West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Somewhat of a recreation of the scene at 'Titfield' when the Guard did the same thing before handing the Porter the station's closure notice to paste up.

 

I see Steve Edge has kindly given us an update on Seaward Way Crossing:

WSR Plc Director Frank Courtney has kindly provided a brief update to a question posted on the unofficial WSR Forum concerning progress on the Seaward Way Level Crossing upgrade project. It is this project that has prevented trains from reaching Minehead this summer. Here is Frank's reply to the Forum:

Work is continuing. Phase 1 (which is mainly WSR delivered and concerns wiring and signalling) is nearly complete. Main contractors for Phase 2 (Amey) are on site. The work is extremely complex and there have been some equipment sourcing delays due to a combination of Covid and Brexit. Most up to date information and pictures is on wsr.org.uk and there will be a longer update in the next issue of 'The Platform' due shortly.

Ed Chap

 

"The work is extremely complex"
This is the bit I don't understand. I mean, you need a a level surface crossing the track, some gates/barriers and some signals. All stuff that has been around since the 1800's.It's not exactly rocket science, so how has it become extremely complex?

 

I get a feeling that certain members of our group are now turning to Steve Edge to vent their anger and frustration of WSR issues.

Steve has kept us up to date for many years with his independent 'wsr.org' website. His comments and views are informative and unbiased. If he ever decides to throw in the towel we will all be at a loss, only gaining news of the railway via 'The Management'.

Let's cut him some slack and concentrate on the real problems of the railway. <BJ>

 

Is it a simple like for like replacement or a complex semaphore system ? Given that the line is not cashing in on the biggest tourist boom in decades, every day not running to Minehead is revenue lost at the till.

Answers please on the back of an appeal update.

 

My understanding is that the "hard bits" you describe are indeed not overly "complex". There are other factors that are. Especially so when it is not your project.

Steve
wsr.org.uk

 

A quick peek at the photo on Mr Edge's excellent website suggest that it is not a semaphore system however Covid and Brexit are being cited as the causes of delay.

 

Really? So exactly which railways had electrically-powered lifting barriers and CCTV control systems in the early 19th Century please?

 

Maybe AMEX has your answers, they are the Phase 2 contractors. That's how I read Frank C's reply.

 

"Amex - that'll do nicely, sir!" (I think you mean Amey).

Supply chains are very disrupted at the moment - in a slightly different field, I was talking to our workshop manager recently and parts from external suppliers that we expected after a month were still delayed after three months. If in turn you are two or three steps down a supply chain, that just multiplies the risk of delays. So I took the phrase "extremely complex" really in the context of trying to manage the project with various external dependencies that are difficult to control, rather than specifically about the precise process of how to create a level surface being intrinsically complex.

Tom

 

Apparently the vintage bus replacement from Dunster Station to Minehead has proved very popular. Families get two forms of transport for one tickets. Keeps the children occupied for longer.

 

Correct Tom. Still struggling with left hand - hopefully it won't last.

 

Minehead Parkway surely…

Simon

 

I guess that'll be part of the extremely complex bit. Which is just a more complicated way of doing the stuff I described.

 

@FrankC " The work is extremely complex and there have been some equipment sourcing delays due to a combination of Covid and Brexit."

I guess this is a good example of why so many people don't trust the word of the Plc board. So what is extremely complex?

The mechanics are not - standard design four gate mechanisms used for crossings all over NR
The traffic light control is not - standard design controls used for crossings all over NR
The crossing CCTV is not - standard design controls used for crossings all over NR
RADAR detection (if used) is not - standard design controls used for crossings all over NR
Train detection is not - either on track detection or the WSR signalman pressing a button (or pulling a lever) to initiate the crossing sequence with standard maintaining track circuits
The crossing - WSR signal interfacing is not - a simple 'crossing clear' input from the crossing controls to the signal box to unlock the appropriate WSR signalling system when the crossing controls are satisfied the gates are down and the road is clear
The controls and interface may be complex but they were completed two years ago and are all in the box by the crossing ready for connection,
The installation and operational system approval process may have been complex but all that has been dealt with (to the satisfaction of the ORR) in the design process

In fact the only special thing I can see for this crossing is that the crossing arms have to be cut to the correct length to match the road width.

So I'm sorry Frank, I appreciate your posting on here while many others hide in their ivory towers but I just can't see what current or upcoming work is 'extremely complex'. And as for blaming Covid and Brexit... If the work had been done on time it would have been completed well before either of these things happened. I think they are no more than very weak (but convenient) excuses to cover up the real reasons for the delay. I I just wonder what would have carried the blame if these pathetic excuses hadn't been available?

Alan.
Retired Instrumentation, Automation and Control Systems engineer. CEng Inst MC (Institute of Measurement and Control) - now lapsed as I've retired.

 

I see they are using photo's from the North Norfolk Railway to advertise the 'Winterlights' specials - let's hope the WSR display is at least as good as (if not better than) the photo's. Would be very embarrassing not to at least meet that standard.