West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Guessing if D1661 is banned then thee will be no visiting class 47/57 on railtours?

How does it affect Mayflower as the diesel was supposed to travel to Watchet

 

I'm sure that's right. There is always a very different crowd at a diesel gala. In my experience there are less families, more unaccompanied enthusiasts who are less communicative, less carefree, more intense and focussed on their point of interest sometimes to the exclusion of regulatory and safety norms.

 

I may have missed it, but what is the new weight restriction on the WSR?
I imagine the TAU - BL section is unaffected, but otherwise, does it apply to the entire line?

 

Yes. Mid-Norfolk Railway sponsor a sleeper is £47.

 

Does this mean that RAVENINGHAM HALL is also over weight for the line? As I understand it, its axle loading is 20 Tonnes vs 19 tonnes for a Class 47.

 

Apparently so. Can't remember where I read it though

 

I am surprised by that comment as Dunster Castle is mentioned on the front page of the official website and on the 2019 leaflet - where have you been looking and found no mention? It would be good to address this matter with your help. Thanks.

Steve

 

Not only do they not want to be crammed in, in particular a very important factor is that families/couples do not want to be split up, they want to enjoy the experience as a group, and will be more likely to give poor ratings and not return if they are split up. For parties of (say) 4 this might be an issue when the loading gets to 75% or above. Pushing loading to 95% may increase profits temporarily but will probably backfire in the medium term.

 

Indeed, our commercial department tend to reckon a train that is 2/3rds loaded is to all intents and purposes full, which sounds quite extreme, but if you think about it, only requires each table of 4 to have 3 on it and most compartments to have one family of 4 in or so.

 

It’s less niche than most, and is in a sweet spot. But it’s still a cost to bring down, and requires an air braked loco to work with.


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To clear up the conversation regarding footplate rides on the WSR, I travelled on 6960 from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard in April 2017 and the cost (I have the paperwork) was £50. No more, no less. I would happily pay £100 now for the same experience.

 

I quite agree. Travelling on a jam-packed train with every seat taken may be good for the accountants, but it would put me off coming back another day. You need a bit of leeway.

 

10 years back a fully fitted Steel Sleeper was £56 to Network Rail (Fastclips, Insulators and pad all included)

 

I have an email from Richard Croucher at Didcot concerning Lady of Legend: '... Yes it is planned for 2999 to come down to the West Country in due course.'

 

If Raveningham Hall is too heavy for the present WSR maybe the Lady of Legend will also be so.
However, a visit to the 'West Country' could mean Dartmouth, South Devon, Bodmin & Wenford or even the G&WR.
Interesting times for some of us.

 

OK so they've changed the rules since I did one. I did it about 7 years ago and you got the full round trip for £90 then. Excellent value at the time.

 

I had a footplate trip on the WSR BL - Minehead - BL in 1995 or 1996 - I had won it in a WSRA raffle.

The loco was 3205 and it was in the service between Christmas and the New Year, so was bitterly cold but I was really happy to travel on that loco.

There was no sort of welcome from anyone at BL and the loco crew were very hostile, they claimed they knew nothing about me even though I'd booked the date well in advance and I had to argue with them and produce all the paperwork to be allowed to join them on the footplate - and they barely spoke to me throughout the return journey.

I didn't renew my WSRA Membership subsequently.

 

As a current footplate grade volunteer I would expect that to have changed somewhat in the intervening 21+ years...…….

 

Then, sir, you had a bargain!