West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Agreed.

Perhaps folks might like to post a positive story or an image that sums up the best of the WSR for them.

Robin

 

These are perhaps not the greatest railway photos ever taken, but I think they illustrate the great atmosphere the WSR has and why I visit two, and sometimes three, times a year.

 

My footage from the Diesel Gala and my first ever visit to the WSR. I will be visiting again maybe next year for one of the Steam Galas?

 

Know it’s a while away but any idea what’s hauling the military train at the 1940s weekend this year. Back in the war time would a manor have been used?

 

Almost certainly one of the home fleet of steam loco's

 

Excellent video, many thanks for posting.

I especially liked the echo from the Hymeks horn as it approached Leigh Wood crossing (Approximately 2.05).

 

Steam Beano reveals 9466 is to spend summer at the South Devon Railway. JJP has aspirations of continuing main line operation, hopefully including his home town of Weston-super-Mare as a destination. WSR eventually, when/if able to run.

 

Ideally suited for the SDR. Good for the WSR eventually.

 

Wrt main line operation: The combination of 45mph loco limit and finding suitable paths, bearing in mind
the WSM loop is single track and BTM - EXD is a 100-110 mph railway, may prove challenging. Lots of
layovers in loops perhaps.

An ideal loco for steam over the various West Country branches ( including the WSR )., provided
no weight restrictions.

There has been reference to water difficulties when operating on the WSR. I believe the two occasions
when there were difficulties ( including throwing out the fire at Crowcombe) occurred following long
delays en route at Galas. The late, much missed Dennis Howells, was always concerned wrt line length
and water supplies when 9466 visited the WSR. It is a pity that only the first 10 94xx were fitted with
the superheated No.10 boiler. I suppose the thought process was as these were locos for shunting and
short trip freights superheating would be ineffective. Also I suspect loco weight was an issue.

However good news that JJP has purchased said loco. Capable of hauling eight coaches on the WSR
as it has done in the past, but then water does become a commodity to be managed carefully.

Michael Rowe

 

Tha

Thanks very much I'm glad you enjoyed it. I should be visiting the railway again when have sort

Thanks 6960 Raveningham Hall. I'm glad you enjoyed the footage. I should be visiting the railway again especially if they are going to do a S&D gala?

 

The Torbay Express shows it's possible in theory to run steam on the Bristol-WSM-Exeter line, at least on Sundays, but I don't think they have quite such a tight speed limit.

There aren't really that many loops to use, are there? Yatton, Tiverton Jn, Taunton...are there any others?

 

9351 having a little stretch into the station at Williton - currently on the webcam. Hopefully close to returning to service (once the safety valve bonnet is back on!)

 

An image from RailCam

9351 by Hemerdon posted Jun 27, 2019 at 2:08 PM

 

Is there anyone apart from me who finds it ironic that it is ok to run on the SDR (which was renowned for its low axle loading in BR days) but not the WSR!

 

No not really due to the infrastructure works carried out by the SDR. After the upgrade I recall Nursery Pool bridge was classified as "double red"

 

Why is it ironic? - both lines were restricted prior to the preservation era & a 94xx would not have been permitted on either.

 

Perhaps 9466 could go mainline with Auto233. That should get a bit of discussion going!!

 

Good news, at least we get to see it working in the southwest in the mean time.

 

I thought the autocoaches were wooden bodied.

 

The Yatton loops are long gone. Certainly those to the NE of the station. I remember the up and down loops to Ken Moor Gate, Claverham, in the 1950s. The up loop would sometimes have a 28XX simmering there, with a train of coal empties for south Wales, waiting for a path after a stream of fasts and semi fasts ran through to Nailsea and Backwell. There was a box at Claverham controlling the entrance to the down loop and exit to the up loop. It was near enough to the overbridge at Ken Moor Gate to hear the bell codes for an approaching train.