West Somerset Railway General Discussion

As a pedant I think I should point out WWII actually ended in 1945, in case anyone has any doubt (Source: The Ladybird Book of the Second World War). The fact that peace treaties were not signed for many years afterwards is irrelevant since all the defeated forces surrendered unconditionally.

 

As a photographer who has yet to learn that quality should be aimed for over quantity, I must say I remain confused as to why a Lineside Permit is considered so essential.

Most railway lines are long, very narrow pieces of real estate. Being 'lineside' means being near to the track and the train and not necessarily in the best place for photography, certainly for real variety. Why does potential lack of lineside access mean 'it's not worth attending the SSG'?

No-one has a 'lineside permit' for Network Rail, so presumably nobody bothers photographing mainline steam - except they do, and get only one passing of the train at each spot (or 2 with an identical return route and steam both ways!"), whereas a heritage railway gala enables numerous shots from the same locale.

Allowing access to the lineside is always a 'hot topic' with HMRI/ORR and hence by extension insurers are also going to be interested.

Why is it that a 'conspiracy' is immediately assumed to be at work here? Surely enthusiasts should be able to be a little more understanding of the issues involved and that the West Somerset appear to be trying to continue to issue Lineside Permits and not just put the whole idea in the 'too difficult' pile.

Steven

 

I knew Ivo Peters slightly and he would delight in showing a piece of 16m.m. film depicting Flying Scotsman (yes indeed) running round the Westbury triangle pursued by umpteen trespassing gricers tripping over in the rough grass as they ran. Probably not one got a decent picture.

The irony was twofold. Firstly Ivo had a permit so would not have been trespassing even had he been among the melee but chose not to. Secondly, by standing back and getting the whole picture as was his wont, the results were far better.

Paul H

 

So your saying that £50 isn't worth it and people should free load for better photographs? Sure the railway would love you losing them income, any more bright ideas ?

 

Wrong side for the sun......

 

But best side for the power, detail, the exhaust, the background. Nice shot, Tony. In my humble view.

Steve

 

Is it available though ?

 

Agreed

 

I'd say £50 isn't worth it for the hassle that it generally causes. Most heritage railways don't like lineside passes but see it as a way of trying to control those that would probably trespass if they didn't have one. And as Bean Counter says, the best photos are probably taken from outside the railway boundary.

 

Temper temper! No-one is saying anything about "freeloading". Controlling lineside photographers is a very serious issue. Posts 4102 and 4109 have grasped the issues at stake.

PH

 

Also depends if said railway has enough working members to police it....... & given the "hysteria" surrounding a certain loco that is due to visit the line - is it no wonder the management are reticent to allow lineside access, except to those that need to be there?.......

 

There is no excuse for not getting replies to emails. Exactly who did you email? The fee is very modest considering the admin and other costs involved. Sadly the popularity of FS is such that the WSR PLC have a major logistic, and potentially serious safety problem, on their hands. Safety is the number one priority and the WSR PLC cannot afford to get it wrong. IMHO having a lineside pass for photography is a very inexpensive and certainly the fees are not a cash cow as you suggest.

 

This will be down to how many have lineside photo passes are sold each year, and how much the insurance cover costs to allow these people to stand lineside to take these photos. Ie we will loose X income (number sold) but save Y expenses (insurance premium) and is the profit Z (if any) worth the gray hairs trying to sort it all out or not.

 

No, they aren't. The best shots are only available lineside which is why serious photographers covet lsp's so much.

When we did our first pts we were welcomed into "the wsr family" and instructed to be "eyes and ears" at the lineside to help control lineside trespass. I have encountered trespassers many times; in the early days, with a knot of fellow linesiders, most would leave although some saw it as their right to go where they wanted. Sadly, as pass prices have gone up and lsp holder numbers gone down I have seen more trespass over the last few galas. And, yes, I think the two are linked. Banning lsp's surrenders the lineside to untrained freeloaders, ie, an accident waiting to happen as well as no source of income for the wsr.

 

One name springs to mind on that front, Colin Gifford.

 

The same sort of confusion as all the Europeans who think it started in 1939...

(For those who are scratching their heads, wondering what on earth I'm on about, try asking someone in China when it started...)

Noel

 

Thanks for commenting, do please upload your picture and show us all how to take the perfect shot.

 

I noted the debate a few posts back about photos with and against the light.

With the light does produce 'postcard' pictures but against can give some interesting results. Try this example from my garden a few days ago. I love the silhouette, the Steam and the sunlight through the bridge and catching the patch of primroses.

Robin

 

A classic example of what can be done from outside the railway estate. Nice one Robin.