West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Many have been delighted to see a small pannier out. They are really too small for the modern WSR and, IMHO, we were fortunate to secure it for the Easter weekend, otherwise the steam roster would have been thin. 9351, 7752 and Foxcote should sort that for later in the season.

The diesel driver is not steam qualified and it was equally nice to see the Hymek out.

I spoke to a member of staff at Blue Anchor on an operational matter this afternoon. In the background I could hear excited shrieks of 'lovely diesel helping the steamer' from what I hope was a young visitor...

Robin (glass half full) White

 

A shortage of wheels there if it’s a prairie!

 

D7017 starts at BL and Pannier starts at MD according to roster.

Is the hymek not paired with 6430 2moro.

Thanks

 

Well, they both ended their day at Minehead today.

 

Roster details on wsr.org.uk are currently based on observation and guesswork, I'm afraid. No official information available. I guess no point creating rosters too far ahead as things are a bit "fluid" at the moment.

Steve

 

Watch the wonderful West Somerset Railway on the fab railcam.uk webcams (also available on wsr.org.uk look under "Pictures" on the top menu) - and perhaps plan a trip on the railway tomorrow or soon


Steve

 

I’ve gone out today to photograph And seems to be a perfect as I wanted it to be. Traveling tomorrow as to get out of having to go to church.

Thanks WSR..and all those that give time to operate the railway and provides us with sights as this.

 

Anyone know which timetable is operating this Monday 22/4 ?
Official website says Blue timetable and unofficial website says Special Event Purple timetable. I know these two are similar but departure times are different.

 

Interesting use of the red flag at Blue Anchor for down trains running wrong line.

The signalman is standing next to a ground signal that is fixed at danger holding the token for the next section displaying a red flag to trains that are scheduled to stop at Blue Anchor. The train has perhaps already been held at the home and advised that it will enter the station on the wrong line.

I would have thought that this only achieves the possibility of a SPAD without benefitting safety? If the train was approaching on the right line the starter (inner home) signal would normally be cleared if the line ahead was clear. If anything would it not be better to show the driver a green flag as he approaches the crossing so that the possibility of a SPAD is eliminated?

 

You are forgetting the wicket gates across the crossing (also locked from the signal-box). The inner home would not normally be cleared until the train was ready to depart and the wicket gates were locked. Red flag does the same job on the wrong road.

 

Can you allow trains into the station with the gates closed

 

I would suspect that the bang road working is all documented and the signalman is carrying out the procedure as written. Therefore the risk of a SPAD is actually lower.

In my mind if you cannot clear the signal for the route you are making then you need to ensure the driver is aware of the limitations. The dummy on the ground in theory doesn't exist for that move (only for a move which is setting back towards Minehead) and the signalman is confirming with the driver the limit of operation. Perfectly safe I would say

 

No, is the short answer, No you can't is the long one

 

When the road is clear to Minehead the inner home is usually cleared as the train enters the station (or was last year).

 

A three-page document has been written for staff giving precise detail of the current operating arrangements and is included in the Operating Notice.

 

I agree that the signalmen are undoubtedly working to instructions. No doubt it's safe, belt and braces, but taking away a signal at danger can do nothing but reduce the chance of a SPAD. If there was a signal the signalman could clear it as the fact that the signalman is holding the token confirms the route ahead is clear. One buffer past the signal is a SPAD. On the right line it is not unknown for the buffer to pass the signal and the SPAD is avoided because the inner home had been cleared.

I said that it was interesting, not wrong.

 

That is not necessarily the case. Just because the signalman has a token in their possession does not mean the line is clear - indeed in some circumstances it can mean the opposite

 

Correct - the driver must actually have possession and confirm that it is the correct token before proceeding.

 

Very fluid - the 7F now has a Class 33 tucked inside! Don't tell me we're in the fire risk season now that the temperature has gone over 20 degrees!

Hang on - it's getting more interesting.... Odney Manor has just taken the 1430 out of Minehead so it's now on the MD diagram. I think this may be part of a cunning plan to get the Pannier to BL so that it can take the Quantock Belle tomorrow (presumably unassisted).

Can't watch any more right now - the wife is asking (or rather ordering) me to get the Hoover out (and no I don't mean a Class 50).

 

For those that are on FB the WSR Mechanical Engineering Dept News page has updates today that may please a few folk!