West Somerset Railway General Discussion

You would think with Mr Meanley’s association with Mr Shooter, why would such a question need to be asked?

 

Sometimes (he says wearily) it's as if the WSR has been taking lessons from the Trump Administration.

 

What association?

 

I think Trump uses social media a lot more than the Plc

 

You

Say 'uses' I say 'misuses' ..... you say 'tomayto' and I say 'tomato'. There was a choice take on that theme (and a suppository) between the long suffering wives of Rab and Jamsie in an episode of Rab.C.Nesbitt.

 

I agree with the last sentence but I'm not sure this is a WSR-specific thing. There are many threads on here where I've seen people answer any criticism with "you're just a keyboard warrior" or "armchair enthusiast". I've been on the end of it myself.

Now that is a fair comment. The WSR management (and some former management) constantly behave as if it's more important for some of the railways supporters to lose, than for the railway to be a success.

 

Indeed, although the WSR seem to add their own unique twist on it, with the immortal line of "The Plc is (only) accountable to its shareholders" who wield no practical accountability. I've always found it a very odd defence.

 

Well, nice picture of 53808 at the top of the MHR website

 

Going way off track as such, I've seen yellow flags used with a verbal instruction to proceed with caution on the WSR, any idea when the yellow was first introduced? I've just watched a 1958 production on YouTube where they used green to proceed into section during and after retrieval of a derailment in a tunnel. Just struck me as odd because I was expecting the yellow flag.

 

It will depend on what the particular railways rule book says. I think the big railway went over to yellow about fifteen years ago but could be way off the mark. I imagine that some heritage railways still use green. Bluebell, Tom?

 

One place on the WSR where a yellow flag is regularly used is for down trains being hand-signalled across Seaward Way crossing into the station. This is because the route set may be already occupied, or, if it is clear, the next 'signal' is the buffer stop, ie. a red signal.

 

If you were being cautioned past a non-operational stop signal, we would use green if the stop signal is the only one on the post; but yellow if the same signal post also carried a defective distant signal. Similarly, if a distant signal fails at clear, a yellow flag would be used to caution trains past it. The other use we have for yellow flags is as a warning (waved) and commencement (steady) of a speed restriction, but I think that would only be as a result of an emergency speed restriction, i.e. likely imposed on the day and not one that had already been communicated via the notices system and marked with warning boards.

Tom

 

One of the diesels has been started up this morning (class 33 I think).

Just been watching it ‘clagging’ away on Railcam Williton station cam.

cheers

Ben

 

From various WSR-related Facebook sites:

D6575 is going to be in action on Thursday 3rd December 2020 on an Engineering train. The detailed timings have not been released but the loco is due off shed at 0930.
The planned movements are from Williton to Stogumber then returning to WN then to Norton Fitzwarren then to Bishops Lydeard
At BL, D6575 will swap with D6566.
D6566 will then return to WN light engine.
Please note that the stations are closed and trespassing is not allowed. During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the best way to view these workings is via the webcams at BL and WN.
BL: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-bl2.htm
WN: http://www.wsr.org.uk/r-cam-wn2.htm
Details provided by DEPG.

 

In the 1950 rulebook a signalman would use a green flag to give an 'all right' indication to the driver after having cautioned him for whatever purpose. (Rule 54.) Yellow handsignals were used by handsignalmen at distant signals that were defective or for emergency speed restrictions. See Rule 50 for a full list of yellow and green handsignals.

 

Yes, that is what we are still using - yellow signals for a hand signalman at a defective distant signal or an emergency speed restriction.

Tom

 

An idle moment...

 

Signal 26 is a two aspect, Red/Yellow colour light with a position one junction indicator, for movements to the bay platform.
Therefore on any occasion that a train has to be hand signalled, a yellow flag is required.
Does anyone on here know how much more relaying has to be done on the Williton Dunster section before the ORR can approve it for the running
of passenger trains?

 

Not a chance! You’ll still be squabbling amongst yourselves in 2062.
Wonder if the level crossing will be sorted by then?