West Somerset Railway General Discussion

It is pertinent that Pioneer 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" as built was regarded as a complete failure in BR service due to poor steaming characteristics and its heavy fuel consumption. The late 2oth Century rescue of a Barry wreck and the identification and correction of design faults (chimney too small and firebed air inlet dampers too small) made the locomotive into one of the most powerful steam locomotives in the UK. Historical accuracy would have made it a liability whereas 20th/21st Century changes make it a real gem.
So - I'm all for change if it makes things better.
Robin L.

 

The Duchess will come off at BL & 88 takes the train to MD, then Duchess returns to NF for turning on our triangle, then back to BL....

 

Is it steam rally this weekend

 

Thxs

 

3rd/4th August


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Services were delayed while a potential bridge strike was investigated. (Just like you'd have to do on the big railway). As has been mentioned we were back on timetable by the end of the day. The 11.00 service from BL was the biggest casualty resulting from the required timetable changes. All passenger I talked to seemed happy enough to know their safety was our first priority.

 

Meanwhile the GWR Taunton to Bishops Lydeard (change for the WSR) service started today:

 

Off subject but 71000 has appeared on the WSR. I Think to refer to the 'Duke' as having been a
liability during its period of operation on BR might be an oversimplification.

E.S.Cox et al, in various writings have made it clear that whilst there were steaming difficulties
( at higher evaporation rates boiler efficiencies fell to c.50 % ) 'front end' efficiencies as high
as 15% were recorded. ( both at Rugby and on 'road tests' if memory serves me right ). Whilst
in some quarters Cox's claim that 'front end' efficiencies > 15% represented >86 % of
the Rankine cycle ( perhaps he should have been thinking in 'isentropic' terms ) has been
questioned the reality is he, andothers, produced a loco whose efficient use of steam was
without equal in the UK and arguably equalled the best anywhere, without recourse to
complications such as compounding, feedwater heating, condensate recovery, reheating
via the smokebox etc.

I have no doubt that given time and the financial incentive ( ie a future for steam
under BR auspices) they would have rectified the steaming problems of the
modified Britannia boiler.

None of the above is meant to take away praise from the team who restored 71000
to main line service and effectively completed the work of others.

On a more general note if we are to continue to run 'steam' whether on the Main
or Heritage lines then IMHO we must be prepared to recognise operational
practicalities. Thus it makes sense, that if the L&B's business plan assumes longer
trains, then to design their 2-4-2T with a 250 psi boiler ( not something Baldwin's
would have considered at the beginning of the 20th century I think !) Similarly
modifications to the new A1 and P2, based on current knowledge and mechanical
norms, are I suggest pragmatic.

I would also suggest that rebuilding 2-6-2T No.5193 to 2-6-0 No.9351 was not
only entirely logical at the time, its subsequent 96,000 miles over the next ten
years proved the point. ( preliminary drawings of a 9351 loco were originally
produced by the Swindon D.O in the 1920s )

In short either preserve locos statically in aspic ( even if they are a 'Trigger's Broom')
or be prepared to consider modifications in the future. We may be faced with either
'oil firing' or even a vegetable based derivative quicker than we imagine..

Michael Rowe

 

Thunderbird diesel on route to taunton.

 

Not to be outdone by GWR, the Titfield Light Railway Co have been in talks with the WSR about running a service from Mallingford Junction to Titfield via Minehead, and a trial run took place last Wednesday. This service will be sponsored by Mr Valentine provided a full bar service is available on every train. It is believed that bus operators Pearce and Crump may object, but Crossville Motor Services are expected to buy them out soon.

 

Quantock Brewery did indeed cater for many WSR passengers yesterday, not least because we offered a free pint to anyone with a valid WSR ticket. Judging by the number of shuttle tickets presented the new service was very well supported!

The charter passengers were informed about the QB beer festival during their outward journey and many of them attended. The brewery were also pleased to cater for passengers during the unscheduled evening layover at BL awaiting their Thunderbird '47' to arrive from Southall. This followed an early request from WSR that allowed us to muster staff and further supplies for the street food outlets. A great example of WSR and a local business working together to mutual benefit.

 

Latest news flash from Reuters "In the absence of the intended locomotive ( due to mischievous behaviour
by others ) the 'Tivvy Bumper' was liberated from the local Tiverton Museum."

Michael Rowe

 

When does 6233 go back please

 

So the main pot stirrers and backstabbers got their way in the end then.

This railway really can't help it's self with all the silly controversy.

Such a shame when it looked like a corner may have been turned finally

 

Since no information has been released publicly (that I know of) as to why this happened, I think it's not really possible to comment on it usefully.

Noel

 

Quite right.

It’s generally best not to feed the trolls.

Especially on a weekend that saw the WSR take a significant forward step with the Taunton to Bishops Lydeard shuttle trains.

Robin

 

It's good to see the wsr.org loco roster updated once again. We find it most useful for planning our day at the railway. No roster, no plan, no visit.

Thanks to Steve Edge. <BJ> http://cgibin.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/r-roster.cgi

 

An up to date loco roster is something a lot of heritage railways could do with. Considering the journey time to the railway along with the rail fare/petrol costs it's very often a case of no roster, no visit.

 

The PLC AGM next week is the place to ask the questions and hopefully we can report back here afterwards.