West Somerset Railway General Discussion

It's a closed group so only members can see posts. Maybe you could summarise the updates here?

Keith

 

I often watch the webcams, both on laptop and on mobile phone. However, recently, when viewing on phone, with the exception of Seaward Way the other cams are not live.
It wasn't like that last season.

 

Agreed but in those circumstances it is rarely in the hoop!

 

Software upgrades (server and browser) and other technical glitches will always present probs for the folks at Railcam. It really helps to send an email (see link under the webcam image on each page) stating the problem, the browser and the device being used.

Currently, apart from Crowcombe, all webcams are streaming. The recent issue with the Williton webcam for Chrome users has been fixed, I understand, thanks to much burning of the midnight oil at Railcam.

Keep providing the feedback - it really does help.

Steve

 

We wouldn’t want watching the WSR webcams to be predictable and boring...

Robin
(BL signalman today)

 

Any idea what's running tomorrow?

 

My nose proberly. Dam hayfever.

 

Please say more

 

Definitely not! Any idea why the Class 33 running with the 7F? Load is 7 coaches - surely not too much for a 7F?

 

Well it looks like today is ending up with 53808 and 6430 at BL and 7828 at MH so that should give you a clue. The 1100 from BL tomorrow is supposed to be diesel hauled so could be the Hymek or a Class 33. My guess is that 6430 will haul the Quantock Belle as it's only 4 coaches.

 

Without reading the special operating instructions which will have been issued, I would have assumed that either the red flag was equivalent to "red flag from the box" ie stop for further instructions, or was a defined limit for a move approaching at Caution. Remember, if the signalling does not normally permit a train to be signalled in that direction on that line, then the movement has probably already been authorised to pass a signal at Danger in accordance with the special instructions and will therefore be travelling at Caution, prepared to stop short of any obstruction or Handsignsl.

 

Fair point there! It's a bad assumption to make, though, to assume that because you can see a signalman holding a token, that he or she is definitely going to give it to you and tell you to proceed.

 

A pedant writes: it will have been authorised to make an unsignalled move, which is subtly different to being authorised to pass a signal at Danger - and on my railway, at least (I don't know anything of WSR rules) the signalman would give different signals to the driver.

As you and Phil @pgbffest have already pointed out, this will all have been thoroughly covered in the operating notice, and no doubt it has all been thoroughly assessed and planned, so that all concerned have a clear understanding of the necessary movements. Debate about the exact difference between the two types of permission should probably be shifted over to the MIC: Signalling forum!

 

Will the QB go to NF first? Thxs

 

On my railway (KESR), making a move for which no fixed signal is provided is one of the reasons for passing a signal at
Danger, but the procedure for passing that signal at Danger is exactly the same.

 

I continue this under the category of armchair musings and in no way do I wish to undermine the strong safety procedures which have been put in place by WSR particularly with the ORR keeping an eye on things. Operating Blue Anchor box in these circumstances is both taxing and stressful.

The train will already have been authorised to pass the down home signal at danger as that cannot be cleared if the points are set for the up loop. Standard wording in all such authorisations would be to the effect of "proceed with caution, check the route ahead and obey all other signals" The train would therefore have to stop in rear of the fixed ground signal unless otherwise authorised by the signalman. As displaying a green flag at the same time as issuing a token and collecting one would require a signalman with three arms, all wrong line down trains would stop at Blue Anchor.

 

An Internet forum is not the place to discuss operating matters beyond what are public.

I am sure you will understand.

Robin

 

This forum is full of just such discussions, some of which are indeed inappropriate but many of which seem quite legitmate. But never mind. The particular matter of the Class 33 running with the 7F doesn't seem something to get too excited about.

 

Seems a bit bizarre to come all 'top secret, hush hush' which just makes for more speculation. Transparency is a much better approach. Secrecy and paranoia are not really the way to build trust. It's all a bit Pravda. We'll tell you what we want you to know but not what you are interested in. In other news, grain production on the WSR has exceeded all records...

TBH - it could be anything from a desire to test something that has been fixed, or a minor technical issue. The driver might have a concern, not enough to fail the loco but alternatively could get worse - so who wants to fail mid line. I've fired (not on the WSR) where we had a for a pilot for these reasons.

Certainly if I were on the footplate and you came up to me and asked me, I would tell you to the best of my knowledge. And I don't think I am an outlier here, on the last two trips I've had to different lines, people had been chatting to the crew and the crew have given honest responses to questions ie 'the loco is a bit wheezy it is due to come out of service next year' etc etc

Anyway, no idea why the 7f and 33 were running together, but probably nothing major.