West Somerset Railway General Discussion

For any that would wish to see today - the late Dr David Randles.
http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm#2425

 

After a solemn lead reminder of our shared mortality, some very welcome news .... actually, more than one item! I'd have gone with a slightly different headline:

"After a protracted and at times tricky delivery, the WSR welcomes the latest arrival to the family, a perfectly formed level crossing"

Good to be able to say ..... Congratulations!

The news concerning the parcels van is pleasing. It's always most refreshing to see gainful employment found for non-passenger stock.

 

………… not to mention the news about the Christmas services. Santa Specials completely sold out and demand for the Winter!ights services so high that several additional trains have been added.

 

Meanwhile, folks...

The send-off for David Randles (the loco barking over Ker Moor) moved me significantly today, and I didn't even know him.

Despite the politics, some folks sink their lives into a railway and leave a lasting impression.

BB

 

I made a point of watching this, a good way to send off such a nice chap. Ironically, it was not until today that I discovered there was actually sound on the BA webcam, which made it even better !

 

I made a comment a few months ago that WSR was a bit behind the times in introducing a pre booking system with only tables of four being available. This made it prohibitively expensive for some, meaning that a couple or individual wishing to travel would need to spend £100 on a table.

Good to see they have quickly seen sense. Now there is no need to book, individual tickets available, and station to station rather than whole line tickets being offered.

Trains were quite full when I went during half term. Sad to see the almost empty yard at Washford though. Only 3 trains per day in each direction, but still requiring the use of 2 locomotives. I can’t help but wonder if only using one locomotive but starting services earlier and finishing later would be a better use of limited financial resources.

 

Further progress on tender T2061 at Minehead.

Yesterday the team was a bit reduced in numbers but did manage to make some significant progress. Since the last report quite a number of holes have been filled with rivets, the baffles welded to their side angle irons and several of the floor plates welded together.

Yesterday we checked the alignment of the rear end (!) and fitted the two curved corner pieces, then tack welded them in place. Our tame welder can now weld up those 4 seams on Monday, then next time we might be back to more rivet fitting. Other work was marking out and drilling for the two rear steps, marking out for the internal water indicator shaft bearings, annealing the original water feed pipes and tweaking their shape to fit between the tank elbows and water valves.

Next week we are due to have the plates for the longitudinal baffle delivered which will mean a bit more hole drilling.

A few pictures below.

Andy.

The left hand corner plate in position. The fingers at the top will be bent out later to form the compound curve that matches the side and end.


The back end now ready for welding in the corners.


View of the drivers side front corner.

 

A little known fact about our friend Dr Randles is that he travelled to the north pole by submarine. David was a very clever chap in his specialist field of acoustics, vibration, flow noise etc. and we are all the poorer for his departure. David's extensive work within the preservation movement included a significant contribution to the work of the Reform Group, who were ultimately successful in returning the WSRA to fitness. In short, a gentleman.

 

Sorry if this has been answered up thread, but what loco(s) is this tender intended for use with? Or is it intended for another use?

 

I believe it is intended for 7828 Odney Manor

 

7828 currently runs with Collet 3500 No 2206 I believe?
is 2061 at Minehead a replacement for 2206? Reason for asking is that 2061 seemingly isn't registered on the Railway Heritage Register for Locomotive Tenders?

 

Sorry, but you would need to ask someone 'on the ground' like Andy (Aberdare). I was just going by his previous postings, such as this one

 

The 4000 gallon Collett tender on loan from 7802 is no. T2792

(The Erlestoke Manor Fund are constructing a more appropriate 3500 gallon tender for Bradley Manor using serviceable parts from the remains of tender T2329. Their October update says that will be their next priority once 7812 returns to steam. At that point T2792 will become ‘spare’.

7812 Erlestoke Manor already has a Churchward 3500 gallon tender, No T2334.)

Patrick


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for the clarification and I'm assuming that T2061 being overhauled/restored at Minehead allows Odney to give back it's borrowed tender however what happened to Odney's 3500g it used to run with which I thought was 2206?

 

Which is the tender currently at Dunster which is being used to provide stop-gap coal and water facilities?

 

Afraid I can’t identify it for you, but there’s a splendid photograph of it posted on wsr.org yesterday.

 

Railcam "Minehead 2" is now back in service and is available to view via https://railcam.uk

Also streaming through Steve's wsr.org.uk website.

 

For those that don't know there is also a Williton Camera 2 which I came across by accident recently:-

 

I think that camera is for RailCam subscribers only.
Personally I prefer to view Williton 2 rather than Williton 1.