West Somerset Railway General Discussion

For me, it reached the point where I didn't even bother to look at the pages any more.

 

Two unrestored wagons at Dunster presumeably still providing useful storage. A passenger recently asked me if this was the railway's scrapyard. I found it hard to explain that most of the items would, eventually, get recycled

 

When will the 2018 trains be available to book, Barry?

Robin

 

It’s ok, they grow out of it. I recommend Cressida Cowell when they’re a bit older.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Actually, I quite enjoyed the Gruffalo to read, though as you say now long gone - we're through Roald Dahl and onto The Borrowers...

 

My target date is 1st December 2017.

Barrie

 

What difference 18 months make as back then the QB was been cancelled due to lack of customers with people saying on this forum this is the wrong area to run these dining trains and make it pay, and now all the trains are nearly full if not full. Well done QB steward and all the other helpers to do this.

Ps how many QB's run last year against this year including the themed trains.

 

For those interested the cutting in the background features in the 1973 film "The Belstone Fox" also involving a mock-up of a Hymek. One of the last BR trains on the Branch.

www.videodetective.com/movies/the-belstone-fox/749262 , if you wish to see the trailer of the film. The story is quaint but the filming and scenery, mostly Quantock Hills, is good.

Andy

 

Yes, not so long ago it was yet another "vanity project" failing under management who were clearly out of their depth.

Well done to all who have turned the QB around.

 

It shows what can be done with competent management and proper promotion, plus good admin unlike the old regime. There is still work to be done to rectify the poor design by old trustees. Certainly Barrie and his crew not to mention the work by the WSR PLC in providing decent booking and promotion facilities has made a huge difference. Perhaps on gala occasions we could have a “Luxury breakfast” featuring venison sausages and local bacon from Gloucester Old spot pigs in Hemyock with a price premium. Laid up in First class as well.

 

Thank you. We are (not so quietly) confident of continuing to develop the QB for the common good of our Railway. The prime constraint to this is of course volunteers, or the lack of. It is an area I have neglected somewhat this year, mainly due to the lack of hours in the day and days in the week. The relatively small pool of regular QB volunteers have all worked extremely hard this year but it is unreasonable to expect them to continue that level of commitment. I intend to embark on a robust recruitment drive in the coming months in the hope of alleviating this shortage of staff. To a lesser extent we are constrained by availability of suitable paths for the QB, particularly during the peak summer timetable. This is understandable but remains under constant review. We may well run more attachment services to supplement the dedicated train programme next summer.

In the last 18 months both WSRA and WSR plc have dedicated a considerable volume of effort (and therefore expense) in improving and maintaining the QB vehicles. A lot of this effort was required to overcome past poor decisions with regard to 'upgrades' in the kitchen and service areas. Much of this involved undoing some of those upgrades. It is still far from ideal but at least all workable now. It is fair to say that a significant list of maintenance and 'nice to have' improvement tasks exists to be tackled this winter. I am confident that the will exists to continue investing in the QB and that WSRA and WSR plc will work together to achieve that. We are still in year one of the three year agreement between the set owner (the Association) and the operator (the Company). In the meantime we will continue to pay attention to detail and make further improvements slowly but surely. It's hard work but great fun and immensely rewarding.

I should add that the Catering Dept/buffet crews have supported QB to a significant degree this year and were are extremely grateful to them for that.
Barrie

 

WSR RAMS van at Broadway today collecting a newly cast GWR pattern lamp for Stogumber.

Robin

Van and box


Lamp post


Lost in Gloucestershire. 'I'm sure there's a Railway around here somewhere...'

 

Stanway Viaduct?

Oops, sorry. Thought for a moment this was the Picture Puzzle thread.

 

Careful Barrie, if you keep the success going on like this you'll have to add a section on the booking form to identify returning diners - and let the guard know so he can make allowances for the increasing net weight

 

Speedo tolerances, if I remember correctly, are +3% -0% so they are not allowed to under read (i.e. read 65 when you are actually doing 70) but can over read by up to 3% so your speedo would read 72.1 when you were actually doing 70 in that case.

This might be the cause of some of the dirty looks that sometimes come from drivers who you are slowly passing at 70. If your speedo is accurate and theirs is over reading they think they are doing 70 and that you are speeding when they are actually doing 68 or thereabouts.

 

Thanks for enlightening me. I've never driven a large van.

Bob.

 

Details here.

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Lots of companies are fitting limiters to their vans.

 

That's probably because there hasn't been one since 30 March. I am now the Chair, and have asked Mel Hillman to send me those minutes. The next meeting would have been in October, but I decided to postpone it to allow Alan Nicholson to get his feet under the table at the plc, and hope to convene the next one before Christmas. Here are the Minutes of the March meeting.

Paul