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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    please no!

    Heritage railways would have a marketing plus by declaring themselves free of such things!
     
    Paul Kibbey and oddsocks like this.
  2. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Free WiFi on train would be great for checking Facebook whilst traveling.
     
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  3. oddsocks

    oddsocks Well-Known Member

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    Well, that's a damn good reason not to have it then!:mad:
     
  4. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Always thought the water tower at Taunton would be better suited on a heritage line and not disused in middle of building site
     
  5. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

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    Bit odd perhaps replying to my own post, but today I visited the SVR and along with my ticket I was given a rather nice GWR style 'Through the window' booklet containing a map of the route and a description of points of interest along the line. The centre pages of this booklet were a pull out 'I-Spy' game sheet for children with a list of things to spot and a box to tick each item off as it was spotted, each 'spot' had a points value and I noted that there were a couple of families in my coach who were playing the I-Spy game with great enthusiasm.

    Nice one SVR.
     
  6. IamDaniel

    IamDaniel Member

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    If you're that bothered, surely you can use your mobile data?
     
  7. Blimey @DragonHandler that brought back some memories for me! Walter Harris and I did a similar booklet for the WSR back in 1985 based on the style and design of the 1930s GWR publication "Through the Window". There were two versions, one going down the Branch and the other going up. We didn't do the i-spy thing - brilliant idea that. Maybe, a WSR someone somewhere is reading these postings...and getting some good ideas. I'm sure the authors would volunteer their services once again ;)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Steve
     
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Watchet is a good mid point. To my mind if you are at Minehead and want a ride on the line then a return to Watchet has to be the hard sell (and ideally priced accordingly). About half an hour each way is ideal. Ditto if you start from Bishops Lydeard. Or you could hire a bike, take the train to Blue Anchor and cycle back via the West Somerset Coastal path. Creativity always wins the day.

    It may be the longest heritage railway in the country but tbh that isn't its USP and I'd not push that. The sad thing is that there is no railway interest at Watchet other than waiting for the train back, For example, trains do not reverse there because there is no space to do so and as a result spending a few moments at the loco is not an option.
     
  9. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    There's a copy of the current "From the Window" booklet (without the i-spy insert) on the SVR website downloads page - it's given out free as @DragonHandler said. I've certainly seen children kept entertained by the i-spy.

    http://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/Brochures/SVR From the Window (2018 edition).pdf
     
  10. Watchet is by far the most popular intermediate station. There's lots of things to do in Watchet - it doesn't need railway interest as folks don't need railways shoved down their throats all day long, just need to use the trains to get from A to B and back. Y'know, like they used to in the olden days ;) The WSR pushes Watchet with promotions like the Morning Explorer, the Watchet Market Connection, the Watchet Afternoon Explorer (you get the idea). It is Watchet Carnival this weekend so more promo opportunities. You are right to spotlight Watchet @Big Al

    Steve
     
  11. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Thxs for reminder about carnival, I pop down Sunday and what air display
     
  12. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    Err, I think that perhaps he was being ironic?

    Noel
     
  13. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    I walked the path on Wednesday, the bit past the golf course certainly isn't suitable for bikes unless there is a route round the landward side of the course.

    I suggest however that a link up with the Steam Coast Trail is called for both to update the website and help promote it for the benefit of the WSR
     
  14. If anyone can get a good mobile signal along most of the Branch then I'd be mighty glad of details of the mobile coverage provider(s). I have an online project underway that works fine except that the lack of coverage in West Somerset.

    Steve
     
  15. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

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    TalkTalk mobile. Cheap as chips, but it works. <BJ>
     
    West Somerset Wizard likes this.
  16. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    It is a British tradition not to talk to the other passengers on the train. Having wifi would help relieve passengers from the temptation to break this tradition.
     
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  17. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    It makes a good aid memoir for new and not so new staff in identifying distinguishing featuress such as Little Rock
     
  18. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Or you could follow the late Gerard Hoffnung's advice to foreign visitors "On entering a railway carriage, first shake hands with all the passengers".

    PH
     
  19. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Is that on the page before the advice about identifying British brothels by means of the blue light outside?
     
  20. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    wasnt blue for officers and red for other ranks?
     

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