West Somerset Railway General Discussion

..and thankfully they are now has-beens.

 

However efficatious they may have been I don't think they would be appropriate in Somerset.

 

Don't suppose any kind person could tell me the time of the light engine move of 7822 2moro please

 

When will WTT be released for late summer weekend please. Thanks

 

Evening Drama

Crowcombe Heathfield's Down Starting Signal caught against the sunset.

Robin

 

No track work has been done yet, just the groundframe that has been disconnected.
Robin F

 

Miss Type has escaped again.

 

Interesting. Either you used a better powder coating, or we use dirtier coal!

 

I'd quite like to see a 'totem' design that tells our visitors what the shed is for:

West Somerset Railway
Carriage and Wagon Workshop

You could almost add it into some kind of 'corporate identity' and add them to other workshop-esq buildings around the railway!

Ben

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #44

Minehead station throat 1981 / 2017

Yesterday's post explored the ground frame at Minehead, and the arrangement of main and bay staffs to Blue Anchor. Normally it worked very well.

But in 1981 there came a day when the DMU guard was busy with other matters when he should have met the incoming steam service at the ground frame. The steam crew left the main platform staff in the cab of the DMU. The DMU driver did not think about which staff he had. The DMU guard hurried to his train at the last moment and assumed the driver had switched the ground frame settings and staff, so he checked the doors and rang the DMU out of the Bay platform. The driver set off with his usual gusto, so it was too late when he saw that the bay platform trap points were open. Braking was too late for the front car which, with a rattle and a few thumps, ended up 'on old England'.

And then there were LOTS of forms to fill in.....

Of course, today, in 2017, there is no trace of the Park Royal except in the care with which we now follow operational practice. Given that the layout is signalled, the trap points are clipped and padlocked out of use and will be recovered in time.

The DMU guard and driver, let's call them Chris and David, have both gone to the carriage sidings in the sky.

1981


2017

 

Nicely phrased.

 

They still are in York, aren't they?

https://goo.gl/maps/sP4Pok4faA22

 

Am I right in believing that the class 115 dmu is no longer running services, and that timetabled dmu services are now diesel loco hauled?

OK, cards on table - I'm going there on Friday 1st September - does anyone know what to expect on 11.50 ex BL?

John

 

No. The DMU is working its booked turns starting with the 1150 BL daily. The diesel-hauled train is a steam replacement on the 1105 BL/ 1530 MD for today and tomorrow (Thursday/Friday) only. That turn should revert to steam haulage on Saturday (26th). The 1150 on 1st September is booked for the DMU, although the last leg of its diagram, the 1720 MD - BL will be loco + coaches to get stock in the right place for the following day. You can always see what's working any day by looking at the webcams.

 

Many thanks, Ian, for that very helpful reply. I like dmu's, especially if I can grab the seat behind the driver's partition, and view the wildlife.

John

 

It's not usual to refer to DMU drivers as wild life!

 

I would certainly avoid the temptation to feed them - though most do not bite!

 

That is a matter of opinion!

 

That suggests that some do. Is this from personal experience?

 

Is the western going to OOC open day