West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Its worth pointing out that climbing ladders to replace oil lamps & the associated walking along the track carries some very real Safety risks

 

That is very true, and is not to be neglected.

On the flip side, it was a task quite often undertaken outside service hours and I found it very helpful to gain some practical advice as to safe practice when on or about the line. I will add that I was always accompanied by a member of staff holding a PTS qualification. In the circumstances I would suggest that the greatest risk was the climbing of ladders. Having two of us actually made that task easier by virtue of the fact that one would often not have to be constantly carrying a lamp.

Also, as long as there are railways there will be serious risks, but being careful and following safe practices can help to minimise the risks.

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So does being on the footplate of a working steam locomotives. Anyhow, there are plenty of other oil lamps besides signal post ones.

 

Apologies for the double post.

I think perhaps there is an element of truth in that, and perhaps suggests that for some of us at the younger end of the volunteer force (Hah!) perhaps see such things as escapism rather than a form of nostalgia? Certainly I think that, to some extent, that's been the case for me and it's the escapism aspect which has helped me in other ways over the past year.

I should say that the friendships formed and the experience of volunteering more generally has helped me as well.

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I haven’t been involved in the correspondence you refer to, so don’t know the ‘ins and outs’ but there are many ways to volunteer. The WSR station groups are a particular strength, for example.

I am a hard-bitten operator but life will catch up with that eventually. My ‘retirement plan’ is to travel the Railway with my sign writing accoutrements in my dotage being made a cup of coffee by grateful station staff as I banish vinyl lettering from West Somerset.

Robin

 

Oh that’s beautiful sight

 

Freight is great! (Sorry - I'll get me coat...)

 

Goods are better.

Robin

 

Probably using TOPS system

 

My deleted post has now been re-posted in a separate thread - https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/heritage-uniform-authenticity.1416919/

Perhaps further uniform discussions can also go there?

 

I suppose it makes for easier run-rounds, but a brake each end seems excessive for eight actual goods wagons.

The third brake seems superfluous, possibly in use as a riding van for staff not currently engaged in the training?

 

By coincidence there was a Three Brake goods train on the GCR over the weekend as well. (Guards training ......and volunteer appreciation).

 

I think the third brake was added at Bishops Lydeard as a convenient way of working it back to Minehead.

 

Ref photo in post 21461, I like the express passenger head code for the driver experience freight.

Best regards

 

It would be nice to see a train of a dozen or so brake-vans, to recreate the brake-van specials over goods only lines, that you used to get with good old BR in the days before rule by the elfansafety Taleban took so much of the fun out of our hobby. But there aren't that many left nowadays.

 

I have very fond memories of lighting signal lamps for evening trains when I first started on the WSR in the late 80's/early 90's. I must have been about 13 or 14 at the time. Me and a similar age friend would be left to get on with it. This included doing things like walking out to section signals and distant signals are BA or climbing the platform stater gantry at MD. About the only time we would be accompanied by a more senior member of staff was if we had to do the up distant at WN (which was basically at Doniford halt) and we would get a lift out in a car to do it (usually by CVDA). I don't know how I did it really as I hate heights now!

Those were the days!!!

Marcus

 

A brake van at current rates in OK condition is about £12k. So to make a 12 Brake Van Train might cost 12 x 12. Plus of course siding space for all those days they are not needed. H&S S somehow does not come into it. I am sure Network rail would approve such a train subject to the usual inspections etc. let's say £5K a vehicle. Great idea, tad expensive me thinks.

 

More of the thread drift; but is there still a formal distinction between passenger and freight lines? Railtours cover many lines that are otherwise freight only, or even disused and vegetation-cleared for the tour.

 

PDSR Doing a rare track charity bash with class 37, I’d pay for be one WSR using DMU.

Anyone else.?