West Somerset Railway General Discussion

What a wonderful photo of that train of vintage vehicles. Would somebody be kind enough to explain what each coach is as I am not familiar with them and find the variety presented most interesting. Thanks in advance

Ed Chap

 

Seconded, and please also an account of where they've come from.

 

I'll do the first three for you. (from the left)

2 x Toad Brakevans . A once common sight on GWR metals on the end of goods trains. W114751 Owned By R White, recently restored on the WSR. 68756 has been on the railway for a long time. Don't know the ownership. (A close look at the marking on both indicates where they might have come from when they entered preservation.)
1 x Taunton Area Hawksworth Inspection Saloon. no. 80976W, built 1948. Owned and restored by WSRA. Used locally as an inspection saloon. It would have been propelled by a small loco to give the engineers a good view of the track. Unsure of it's date of entry into preservation.

 

Click the carriage numbers to find their page on the Carriage database.

The most left carriage is a GWR Hawksworth Saloon 80976 owned by the WSRA.

The blue coach is a S&DJR 6-wheeler number 4 that is usually at Washford. Has given trips in/out of Minehead with Kilmersdon at some steam galas.

The GWR coach second from the right is BCK 6705 which was saved from the USA and came over in 2007. It's nearing a return to passenger service.

The coach on the far right is a Sleeping car 9038 usually in the museum at BL.

 

See post 20704 (above)

 

I make them, left to right:

• http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=10607
• http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=6986
• http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=269
• The van looks like an SR type, so probably this one: http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=6966
• http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=326
• The fruit van is I suspect this one: http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=178
• http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=224
• http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=57

Tom

 

Many thanks to everyone for all that information.

Looking forward to taking another trip on the line later in the year.

Ed Chap

 

Just been lucky enough to have passed 9351 at Dunster. She looked fantastic in unlined green and BR crest. Credit to everyone involved in her overhaul, brilliant job!!!

 

Thanks to all that makes the steam rally possible

 

One of those days...

One of those days that reminds me why I volunteer in railway heritage. Acted as travelling shunter for the trip along the West Somerset Railway to collect and deliver the rail vehicles to the Norton Fitzwarren site for the WSRA annual steam fayre / rally held this weekend.

Everything went like clockwork. Driver Jason and Guard George a delight to work with. Everyone else had done their bit to have vehicles ready / in the right place and the two-handed shunting at Bishops Lydeard with Merv and Paul was wonderful.

AND brilliant sunshine AND 20 miles of stunning Somerset summer scenery.

Is this as good as it gets?

 

Ah, I had misunderstood post #20699 as meaning that these vehicles had just arrived from places other than the WSR. Anyway thanks for the information.

 

Yes , I was thrown for a bit , thank you for the clarification .

 

Good idea. Trouble is my whole plan has been, er, derailed, by other things.
Still a few other Thursdays I could go for.

 

The loco roster page has 9466 down for Banking Duties on Friday. I thought that loco was currently at the SDR?

 

http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm#1835

 

Surely not ?

 

Can anyone please tell the name of the orange coloured cider usually in the beer at the annual steam rally.

Rosie’s pig something like that.

 

Do they have dancing bears too then?

 

You could try Google. Rosie's Pig is described as cloudy and straw coloured.
Alternatively, Thatchers Cheddar Valley cider with its distinctive orange hues, smooth, robust, naturally cloudy cider is a Somerset tradition. ...

 

Cloudy cider; known a scrumpy (not the trade name) by many. Almost as bad as absinthe for sending you round the bend.