West Somerset Railway General Discussion

There's only two states of a WSR thread:

Busy: There's an ongoing scandal
Quiet: Denizens of the west start getting suspicious that there is an ongoing scandal that they don't yet know about ...

Tom

 

Ah, but they do things differently in Somerset

 

As Oscar Wilde said:-

There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

 

good news regarding D7018 test run next Weds.

 

A piece of good news!!

Whats gone wrong??

 

I know WSR has two 33s in home fleet but 33021 In post office red livery from CVR would be a great visitor for the 2019 diesel gala

 

Be afraid , very afraid .

 

My parents made a terrible mistake one year and we went on our summer holiday from Somerset to the shores of Morecombe Bay. I believe it is said there that if you can't see across the Bay, it is raining, and if you CAN see across the Bay, then it is going to rain,,,,

Robin

 

They could have gone to Machynlleth.....................

Saved a lot of driving

 

http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co....bitious-minehead-rail-link-plan/?ref=mr&lp=12


Something wicked this way comes?

 

This looks interesting

http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co....-steam-coast-trail-opens-this-weekend/?ref=ar

 

Nope. Just more of the same nonsense from MRLG. No plan, no costings, no grasp of the issues, and no apparent desire to get one.

Robin.

 

By contrast with MRLG, this is a group who have worked hard, got the grant money in and spent it for the good of the local community. Good on them.

Robin

 

Now lets get the details on the WSR website and how about some promotions?

 

Another dead-end path by Steam Trail people and Sustrans, just like the path from Dunster Beach which just ends on a shingle bank.

There is a major flaw with this design in that the western end of this rather short section joins a winding country road with deep banks which is not suitable for pedestrians or cyclists or wheelchair users. There will be trouble. They were warned at planning stage.

Although the new path runs alongside the Up side railway fence from Old Cleeve Bridge to Washford Bridge there is no direct public access to Washford Station from the path as this would involve crossing the busy yard and the running line. But will it stop people?

Sure, there are new views of the railway and it looks a fine surface for a wheelchair, but they are wrong to encourage pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users to use the Old Cleeve lane.

Steve

 

Eh? Have you seen this path? Exactly what should the WSR promote?

Steve

 

I saw the Western section at the gala from the station and also when I drove along the lane, and assumed it was a farm access road. I agree with your comments. There is a way to access it without crossing the railway but it is via the narrow overgrown grass track at the end of the platform to the farm over bridge, climb over the locked gate at the end of the track and cross the bridge. A challenge for an able-bodied person and not possible for anybody else.

 

The grass track at the end of the platform is not a right of way (no end of people believe it is a footpath), technically it is lineside? There is a further gate 'that will be locked' across the field entrance, a post installed nearer the road end of the bridge to stop vehicles except for farm equipment, both controlled by the farmer (!!). The fencing alongside the railway was to have been replaced with something suitable to prevent trespass but now (Sustrans) finance doesn't stretch to that, the railway apparently are going to put a sign on the yard gate to say no access 'when the path opens' yet video went on YouTube a while back showing a circular walk platform to platform and nobody challenged it or got the guy to correct or remove it.
The council's own highway department objected to this path but the planners totally ignored it. The water is gushing in all directions during heavy rain despite the installation of drainage along the path, the banks in the cutting already slump so is that risk to the line heightened now?

 

Thanks Paul for your comments. The access (via the platform) you describe is not a public route. I'm sure the railway would frown on its unofficial use. Interestingly that route was an early proposal for this pathway. It meant using top of the embankment, the platform, the (steep) ramp and a heavy, locked gate at the station end, all managed by the railway, and Sustrans typically expected everyone to 'just do it'.

These paths (trails) are a fab idea and in general I support their creation. Sadly the desire to create something (tick another box) overrides common sense.

Steve

 

Interesting comments @granmaree as I have been told by Steam Coast people that the highways department raised no objections. I must go revisit the planning papers.

I too have heard that Sustrans has "run out of funds" for the new fencing that was part of the deal. Funny that.

I'll check out that video, too.

Steve