arches. Ah well, there's progress for you...

 

Is there any news on further carmine and cream coaches to be added to the current rake of 5? I was told that the plan was to have a rake of 7 to be pulled by FS.

 

5025 is being repainted at the moment, and, as it's dual braked, should emerge in carmine and cream, date unknown to me. I doubt that there will be time to paint any more. I was told that the FS rake and the 'other engine' set were going to be identical-in-composition 8 coach sets.

 

Ok. I hope it is possible to ensure that the blood and custards are immediately behind FS when leaving BL, ie, right way round, with any chocolate and cream at the back.

 

A tad outside our remit, sure.... but I'll just leave this here:

Our neighbours, who have faced similar issues for centuries, have a saying "God made the earth, but the Dutch made Holland!"

This is the impressive Afsluitdijk which protects the polders (reclamaition is ongoing) of the IJsselmeer... the one time Zuiderzee.

 

Robin,

Have you considered publishing these pairs of photos as a book? I've visited the WSR a few times although as I'm now living almost 200 miles away I don't get down very much and can't say I know the line as well as you or many who regularly post on this thread but I know it well enough have to find the pictures quite fascinating and I'm sure that there would be plenty of other people who don't look at this forum who likewise would find it very interesting to see the difference between the WSR now and 40, 50 or 100+ years earlier.

 

Cost was not the issue - though it would not have come cheap. Readers of the railway press will know that there are simply not many large locomotives available, which are not already gainfully employed at this time of year. It is also the case that work has been going to carefully review weight limits on the WSR, and one or two "possibles" were simply deemed to be too heavy.
Frank

 

That's the plan.
Frank

 

Many of the photos (but by no means all) are taken from Ian Coleby's history of the line. I have asked Ian to consider acting as joint editor with me on such a book, perhaps to be promoted as a stand-alone companion to the history, which volume's coverage ends on 2-1-71.

I'm having a lot of fun taking the pictures and learning more about the Railway I have know and loved for approaching 40 years.

A goodly number more to come!

Robin

 

Perhaps an opportunity to publish a history from 1971 onwards with the photos.

 

Class 33 replaced 7F 12:35 departure from minehead, any idea what does the class 33 turn?

 

Will there be an event where the guards and TTI's roll their sleeves up and give the rolling stock a good wash and polish ?

 

Well that just sounds like a plan to upset the maximum amount of volenteers in the shortest possible timeframe, AFAIK the WSR have contract cleaners mybee ask the peeps paid to do it first eh?

 

You miss my point which is that I would prefer to travel behind a hall or a manor rather than Flying Scotsman.

 

Anything that can be made to start presumably.

 

This means the chocolate and cream will be at the front at Minehead. Wouldn't it be better in the middle?