West Somerset Railway General Discussion

New metal sleepers from WN & 28 flat bottom rails from Norton end ready for more relaying MD to DR

 

Presumably with the class33 displaying a 93 headcode its last working must have been a Waterloo - Bournemouth stopper .

 

That is quite accurate.

I wasn't intending to imply anything - just providing some information.

Robin

 

Sleepers funded by WSRA as part of 'Rail Renewal' funding.

Good to see them on the way to be used.

Robin

 

I wouldn't count on it. If applying for a grant is anything like putting in a tender, you are lucky to get any further contact, unless you are the winning bidder. No news is bad news.

 

Nice to see the investment in the track.

 

Stunning atmospheric photograph of Foxcote Manor on Steve Edge’s site this morning.
http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/snap.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2021/04/101

Thank you Dave Fowler.

 

Please attribute the source of the cropped photos.

 

Or better still, subscribe to RailcamUk. It’s an excellent site.

 

Indeed!

Just finished fettling Crowcombe Heathfield camera with the able assistance of Steve Sagrott.

Should be back on the air imminently.

 

Does anyone know how much more relaying work has to be done on the Williton Minehead section?

 

Just had this email:


BOARD APPOINTMENTS

The Board of the West Somerset Railway is delighted to announce two new appointments, with immediate effect.

Bob Meanley is rejoining the board as Director (Mechanical Engineering). Bob has previously been a member of the
Board until mid 2020, but stood down for personal and family reasons.
Bob is one of the foremost locomotive engineers of the preservation era, and was for nearly 25 years the Chief
Engineer of Tyseley Locomotive Works. He oversaw the restoration and operation of much of the Tyseley fleet
including Castle class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe, and 7029 Clun Castle. He was responsible for managing the
restoration of many other mainline steam engines and Bob was also responsible for the ‘re-streamlining’ of LMS
‘Princess Coronation’ Pacific 6229 Duchess of Hamilton for the National Railway Museum. In managing the operation
of the Tyseley fleet he oversaw the operation of the Vintage Trains operation for nearly 20 years.
In 2020 at the HRA annual awards Bob achieved the annual award for services to railway preservation.
In rejoining the Board, Bob will be monitoring all aspects of mechanical engineering and will be supporting the
mechanical engineering team in developing the locomotive fleet, and the mechanical engineering facilities.

John Gibbins is becoming Civil Engineering Adviser to the Board, with a view to joining as Director in the near future.
John is a chartered civil engineer and his 45-year career has included project management at all levels up to projects
of £100m. This work included a period in project management with London Underground. Over the years he has been
responsible for all aspects of project management culminating in leadership of very large complex projects.
John has worked as a volunteer in the West Somerset locomotive department for the last 20 years and is now a driver
(in passed fireman grade). Prior to joining the West Somerset he worked as a driver for 15 years on the Mid Hants
Railway. On the Mid Hants he also managed the development of the Ropley yard and became a director of the Mid
Hants PLC operating company for nearly 4 years. John also had a significant role undertaking bridge inspections of all
the brick arch bridges.
Jonathan Jones Pratt, West Somerset Railway PLC Chairman said: “With the addition of Bob Meanley and John Gibbins
to the Board, we take a major step towards completing the key skills and experience which are essential for the Board
of a Heritage Railway. Bob and John are well known to many around the railway and their highly experienced advice
and guidance will be of very great value.”

 

Is this a first?
Somebody on this thread actually using the names of the stations and not 3 lettering them.

 

Fram the perspective of a SR close resident it is great news and I will have my 10-minute warning for passing trains back from both WN AND CH.

Brill (and thanks)

 

The camera at Crowcombe Heathfield is now live and the images look very sharp. Well done to all involved.

At the moment it’s only available to Railcam UK subscribers through their website and not through Steve Edge’s website.

 

It works fine through the link on Steve’s wsr.org.uk


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I beg to differ. It’s alive and well on Steve’s site.

Robin

 

Yes.

But not if you click the CH image on the right hand side of the home page.

 

Ah yes, You’re right! The link on my phone doesn’t work either. But if I click the three dots on my phone and get to it via ‘pictures’ then it’s fine.
Looks like it’s a link issue rather than it only being available to subscribers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I don't know if it has been posted before - but it might be of some interest. A photo album of the last weekend of BR operation of the Minehead Branch including the recovery train has appeared on Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/157387502@N05/albums/72157718907721362/with/51106381602/