S&D Railway Trust

Perhaps it was in poor condition and when the S&DRT offered to repair it, they were allowed to keep it. The S&DRT archives might give a clue. OTOH, I might have misremembered and it was the WSR lease to the S&DRT that stipulated the demolition of the building.
I wasn't suggesting it was the Trust's occupation of the box that gave them ownership, more the case that they were prepared to keep something that someone else wanted rid of.

 

What a difference a set of initials make.

It is so good to see all interested parties coming together to discuss current events, make constructive suggestions, or try to provide useful answers and then not seeing all the vitriol and spite when others disagree.

Isn't it strange that so many who are joining politely in the conversation here are also accused of being troublemakers and riff-raff etc when posting the same sort of comments on that 'other' thread. Perhaps some people 'over there' could do with taking a lesson from here.

I look forward to visiting the S&DRT in all the locations they may find themselves in the future.

 

Clearly, things have moved on, the die is now cast, clearly the S&DRT sees it's future away from the WSR, Plans are already afoot to move their stock out to Bitton, and Alresford, Whilst it's not the desired result, many wanted, it does put an line under what has happened, and leaves the Trust in charge of it's own destiny

 

From a selfish point of view - I can get to Bitton and Arlesford easier than I can get to Washford! It will be nice to have a good look at the collection at their new homes

 

That'd be a superb thread title. "General Railway Chat", perhaps?

 

does anyone know how the removal of the various items of rolling stock away from the WSR Is going ? I was under the impression that it was intended that at least some of the S&D's items might be on display at Alresford over the Spring Gala.

 

There seemed to be a lot of activity when I drove past this morning.

I shall take a closer look tomorrow.

 

To save you taking a closer look as the site is still closed to non-S&DRT People currently (sorry normally of course we would welcome visitors but we must remember some covid restrictions still apply). I’ll give all an update about what’s happening onsite from my personal perspective, so not an official S&DRT statement.

As is widely known there is still a dialogue ongoing about the PLC’s Notice to Quit the Washford site which would be wrong to discuss or pre-judge in any way (and I'm not involved with so can't comment anyway). However the current deadline set for the S&DRT to leave is now fast approaching, therefore activity is having to be ramped up as covid restrictions ease.

The museum is disassembled now and a few wagons have left. Yesterday a lot of work was done in removing the ‘Midford Box’ (not the building which is part of the station and will stay, just the signalling equipment) with all the levers removed and all the instruments etc. gone, the signals on site have been stripped down to their posts and wires, etc. removed.

There is a lot of other general sorting out of the site/buildings (you can imagine how much ‘stuff’ is collected over 40 years!!), other wagons are due to leave soon and track removal is in the plan once they are out of the way.

On a personal note, I was there yesterday helping out. Whilst it’s fair to say there were a few of the long standing members on site with some mixed emotions about packing stuff up, they have all risen to the challenge and are getting stuck in and I have to say (as the new boy to the S&DRT) I am inspired by everybody’s positive, can do attitude.

 

Obviously the site is closed to the public at the moment, but it can be viewed from the road and, as is my intention, from the cycle way on the other side of the site.

 

Sic transit gloria 'Midford'. Some 40-odd years of effort now no more as a result of....what?...who knows the real reason behind the eviction?

Meanwhile, a reminder of the real thing....

 

It is sad the signal box is getting taken away it was an exciting place to go at washford. The station at washford is not going to be worth bothering to go to anymore

 

Isn't that what everyone has been saying for the past billion pages?
It's not even a convenient place to join the train unless you happen to live or stay in Washford.

 

What date is that diagram, out of curiosity?

Interesting nomenclature - the home signals are called "stop", and in the up direction "stop" and "rear stop" - I guess you'd call them inner and outer home now.

What was the purpose of the crossover on the viaduct? Presumably it enabled a down train to run round a few wagons prior to shunting the yard, i.e. making the yard shuntable in both directions?

Tom

 

Isn't that what some purists at the WSR wanted though, Its just unfortunate that they managed to achieve their aims in the way they did, because the railway will bee a less interesting place because of it, as well as losing an engine that it seemed was liked by most people, despite it not being GWR .
The WSR's loss though will be the Avon valleys gain, and the MHR's gain, as both these railways will have new attractions to attract paying visitors , at a time when everyone will need to maximise their income, compare this to the WSR, who because of past miss management, have numerous problems, all of their own making, before they can run their whole line.

 

I thought that was the Epping-Ongar's speciality?

Tom

 

Tom, go wash your mind out

 

1. 1892, for the opening of the new second box i/c/w doubling to Wellow.

2. Older L&SWR terminology, and indeed Inner Home and Outer Home in later years.

3. Honest answer - who knows? But your suggestion is the 'usual' one

For those who want to read more.....

www.trainweb.org/railwest/railco/sdjr/midford.html

...of course, sadly the postscript about the Washford display has had to be re-written now :-(

 

.........and don't forget 4110 which had to be sold due to past inefficiencies, everything seemed so wonderful it seemed resting on faded laurels.

 

Wasn't the goods yard to the north of the station? I'd assume the loaded traffic from those sidings (Fuller's Earth) would be more likely to be worked to Bath so there'd be more need to run round to be able to work back there - rather than running to Wellow?

Also, if you had to leave any wagons while shunting you'd be on the double track rather than the single track?

edit - found a discussion of the Fuller's Earth traffic here - https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/138571-fullers-earth-traffic/ (and a familiar name)