West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Thank you Steve. Glad this helpful feature has been retained.

 

Latest pictures on WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News include:

- pics of the Olympic torch passing Washford Station (shame the Railway's bid to get more involved was unsuccessful!)
- pics from the "Art Train" day
- pics from day to day workings
- test runs for newly-restored D6575

and in the next few days, pics of Michael Portillo's filming visit and, wait for it, Peppa Pig at Minehead (diversification big time on the WSR)

Steve

 

Loco turning on (inner) Norton Triangle very soon. Tests start in a day or two. Loco used on next Tuesday's "Jubille Express" will also be turned. Watch out for pics on WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News

Steve

 

That is good news Steve - look forward to seeing the pics. Dick

 

The West Somerset Railway in conjunction with First Great Western is running an excursion running to Exeter, Newton Abbot, Torquay and Paignton. The train is made up of a Class 150/2 diesel railcar unit with 110 seats available.

WSR Excursion to Torquay and Paignton announced. « West Somerset Railway

Steve

 

There is no indication anywhere of the date ! I think it is Saturday 30 June, starting from and returning to Minehead. It appears to run in the path of a regular service train west of Exeter.

David

 

All being well, the Norton triangle will be used for turning the engine off the 1505 service ex MD on every day from Sunday 3rd to Thursday 7th inclusive next week.

David

 

Thanks for the correction, David. and the testing went well this evening with the first WSR steam loco to use the brand new railway (East Chord and West Chord) at Norton Triangle. Congratulations to all concerned.

http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/galleri.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2012/05/310512_2_man

Steve

 

Nice to see the pics this evening Steve - glad the effort involved is now showing results
Dick

 

Some new newsy WSR items at:

WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Latest News

EDIT: it seems a "slight correction" (!) has been issued and D832 will after all work the DMU diagram on 21 July.

Steve

 

There is a good article on the Norton Triangle in the latest issue of Steam Railway. It is quite surpriing to read there were over 700 movements between Network Rail and the West Somerset Railway last year. I recall that one day in December 2010, there were three separate through freight trains (involving 5 Class 66 locos), all on the WSR at the same time.

 

The Crowcombe webcam is back - see www.fochs.org.uk/webcam.htm - or if you'd be so kind, get to it via WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News > Galleries

Steve

 

That's a lot of trains using the junction at Norton Fitzwarren! Clearly a good investment for those who chipped in.

Here's the view for drivers of incoming trains:
WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Snapshot

Steve

 

A quick look at the loco roster for the next three days reveals the following will grace the WSR metals:

6960 (Minehead diagram)
4160 (Bishops Lydeard steam diagram)
D832 (Bishops Lydeard diesel diagram FSO)
D1661 banking duties (railtour SO)
34067 railtour (to WSR SO)
3850 railtour (on WSR SO)
D7017 (diesel experience special SuO)
DMU (Bishops Lydeard diesel diagram SuO)

Steve

 

The WSR's 3-car Class 115 DMU becomes the first empty coaching stock movement to use the Norton Triangles. Pics on WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News

Steve

 

A recent picture on the Latest Pictures page on WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Pictures and News shows the new fence installed between alongside the main line between the WSR's present boundary (Barnstaple Junction) and a location opposite the former station hotel at Norton Fitzwarren.

The view looks west from the latter position and also shows the section of track and land soon to be transferred from NR to WSR. It is only about 200 yards or so but it will allow WSR locos and (short) trains to turn on the outer Norton Triangle without encroaching on NR rails.

Eagle-eyed observers will note the rails are shiny. A good indicator of regular use mostly by weekday HOBCs. Busy old junction at Norton Fitzwarren.

Steve

 

Wasn't there some talk at some point of WSR doing night servicing & cleaning of trains based at Taunton for the big railway. Did that ever happen ?

 

Lasted a few months whilst the GBRf contract for the Taunton-Cardiff (I think that was it?) was in place. Pics at:
WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: The GBRf ECS movements from Bishops Lydeard to Taunton 2009-10

Steve

 

Photos of 4160, 6960 and 7828 at Minehead today added to WSR 2012

 

When are they going to put that new water crane in at the end of the bay platform??