West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Rather than a theory of what it should do here's some real feedback. I've fired 5542 over the WSR (so slightly more water) with 7 on which is its line limit. I was having a good day and had a good trainee with me, we were never short of steam, didn't blow off (much!!) and had more than enough water at the other end both ways. The engine was on its limit and water may have been an issue if we were delayed for a long while along the line so I wouldn't say it would be good for all firemen everyday of the week, a Manor gives you plenty of power & water to cope with delays and a bad firing day and can take those last minute extra coaches the Ops team like to put on, but 4561 would be usable most of the time.

But I would say 4561 with 5 on would give you plenty of leeway for water and a bad day.

 

Remind me to kick you in the shins next time we meet.

 

Would they be the 7-8 coach trains that have graced the line in recent years that have been hauled by a group's loco that 'has a Peckett that now lives in Cornwall?'
Just asking.

 

A bit puzzled here. I understood that a major part of the WSR problems came from passenger numbers falling off somewhat yet there is an implication that the trains have got longer.

 

its the only loco currently on the line that can manage those loads , hence why it makes no sence, unless a certain loco owning chairman is hoping to hire his Hall to the railway once 88 has run out of ticket its not a wise move to allow someone who owns what could after the 7f goes, to be the majority of the lines motive power, assuming the line gets uprated and his pannier and hall become WSR based, unlimited power because the suspicion will always be that they are feathering their own nest at the railways expense.

 

Who mentioned missing fishplates ?? & 5 weeks work ?.....wrong facts again ...... ...the relay has had welded pot joints done there......4 weeks work in general to do soon maybe ?....by....

 

dont need an appeal for us to be doing this if it was needed ????

 

I've fired 5542 as well. It's a bit special.

 

yet I have noticed that the British, especially those involved in railways, are seldom able to resist the siren call of secrecy.

 

Mr Cook obviously hasn't a clue about rentable values in West Somerset.

 

Hello 'malcolm imps',

Can you perhaps clear up something a number of us have been puzzling over, as follows:-

17th March 2020 the WSR PLC board announce the railway will not re-open on Saturday 21st March as planned due to the corona virus 'lockdown'; that is 3 working days left on the track maintenance - no more, no less.

So far as I recollect, on 21st March the whole of the WSR was to be re-opened for passenger services (happy to be proved wrong on this).

Therefore, unless I am quite wrong, there cannot have been '4 weeks or more' work required on the track to get it fit for the planned re-opening on 21st March. I perfectly accept that the WSR PLC board planned further work on the track this winter, but that is irrelevant for the 21st March re-opening.

Are you sure you have your facts as quoted by you correct?

Cheers,

Julian

 

See upthread

Happy to be corrected. I wouldn't count this as the loco effectively belonging to the bank.

Patrick

 

this was correct at the time in April & still is now, as I was informed by my volunteer gang........& am out on PW again tomorrow.....

 

Yes, but as of 17th March this year, the whole railway was going to re-open on Saturday 21st March? You stated in an earlier post a date of 23rd March as critical - now you state "in April". Can we really rely on the accuracy of your posts on here at all? Given that the WSR PLC board have never ever stated outstanding trackwork maintenance as an issue at all to any sort of re-opening, whether 17th or 21st March or subsequently, can you assist us with some further facts please?

Like - what is not fit to run passenger trains over, and where precisely, and the work required please?

 

But seriously, what @malcolm imps has said does appear to be inconsistent and what the WSR intended to do up until lockdown was imposed in March, i.e. a full line service. Good to hear some WSR P'way volunteers are going to be able to get back to it tomorrow though.

 

Doing what exactly?

'malcolm imps' stated there was '4 weeks or more' required on the track before trains can run again, yet the WSR PLC board reckoned back in mid March everything was ok for a 21st March re-opening over the whole line with just a few days to go.

As others, including a Moderator (Martin - 'Sidmouth') have relied upon what 'malcolm imps' has stated on here in his posts it is something that IMHO needs to be resolved/clarified.

Cheers,

Julian

 

I dunno!

I agree. I just don't think we need the Spanish inquisition to agree all Malcolm is only an ordinary volunteer, not a WSR official.

 

But doesn't this illustrate part of the problem ? Malcolm and his PW gang are not being given essential information relating to their role, so cannot be quite sure of what is happening and why. Result : speculation, which reflects poorly on the line and its management.
Easily solved by keeping everyone involved "in the loop".

 

But what management? They've all left, as have most of the infrastructure team. Is there a director with infrastructure responsibility?