West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Waking up at last and actually opening their eyes ☺

 

Maybe; but the stated reason for sacking him is nothing to do with his ideas about the railway. For all we know, the other members may share those ideas.

 

I love the WSFP, a truly local paper.

The ‘XX years ago’ section often has something interesting.

Here’s this week’s ‘50 years ago’ section.

If you look at the second item, you may understand why I think Councillor Bradbeer might have been ignoring a rather greater danger...

Robin

 

Presumably he will now have more time for MRLG activities?

Robin

 

Stogumber Station from across Kingswood valley.

Robin

 

Spitfire SM520

As something of an ‘entre’ to the West Somerset Railway’s 40’s weekend in September, I have just booked a flight in SM520 on the morning of 13 September 2018, flying from Exeter airport. Subject to weather and air traffic constraints, it is intended to fly over the WSR during the morning. If you needed another reason to visit the WSR in September, this might be it?

Yipeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

 

After your disappointment over the Joby Carter signwriting course, I hope you've got a cancellation clause.

Stef.

 

Sadly I very much doubt gates would be allowed. I suspect current crossing regulations might require the current single barrier to be upgraded to double barrier. These systems, which would essentially be the same specification as those used on network rail, are horrifically expensive and £850k looks if anything on the low side.

Savings can be made by using secondhand ex network materil if it can be found and if it still meets regulations. Swanage struck a deal with a Swiss company looking to gain a foothold in the UK market. Even so the sums involved are unavoidably high and specialists are often required.

If anyone ever wonders why their network rail tickets cost so much you only need to look at the phenomenal cost of even the simplest piece of infrastructure like an electrical relay.

 

Perhaps folks haven't read the BBC news item The link is included in the brief news item on wsr.org.uk

Steve

 

I’m pleased to say that on the WSR that we will be running two additional events in 2018. As many will know the S160, 6046 is coming to stay with us and as we have a number of genuine war department wagons already including flat wagons for vehicles we thought it would be a great idea run a genuine military train. So it’s great to report that in fact we are going to do it not once but twice in 2018.

As a part of our usual Spring Steam Gala on 22-25th March 2018 we will be running a military train between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard (as reported on wsr.org.uk a few days back). Plus having a military vehicle display at Minehead station. It’s planned that the train will run from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard where it will stop in the Bay Platform and then run it back to Minehead sometime in the afternoon where it will also stay in the Bay Platform. This means that the train will be accessible to visitors close up when parked and of course give lots of opportunities for photography when on the move.

March is just a warm up, as on 15-16 September the WSR will be running a 1940’s Weekend centred around Minehead and Watchet. This will include again the train plus a 1940’s dance on the Saturday evening under the canopy at Minehead, a Replica Spitfire and RAF Display at Minehead, Military/Civilian vehicles at Minehead and Watchet plus hopefully lots of 1940’s civilian, home front displays and re-enactments. We are even looking to secure a 1940’s hairdresser to be available in a coach at Minehead before the evening’s dance so people can have their hair done.

We are arranging a number of accurate WW2 vehicles for the flat wagons and correctly uniformed ‘guard’s’ to ride in the brake vans and look after the train, so this coupled with accurate wagons and the S160 all running on a line that saw a lot of military traffic results in what we think will be the most accurate train that can be run.

If anybody would like to come along and help, bring vehicles (military or civilian) or just wants to come and look please get in touch with me and I will pass details on. There is also a Facebook page ‘WSR Forties Weekend 2018’ which you can join to keep you updated and of course the WSR will be issuing tickets for both the Spring Steam Gala and the 1940’s Weekend as normal.

 

I think that the RHDR have got the cost of approved wig-wag crossings down to about £60K. If you add on about £90K for project management costs (I'll do it for £80K!) then that still means £175K per barrier. Railway costs are horrendous when compared with equivalents in industry. I went to buy something last year, quoting the relevant NR spec. I won't say exactly what it was but I was told that they had none in stock. The guy serving me offered an alternative which was considerably cheaper with the added information that it was exactly the same, only it didn't have the same paperwork trail required by NR. When I was in coal mining, things were always expensive to buy and when I left it and went into industry it was an eye-opener to find that I could but non NCB spec stuff so much more cheaply and just as good.

 

Lets hope that the cost includes doubling the track to allow for any future requirements

 

Very pleased for you .

 

I would first check what else may be on display.

 

And if a certain bedroom in Minehead happens to appear in your sights......

 

There’s been a bit of recent history of ‘friendly fire’ incidents here in West Somerset...

Would that be 'Mr Hilter' from Monty Python on the far right? He was a Corporal. Its definitely John Cleese third from the right.

Robin

 

But wouldn't an airstrike be a bit excessive against a bedroom?

 

Depends whether the landing light has been left on.

I'll get my coat...

Robin

 

Stop that! It's silly!

 

Having looked at Mr Mendozas comments, in particular


However the fact that Exmoor National Park captures I believe around 1% of National Park visitors nationwide and that West Somerset's accommodation needing visitors appear to be falling in numbers yearly, these findings must ring some economic alarm bells. ................

It is very often reported to me that on any given day Minehead seems "very quiet" compared to Lynmouth, Woolacombe and now since "Verity's" arrival, Ilfracombe. These coastal towns, form our direct local competition and whilst Minehead has it's many fans it just does not appear to compete on an equal footing. Recently a group of US post grad students working for Bath Spa University ... studying specifically Minehead and it's environs, determined the town/area just does not come across as a KOOL place to visit and has little to attract families and the younger visitors.

I cant say that I disagree with him, and I hope that the town, and of course the National Park can do something