West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I suspect that there are many operational / support roles where politics doesn't raise it's ugly head.

 

Et moi.

 

Déjà moo. Where you're sure you've heard the same bulls**t before. Bit like this thread.

 

As an outsider that does not listen to 'The Archers' this is compelling stuff.

However, this is real. People give up their time, staff work hard for their railway, many put in far more hours than they actually get paid for.

Whilst it may be an indulgence for those of us on other railways, most of our own projects are not too dissimilar to the plights of WSR.

I am finding this thread more and more distasteful as members and staff of WSR wash their dirty laundry.

If I had enough hands I would bang your bloody heads together, for Christ's sake, your railway is going down the shitter, it seems that only those that seek power and recognition are dissatisfied, meanwhile the rank and file turn up and run the railway, In spite of........

 

Sadly I feel that while I realise we are only hearing one side of the story that the WSR needs to treat its volunteers & staff better

 

April 16th visiting Railtour with Mayflower, will it go to minehead or WSR loco takes over at BL, thxs

 

Full barriers would require either manual control (on site or via remote control using cctv) or an effective obstacle detection system (allowing automatic operation). Due to a planning agreement when the road was built Somerset County Council are liable for all costs associated with the crossing so it’s their decision whether the additional costs, to the public purse, of a better system are worth it. If (upgraded) automatic half barriers at this site still meet the required safety standards for road & rail traffic at this site I expect that’s what they’ll buy since I imagine it’ll be the cheapest option both to install and maintain.

 

It's a standard thing for all heritage lines isn't it? Mutter about communications, not being treated fairly etc. In the case of the latter it is quite often a case of somebody having been given a talking to, didn't like it and therefore has sat in the pub telling everybody about it - who all agree to shut the person up!

Different railways do different things when it comes to giving something back, whether it be free travel, staff discounts or social events at no cost. Personally, if a person is interested, then go and get involved as you'll find there is that second side.

 

The ORR might have something to say about installing AHB's considering that there is a aim to get rid of them on the national network. They will have to have a very good argument to get approval for them to be install and being the "cheapest" would not be acceptable.

 

That really would be your loss. What is posted here really does not reflect the generally positive experience of volunteering on one of the UK's very best heritage railways. Many folk, myself included, pass other railways more local to them in order to volunteer on the WSR.

 

Nice to see steam at Minehead: wsr.org.uk/cam1

Steve

 

Is there an aim to be rid of AHB’s? There is nothing about that on the ORR website, and their guidance on the design of level crossings includes AHB.
The ORR site does say the “safest suitable crossing for the site-specific risks will be selected when renewing a crossing” but this clearly does not rule out any method of control until the site-specific risks have been assessed.

 

Yes. When crossings are up for renewal (i.e. life expired) or when re signalling schemes are involved AHB crossings are being replaced by CCTV/OD systems. You would need to have a very good case to install a AHB crossing. I don't know how busy the crossing concerned is but I would expect that the ORR would not accept the renewal of the crossing with an AHB with open arms.

 

Are we allowed to know what Twas the filming was for Minehead today. Thxs

 

According to a WSR posting on Facebook ITV Sports were filming on the platform for the darts tournament being held at Butlins this weekend.

 

An additional feature at Minehead is the greatly increased pedestrian footfall since the original crossing was installed. Butlins holiday camp was always there but now we have the ‘bright lights’ of MacDonalds, three supermarkets and a path into town on the landward side of the crossing to bring folk across.

Robin

 

A sensible council would have made funding of a replacement crossing a pre requisite for allowing those developments.

Similar to Whitedown lane bridge and the new housing development in Alton.

 

The councils (District and County) must have received serious amounts of s106 money from the developers - what happened to that?

 

They probably put it in their general fund and it got used for all sorts of things.

 

Thanks for that. Please can you confirm that the replacement crossing will be the improved type with full games and CCTV? TIA