West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Of course but it does demonstrate that a 3MT will handle seven bogies on all but the most severely graded lines.

PH

 

By the look of them, they are 57' wooden bodied coaches, so equivalent to 6 BR Mark I's, approximately.

Robin

 

Thanks for the interesting info. It's a good illustration of the weight penalties incurred by having to use Mk. 1s. Presumably the speeds in the sixties were higher than permitted today.

Paul H

 

Would it be easier to get more out of an engine on gradients with the benefit of the greater momentum available with higher speed running?

 

I do wonder if the 3 MT kept to time ?

 

Deleted .

 

Why shouldn't it?

PH

 

How many would be photographers have been killed or injured trespassing on the West Somerset Railway?

 

Mary / Molly was 18 when she 'took on' at Littlethorpe.

The real trick would be to interest some twenty-first century 18-year olds in 'taking on' on the West Somerset Railway today.

I especially liked Mary / Molly's answer when asked how she came to be a signalman. The alternatives on offer were factory work or being a porter on the railway. She was very clear that she much preferred the status / responsibility of being a signalman. Got to love someone who knows their own mind at 18.

Robin

 

We have had one death in the present company's existence.

This was at Ker Moor, where locals use the Railway to connect two footpaths by walking along the railway. A woman doing that with her dog lost control of the dog as the train went by. The dog darted in front of the train and the woman followed. The dog made it across but the woman did not.

All the appropriate signs were in place at the crossing but had been ignored. The new signs would have made no difference.

It is an understatement to say that the train crew were rather traumatised.

Robin

 

Sadly since 1976, we had another fatality on another occasion at another location. Again a trespasser. No fault of the railway or its staff. Or signage.

These incidents remind us all that running a railway - any railway - can be a dangerous business.

I have long been impressed with the WSR Plc's approach and commitment to safety. The Plc's current strategic vision includes these words:

"...to ensure that the railway can be operated safely with facilities and infrastructure that are fit for purpose".

It's not a game. As a scared 'Lucky Day' declares in 'The Three Amigos' film, "This is real".

Steve

 

Which begs the questions as to why the SafetyAudit Director has suddenly left. I note the deafening silence from the WSR PLC on the subject.

 

I believe the final three words of that statement is what others would discuss after any mishap - great or small.

 

The red sign on the signal post is in an appropriate position to be seen by someone who intends to use the crossing. The old cast iron sign is not. The wording of the latter is also questionable, given the availability of the crossing except when a train movement is imminent.

In the photo the gates are open, implying that no train movement was imminent. When a train movement is imminent the responsible person presumably closes the gates and remains present to intervene if someone tries to slip round them. The warning signs are an additional risk control measure in that situation and a backup for the unlikely situation that the gates are not closed when they should be. It is a little odd to have different styles and wording on the two sides, but both signs convey more or less equivalent messages to take care.

 

So add that to the situation at Stogumber, which had 'Beware of Trains' signs by the crossing, but it was decreed had to have the new eyesores, one of which (until the Station objected) was installed so as to REDUCE visibility of a down train from the crossing.

Madness.

Robin

 

As I suspected "eyesore" is OTT. The sign is modest in size, in the right place and it's message is to the point. If the typeface offends so much well alter it.

PH (Breaking his resolution again)

 

If someone is reckless enough to cross a railway line without looking, listening and giving due consideration, any number of signs will make no difference. Equivalent or higher levels of risk occur throughout our lives in all manner of contexts and circumstances.

 

Perhaps the answer is to have a mandatory 30 minute safety and orientation video for all passengers when they buy tickets, briefing them on hazards before they proceed from the booking hall to the platform?

Within station limits (footpaths crossing the line out on the plain line is slightly different) I'm really struggling to see how great the risk is for a line that sees a peak service frequency of about one train per hour each way, with the majority of trains stopping and therefore running slowly through each station. Surely the risk can be adequately controlled simply by having a porter on each station foot crossing for the few minutes each hour when a train is due while the station is open?

Tom

 

Really?

What would the reaction be if we installed a set on the footpath crossing at the eastern end of Havenstreet station for a weekend...

Robin

 

Yes Really!
That particular footpath is controlled by wicket gates (not original but in appropriate style and colour), which are interlocked with the signalling. No need for signage. That indeed would be OTT.

PH