GWSR General Discussion and Operations

The GWRT volunteering page for signalling could be much more encouraging:
https://www.gwrt.org.uk/Signalling.html

In particular, and once you have answered their questionaire and thought 'carefully about whether you really want to take your application further' you are then told that:
'there is no training available at the moment. Therefore, new volunteers will initially need to join another department, or be prepared to be put 'on hold' until training resumes'.

I don't feel the will to open Broadway signal box.

On the PWay, we have had 6 new recruits this year, a record! So new volunteers are out there.

 

The new website launching in January should read a bit more encouragingly. There are only so many signalmen you can train at once though.

 

Better to train just one, than to actively put people off for keeps, surely?

 

2999's already doing the rounds, it's currently at the Mid-Hants for the festive season

 

1. The S&T department would go apoplectic at the thought of grubby enginemen getting anywhere near the hallowed innards of an actual signal box
2. Loco crew allegedly have brains in inverse proportion to their biceps and get baffled by any frame presenting more than a single lever, special training being required when two or more levers are involved. There is no definitive proof that an engineman has ever successfully operated a lever frame with more than four levers

Still, at least both disciplines are agreed that it is guards who are the real menace ...

Tom

 

Did you hear about the time a loco ran through the points at Broadway....
The ground frame had more than one lever

 

There's one steam loco on the hire circuit that has a signal box lever for the reverser in the cab!

 

Loco crew can cope with that - only a single lever, see!

Tom

 

Tom, I never thought that Southern locomen were such softies. Us up north take levers in our stride. At Mallaig there is a 4 lever frame which the fireman has to operate (whisper it!) FOUR times every visit - as well as (only once) the 3 lever frame at the harbour end of the station. And when occasionally its wet and blowing a hoolie we have even less protection than on one of Churchwards finest. Do we complain? Well...............


Peter

 

7903 'Foremarke Hall' passes Southam Lane on "Santa Special" duty this morning.

 

Just posted on Facebook that services are abandoned for the day due to snow

 

At Toddington it wasn't actually too bad when I left, and very pretty. But Cheltenham's getting pretty dicey, I stayed as long as I dared to get some photos then gingerly made my way home, 30 mins ended up being almost 2 hours and many diversions. Disappointing, but probably for the best, especially as many of our volunteers travel long distances. Anyway, at least there's some snowy pics of operations had, very rare for us:

 

I see 2023 timetable and events calendar have been published on the GWSR's website. Looks like another full year.

Any news on a replacement for 4270 for next year or plans for its 10 year overhaul?

 

In due course Crewe will release its plans for 4270. In the meantime I’m looking at an engine for 3 months in the spring. Hopefully have some news on this in the new year. At best 2807 is looking like early summer, followed by 3850 at some point later in the year. That’s the rough plan, as always these things can change!

 

Anybody know who this is?
Found it on their CFOS page.

 

70013 Oliver Cromwell, that photograph was also utilised by the GWSR when the 7MT was announced as a visitor for the 2018 CFOS. The location appears to be Crosby Garrett on the S&C.

 

Don’t take any notice of the photo on the web page. The gala committee we’re a bit non plussed ourselves! We’re working hard on guest locos for the gala and certainly in the new year there will be some exciting news (but sorry, no brit.)

 

Looks like the 94xx might be for hire!

 

Looks like the 94xx might be for hire!

 

That's not snow, it's a heavy frost!