If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

Page 507 of 2256
  1. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,404
    Likes Received:
    18,231
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    That View - Dusky Diner

    7F 53808 heads south past Stogumber with the last trip of the set including dining cars ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Orion’ yesterday.

    EA6C150F-C6A6-4D4C-BF26-0C3498C05C31.jpeg
     
    Robin Moira White, Dec 30, 2017
    #10121
    Barrie the Beer, Yorkshireman and Copper-capped like this.
  2. Copper-capped

    Copper-capped Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2017
    Messages:
    3,350
    Likes Received:
    4,071
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Stanthorpe, QLD, Australia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Nice. :)

    I really must convince someone to build a heritage railway line through my bottom paddock....
     
    Copper-capped, Dec 30, 2017
    #10122
    Another Yorkshireman, jnc, Bluenosejohn and 2 others like this.
  3. Andy Norman

    Andy Norman Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2015
    Messages:
    739
    Likes Received:
    4,422
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thanks for this post, it is great to read this type of issue being raised. I can of course only speak as a humble volunteer fireman by my view is as follows. Really sorry you didn't get the best service you deserve as a paying customer and its important that everybody on the WSR has feedback to make things better. I think this is a great post to see as I can recall a time immediately post ex6 when the QB was not the attraction it should be and there was an opinion that the QB should be scrapped and sold off because it was not paying its way. Common sense prevailed and here we are today with positive feedback asking for more capacity, in my opinion its a success story and an example of additional revenue and happier (if of course you can get a breakfast) customers. The railway now needs to build on this and take the 'product' to wherever it needs to go to ensure every customer is happy and of course allow you enjoy a great breakfast.

    Of course it goes without saying that QB Steward and the team supported by the Association need the highest praise for making this happen. Going forward we all on the WSR need to allow this level of passion and enthusiasm to prevail as this demonstrates what can be achieved when people are empowered and included.
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2017
    Andy Norman, Dec 30, 2017
    #10123
    Herald, Athelwulf, Another Yorkshireman and 9 others like this.
  4. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,404
    Likes Received:
    18,231
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thanks

    I’m off to check the quality of the breakfast on the 09:59 departure this morning. My Long service award pass comes in handy. Next year will be my 39th year as a heritage railway volunteer. If the next 39 years are as much fun as the previous have been, and we get back to making forward progress instead of trying to ape the old East Bloc then the Railway will continue to be a great place.

    Robin
     
    Robin Moira White, Dec 30, 2017
    #10124
    baldbazza and Yorkshireman like this.
  5. Anne C-B

    Anne C-B Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2016
    Messages:
    225
    Likes Received:
    353
    Location:
    UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    This might be fine for those who can manage to arrive by 0745 however this would involve us leaving home by 0515 and is unachievable for those travelling by public transport. The first come only served disadvantage those travelling to the railway from a distance and in the most need of a meal.

    I've travelled on 8 preserved railways this year and the WSR was unique in not providing a breakfast on arrival as well as a meal during the day. I used to love having Sunday lunch in the carriage at Minehead station when I lived in Somerset but even that is gone without replacement.

    Whilst we prefer the WSR we're more likely to visit the GWSR as we know we'll get a decent meal during the day.
     
    Anne C-B, Dec 30, 2017
    #10125
    JBTEvans and nick glanf like this.
  6. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2008
    Messages:
    5,969
    Likes Received:
    2,761
    Occupation:
    Ex a lot of things.
    Location:
    Near where the 3 Ridings meet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Will Mr Dylan be making an appearance today?
    Just been looking at the latest weather storm name. DYLAN
     
    Ploughman, Dec 30, 2017
    #10126
    Yorkshireman likes this.
  7. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,912
    Likes Received:
    5,849
    (This is prompted by Robin's latest photo, showing the 7F running tender first.)

    I understand that the idea of routinely turning locos on the triangle on each trip has been ruled out because it would use too much time. All the same, it seems to me a great pity. It means that all the work of installing the triangle, and the turntable at the other end, has provided minimal benefit for routine WSR operations (however much the triangle may be used by operators from the big railway). It also means that tender engines spend half their time running backwards, which is to the detriment of loco crews and definitely not prototypical. Meanwhile tank engines, which don't need to be turned, have too little power and/or water capacity to be used much on the WSR.
     
    MellishR, Dec 30, 2017
    #10127
    Colin Allcars, Geoff May, jnc and 1 other person like this.
  8. Dennis John Brooks

    Dennis John Brooks Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2014
    Messages:
    408
    Likes Received:
    885
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    North Somerset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Barrie, I'm sorry you got all that flak over an excellent breakfast. I would like to point out that the end results can only be achieved with the tools you are given. Thank you & your assistants again.

    DJB.
     
    Dennis John Brooks, Dec 30, 2017
    #10128
    QB Cook, Barrie the Beer, Geoff May and 6 others like this.
  9. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    4,906
    Likes Received:
    7,651
    Just because there was a reluctance to photograph locos working tender first back in the day it does not mean that it rarely happened. In fact the S&D 7Fs spent probably 40% of their daily lives running tender first, it is just that you do not see many photos of them like this. What was far less prototypical, as you call it, was their use on everyday passenger trains. Any loco crew who feels that tender first running is a detriment is I would suggest in the wrong "job".

    Peter James
     
    torgormaig, Dec 30, 2017
    #10129
    Jamessquared, Ferguson, Copper-capped and 1 other person like this.
  10. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2009
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    2,438
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Somewhere in the UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If you look at a historical loco diagram you can work out how much time would have been spent running tender first. Like today, photographers didn't like it!

    From memory, the Corstorphine branch regularly saw Gresley A3 locos running tender first on short passenger trains; that might be an exceptional case though.
     
    Forestpines, Dec 30, 2017
    #10130
    Ferguson and Kje7812 like this.
  11. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,404
    Likes Received:
    18,231
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The weather outside is frightful...

    But Breakfast on the QB is very popular, tasty and good value.

    2D62ABAC-92FD-470A-9CD5-C1241CA610D7.jpeg 1BC806E7-3528-4B2E-AA4F-D057294CD8B6.jpeg 41494AA8-0C28-4722-9273-19D48DBF9F7E.jpeg 0221CA05-F2A8-4E9D-9B1A-04BF3DAA1E3A.jpeg 7B36F338-0F5E-4E77-88CF-B091FAC348B5.jpeg C493A9D4-562D-44C7-A534-823D96998F7A.jpeg
    59578323-F235-4502-AFA4-3772D727F5C8.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2017
    Robin Moira White, Dec 30, 2017
    #10131
    Wenlock, Another Yorkshireman, Yorkshireman and 1 other person like this.
  12. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2005
    Messages:
    1,272
    Likes Received:
    788
    Great pics - thanks for posting. The dining car with the separate chairs brings back happy and half-forgotten memories of good meals in the 60's and 70's on BR trains like the Royal Highlander and the Emerald Isle Express, and many more....

    Great we can enjoy it on the WSR now!
     
    alastair, Dec 30, 2017
    #10132
    tracker, Barrie the Beer, Yorkshireman and 1 other person like this.
  13. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2005
    Messages:
    1,272
    Likes Received:
    788
    Many thanks for posting this comprehensive response - much appreciated, particularly when you are having an extremely busy 2 days.

    Sounds like you are well aware of the issues, and the QB has a great future in your hands. I wish you every success.
     
    alastair, Dec 30, 2017
    #10133
    tracker, The Dainton Banker, Herald and 7 others like this.
  14. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2006
    Messages:
    5,294
    Likes Received:
    3,599
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    61624, Dec 30, 2017
    #10134
  15. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2014
    Messages:
    11,404
    Likes Received:
    18,231
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Barrister
    Location:
    Stogumber
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Too many amateur detectives here. Yes, I want to know how it ends, but only by reading it for myself...

    Robin
     
    Robin Moira White, Dec 30, 2017
    #10135
    Yorkshireman likes this.
  16. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2014
    Messages:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    4,298
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The menu looks very tempting, well done Barrie and team.
     
    Snifter, Dec 30, 2017
    #10136
    tracker, Barrie the Beer, Dennis John Brooks and 1 other person like this.
  17. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2014
    Messages:
    4,486
    Likes Received:
    5,045
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Comfy chair occupant!
    Location:
    No moaners please!
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You are not entirely correct. The problem of needing to arrive very early for QB breakfasts is being addressed. Hot food is available in the station buffet and is usually supplemented during spring and summer galas by an outside catering van. At Minehead the Turnrable cafe also provides hot food all day with breakfasts until around 1100.
     
    Yorkshireman, Dec 30, 2017
    #10137
  18. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Messages:
    7,762
    Likes Received:
    5,890
    Hot food but not the most comprehensive menu compared to elsewhere to be fair, here's the SVR offering at Kidderminster (the museum there also offers a separate hot snacks menu) - http://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/SVR Valley Suite Menu 2017.pdf
     
    Pete Thornhill, Dec 30, 2017
    #10138
    nick glanf and michaelh like this.
  19. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2014
    Messages:
    4,486
    Likes Received:
    5,045
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Comfy chair occupant!
    Location:
    No moaners please!
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The OP stated, incorrectly, that the old arrangements at Minehead had not been replaced which was incorrect. I accept that the arrangements at BL and MH are not as lavish as some elsewhere.
     
    Yorkshireman, Dec 30, 2017
    #10139
  20. West Somerset Wizard

    West Somerset Wizard Guest

    Time to rename this thread - WSR Complaints and Moans :)

    Always best to contact the Railway - I have found this to be the best method. I may not like the answer but I do notice my comments have been noticed and sometimes acted on.

    But please don't let up here...great entertainment.

    Steve
     
    West Somerset Wizard, Dec 30, 2017
    #10140
    dinmore7820, Ian Monkton, jnc and 9 others like this.
Page 507 of 2256

Share This Page