WSR Spring 2016 gala

Top 5 visting locos for me would have to be Black 5, 53809, 92214 (run her as Evening Star on the Pines), Std 4 2-6-4T and a 4F 0-6-0.

Ivo Peters Bentley is a must as it was part of the furniture almost - could something be done to offer some photographers the chance to chase a train in Ivo's car, not suggesting you drive his car fast but even just to hop around a bit could cover its costs and help recreate part of the past.

Rename the stations as it does make it interesting to see these old places come back.

Perhaps a beer festival using breweries (and cider farms) close to the S&D Trackbed, if there are any?

 

You never know with the WSR.

 

My top 5 visiting engines would be something like this:

4F 43924 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Standard 4 76084 - North Norfolk Railway
9F 92214 - Great Central Railway
Rebuilt Pacific 34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' - Bluebell Railway
Unrebuilt Pacific 34007 'Wadebridge' - Mid-Hants Railway

I know for a fact that the top 3 in that list will have a current boiler ticket. But I'm unsure about the final two.

 

An all day freight is the top thing on my list, as by the time we get there we've normally missed it, these days!

And non-stop trains through Stogumber, Dunster, Washford etc. would be nice.

 

Since the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust is at Washford all trains should stop there at this Gala.

 

The problem with an all-day freight is that it would take up a passenger train path, which, if the current hourly timetable is used, would result in a 2-hour gap in passenger services every fourth hour. If some stops are omitted by running non-stop trains, then those stations would have a very poor service, and quite a number of our passengers like to stop off for an hour, but would find 2 hours or more much too much.

 

Exactly - which is an argument for making sure all trains stop at all stations. I'm not sure whose interest a "non-stop" is supposed to be in, but as a paying passenger, if I pay a premium price for a gala ticket, I don't see why I should suffer a service that is worse than I could get on any regular service day.

Tom

 

Honestly I really do not see the point. The stations do not magically change, it's still Minehead, Washford etc whatever you call it. It makes pictures look horrible too, a nice scene of 7828 coming into Crowcombe, with a great big southern green sign on GWR furniture saying some station that bears no resemblance to Crowcombe at all. (And I don't really care about pictures etc!)

Hence why I said just 3 non stop through Stogumber towards BL, and rest stop everywhere else so it doesn't disrupt too much. Stogumber is one of a very select few stations on a steep rising gradient in preservation, and so seeing trains power through here is very special and rare. If you are waiting, you can catch a train down to Williton and change over. It's pointless not stopping at Dunster as there is a 5mph crossing either side of the station and at Washford as the engines coast through as it is on a summit.

 

Some years ago Don Bishop did something similar called racing the train. I am sure that Don could be persuaded to do it again as part of the steam recreations brand.

http://www.donbishop.co.uk/store.php?section=1&id=12&photos_id=273

Rodders

 

Just don't tell Avon and Somerset Constabulary's Traffic Division

I remember the rather wonderful shots of vintage cars and the train at the lanes / level crossings between Stogumber and Crowcombe. Perhaps a Williton - Stogumber - Crowcombe vintage bus to fill in between non-stop trains at Stogumber?

A suggestion I have had from off-Forum, rather tongue-in-cheek, and given that we are marking the 50th anniversary of closure, is to run a 'rail replacement' bus service in place of the trains with vintage buses on the following Monday, 7th March. I know that suggestion was being made flippantly, but beyond Ivo's Bentley, is there more that we could do with vintage 'dressing' of the stations for the event? I take the point that we are not going to make any of the WSR / GWR stations look like the S&D for the weekend. A problem with vintage vehicles is that station approaches are always under pressure for parking at such events.

Are full size reproductions of the closure poster available from Midsomer Norton or elsewhere? I have a tea towel of the closure poster I think I bought from Shillingstone a while back.

Meanwhile, get your vote in for top 5 loco visitors and I will count the poll on Sunday evening.

kind regards

Robin White

 

My top five loco visitors would be
1.76084 from the North Norfolk Railway
2.34053 from the Severn Valley Railway
3. 43924 from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
4. 34092 from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway or 92214 from The Great Central Railway
5. 53809 from the Midland Railway Centre

Many Thanks And Kind Regards
YRM,

 

Will 34046 Braunton be back at the West Somerset Railway in time for this gala if she will be

 

1. 73082 which should be back in steam by later this year or early next and according to this link http://www.sdjr.net/locolist.html worked the line
2. 92212 ( based at Bath Green Park - June - September 1961). According to Midhants website currently carries a Bath Green Park (82F) shed code.
3. 34067 ( which according to this link http://www.sdjr.net/locolist.html worked the line ).
4. 43924
5. 53809( only if 88 not overhauled in time) or 76084 or 48151 There is a picture of an 8f on a passenger service on the 5th March 1966 in Decline of Southern Steam by Michael Welch.

 

I highly doubt the Bluebell will let 73082 go so early into it ticket.

 

My second top five loco visitors would be
1. 34046 Braunton
2. 30120 from the Bodmin And Wenford
3. 23 /47327 from the Midland Railway Centre
4. 75078 if ready or if not 44806 from North Yorkshire Moors
5. 48151 from West Coast Railways Company
Many Thanks And Kind Regards
YRM,

 

I'll go with the following 5 guests:

53809 (if it's back by then - and I'm assuming 53808 would be back?)
44422 (or43924 if it's not available)
92212 - got to have a 9f
34092 and
73129

 

44422 is out of ticket and stored at Peak Rail, and i think 73129 is approaching the end of its ticket either later this year or next year

 

Is it hoped 80136 will be resident on the WSR by this event?

 

Here is a poster that was issued due to the postponement of the closure of the railway*.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93122458@N08/8474469318/in/photostream/
*A bus operator cancelled plans to use his vehicles for the bus replacement service. <BJ>

 

53809
Standard 5 / 9F
Original Bulleid
Rebuilt Bulleid
4F