West Somerset Railway General Discussion

When was the last time the SVR got a 'new' loco though? 1450 in 2014? Not suitable to requirements.

They have relied on hiring for years - 4936, 80072, 92214, 4144. So even with W, T and V locos in reserve it goes to show you can't always rely on the 'in house' fleet.

 

This year - who knows. But if you look at any recent year's timetable, the requirement is for two trains so two steam locomotives.

Of course, if WSR wish to reduce the service level below the traditional norm, that may change the requirement - though I suspect it may cause other issues.

 

He says while the MHR are running reduced sets behind Thomas and 41312.

 

Still not a long term plan is it.

 

Recent years are irrelevant right now.

 

Indeed. But if you look at the NYMR a few years ago, the lack of a reliable in house fleet and reliance on hired in locomotives made life seriously tricky.

I wouldn't look at what the SVR have done hiring in some of their fleet on top of a base fleet as a comparison with the WSR's current position.

 

Move on everyone nothing to see here. must be the summer holidays

 

This year; I agree. But judging by the number of people heading down the M5 for holidays, I'd not use the WSR's current position as a pattern for anything, let alone the argument you're making.

 

I think four is tight to run a two-train service. (Two in service, one on washout, one undergoing some form of intermediate repair such as a p&v; essentially leaves no contingency for the "law of sod"; nor any capacity to run value-added extras such as footplate courses). I suspect to be comfortable you'd want five to run a two train service; ironically things get a bit more efficient as your daily requirement goes up since you only need similar levels of contingency. So five to run a reliable two-train service, but you could potentially run a four train service with seven or eight.

Tom

 

Such as? The most recent ones I can think of are 46521, 60009 (which wasnt something you'd want to use everyday) and ironically 6960

 

The SVR seem to have gotten plenty of use out of an engine that is "not suitable"

It's fair to say that 1450 is not capable of hauling 8 coach trains up and down the valley, but the SVR have put it (and the similarly-sized 813) to use on driver experiences, gala events and even on dining trains. 813 even came in handy on the Santas last year!

 

3205, 61994, 34053, 5690.

 

Yes I mean for usual services, which are going to be key parts of the return to normal service.

 

The reduced demand is a result of an extraordinary crisis. In any other summer (next year?) the Mid Hants would find the more powerful engines very handy over the Alps.

If the Mid Hants need more powerful locos during 99 out of every 100 summer seasons, then they have every right to want to be able to use more powerful locomotives than little Thomas!

 

But why did they not forsee that 10 years earlier? We are going around in circles on here.

End of the day its all something or nothing.

I want the WSR to suceed as it's one of my favourite railways - just like the SVR.

I don't care about individual items, groups, people.

 

Using a small engine on driver ex to free up a larger one for service trains..... you know that doesn't sound a bad idea.......

 

Can you remind me which line had 3205 between 1987 and 1998 and then lost it? After the SVR had ‘lost it’?