West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The cottage looks to be in a most unstable condition most unlike a GWR construction might it have been built by the B & E ?

 

Fingers crossed for Tornado

 

Undoubtedly B&E, dating from the 1860's. Look how similar it is to the goods offices that remain at Williton and Watchet, and used to exist at Crowcombe and Stogumber.

Robin

 

Any update on when the DMU will be back?

 

Pity the keepers cottages were demolished, they might have made some interesting holiday homes.

Also I knew that the Southern were big users of concrete, in particular the Pway huts but I didn't know that the G(W)R used them as well

 

Two Southern Railway benches take a trip to the Seaside....

Stogumber's new Station Master, Bob Preston, reviewed the eating room furniture and decided that two Southern Railway waiting room benches were surplus to requirements. These had come from the Ilfracombe line when it shut, via s long period in store at Barnstaple, seeing the light of day again in the early 1980's.

The benches were offered to the heritage railway community and were snapped up by the Swanage Railway Commercial Manager, Martin Trott, for a contribution to Stogumber station funds.

The WSRA van was used on 31 July to take the benches down to Swanage.

It is thought that the benches may change colour fairly soon!

The much-travelled WSRA van has now clocked up two more iconic railway heritage destinations: Swanage and Corfe Castle.

The next part of the great WSR bench shuffle will be at Blue Anchor on Sat 12 August, when four more GWR benches will replace four SECR-pattern Southern Railway benches which are then heading off to Robertsbridge for the Kent and East Sussex Railway's extension. Some labour is required for the unloading and loading. Could you spare half an hour at Blue Anchor at 9am that morning? If so, please contact Robin White on robin215white@btintetnet.com

Robin White
31.7.17

Photos:

1. Train being moved forward at Stogumber to load the benches onto the Guards van for a trip to Bishops Lydeard.

2. Bench being moved from the van to Swanage station by Swanage Railway volunteers.

3. Bench on Swanage platform.

4. WSRA van outside Swanage Station.

5. WSRA van at Corfe Castle on the return journey.

 

It might be interesting to have a holiday home restricted to those with personal track safety certificates!

Taunton GWR concrete works was a big producer of such items. And concrete GWR lamp posts, of which we have two examples on Stogumber Station.

Robin

 

West Somerset Railway -Then and Now

The next few 'TnN's will be from Dunster Sea Lane AOCL, and we will have a few based on older shots but to set the scene, here is a pair based on a splendid snowy shot by @West Somerset Wizard from 1979, looking north over the level crossing towards the Bristol Channel.

1979


2017

 

It is due to be back in service on Saturday to work the Norton Steam Fair shuttles. There is a test run planned in the Ops Notice for Thursday 0930 MD - BL, 1520 BL - MD. I happened to be watching the webcam yesterday and saw it move under its own power from the loco sidings to the bay platform.

 

Thank you. What will be covering the DMU diagram on Thursday?

 

Diesel loco + 4 coaches, rostered loco is D6575.

 

Thank you very much

 

Thinking about it, and pre moderating this quote to comply with site guidelines on such matters, they might be suitable for the adherents of certain faiths who only wear orange clothing?

 

Holiday homes for Hare Krishnas? Sure.... why not!

 

There will be No Surrender!! Another possible market?

 

I have very much enjoyed your "then and now" photos, Robin, particularly thee two. In 1974, I was staying with some relatives who farm in a hamlet about 2 or 3 miles distant from both Crowcombe and Stogumber (surname coincidentally was White - no relation, I suppose?) and I walked along the track between the two stations. A bit naughty, I suppose, but I knew the line was closed at the time. Obviously, modernisation has been necessary although it's a shame about the crossing keeper's cottage being demolished. However, that was what it looked like when I did my walk all those years ago. In those days, who would have thought that the WSR would have developed to be the line that it is now?

 

You are welcome - and I envy you your walk.

I was first involved in 1979, and the steps since then have been great, although perhaps not in the last decade or so.

Time for some inspiring leaps forward, perhaps?

Robin

 

Surely a mixture of bullhead, flat bottom, track lengths, welded joints (not sure how much genuine CWR there is) etc. is used, and then why the mix is explained, then surely the educational aspect of 'preservation' is being well served. Railways were always intended as a business, so finding better, more cost effective ways of doing things are a central part of the history of railways and one key aspect of why things changed and developed over the years.

Steven

 

Or Dutchmen! At any Grand Prix there are usually a mass of Max Verstappen supporters clothed in Orange..

 

August thoughts at Stogumber Station.

Robin